EP0172187A1 - Process and apparatus for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction - Google Patents

Process and apparatus for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction

Info

Publication number
EP0172187A1
EP0172187A1 EP19850900782 EP85900782A EP0172187A1 EP 0172187 A1 EP0172187 A1 EP 0172187A1 EP 19850900782 EP19850900782 EP 19850900782 EP 85900782 A EP85900782 A EP 85900782A EP 0172187 A1 EP0172187 A1 EP 0172187A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lattice work
elements
construction
shaped
sea
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19850900782
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
David Barnbrook
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PROTEC AS
Original Assignee
PROTEC AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PROTEC AS filed Critical PROTEC AS
Publication of EP0172187A1 publication Critical patent/EP0172187A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B17/0034—Maintenance, repair or inspection of offshore constructions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of con ⁇ struction members in a rig construction at sea, especially for tlte removal and prevention of marine overgrowth on said outer surfaces.
  • the invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention, for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction at sea, especially for the removal and prevention of marine overgrowth on said outer surfaces.
  • the objective is respectively an intermittently acting and a more or less continuousiyji acting solution for the prevention and removal of marine overgrowth on the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction.
  • the aim is an assembling of equipment or an apparatus which has the task ' of keeping the outer surface of the construction member clean, that is to say free of marine overgrowth, so that the outer surface of the construction member can maintain the original outer coating as far as possible intact and unaffected by the surroundings.
  • the aim is a maintenance or a cleaning where one is not dependent upon direct contact between outer surfaces of the construction meirfa-er and the maintenance or cleaning equipment in order to keep the outer sur ⁇ faces clean and in order to remove attached mariner ver- growth respectively.
  • the 5 relative movement between the construction member and the lattice work;- which causes a certain positive flow of fluid between the lattice work and the construction member, is sufficient to respectively maintain and clean the construction member in use.
  • Tests have shown 0 that it is possible by using the lattice work on an already overgrown construction member to remove the overgrowth and thereby clean the construction member, solely by such relative movement between the lattice work and the construction member without necessary 5 contact between the lattice work and the construction member,
  • the process according to the invention can therefore be carried out in a manner which does not necessarily involve wear and tear on the construction member or on the lattice work, at the same time as the Q lattice work can be allowed to move relatively freely relative to the construction member guided along the latter.
  • An apparatus for carrying out the process is characterised in that it consists of a lattice work 5 comprising a set of arcuate ring-shaped elements and a set of longitudinal connecting elements together with connection components for coupling together the ring- forming elements and the longitudinal elements into a coherent unit, and that the"lattice work is provided with means for moving the lattice work to and fro along the construction member at a certain moderate distance from the outer surface of the construction member and with a length of ' -movement at least equivalent to the distance between the arcuate ring-shaped elements.
  • the lattice work according to the invention By allowing the lattice work according to the invention to consist of various elements of arcuate annular form there is the possibility of permitting the lattice work to surround the construction member wholly or partially at a particular distance from the latter, depending upon the cross-sectional form of the construction member.
  • the elements By allowing the elements to have an arcuate annular contour the elements can be made to surround the periphery of the construction member and simultaneously ensure a control of the lattice work relative to the construction member together with adapting to a definite, moderate distance between the lattice work and the construction member.
  • the distance between the arcuate ring-shaped members can be adjusted so that the outer surface of the construction member is totally or sub- stantially totally covered by the movement of the arcuate ring-shaped elements along the construction member.
  • the lattice work is provided __with buoyancy members (floats) or that certain parts of the lattice work constitute buoyancy members.
  • Fig. 1 shows the lattice work used on a rig con ⁇ struction, seen from the side, and shown in two outer positions by broken and full lines.
  • Fig. 2 shows a section of a lattice work according to the invention, illustrated by a portion within upper and lower ends of the lattice work.
  • Fig. 3 shows a connection component for the elements of the lattice work, illustrated with certain portions in section.
  • Fig. 4 shows a section of the lattice work according to the invention, illustrated at the upper end of the lattice work.
  • Fig. 5 shows a detail of the lattice work where a pipe or hose member is surrounded by a separate brush member.
  • Fig. 1 there is shown a lattice work 10 arranged on the one construction member 11 in a rig construction 12,which supports itself against the sea bottom 13.
  • the upper level of the sea has a wave out ⁇ line as shown at 14.
  • the lattice work 10 is illustrated in the embodi ⁇ ment shown in two outer positions, that is to say an upper position is shown in full lines, and a lower position is shown in broken lines.
  • the lattice work 10 is moveable between the illustrated outer positions by means of the movements of the sea, which in the illustrated embodiment are constituted by the sea's wave movements.
