OFFSHORE MARINE STRUCTURE EMBODYING ANCHOR PILE MEANS

• US 3,754,403 A
• Filed: 02/09/1972
• Issued: 08/28/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George E. Mott, James P. Wilbourn
• Original Assignee: George E. Mott, James P. Wilbourn
• Inventors: Mott, George E., Wilbourn, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US05/224,734
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 61/46.5,46,50,52,53.5 173/43
• US Class Current: 405/196
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0004 Nodal points
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/02 placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0065 Monopile structures
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0086 Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/42 Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/425 specially adapted for wind motors masts wind motors per se F03D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/50 Anchored foundations

Abstract

The invention relates to a buoyant marine structure as would be found, or is usable in a body of water which lies above a penetrable substratum. The structure is comprised of several operably connected components and is controllably buoyant as to be floated or propelled to a proposed working site. Thereafter, the buoyancy is regulated to sink the hull portion of the structure to a resting place on the ocean floor. A series of anchoring piles are carried on the structure in such manner that they can be readily released from a fixed position to enter the penetrable substratum, and thereafter be driven to a desired depth.

Claims

1. A buoyant marine structure for an offshore body of water adapted to be releasably fixed to the floor beneath said body of water and comprising;

a. a submergible hull having a deck support means extending upwardly therefrom, said hull including controllable buoyancy means therein adapted to regulate the disposition of said hull within said body of water, b. pile guide means positioned transversely of said hull, being canted inwardly toward said support means, said pile guide means including an inlet at the hull upper side and an outlet opening at the lower side thereof, c. a deck operably carried on said deck support means, and being movable along the latter between upper and lower positions with respect to said hull, at least one elongated cylindrical pile having the lower end thereof received in said pile guide means and having the upper end operably engaged at said deck, said at least one pile upper end being urged toward the deck whereby to bend the pile and cause the lower end thereof to be fixed within said pile guide means and to preclude downward movement of the pile when said deck is in the lowered position, and as said deck is elevated to its upper position, said pile being permitted to adjust into alignment with the pile guide means and to slide therethrough whereby to enter the substratum beneath said hull.

2. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, including pile positioning means disposed in said pile guide means to engage the lower end of a pile and at least partially support the pile.

3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pile positioning means includes a displaceable member engaging the pile lower end.

4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pile positioning means includes a frangible member engaging the pile lower end.

5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deck includes;

an outer edge, clamping means carried on said deck edge being actuatable to releasably grasp a pile prior to the latter being lowered to the substratum.

6. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deck is formed with a substantially circular peripheral configuration, said pile guides being circularly arranged in said hull whereby said plurality of piles will be brought into alignment with said respective pile guides substantially simultaneously as said deck is raised toward the upper position.

7. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, including;

pile locking means carried on said deck to operably grasp the pile, and being actuatable to releasably grasp a pile to regulate movement of the latter during upward movement of said deck.

8. In an apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said pile locking means includes;

cooperatively arranged rollers disposed about said pile and being operable to regulate movement of the pile.