Method and apparatus for anchoring a line, such as a pipeline, to a support, and in particular a sea-bed

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, of anchoring a first line at a certain height above said support, in particular at a crossing point of said first line with at least a second line laid under said first line, further including the steps of: laying said first line on bearing structures positioned on both sides of the zone where said first line is to be anchored at said height, in particular on both sides of said second line at said crossing point, the height of said structures being superior to the external diameter of said second line; passing under said first line said central curved part of said saddle clamp, the concavity of which is directed upwardly; and forcing said first line upwards with respect to said support, piles, saddle clamp and bearing structures by the injection of said filling material into said inflatable body.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2, further including the step of withdrawing said bearing structures.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 2, further including, after the step of forcing said first line upwards in its anchored position, the steps of passing at least a strap over said first line for each saddle clamp; and securing said strap to said piles to which said lateral connecting parts of said corresponding saddle clamp are secured.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 2, further including the steps of: passing over said first line, in opposition to each said saddle clamp, the central curved part of another saddle clamp, the concavity of which is directed downwardly, said other saddle clamp having also lateral connecting parts, and arranging another inflatable body in its deflated state between said first line and said curved part of said other saddle clamp; securing said lateral connecting means of said other saddle clamp to said piles; and injecting a filling material into said other inflatable body to firmly interlock said first line between the two saddle clamps in opposition.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 1 further including the steps of: injecting said filling material into said inflatable body at an excess pressure in a first stage, so as to test the strength of said piles and ensure that they are properly anchored in the support; and reducing the pressure to an anchoring pressure.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filling material is a settable material.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central curved part of said saddle clamp is disposed toward said support and the jacking effect urges the line toward said support.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central curved part of said saddle clamp is disposed away from said support.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central curved part of said saddle clamp and said inflatable body extend more than half way around the periphery of said line to insure rigid interlocking of said line and said saddle clamp after said inflatable body has been filled.

Claim 14

A device as in claim 11, wherein each inflatable body is filled with a settable material like cement.

Claim 15

A device as in claim 11, wherein said lateral connecting parts each cooperates with a collar rigidly fixed to one of said piles and clamping said corresponding connecting part against said support when said pile is embedded in one of said holes.

Claim 16

A device as in claim 11, wherein said lateral connecting parts include brackets engageable with said piles and to which counterflanges are bolted to secure said saddle clamp to said piles embedded in said holes.

Claim 17

A device as in claim 11, wherein said central curved part of each said saddle clamp and each said corresponding inflatable body extend more than half way round the periphery of said line, to ensure rigid interlocking of said line and said saddle clamp after said inflatable body has been filled.

Claim 18

A device as in claim 15, wherein said lateral connecting parts each includes a non-return means for unidirectional slidably mounting on said corresponding pile.

Claim 19

A device as in claim 16, wherein said unidirectional non-return means each includes a collar, slidable on said corresponding pile, two dogs mounted on said collar, one of said dogs at least being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially perpendicular to said corresponding pile, and pressed against said corresponding pile to oppose any movement of said line in one direction while permitting movement in the other direction.

Claim 20

A device as in claim 17, wherein said unidirectional non-return means each includes two spaced-apart plates, substantially parallel to said corresponding pile in their cooperation position, and inter-connected by at least one guide pin for said corresponding pile, and a single dog pivotally mounted between said two plates about an axis substantially perpendicular to said corresponding pile and rotatable into a locking position in which it bears against said corresponding pile to oppose any movement of said line in one direction while permitting movement in the other direction.

Claim 21

A device as in claim 11, wherein said saddle clamp has its concavity directed upwardly and is suspended by its lateral connecting parts from the upper ends of said two piles and fixed thereto.

Claim 22

A device as in claim 19, further including a strap for passing over said line and for being fixed to said upper ends of said two piles.

Claim 23

A device as in claim 11, including two said saddle clamps with respectively upwardly and downwardly directed concavities to be fixed in opposition by their respective lateral connecting parts on said two piles, in such a manner as to completely surround said line.

Claim 24

A device as in claim 11, wherein two pairs of said saddle clamps are fixed on four piles, two of said saddle clamps having a downwardly directed concavity for holding a first line against said support and the other two of said saddle clamps having an upwardly directed concavity for holding a second line which passes over the first line.

Claim 25

A device as in claim 11, wherein said saddle clamp has its concavity directed toward said support.