  • the sea's movements can be produced by tidal movements of the sea, something which is especially the case in rig con- structions which rest on the sea bottom.
  • extra buoyancy means in the form of a pair or some few floats 15 fastened to the upper edge of the lattice work.
  • the floats 15 can be rigidly fastened to the lattice work 10, but are -preferably suspended to pivot freely on a fastening at the upper edge of the lattice work 10, so that the floats can be subjected to a certain pivotal movement to and fro along the surface of the sea relative to the lattice work, at the same time as the floats 15 supply the lattice work with extra buoyancy which raises and lowers the lattice work in step with the movements of the waves in a vertical direction.
  • parts of the lattice work or certain parts of the lattice work constitute buoyancy bodies of the lattice work, that is to say certain parts of the lattice work can for example be filled with air or filled with buoyancy medium, while remaining parts of the lattice work can be filled with sea water or another weight-forming medium.
  • the lattice work 10 can in the one outer position be- suspended or fixed by means of a fastening line (not shown) in order to restrict move ⁇ ment of the lattice work in the one direction of move ⁇ ment.
  • the lattice work in the illustrated embodiment is fabricated from a series of arcuate.. ring-shaped members 16 which are disposed at suitable distances from each other in the axial direction of the lattice work together with a pair or a number of longitudinal connecting elements 17 which connect the arcuate ring ele- ments 16 to each other.
  • the arcuate ring members 16 can be made having arbitrary lengths and having arbi ⁇ trary arcuate outlines, adapted according to indivi ⁇ dual modes of use, that is to say depending upon the diameter and/or the shape of the _construction member which is to be maintained ' or cleaned.
  • FIG. 1 there are used three arcuate ring elements 16, which together surround the whole periphery of the construction member 11, while in Fig. 2 there is shown an alternative embodi- ment having two arcuate ring elements 16 which surround the construction member.
  • Fig. 1 there are omitted in certain segments (at junction points 18) of the lattice work 10 the one of the three sections or elements 16 to form a C-shaped arcuate ring outline, so that the lattice work 10 in such segments can pass unhindered a junction point 18 between several con ⁇ struction members 11 and 11a, lib respectively.
  • Arcuate ring elements 16 and connecting elements 17 are shown in the form of plastic pipes or plastic hoses, preferably made of nylon which is especially resistant to ultra violet light, heat, oil, chemicals and sea water having different salt contents.
  • junction point-forming connection components 19 which in Fig. 3 are illustrated having four sleeve- shaped fastening pins 20, which project outwardly from a common housing member 21 having through bores.
  • One end 20a of the fastening pins 20 can be provided with external threads which cooperate with corresponding internal threads of the housing member 21, while freely outwardly projecting ends 20b of the fastening pins can be provided with tensioning means 22, 23 for fixing the elements 16 and 17 each on its respective fastening pii .
  • the pins 20 can be connected to the housing member 21 via rapid coupling devices (not shown further) .
  • rapid coupling devices not shown further
  • tensioning means 22 in the form of an annular series of inverted wedge-shaped gripping fingers, which to ⁇ gether with the pin end 20b disposed radially within define a gap 24 for the reception of the end portion of an element 16 or 17.
  • a clamp sleeve 23 which is axially moveable on the pin 20 one can grip into position the gripping fingers 22 in an effective fastening grip with the equivalent end portion of the element 16 or 17.
  • the elements 16 or 17 • can be provided with permanently secured rapid coupling members which replace the pins 20.
  • pins 20 with associated gripping fingers 22 and clamp sleeve 23 can be made of nylon with an outer layer of PVC plastic.
  • the afore-mentioned example can be given diffe ⁇ rent practical designs and be made of various other materials than described, as required, for example depending upon the temperature conditions, salt content and the like at the location of use.
  • connection components 19 can if necessary be used for correspondingly fastening a sleeve stump on a float 15 to the lattice work 10.
  • Fig. 4 there is shown a solution where the housing member 21a of the connection component 19 is provided with a fastening pin 25 for fixing a float 15.
  • an outlet 26 which passes across bores of the housing member 21a for the pins 20.
  • a valve-forming sealing plug 27 having a rapid coupling connection to the housing member.
  • Equivalent sealing plugs can be used at all the locations in the lattice work where elements 16 and 17 are excluded, for example at the lower end of the lattice work.
  • To the plug 27 there can be coupled as indicated by broken lines 28 a pressure hose with associated rapid coupling.
  • the hose 28 is connected to a pump 29 which via a supply conduit 30 is supplied with hydraulic oil or another weight-forming or buoyancy means-forming fluid from a supply 31.
  • a supply conduit 30 is supplied with hydraulic oil or another weight-forming or buoyancy means-forming fluid from a supply 31.
  • a brush member 32 con- sisting of a sleeve member 33 split up longitudinally to which bristles 34 are fastened in groups.
  • the brush member 32 is adapted to be fastened to an associated arcuate ring element 16. As a consequence of the curvature of the element 16 in the longitudinal direction the member 32 is prevented from turning unintentionally on the element 16, but can be adjusted into different positions on the element 16 as required.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Forms Removed On Construction Sites Or Auxiliary Members Thereof (AREA)
  • Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Abstract

Le procédé ci-décrit peut être utilisé notamment pour l'élimination et la prévention des formations de végétation marine sur la surface externe de l'installation. Les organes de structure (11) à entretenir sont enfermés entièrement ou partiellement par un treillis (10) à une certaine distance de la surface externe de l'organe de construction. Le treillis (10) est soumis respectivement à un mouvement de va-et-vient et montant et descendant dans la mer à une distance limitée de l'organe de structure (11). Un dispositif servant à exécuter le procédé est formé par un treillis (10) composé d'un ensemble d'éléments arqués annulaires (16) et d'un ensemble d'éléments longitudinaux de liaison (17), avec des composants de liaison (19) permettant de coupler entre eux les éléments arqués annulaires (16) et les éléments longitudinaux (17).The process described below can be used in particular for eliminating and preventing the formation of marine vegetation on the external surface of the installation. The structural members (11) to be maintained are entirely or partially enclosed by a trellis (10) at a certain distance from the external surface of the construction member. The trellis (10) is subjected respectively to a back and forth movement and rising and falling in the sea at a limited distance from the structural member (11). A device for carrying out the method is formed by a trellis (10) composed of a set of annular arcuate elements (16) and a set of longitudinal connecting elements (17), with connecting components (19 ) allowing the annular arcuate elements (16) and the longitudinal elements (17) to be coupled together.

Description

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING AND CLEANING THE OUTER SURFACES OF CONSTRUCTION MEMBERS IN A RIG CONSTRUCTION
1 The present invention relates to a process for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of con¬ struction members in a rig construction at sea, especially for tlte removal and prevention of marine overgrowth on said outer surfaces.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention, for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction at sea, especially for the removal and prevention of marine overgrowth on said outer surfaces.
With the present invention the objective is respectively an intermittently acting and a more or less continuousiyji acting solution for the prevention and removal of marine overgrowth on the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction. In other words the aim is an assembling of equipment or an apparatus which has the task' of keeping the outer surface of the construction member clean, that is to say free of marine overgrowth, so that the outer surface of the construction member can maintain the original outer coating as far as possible intact and unaffected by the surroundings. With the present invention the aim is a maintenance or a cleaning where one is not dependent upon direct contact between outer surfaces of the construction meirfa-er and the maintenance or cleaning equipment in order to keep the outer sur¬ faces clean and in order to remove attached mariner ver- growth respectively. ' It has been found according to the invention that such maintenance or such cleaning can be achieved in an easy and simple manner by enclosing the construction member which is to be maintained totally or partially by a lattice work at a certain distance from the outer surface of the construction member, the lattice work being subjected respectively to a forwards and back- wards and an upwards and downwards movement in the sea at a certain moderate distance from the construction member.
According to the invention it is found that the 5 relative movement between the construction member and the lattice work;- which causes a certain positive flow of fluid between the lattice work and the construction member, is sufficient to respectively maintain and clean the construction member in use. Tests have shown 0 that it is possible by using the lattice work on an already overgrown construction member to remove the overgrowth and thereby clean the construction member, solely by such relative movement between the lattice work and the construction member without necessary 5 contact between the lattice work and the construction member, The process according to the invention can therefore be carried out in a manner which does not necessarily involve wear and tear on the construction member or on the lattice work, at the same time as the Q lattice work can be allowed to move relatively freely relative to the construction member guided along the latter.
An especially simple solution is obtained by allowing the lattice work to be subjected to a movement 5 caused by wave movements of the sea and tidal movements of the sea respectively, the movements of the lattice work being determined by buoyancy means (floats) in the lattice work. In this way one can bring about without the use of extra power or extra control a Q movement controlled by movements of the sea, that is to first and foremost by vertical wave movements of the sea and tidal movements.
An apparatus for carrying out the process is characterised in that it consists of a lattice work 5 comprising a set of arcuate ring-shaped elements and a set of longitudinal connecting elements together with connection components for coupling together the ring- forming elements and the longitudinal elements into a coherent unit, and that the"lattice work is provided with means for moving the lattice work to and fro along the construction member at a certain moderate distance from the outer surface of the construction member and with a length of'-movement at least equivalent to the distance between the arcuate ring-shaped elements.
By allowing the lattice work according to the invention to consist of various elements of arcuate annular form there is the possibility of permitting the lattice work to surround the construction member wholly or partially at a particular distance from the latter, depending upon the cross-sectional form of the construction member. By allowing the elements to have an arcuate annular contour the elements can be made to surround the periphery of the construction member and simultaneously ensure a control of the lattice work relative to the construction member together with adapting to a definite, moderate distance between the lattice work and the construction member. By employing longitudinal elements in connection with the arcuate ring-shaped elements the distance between the arcuate ring-shaped members can be adjusted so that the outer surface of the construction member is totally or sub- stantially totally covered by the movement of the arcuate ring-shaped elements along the construction member.
It is preferred that the lattice work is provided __with buoyancy members (floats) or that certain parts of the lattice work constitute buoyancy members.
It is possible for example to fasten floats to the upper portion of the lattice work and to allow the remainder of the lattice work to hang freely down¬ wards from the under side of the buoyancy member or members with a certain weight loading from the lattice work itself. It is also possible to allow the buoyancy members to become an integral part of certain parts of the lattice work, such as the arcuate elements or certain of the arcuate elements, while remaining parts, especially the connection components, can serve as weight parts of the lattice work. Further features of the invention will be evident from the '■following description having regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows the lattice work used on a rig con¬ struction, seen from the side, and shown in two outer positions by broken and full lines.
Fig. 2 shows a section of a lattice work according to the invention, illustrated by a portion within upper and lower ends of the lattice work. Fig. 3 shows a connection component for the elements of the lattice work, illustrated with certain portions in section.
Fig. 4 shows a section of the lattice work according to the invention, illustrated at the upper end of the lattice work. Fig. 5 shows a detail of the lattice work where a pipe or hose member is surrounded by a separate brush member.
In Fig. 1 there is shown a lattice work 10 arranged on the one construction member 11 in a rig construction 12,which supports itself against the sea bottom 13. The upper level of the sea has a wave out¬ line as shown at 14.
