PIPELINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A vehicle for carrying at least one module along an elongate body to perform an operation on the elongate body, the vehicle comprising:
- an elongate support structure carrying the at least one module, wherein the at least one module includes at least one of a repair module configured to perform a repair operation on the elongate body, a maintenance module configured to perform a maintenance operation on the elongate body and an inspection module configured to perform an inspection operation on the elongate body, and wherein the vehicle is configured to hold the elongate support structure away from the elongate body; and
a translation mechanism connected to the elongate support structure for causing the vehicle to translate along the elongate body, the translation mechanism comprising at least two translation members, each including a gripper and each being configured to be disengagable from the elongate body to pass a protuberance,wherein at least one of the grippers is a movable gripper that is movable relative to the support structure in the axial direction of the elongate body, and wherein the vehicle is configured to translate along the elongate body by moving the movable gripper whilst it is engaged with the elongate body.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle (10) for performing operations on a subsea pipeline, such as a riser (2), carries one or more interchangeable modules (18) and is configured to translate along the riser (2). The vehicle (10) comprises an elongate support structure (12) for carrying the modules (18). Gripper arms (14, 16) hold the support structure (12) a predetermined distance away from the elongate body and cause translation of the vehicle (10) along the riser (2) using a hand-over-hand action, so as to allow the vehicle (10) to pass protuberances or obstacles, such as a clamp (8), on the riser (2).
1 Citation
30 Claims
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1. A vehicle for carrying at least one module along an elongate body to perform an operation on the elongate body, the vehicle comprising:
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an elongate support structure carrying the at least one module, wherein the at least one module includes at least one of a repair module configured to perform a repair operation on the elongate body, a maintenance module configured to perform a maintenance operation on the elongate body and an inspection module configured to perform an inspection operation on the elongate body, and wherein the vehicle is configured to hold the elongate support structure away from the elongate body; and a translation mechanism connected to the elongate support structure for causing the vehicle to translate along the elongate body, the translation mechanism comprising at least two translation members, each including a gripper and each being configured to be disengagable from the elongate body to pass a protuberance, wherein at least one of the grippers is a movable gripper that is movable relative to the support structure in the axial direction of the elongate body, and wherein the vehicle is configured to translate along the elongate body by moving the movable gripper whilst it is engaged with the elongate body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30)
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4. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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14. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
Specification