GB2261761A

GB2261761A - Sub-sea sign

Info

Publication number: GB2261761A
Application number: GB9224147A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Deal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-25
Filing date: 1992-11-18
Publication date: 1993-05-26
Also published as: GB9124963D0; GB9224147D0

Abstract

A sub-sea sign comprises alpha-numeric characters (2) each located in a respective aperture (3) of a support member (4). The alpha-numeric characters and the support member are formed of PTFE. The alpha-numeric members have a front surface protruding from the front surface of the support member and are inserted from the rear surface of the support member. The apertures (3) and the alpha-numeric members have a chamfer such that the alpha-numeric member is prevented from passing entirely through the front face of the support member (4). The sub-assembly may be mounted on a backing member. <IMAGE>

Description

SUB SEA SIGN This invention relates to a sub sea sign.

It is known to provide signs in the sea, for example attached to the legs of oil rigs, for use in maintenance and other purposes.

The signs that are currently used tend to suffer from marine growth, for example barnacles, weed, etc., becoming attached to the sign and obliterating the sign.

The present invention seeks to overcome the foregoing disadvantage.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a sub sea sign comprising a support member in which are located indicia, said indicia and support member being made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), said indicia being located in respective apertures in the support member and each indicia and respective aperture having like, mating, chamfered edges whereby the indicia are inserted into the aperture from a rear face of the support member and prevented from passing completely through the aperture by said mating chamfered edges.

Advantageously, the front face of the indicia protrudes from a front planar face of the support member.

Conveniently, the rear face of the indicia and support member have a common planar surface and said planar surface is coated with a pigmented, bondable PTFE adhesive acceptable surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the indicia are alphanumeric characters.

Advantageously, the support member has securing means for permitting attachment to a structure, such as an oil rig platform leg.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a sub sea sign comprising a backing member upon which is mounted a sub-assembly of indicia located in apertures in a support member, the front face of the indicia remote from the backing member protruding from a planar front surface of the support member, wherein the sub-assembly of indicia and support member is made of PTFE.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a sub sea sign in accordance with one aspect of this invention, Figure 2 shows an exploded side view of the parts shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a side view, in partial section, of the sign shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a side view of the sign of Figures 1 3 mounted on a backing member, and Figures 5(a) - 5(d) show the sub sea sign with various attachment members.

In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

The sub sea sign shown in Figures 1 - 3 has subassembly formed of alpha-numeric characters 1, 2 each located in a respective aperture 3 of a support member 4.

The alpha-numeric characters 1, 2 and the support member 4 are formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the member 4 may vary, for example, in size from 100mum x 100mm to im x lm. The support member may be, for example, 2 or 3mm thick and the alpha-numeric members 1, 2 may be 3 to 6mm thick, having a front surface protruding from the front surface of the support member 4, and the rear surface of the alpha-numeric characters 1, 2 and the support member 4 being in the same plane.

The edges of the alpha-numeric characters 1, 2 are chamfered in the range 100 - 150 such that the front surface of the alpha-numeric character has a smaller area than the rear surface thereof. The edges of the aperture 3 are similarly shaped so that the aperture 3 permits the alpha-numeric character to be inserted from a rear side thereof (as shown in Figure 2) and so that the rear surface of the support member 4 and alpha-numeric character 1, 2 lie in the same plane, as mentioned above. The forementioned chamfer prevents the alpha-numeric character from passing entirely through the front face of the support member 4.

By ensuring the alpha-numeric characters protrude from the front surface of the support member 4, it is possible for a remotely controlled camera to detect the alphanumeric characters without being perpendicular to the sign, bearing in mind that the signs may be some 200m below the surface of the sea.

Preferably the alpha-numeric characters are black and the front face of the support member 4 is yellow.

The rear surface of the alpha-numeric characters 1, 2 are coated with a pigmented bondable PTFE adhesive acceptable surface manufactured under BS5750, such as FLUOBOND (a trademark of James Walker Limited). The pigmented bondable PTFE adhesive acceptable surface 5 ensures that the sign may be bonded to an intermediate member 6, approximately lmm thick, of expanded, closed cell rigid polyvinylchloride (PVC) which has the property that it will not saturate. The bonding material may be a twopart epoxy resin adhesive manufactured by James Walker & BR< Co. Ltd. The intermediate member 6 is adhesively secured to a backing, substrate, member 7 made of, for example, glass resin fibre. The glass resin fibre member 7 has studs 8 moulded therein for fixing the sign to a sub sea structure, such a concrete, pipes, guard rails, scaffold poles, etc.

Other forms of fixing are shown in Figure 5(a) - (d), in which Figure 5(a) shows the sign with four apertures 11 for permitting straps to be inserted therethrough, so that the sign may be tied to a sub sea structure, Figure 5(b) shows the sign and the backing member 7 arcuately formed for attachment to a circularly cross-sectioned member, Figure 5(c) shows the backing member 7 located in a slot of a pillar 12, and Figure 5(d) shows the sign with a rubber buffer strip 13 around a peripheral edge of the sign to prevent sub sea apparatus rubbing against the sign and damaging its face. The rubber strip 13 is, preferably, impregnated with oil which leeches out to retain antimarine growth properties.

The sub sea sign of this invention is totally inert to acid, petro-chemicals and marine growth and, moreover, will not interfere with radio waves or become electrically charged in the environment, thereby alleviating the possibility of hazards to divers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sub sea sign comprising a support member in which are located indicia, said indicia and support member being made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), said indicia being located in respective apertures in the support member and each indicia and respective aperture having like, mating, chamfered edges whereby the indicia are inserted into the aperture from a rear face of the support member and prevented from passing completely through the aperture by said mating chamfered edges.

2. A sub sea sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front face of the indicia protrudes from a front planar face of the support member.

3. A sub sea sign as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the rear face of the indicia and support member have a common planar surface and said planar surface is coated with a pigmented, bondable PTFE adhesive acceptable surface.

4. A sub sea sign as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the indicia are alpha-numeric characters.

5. A sub sea sign as claimed in claim 4 wherein the support member has securing means for permitting attachment to a structure, such as an oil rig platform leg.

6. A sub sea sign comprising a backing member upon which is mounted a sub-assembly of indicia located in apertures in a support member, the front face of the indicia remote from the backing member protruding from a planar front surface of the support member, wherein the sub-assembly of indicia and support member is made of PTFE.

7. A sub sea sign substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.