The lattice work 10 is illustrated in the embodi¬ ment shown in two outer positions, that is to say an upper position is shown in full lines, and a lower position is shown in broken lines. The lattice work 10 is moveable between the illustrated outer positions by means of the movements of the sea, which in the illustrated embodiment are constituted by the sea's wave movements. Alternatively or in addition the sea's movements can be produced by tidal movements of the sea, something which is especially the case in rig con- structions which rest on the sea bottom. In the illu¬ strated embodiment there are employed extra buoyancy means in the form of a pair or some few floats 15 fastened to the upper edge of the lattice work. The floats 15 can be rigidly fastened to the lattice work 10, but are -preferably suspended to pivot freely on a fastening at the upper edge of the lattice work 10, so that the floats can be subjected to a certain pivotal movement to and fro along the surface of the sea relative to the lattice work, at the same time as the floats 15 supply the lattice work with extra buoyancy which raises and lowers the lattice work in step with the movements of the waves in a vertical direction. In addition or if necessary alternatively parts of the lattice work or certain parts of the lattice work constitute buoyancy bodies of the lattice work, that is to say certain parts of the lattice work can for example be filled with air or filled with buoyancy medium, while remaining parts of the lattice work can be filled with sea water or another weight-forming medium.
If desired the lattice work 10 can in the one outer position be- suspended or fixed by means of a fastening line (not shown) in order to restrict move¬ ment of the lattice work in the one direction of move¬ ment.
Practical tests have shown that movements of the lattice work - in step with movements of the sea - over a certain period of time have involved the removal of marine overgrowth which has already commenced from that portion 11 of the rig construction which extends closely up to the lattice work and which is overlapped by movements of the lattice work. In addition it has been found that existing -marine overgrowth on con¬ struction members 11a and lib, which extend up to the construction member covered by the lattice work, is also removed as a side effect of the removal of marine overgrowth from the construction member 11 covered by" the lattice work 10.
It has been found that the flow movement which is caused between the moveable lattice work 10 relative to the construction member 11 creates poor growth conditions for marine overgrowth. The result is that additional new overgrowth is prevented, at the same time as overgrowth which has already commenced is re- moved. All according to desire and need one dan use the lattice work as a continuous protection for the various members of the rig construction or as an intermittently acting protection for the same.
- The lattice work in the illustrated embodiment is fabricated from a series of arcuate.. ring-shaped members 16 which are disposed at suitable distances from each other in the axial direction of the lattice work together with a pair or a number of longitudinal connecting elements 17 which connect the arcuate ring ele- ments 16 to each other. The arcuate ring members 16 can be made having arbitrary lengths and having arbi¬ trary arcuate outlines, adapted according to indivi¬ dual modes of use, that is to say depending upon the diameter and/or the shape of the _construction member which is to be maintained 'or cleaned. In the illu¬ strated embodiment of Fig. 1 there are used three arcuate ring elements 16, which together surround the whole periphery of the construction member 11, while in Fig. 2 there is shown an alternative embodi- ment having two arcuate ring elements 16 which surround the construction member. In Fig. 1 there are omitted in certain segments (at junction points 18) of the lattice work 10 the one of the three sections or elements 16 to form a C-shaped arcuate ring outline, so that the lattice work 10 in such segments can pass unhindered a junction point 18 between several con¬ struction members 11 and 11a, lib respectively. Arcuate ring elements 16 and connecting elements 17 are shown in the form of plastic pipes or plastic hoses, preferably made of nylon which is especially resistant to ultra violet light, heat, oil, chemicals and sea water having different salt contents.
The elements 16 and 17 are connected to each other via junction point-forming connection components 19, which in Fig. 3 are illustrated having four sleeve- shaped fastening pins 20, which project outwardly from a common housing member 21 having through bores. One end 20a of the fastening pins 20 can be provided with external threads which cooperate with corresponding internal threads of the housing member 21, while freely outwardly projecting ends 20b of the fastening pins can be provided with tensioning means 22, 23 for fixing the elements 16 and 17 each on its respective fastening pii . Alternatively the pins 20 can be connected to the housing member 21 via rapid coupling devices (not shown further) . In' Fig. 3 there are shown tensioning means 22 in the form of an annular series of inverted wedge-shaped gripping fingers, which to¬ gether with the pin end 20b disposed radially within define a gap 24 for the reception of the end portion of an element 16 or 17. By means of a clamp sleeve 23 which is axially moveable on the pin 20 one can grip into position the gripping fingers 22 in an effective fastening grip with the equivalent end portion of the element 16 or 17. Alternatively the elements 16 or 17 • can be provided with permanently secured rapid coupling members which replace the pins 20.
The housing member 21 of the connection component
10 can be made for example of polypropylene, while the pins 20 with associated gripping fingers 22 and clamp sleeve 23 can be made of nylon with an outer layer of PVC plastic.
The afore-mentioned example can be given diffe¬ rent practical designs and be made of various other materials than described, as required, for example depending upon the temperature conditions, salt content and the like at the location of use.
The illustrated connection components 19 can if necessary be used for correspondingly fastening a sleeve stump on a float 15 to the lattice work 10.
In Fig. 4 there is shown a solution where the housing member 21a of the connection component 19 is provided with a fastening pin 25 for fixing a float 15. In addition there is shown an outlet 26 which passes across bores of the housing member 21a for the pins 20.In the outlet there is inserted a valve-forming sealing plug 27 having a rapid coupling connection to the housing member. Equivalent sealing plugs can be used at all the locations in the lattice work where elements 16 and 17 are excluded, for example at the lower end of the lattice work. To the plug 27 there can be coupled as indicated by broken lines 28 a pressure hose with associated rapid coupling. The hose 28 is connected to a pump 29 which via a supply conduit 30 is supplied with hydraulic oil or another weight-forming or buoyancy means-forming fluid from a supply 31. After the lattice work is put into position at the location of use, one takes care to fill the lattice work with pressure fluid, so that a favorable reinforcement is obtained on stretching out or extending different elements 16 and 17 of the lattice work with pressure fluid. By adapting the specific- gravity of the fluid for the purpose there "can be obtained a neutral buoyancy condition on the lattice work, and thereby the buoyancy of the whole lattice work can be easily controlled with a moderate buoyancy force in the floats 15.
In Fig. 5 there is shown a brush member 32 con- sisting of a sleeve member 33 split up longitudinally to which bristles 34 are fastened in groups. The brush member 32 is adapted to be fastened to an associated arcuate ring element 16. As a consequence of the curvature of the element 16 in the longitudinal direction the member 32 is prevented from turning unintentionally on the element 16, but can be adjusted into different positions on the element 16 as required.

Claims

CLAIMS :
1. Process for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members (11, 11a, lib) in a rig construction at sea, especially for the removal and prevention of marine overgrowth on said outer surfaces, characterised in that the construction member (11) which is to be maintained is enclosed totally or partially by a lattice work (10) at a certain distance from the outer surface of the construction member, the lattice work (10) being subjected respectively to a to and fro and upwards and down¬ wards movement in the sea at a certain moderate distance from the construction member (11) .
2. Process in accordance with claim 1, charac¬ terised in that the lattice work (10) is subjected to a movejaent brought about by wave movements of the sea and tidal movements of the sea respectively, movements of the lattice work being governed by buoyancy means (floats 15) in the lattice work.
3. Apparatus for carrying out the process according to claim 1, for the maintenance_and cleaning of the outer surfaces of construction members (11, 11a, lib) in a rig construction at sea, especially for the removal and prevention of marine overgrowth on said' outer surfaces, characterised in that the appa¬ ratus consists of a lattice work (10) comprising a set of arcuate ring-shaped elements (16) and a set of longitudinal connecting elements (17) together with connection components (19) for coupling together the ring-forming elements (16) and the longitudinal ele¬ ments (17) into a coherent unit, and that the lattice work (10) is provided with means (15) for moving the lattice work to and fro along a construction member (11) at a certain moderate distance from the outer surface of the construction member and with a length of movement at least equivalent to the distance between the arcuate ring-shaped elements (16) .
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, charac¬ terised in that the lattice work is provided with buoyancy means (floats 15) or that certain elements
(16) of the lattice work (10) consitute buoyancy means.
5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 or 4, charac¬ terised in that the arcuate ring-shaped elements (16) and the longitudinal elements (17) are pipe-shaped or hose-shaped and cooperate with connection components
(19) having fastening pins (20) which receive their respective end of the pipe-shaped or hose-shaped ele¬ ments, the connection component (19) preferably having fastening pins (20) arranged in a T-shaped or X-shaped design, and that the arcuate ring-shaped elements (16) each preferably extend over an arc of between 90 and 180° of the periphery of the lattice work (10) together with that the lattice work (10) consists of at least three and preferably a larger number of mutually parallel closed and/or split ring elements which are supported by or support remaining parts of the lattice work.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the lattice work (10) at the upper end is provided-with floats (15) for movement of the lattice work (10) relative to the construction member (11) in step with movements of the sea.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 or 6, characterised in that at least certain of elements (16) of the lattice work form buoyancy bodies, while remaining parts of the lattice work (10) including the connection components (19) form weight bodies.
8. Apparatus in accordance with one of claims 5 to
7, characterised in that the pipe-shaped or hose-shaped elements (16, 17) are in flow communication with each other via canals and passages in the associated connec¬ tion components (19) , the lattice work (10) by means of valve-forming sealing plugs (27) and/or similar plugs or pins (25) forming a coherent, closed hollow body, designed for the reception of a pressure-loaded fluid medium.
9. Apparatus in accordance with one of claims 3 to
8, characterised in that the arcuate ring elements (16) of the lattice work (10) are provided with a brush-forming member (30) for brushing off marine overgrowth from the rig leg (11) or the like.
EP19850900782 1984-02-02 1985-01-23 Process and apparatus for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction Withdrawn EP0172187A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848402845A GB8402845D0 (en) 1984-02-02 1984-02-02 Structure and riser cleaning equipment
GB8402845 1984-02-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0172187A1 true EP0172187A1 (en) 1986-02-26

Family

ID=10556003

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850900782 Withdrawn EP0172187A1 (en) 1984-02-02 1985-01-23 Process and apparatus for maintaining and cleaning the outer surfaces of construction members in a rig construction

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0172187A1 (en)
GB (1) GB8402845D0 (en)
NO (1) NO844939L (en)
WO (1) WO1985003485A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5026212A (en) * 1987-05-15 1991-06-25 Iev International Pty. Limited Apparatus for the combatting of marine growth on offshore structures
GB2261007A (en) * 1991-10-31 1993-05-05 Nigel Thomson Marine structure repair caisson

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8503485A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1985003485A1 (en) 1985-08-15
NO844939L (en) 1985-08-05
GB8402845D0 (en) 1984-03-07

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