Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B22/00—Buoys
  • B63B22/04—Fixations or other anchoring arrangements
  • B63B22/06—Fixations or other anchoring arrangements with means to cause the buoy to surface in response to a transmitted signal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B22/00—Buoys
  • B63B22/04—Fixations or other anchoring arrangements
  • B63B22/08—Fixations or other anchoring arrangements having means to release or urge to the surface a buoy on submergence thereof, e.g. to mark location of a sunken object
  • B63B22/14—Buoy-to-object securing means responsive to hydrostatic pressure
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
  • F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
  • F16L1/16—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water on the bottom
  • F16L1/163—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water on the bottom by varying the apparent weight of the pipe during the laying operation
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
  • F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
  • F16L1/20—Accessories therefor, e.g. floats, weights
  • F16L1/24—Floats; Weights

Definitions

• the present invention is relative to a disengagement device that can be part of the buoy or can be independent from it, containg both a coded remote control able to receive ultrasound signals or other types of control, as discussed later, and a mechanism that either estract blades to cut the straps, or self explosive bolts, or a mechanism similar to baggage or trunk locks, spring or explosion actuated.
• the spring loaded device must be pro-loaded and blocked before usage by a tooth that will be removed by remote control, unlocking the system, and allowing buoy's disengagement, emersion and recovery.
• the remote control may also be activated mechanically, or though a signal sent through a wire or through the pipe itself.
• a similar device can be used, coupled to smaller size buoys, to recuperate also the transponders that are sometimes strapped to the pipe.
• the device can also be integrated with the transponder, that will be used as a two way submarine radio.
• Figure I shows a possible execution of the device, on which four slots used to strap the device to the buoy are present. Notice that one of the extremes is bulkier to host the remote control, its battery, the cutting blade ready to use, together with the unlocking mechanism, that can be actuated via solenoid, or by a chemical reaction (explosion).
• Figure 2 shows a possible version of the device in which the pre-loaded spring acts on a rigid stucture connecting two wedges, causing with their displacement the exit of the blades and the cutting of the straps connecting the buoy to the pipe.
• the device presents on one side self explosive bolts which are holding the straps through a simple slot, while on the other side a similar device is blocked by an open hook, that is freed by the explosion of the bolts.
• Figure 4 shows the device in a simpler and more economic version in which the self exploding bolts are substituited by a lock very similar to those utilized for closing luggages and trunks, and where the preloading mechanism can be a spring or explosive.
• Figure 5 shows the device fixed to the buoy with straps, while the following shows device and buoy fixed to the pipe.
• Figure 7 shows the disengagement phase during which the blades are cutting the straps, while the following 8 and 9 show the "animation" of the disengagement phase in the last two versions of the device. Description of Preferred Embodiment.
• the preferred embodiement is based on a mechanism which on one side presents an open slot in which the bolts used to tend the straps are located. On the other side a mechanism similar to a car trunk lock has been used, presenting a special shape that, at opening, not only frees the end ring, but also pushes it out of the slot, ensuring the unlocking process. This is shown in Figure 10.
• the six degrees of freedom are all rotational, but allow as well placing the two bodies in any reciprocal position.
• the six degrees of freedom of both the measuring device and the two fixator's portions can be set as described in US Patent n° 5,152,280 ( Figure 3), or in any other configuration, as long as at least three rotational degrees are left.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Testing Or Calibration Of Command Recording Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11348359

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (3)

Citations (11)

• 1998
  • 1998-12-23 IT IT1998CS000017A patent/IT1305742B1/it active
• 1999
  • 1999-12-23 WO PCT/IT1999/000419 patent/WO2000038974A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (11)

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