Patent US5961451A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4048686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Buoyancy device and method
Assignee: Nexans Norway AS
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Filing: 1976-07-09
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Granted: 1977-09-20
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Expires: 1996-07-09
Abstract
Abstract Buoys for use in submarine cable and pipe laying are fastened to the cable or pipe by lengths of line stored within the buoys. The buoys descend with the cable to a point where they are unaffected by wave action. Water is free to enter the bottom of the buoys and compress the gas therein thus reducing buoyancy and, through the release of a brake, controlled, in turn, by a float, allowing the line from which the cable or pipe is suspended to pay out.
Inventors
- 👤 Sigmund Ege
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:42
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/16; F16L1/163; B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/18; F16L1/20; F16L1/24; H; H02; H02G; H02G9/00; H02G9/12; B63B2207/00; B63B2207/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A buoyancy device for at least partially supporting a submerged article comprising: A. walls defining a submersible chamber, B. a substantial volume of gas enclosed in said chamber, C. access means to the lower portion of said chamber for water surrounding said buoyancy device, said water rising within said chamber and compressing said gas with increasing submergence of said buoyancy device, D. a supply of flexible line supported by said buoyancy device, one end of said line being supportingly fastened to said submerged article, E. means within said chamber gripping and paying out said line thereby changing the distance between said buoyancy device and said article, F. means braking said paying out means, and G. means controlling said braking means, said controlling means being responsive to the level of the water within said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A buoyancy device for at least partially supporting a submerged article comprising: A. walls defining a submersible chamber, B. a substantial volume of gas enclosed in said chamber, C. access means to the lower portion of said chamber for water surrounding said buoyancy device, said water rising within said chamber and compressing said gas with increasing submergence of said buoyancy device, D. a supply of flexible line supported by said buoyancy device, one end of said line being supportingly fastened to said submerged article, E. means within said chamber gripping and paying out said line thereby changing the distance between said buoyancy device and said article, F. means braking said paying out means, and G. means controlling said braking means, said controlling means being responsive to the level of the water within said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The buoyancy device of claim 1 wherein said paying out means comprises a cylindrical capstan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The buoyancy device of claim 2 wherein said braking means comprises, at least in part, propeller means rotatable in the water surrounding said buoyancy device and means rotatably interlocking said capstan and said propeller means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The buoyancy device of claim 2 wherein the length of said supply of flexible line is essentially shorter than the desired final distance between said buoyancy device and said article, said line being free from attachment to said buoyancy device after having passed its trailing end around said capstan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The buoyancy device of claim 1 wherein said controlling means comprises a float.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The buoyancy device of claim 5 wherein said braking means comprises a friction brake for said capstan, and lever means controlling said friction brake, said float being carried on the surface of water in said chamber, said float being fastened to said lever means and lifting said lever means, thereby more freely paying out said line upon the rise of water in said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The buoyancy device of claim 6 comprising means raising said float relative to said lever means, said raising means being responsive to the paying out of said line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The buoyancy device of claim 7 wherein said raising means comprises a pair of threaded posts, said posts passing through matching threaded holes in said float, and gear means rotating said posts, said gear means being driven by said capstan.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The buoyancy device of claim 7 wherein said line is heavier at its leading than at its trailing end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The buoyancy device of claim 1 further comprising a release line connecting said braking means and said article, sheave means paying out said release line, a centrifugal clutch supporting said sheave means within said chamber, whereby said release line will pay out slowly without affecting said braking means but will release said braking means upon a sudden application of tension to said release line.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of lowering an elongated article underwater comprising the steps of: A. paying said article from a supply of the same aboard a vessel, B. fastening a plurality of lines to spaced locations along the length of said article, said lines being individually connected to a like plurality of buoyancy devices, C. submerging said article along with said buoyancy devices to a depth where said buoyancy devices are unaffected by wave motion or passing vessels, D. thereafter paying out said lines from said buoyancy devices so as to lower said article at a speed substantially greater than any speed of lowering of said buoyancy devices.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of lowering an elongated article underwater comprising the steps of: A. paying said article from a supply of the same aboard a vessel, B. fastening a plurality of lines to spaced locations along the length of said article, said lines being individually connected to a like plurality of buoyancy devices, C. submerging said article along with said buoyancy devices to a depth where said buoyancy devices are unaffected by wave motion or passing vessels, D. thereafter paying out said lines from said buoyancy devices so as to lower said article at a speed substantially greater than any speed of lowering of said buoyancy devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the step of reducing the buoyancy of said buoyancy devices during the descent of said article.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-19 | 1981-03-21 | 1981-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-19 | 1985-03-21 | 1985-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-19 | 1989-03-21 | 1989-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |