US4094161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Submerged apparatus and method for submersing the same
Assignee: Societe National Elf Aquitaine
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Filing: 1976-05-07
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Granted: 1978-06-13
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Expires: 1996-05-07
Abstract
Abstract In a method of immersion of a massive part such as a hydrocarbon storage tank on the ocean floor, the storage tank is placed over the immersion site, then lowered by means of ballast floats so that the top of the tank is close to the surface of the water. The lower end of a first rigid column also fitted with ballast floats is attached to the tank and pivotally displaced from a horizontal position at the surface of the water to a totally submerged vertical position. A number of columns are attached successively in end-to-end relation and pivotally displaced until the storage tank reaches the ocean floor.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Moinard
- 👤 Michel Leturcq
- 👤 Catherine Delcroix
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:24
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B35/4406; E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/027; E02D; E02D23/00; E02D23/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
357 words
A method for submersing and positioning a structure in a body of water through a series of separate and consecutive submersion stages so as to cause said structure to come to rest on the floor of said body of water, said method comprising the steps of: (a) separately bringing to a location near the surface of the body of water above the submersion site said structure and a plurality of columns having several float means for ballast, said structure and columns being unattached to one another; (b) positioning said structure which includes ballast means above the submersion site; (c) acting on the ballast means of said structure in order to submerge said structure until its top is near the surface of the body of water and the apparent weight of said structure is reduced to about zero; (d) pivotally attaching the top of said submerged structure to one end of a first of said plurality of columns; (e) acting on the float means of said first column for pivotally displacing said attached one end of said first column downward until the column is brought into a vertical, submerged position in the water with the other end of said first column being close to the surface of the body of water, said structure being further submerged vertically downward at the submersion site by the pivotal displacement of said first column; (f) pivotally attaching said other end of the first submerged column near the surface of the water to one end of a second column; (g) acting on the float means of said second column for pivotally displacing said attached one end of said second column downward until the second column is brought into a vertical, submerged position in the water with the other end of said second column being close to the surface of the body of water, said structure and said first column being further submerged vertically downward at the submersion site by the pivotal displacement of said second column; and (h) maintaining the pressure within said structure at a value substantially equal to the pressure of the water surrounding said structure during each successive submersion stage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
357 words
A method for submersing and positioning a structure in a body of water through a series of separate and consecutive submersion stages so as to cause said structure to come to rest on the floor of said body of water, said method comprising the steps of: (a) separately bringing to a location near the surface of the body of water above the submersion site said structure and a plurality of columns having several float means for ballast, said structure and columns being unattached to one another; (b) positioning said structure which includes ballast means above the submersion site; (c) acting on the ballast means of said structure in order to submerge said structure until its top is near the surface of the body of water and the apparent weight of said structure is reduced to about zero; (d) pivotally attaching the top of said submerged structure to one end of a first of said plurality of columns; (e) acting on the float means of said first column for pivotally displacing said attached one end of said first column downward until the column is brought into a vertical, submerged position in the water with the other end of said first column being close to the surface of the body of water, said structure being further submerged vertically downward at the submersion site by the pivotal displacement of said first column; (f) pivotally attaching said other end of the first submerged column near the surface of the water to one end of a second column; (g) acting on the float means of said second column for pivotally displacing said attached one end of said second column downward until the second column is brought into a vertical, submerged position in the water with the other end of said second column being close to the surface of the body of water, said structure and said first column being further submerged vertically downward at the submersion site by the pivotal displacement of said second column; and (h) maintaining the pressure within said structure at a value substantially equal to the pressure of the water surrounding said structure during each successive submersion stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of pivotally attaching and displacing said first and second columns are successively repeated with additional columns until said structure comes to rest on the floor of the body of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein each of said columns is rigid and has a metallic trelliswork construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the ballast means of the structure comprises the structure itself and means for introducing into said structure a liquid which is lighter than water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the structure is a storage tank utilized for storing hydrocarbons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein each of said columns is provided with a duct extending along the length of said columns from one end to the other, said duct being provided at each end thereof with means for connection with the duct of an adjoining column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the apparent weight of said structure and said columns is reduced to about zero.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of acting on the float means of each column comprises permitting a liquid to flow from a first of said float means to a second of said float means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
A submerged storage apparatus comprising: (a) a storage tank provided with means for maintaining the pressure within said storage tank at a value substantially equal to the pressure of the water surrounding said tank, said tank resting on the floor of a body of water, and (b) a plurality of rigid columns pivotally connected to each other, the column located at the greatest depth being connected to said storage tank, the uppermost column emerging above the surface of the body of water, and being provided with a platform, each column being provided with float means and with a duct, said ducts being connected to each other so as to constitute a continuous duct between said tank and said platform.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
A submerged storage apparatus comprising: (a) a storage tank provided with means for maintaining the pressure within said storage tank at a value substantially equal to the pressure of the water surrounding said tank, said tank resting on the floor of a body of water, and (b) a plurality of rigid columns pivotally connected to each other, the column located at the greatest depth being connected to said storage tank, the uppermost column emerging above the surface of the body of water, and being provided with a platform, each column being provided with float means and with a duct, said ducts being connected to each other so as to constitute a continuous duct between said tank and said platform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A submerged structure according to claim 9, wherein said float means comprise at least two spaced ballasts, each of said ballasts being adapted to receive fluid to affect the floating action of said column, and means for selectively distributing said fluid between said two ballasts.
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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) | 1981-06-12 | 1981-12-12 | 1982-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | 1986-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-12-12 | 1990-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |