GB2384842A

GB2384842A - Tie down attachment member

Info

Publication number: GB2384842A
Application number: GB0312973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William D Kirk
Original assignee: Hubbell Inc
Current assignee: Hubbell Inc
Priority date: 1998-12-16
Filing date: 1999-12-15
Publication date: 2003-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-15
Also published as: GB2384842B; GB0312975D0; GB2384843A; GB2384843B; GB0312973D0

Abstract

A pipeline buoyancy control assembly includes a pair of anchor rods (16), a pair of tie-down attachment members (18), a pair of termination member (20), and a flexible endless strap (14) having an endless loop configuration. The anchor rods (16) are driven partially into the ground along opposite lateral sides of the pipeline. The tie-down attachment members (18) are disposed on and mounted to upper ends portions of the anchor rods (16) with each tie-down attachment member (18) having a tubular mounting body (40) defining an axial passageway (42) through which the upper end portion of one anchor rod (16) extends and a retainer body (44) disposed in an oblique relation and attached to the tubular mounting body (40). Each termination member (20) is mounted to the upper end portion of one of the anchor rods (16). The endless strap (14) has opposite portions secured to the tie-down attachment members (18) and main portions laid over a top or and disposed in a substantially transverse relation to the pipeline (P) and extending between and attached to the opposite portions. The retainer body (44) of each tie-down attachment member defines an annular shoulder (46) that overlies and encompasses one of the opposite portions of the endless strap (14) so as to retain the endless strap (14) in place over the top of the pipeline such that a buoyancy load of the pipeline is spread over the anchor rods and thereby reduces stress applied to the anchor rods.

Description

TIE-DOWN ATTACHMENT MEMBER The present invention generally relates to oil-and gas pipelines and, more particularly, is concerned with a pipeline buoyancy control assembly and a tiedown attachment member therefor.

Oil and gas pipelines often need to be anchored or stabilized. Underwater pipelines and pipelines buried in saturated soils may attempt to float. This buoyancy mus :-be controlled by some means. A variety of assemblies or methods have been developed over the years for anchoring pipelines. Passive gravity systems. suon as weights, are common. Other systems have included the emoloyment of helical sorew anchors with steel or polyester pipebands.

A repressentative example of a prjor art pipeline anchor apparatus is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5, 730, 552 to Johannesson et al. The Jon2nnesson patent shows an elongated flexible tie-down strap extending over a pipeline and attached s : opposite ends to iefi and right anchor units. The tie-down strap is made of ooiyester webbing and has a loop formed and sev/. n at each of its opposite entas ouf the strap. Each loop is secured to a tie-down bracket along a side thereof facing the pipeiine. The tie-down brackets are mounted to extension rods which, in turn, are attached to anchor rods of the respective anchor units.

Each anchor rod has a helical anchor attached thereabout. Each tie-down bracket has a side sleeve-like connector defining a channel or slot running alongside the bracket through which passes one of the tie-down strap loops. Each loop of the tie-down strap wraps around an outer wall of the side connector of one of the tie-down brackets.

Problems exist, however, with many prior art designs. For instance, in the case of the Johnannesson et al anchor apparatus, eccentric loading due to the strap being connected by the tie-down bracket on one side offre anchor rod

creates undesirable high bending stress and concentration of stress in the anchor rods of the arrangement. Further, due to corrosion, the side connector of the tiedown bracket may break at either of its locations of securement to the anchor rod and thereby permit release of the strap. If this occurs, the pipeline would be free to float upwardly at that point overloading adjacent anchor sets, which could lead to a catastrophic failure.

Consequently, a need remains for an assembly which provides a solution to the aforementioned problems in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a pipeline buoyancy coniro ! Essembiy and 2 te-down anschment member therefor designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The pipeline buoyancy control assembly of the present invention employs

2 csr cfthe 3-dov/n stschmer, .'nembers mounied to heiics ! sc.'-B.. anchor rods and connected to opposite portions of an endless strap. preferably being flexible. ins tie-down attachment memoers have iubuiar Dodies concemncahy received over the anchor rods and retainer bodies attached transversely to the respective tubular bodies and thus extending transversely to the anchor rocs The retainer bodies define respective annular shoulders extending substantially around the tubular bodies and thus substantially around the anchor rods. The strap has an endless loop configuration and at respective opposite portions extends around the tubular bodies and below the annular shoulders of the retainer bodies of the respective tie-down attachment members and thus around the anchor rods so as to reduce the amount of bending stress and the stress concentrations on the anchor rods and thereby produce less bending deformation of the anchor rods and instead a more efficient transfer and even distribution of the buoyancy load of the pipeline through the tie-down attachment members to the anchor rods.

Also, due to the flexible strap being endless and comprised of elongated fibers enclosed in a tubular sheath the fibers are protected from both abrasion and UV degration.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a pipeline buoyancy

control assembly which comprises: (a) a pair of anchoring devices positionable at opposite lateral sides of a pipeline and securable to portions of ground beneath the pipeline; and (b) an endless strap having an endless loop configuration and including a pair of spaced apart opposite portions adapted to be coupled to the anchoring devices and a pair of main portions extending between and interconnecting the opposite portions and adapted to extend substantially transversely to the pipeline and over a top and downwardly past the opposite lateral sides of the pipeline to the opposite portions of the endless strap. Each of the anchoring devices includes a tie-down attachment member adapted to receive and retain the endless strap at one of the opposite portions thereof, and an anchor rod having opposite upper and lower end portions, the lower end portion being adapted to be driven into one of the ground portions while the upper end portion is adapted to mount the tie-down attachment member.

More parlicularly, each tie-down attachment member includes a tubular mounting body having a longitudinal axis and an axial passageway extending e ereEiong, ano a retainer oody aachec 10 the tubutar mounting booy an Ig, P-I i L Ay L extending substantially about and in a substantially oblique rotation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular mounting body and defining an annular shoulder extending substantially around the longitudflin-l axis of the tubular mounting body. The opposite portions of the endless are are retained below the respective annular shoulders of the retainer bodies and pass around the tubular mounting bodies so as to retain the main portions of the endless strap in place laid over the top of the pipeiine such that an upward buoyancy load of the pipeline is distributed about the tubular mounting bodies of the tie-down attachment members so as to disperse concentration of stress applied to the respective anchoring devices via the endless strap from the pipeline. Specifically, each retainer body has a middle bight portion and a pair of opposite side portions provided in a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration in transverse crosssection. The middle bight portion has a central hole receiving the tubular mounting body therethrough such that the middle bight portion of the retainer body is rigidly attached to the tubular mounting body. Also, the endless strap is preferably flexible, being comprised of a plurality of elongated fibers and includes a tubular sheath enclosing the fibers.

Further, each anchoring device includes a termination member mounted to the upper end portion of one of the anchor rods above the tie-down attachment member thereon. The termination member defines an interior cavity securably receiving an upper end of the upper end portion of the one anchor rod. The termination member has opposite upper and lower ends and an annular rim provided on the lower end The annular rim is adapted to contact the tubular mounting body of the tie-down attachment member as the lower end portion of the anchor rod is driven into the ground and tension is thereby created in the endless strap between the anche rods of the anchoring devices for preventing the endless strap from sliding 2iong the top of the pipeline and for preventing the pipeline from rising or lifting from its position relaiive to the ground. The annular rim of each termination member projec : s radially outwardly from the termination member so as to catch the one opposite portion of the endless strap should the retainer body of one of tne : ie-down snacnment members break away from the iuou ! sr mounting body The present Invenuon aiso IS directed to a pipeline buoyancy control assemdiy which comprises (a) a paIr of anchoring devices positionable at opposite laterai sioes of 2 bobeilne and securable to persons of ground beneath the pipeline, each of the anchoring devices including (i) an anchor rod having opposite upper and lower end ponions, the lower end portion being adapted to be driven into one of the ground portions, and (ii) a tie-down attachment member disposed on and mounted 10 the upper end portion of the anchor rod, the tie-down attachment member including a tubular mounting body having a longitudinal axis and an axial passageway extending therealong and a retainer body attached to the tubular mounting body and extending substantially about and in a transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular mounting body and defining an annular shoulder extending substantially around the longitudinal axis of the tubular mounting body, the upper end portion of the anchor rod extending through the axial passage of the tubular mounting body for mounting the tubular mounting body of the respective tie-down attachment member to and concentrically about the anchor rod ; and (b) a flexible strap having opposite portions coupled to the tie-down attachment members of the anchoring devices by passing below the respective annular shoulders of the retainer bodies and around the tubular

mounting bodies so as to retain the flexible strap in place extending substantially transversely of the pipeline and over a top and downwardly past the opposite lateral sides of the pipeline such that an upward buoyancy load of the pipeline is distributed substantially about the tubular mounting bodies of the tie-down attachment members and thus about the anchor rods so as to efficiently transfer stress and disperse any concentration of stress applied to the respective anchoring devices via the flexible strap from the pipeline.

The present invention further is related to a tie-down attachment member for a pipeline buoyancy control assembly wherein the tie-down attachment member comprises : (a) a tubular mounting body having a longitudinal axis and an axial passageway extending therealong for receiving an anchor rod of a pipeline buoyancy control assembly to mount the tubular mounting body to and concentrically about the anchor rod ; and (b) an retainer body attached to the tubular mounting body and extending substantial about and in a transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular mounting body and defining an annular shoulder extending substantially around the longitudinal axis of the tubular mounting body for receiving a portion of a strap of the pipeline buoyancy control assembiy under the annuiar shouider so as to retain the portion of the strap in place about the tubular mounting body and thereby about the anchor rod.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled In the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which : FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tie-down attachment member of the present invention employed in each of a pair of anchoring devices of a pipeline buoyancy control assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tie-down attachment member of FIG. 1.

FIG 3 IS another side elevational view of the tie-down attachment member as seen along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is still another side elevational view of the tie-down attachment

member as seen along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the tie-down attachment member as seen along line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a hollow tubular mounting body of the tie-down attacnment member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the tubular mounting body as seen along line 7 --7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a retainer body of the tie-down attachment member of FIG. 1.

FIG. S is an end view of the retainer body as seen along line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 IS a side eievational view of the retainer body as seen along line 10-10 of FIG 8 =IG 11 is a side elevational view of an anchor rod termination member employed In each of the anchoring devices of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is another side elevational view of the termination member as seen

along line 12--12 of FIG 11 FIG. 13 ! S a cross-se : tional view of the termination member taken along line 13--13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is another cross-sectional view of the termination member taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a foreshortened side elevational view of a lower end portion of an anchor rod employed in each of the anchoring devices of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a foreshortened side elevational view of an upper end portion of the anchor rod employed in each of the anchoring devices of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a flexible endless strap employed in the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the flexible endless strap.

FIG. 19 is a end view of the assembly showing the anchor rods of the pair of anchoring devices of the assembly disposed at opposite lateral sides of a pipeline and before insisting of the tie-down attachment members and termination members of the anchoring devices on the anchor rods.

FIG. 20 is another end view of the assembly showing the anchor rods and tie-down attachment members of the pair of anchoring devices and the flexible endless strap disposed over the pipeline top and secured about the tie-down attachment members.

FIG. 21 is still another end view 07 the assembly showing the anchor rods, tie-down attachment members and termination members of the pair of anchoring aevices and the fiexibie endiess strap disposed over me pipeline top and secured

soout the tie-cowr, ssc. rre". . members.

FIG. 22 is yet another end view of the assembly simitar to that shown in FIG. 21 but with the anchor rods driven far : her into the ground and with tension created in the flexible endless strap between the anchor rods for preventing the strap from sliding along the top of the pipeline and the pipeline from shifting from a stationary position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 0 THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings and panicuiariy to FIGS. 1,11 and 15 to 17, there is illustrated in disassembled form 2 pipeline buoyancy control assembly, generally designated 10, of the present invention. Basically, the pipeline buoyancy control assembly 10 includes a pair of anchoring devices 12 and an

endless tie-down strap 14. As seen in FIGS. 20 to 22, the anchoring devices 12 are positionable at opposite lateral sides S of a pipeline P and securable to portions of ground G beneath the pipeline P. Each anchoring device 12 includes an anchor rod 16 of FIGS. 15 and 16, a tie-down attachment member 18 of FIG. 1 which itself comprises a feature of the present invention, and a anchor rod termination member 20 of FIG 11. As seen in FIG 17, the strap 14 preferably has an endless loop configuration and includes a pair of opposite portions 14A adapted to be coupled to the anchoring devices 12 and a pair of main portions 14B extending between and interconnecting the opposite portons 14A The

endless strap 14 is adapted to be laid over a top T of the pipeline P and 10 extend substantially transversely to and downwardly past the opposite lateral sides S of the pipeline P to the opposite portions 14A of the endless strap 14. The tie-down attachment members 18 of the anchoring devices 12 are adapted to receive and retain the endless strap 14 at the opposite portions 14A thereof. The anchor rods 16 are adapted to be screw driven into the ground portions as seen in FIG. 19 and to mount the respective tie-down attachment members 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 15,16 and 19, the anchor rod 16 of each anchoring device 12 has opposite upper and lower end portions 22,24, as are shown separately in FIGS. 15 and 16. The upper end ponion 22 of each anchor rod 16 has opposite upper and lower ends 22A, 22B. The upper end portion 22 may have a substantial solid metal, such as steel, body and a generally rectangular shape In transverse cross-section although other cross-sectional shapes are possibie. The upper end porilon 22 has a transverse opening 26 formed adjacent

-L-2B. The to ItS upper end 22A and s tubuiar section 28 formed at its lower end 228. The tubuisr 5ec : ic."i 25 nas a substantially rectangular configuration in transverse cross-section and is open at its lower end 28A and defines a pair of opposite hoies 30 for receiving a sus-labile fastener.

The lower end ponion 24 of each anchor rod 16 also has opposite upper and lower ends 2A 24B. The iower end portion 24 may have a substantially solid metal, such as steel, body and a generally rectangular shape in transverse cross-section although other cross-sectional shapes are possible. The tower end portion 24 has a transverse opening 32 formed adjacent to its upper end 24A and a wedge-shaped point 34 formed at its lower end 248. The upper end 24A of the lower end portion 24 fits within the tubular section 28 of the upper end portion 22.

The holes 30 and opening 32 are alignable such that the suitable fastener 36, such as a bolt, can pass therethrough so as to secure the upper and lower end portions 22, 24 to one another. The lower end portion 24 of each anchor rod 16 is Intended to be driven into the ground G. The wedge-shaped point 34 decreases the amount of force needed to be applied in order to insert the lower end portion 24 of each anchor rod 16 into the ground G. The lower end portion 24 of the anchor rod 16 also has a helical screw 38 formed thereon for retaining the lower end portion 24 within the ground G as the anchor rod 16 is rotatably

screwed in the ground.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, the tie-down attachment member 18 of each anchoring device 12 is disposed on and mounted to the upper end portion 22 of the anchor rod 16 of the anchoring device 12. The tie-down attachment member 18 includes a hollow tubular mounting body 40 having a longitudinal axis A and an axial passageway 42 extending therealong, and a retainer body 44 attached to the tubuiar mounting body 40 and extending substantially about and in a substantially oblique relation to the longitudinal axis A of the tubular mounting body 40. The retainer body 44 defines an annular shoulder 46 extending substantially around the longitudinal axis A of the tubular mounting body 40. The opposite portions 1A of the endless strap 14 are retained below the respective annular shoulders 45 of the retainer bodies 44 and pass around the tubular mounting bodies 40 so as to retain the main portions 14B of the endless strap 14 in n place laid over the top T of the pipeline P such that an upward buoyancy load of the pipe) ine P is distributed about the tubular mounting bodies 40 of the tiedown attachment members 18 so as to disperse any concentration of stress spoiled to the respective arichoring devices 12 via the endless strap 14 from the pioeiine P.

Specifically, as seen in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 to 10, each retainer body L4 has , I > pef- i I i r a middle wail bight portion 48 and a pair of opposite side walls or portions 50 provided in a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration in transverse cross- section. The middle bight ponion 48 has an oblong-shaped central hole 51 receiving the tubular mounting body 40 therethrough. The central hole 51 is oblong to accommodate the retainer body 44 being mounted at an oblique angle in relation to the tubular mounting body 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer body 44 is disposed at a desired oblique angle, such as about 450, but may be disposed at any other suitable angle, in relation to the tubular mounting body 40. The middle bight portion 48 of the retainer body 44 is rigidly attached tc the tubul-r cunting body 40 at the oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis A of the tubular mounting body 40. The middle bight portion 48 has a generally rectangular configuration while each side portion 50 has a substantially parallelogram configuration. Thus, the retainer body 44 has a substantially rectangular configuration when viewed from above or below. The retainer body

44 has opposite ends 44A, 44B The one end 44A of the retainer body 44 is disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane as the one end 40A of the tubular mounting body 40 while the other end 44B of the retainer body 44 is disposed above the horizontal plane of the other end 40B of the tubular mounting body 40. Thus, no portion of the retainer body 44 extends beyond either of the opposite ends 40A or 40B of the tubular mounting body 40. The length of the tubular mounting body 40 is approximately the same as the length of the retainer body 44. In one example, the tubular mounting body 40 has a diameter of at least 3 1/2 inches and a length of at least 8 inches. The relatively large size of the radius of the tubular mounting body 40 lessens the amount of stress created in the flexible endless slrap 14 in passing around the tubular mounting body 40 below the annular shoulder 45 of the retainer body 44. The opposite side portions 50 are disposed In a generally parallel relationship to one another and at an angle in relation to the rrnddte bigni potion 43. The side portions 50 and the middle bight portion 48 give the re : 2lner body. 14 its U-shaped configuration.

T, 1 v g I w D i S h i |. i o in w z, fi s, ~ D o [. i o n b Q 0 e s u ~ s. G I i y t h e s a, e dimensions of lenath width and thickn-ss i ne m ! C3) 5 0 ! gn person- snc sice oortons ou nave suossnSfiy tne ssme dimensions of length width and thickness Tne rruodie ognt pornon 43 of me rener Dooy 4 oennes the annular shoulder 46 about the central hole 51. The U-shaped retainer body 44 encompasses the one of the opposite ponjons 14A of the endless strap 14 which passestherethroughundertheannularsnoulder46ofthemiddlebightportion48.

The retainer bodies 44 of the tie-down attachment members 18 thereby retain the main portions 148 of the endless strap 14 in place over the top T of and in substantially transverse relation to the pipeline P such that a buoyancy load of the pipeline P is spread over the anchor rods 16 so as to thereby disperse and reduce the stress applied to the anchor rods 15.

The anchor rod 16 of each anchoring device 12 is received through the axial passageway 42 of the tubular mounting body 40 so as to mount the tie-down attachment member 18 thereon with the tubular mounting body 40 disposed in a concentric relation about the anchor rod 16. The diameter of the tubular mounting body 40 is slightly greater than that of the upper end portion 22 of the anchor rod 16 such that the tubular mounting body 40 fits rotatably onto the upper end portion 22 and remains stationary on the upper end portion 22 relative to the

pipeline P as the anchor rod 16 is screwed driven into the ground. The tubular mounting body 40 is substantially less in length than the length of the upper end portion 22 of each anchor rod 16, but greater than the length of typical attachment or connection member of the prior art.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 14, the anchor rod termination member 20 of each anchoring device 12 is mounted to the upper end 22A of the upper end portion 22 of one of the anchor rods 16 above the respective tie-down attachment member 18. Each termination member 20 has opposite upper and lower end portions 52, 54 terminating at opposite upper and lower ends 52A, 54A. The upper and lower end portions 52, 54 of each termination member 20 have generally rez. angular configuration In transverse cross-section. Each termination member 20 defines an interior cavity 56 securabty receiving the upper end 22A of the upper end portion 22 of the respective anchor rod 16. Holes 58 are defined in opposite portions of the termination member 20 at the lower end portion 54 thereof which siign v/ith the transverse opening 26 in the upper end 22A of the upper end portion 22 of the anchor ; 0 : 16. The aligned holes 58 and opening 26 receive a

fastener in the form of a boli 60 so as to secure the termination member 20 to the upper end poruon 22 of the respective anchor rod 16.

Each termination member 20 aiso has an annular rim 62 provided on the lower end 54A of me lower end portion 54 thereof. The annular rim 62 is adapted to contact the tubuiar mounting body 40 of a respective tie-down attachment member 18 as the lower end portion 24 of one of the anchor rods 16 is screw driven into the ground G and tension is thereby created in the endless strap 14 between the anchor rods 16 of the anchoring devices 12 for preventing the endless strap 14 from sliding along the top T of the pipeline P and for preventing the pipeline P from rising from its position relative to-the ground. The annular rim ô2 of each termination member 20 also projects radially outwardly from the termination member 20 so as to catch the one opposite portion 14A of the endless strap 14 should the retainer body 44 of one of the tie-down attachment members 18 break away from the tubular mounting body 40.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the flexible endless strap 14 preferably is flexible and in the form of a loop and does not have any set ends. Also, the endless strap 14 preferably ! S comprised of a plurality of elongated fibers 64, such

as made of polyester, and a tubular sheath 66, such as made of nylon, enclosing the fibers 64. The sheath 66 protects the fibers 64 from abrasion and UV light degradation. Additionally, the endless strap 14 may be a thin-wall sheet metal band or a wire loop or the like, which is deformable. The strap 14 may have any suitable size based on a distance between the anchor rods 16 and the diameter of the pipeline P.

FIGS. 19 to 22 show the pipeline buoyancy control assembly 10 in successive stages in assembling its components together. FIG. 19 shows the assembly 10 with the anchor rods 16 of the anchoring devices 12 disposed at the opposite lateral sides S of the pipeline P and installed into the ground G before installing of the @e-down attachment members 18 and termination members 20 on the anchor rods 16 FIG 20 shows the assembly 10 with the tie-down attachment members 18 instalied on the anchor rods 16 and the main portions 143 of the fiexible endiess stra@ 12 @aid over the pipeline top T and with the opposite

Donions 14A of the ScreD 1 L secured about the tie-down attachment members 18. FiG. 21 snc s-he sss mcr.'1C with the tie-down attachment members 13 and terrrnnation members 20 ! ns : a ! ied on the anchor rods 16 and the flexible endless si 14 aic ever : ne oice. e o T and secured about the tie-down cachmeni members 18 before finai screwing of the anchor rods 16 into the ground. FIG 22 snows the assemoiy 10 S ! rr'. ! ! ar 10 that shown in FIG. 21 but with the ancnor rods 16 driven fanner inic tne ground and with tension created in the flexible endiess I L strap 14 between the anchor rods 16 for preventing the strap 14 from sliding along the top T of the pipene P and the pipeline P from rising from its position relative to the ground.

It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrific : ng all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.

Claims

1. A tie-down attachment member for a pipeline buoyancy control assembly, said attachment member comprising: (a) a tubular mounting body having a longitudinal axis and an axial passageway extending therealong for receiving an anchor rod of a pipeline buoyancy control assembly to mount said tubular mounting body to and concentrically about the anchor rod; and (b) a retainer body attached to said tubular mounting body and extending substantially about and in an oblique relation to said longitudinal axis of said tubular mounting body and defining an annular shoulder extending substantially around said longitudinal axis of said tubular mounting body for receiving a portion of an endless strap of the pipeline buoyancy control assembly under said annular shoulder so as to retain the portion of the strap in place about said tubular mounting body and thereby about the anchor rod.

2. The attachment member of Claim 1, wherein said retainer body has a middle bight portion and a pair of opposite side portions provided in a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration in transverse cross-section, said middle bight portion having a central hole receiving said tubular mounting body therethrough, said middle bight portion being rigidly attached to said tubular mounting body.

3. The member of Claim 1 or 2, wherein said retainer body has a substantially rectangular configuration as viewed from above or below said retainer body and along said longitudinal axis of said tubular mounting body.

4. The member of any preceding claim, wherein said retainer body is disposed at about a 450 angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said tubular mounting body.

5. A tie-down attachment member for a pipeline buoyancy control assembly as claimed in Claims 1-4, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.