Monitor for and method of deploying anchor lines for off shore platforms
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the placement of an anchor and its anchor line to a known anchor drop point from a vessel to be anchored that is situated in a body of water such as the ocean and utilizing an anchor handling support vessel with the aid of a digital computer mathematically programmed to at least calculate at different intervals, distances between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel (XT) and bollard pull (H) acting on said workboat, comprising:
- providing said computer with data that includes location of said anchor drop point from said vessel, the depth and contours of the ocean bottom from said vessel to said anchor drop point the weight per foot of said anchor line, and the total length of said anchor line to be payed out,constantly monitoring at said different intervals the distance between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel and the length of said anchor line payed out by said anchor handling support vessel,providing said computer with said monitored information as to said distance between said vessel and said support vessel and the length of said anchor line payed out,repetitively calculating in said computer, at desired intervals, the catenary curvature of said anchor line at each of said intervals, andseparately controlling the speed of payout of said anchor line to maintain a catenary curvature thereof that prevents undue strain upon said anchor line beyond its breaking strength and excessive bollard pull upon said support vessel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus, utilizing a computer are utilized to control the placement of an anchor, and its associated anchor line for proper payout, deployment and ultimate placement of the anchor, depending upon the contour of the sea bottom and to maintain a desired catenary curvature that prevents the anchor line from dragging the sea bottom and further prevents undue strain upon the anchor chain beyond its safe tension force.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the placement of an anchor and its anchor line to a known anchor drop point from a vessel to be anchored that is situated in a body of water such as the ocean and utilizing an anchor handling support vessel with the aid of a digital computer mathematically programmed to at least calculate at different intervals, distances between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel (XT) and bollard pull (H) acting on said workboat, comprising:
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providing said computer with data that includes location of said anchor drop point from said vessel, the depth and contours of the ocean bottom from said vessel to said anchor drop point the weight per foot of said anchor line, and the total length of said anchor line to be payed out, constantly monitoring at said different intervals the distance between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel and the length of said anchor line payed out by said anchor handling support vessel, providing said computer with said monitored information as to said distance between said vessel and said support vessel and the length of said anchor line payed out, repetitively calculating in said computer, at desired intervals, the catenary curvature of said anchor line at each of said intervals, and separately controlling the speed of payout of said anchor line to maintain a catenary curvature thereof that prevents undue strain upon said anchor line beyond its breaking strength and excessive bollard pull upon said support vessel.
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2. A method for controlling the placement of an anchor and its anchor line to a known anchor drop point from a vessel to be anchored that is situated in a body of water such as the ocean and utilizing an anchor handling support vessel with the aid of a digital computer mathematically programmed to at least calculate at different intervals, distances between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel (XT) and bollard pull (H) acting on said workboat, comprising:
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providing said computer with data that includes location of said anchor drop point from said vessel, the depth and contours of the ocean bottom from said vessel to said anchor drop point, the weight per foot of said anchor line and the total length of said anchor line to be payed out, constantly monitoring at said different intervals the tension upon and the length of said anchor line payed out by said anchor handling support vessel, providing said computer with said monitored information as to said tension and length of said anchor line payed out, repetitively calculating in said computer, at desired intervals, the catenary curvature of said anchor line at each of said intervals, and separately controlling the speed of payout of said anchor line to maintain a catenary curvature thereof that prevents undue strain upon said anchor line beyond its breaking strength and excessive bollard pull upon said support vessel. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for controlling the placement of an anchor and its anchor line to a known anchor drop point from a vessel to be anchored that is situated in a body of water such as the ocean and utilizing an anchor handling support vessel with the aid of a digital computer mathematically programmed to at least calculate at different intervals, distances between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel (XT) and bollard pull (H) acting on said workboat, comprising:
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said computer having a data base means programmed to receive data that includes location of said anchor drop point from said vessel, the depth and contour of the ocean bottom from said vessel to said anchor drop point, the weight per foot of said anchor line, and the total length of said anchor line electrical signal means to monitor at said different intervals of time the distance between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel and the length of said anchor line, means to provide said computer with said monitored information as to said distance between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel and the length of said anchor line, means to repetitively calculate in said computer, at said desired intervals, the catenary curvature of said anchor line at each of said intervals, and brake means to control the speed of payout of said anchor line to maintain a catenary curvature thereof that prevents undue strain upon said anchor line beyond its breaking strength and excessive bollard pull upon said support vessel.
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11. An apparatus for controlling the placement of an anchor and its anchor line to a known anchor drop point from a vessel to be anchored that is situated in a body of water such as the ocean and utilizing an anchor handling support vessel with the aid of a digital computer mathematically programmed to at least calculate at different intervals, distances between said vessel and said anchor handling support vessel (XT) and bollard pull (H) acting on said workboat, comprising:
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said computer having data means that includes location of said anchor drop point from said vessel, the depth of the ocean bottom from said vessel to said anchor drop point, the weight per foot of said anchor line, and the total length of said anchor line, electrical signal means to monitor at said different intervals of time the tension upon the length of said anchor line, means to provide said computer with said monitored information as to said tension and length of said anchor line, means to repetitively calculate in said computer, at said desired intervals, the catenary curvature of said anchor line at each of said intervals, and brake means to control the speed of payout of said anchor line to maintain a catenary curvature thereof that prevents undue strain upon said anchor line beyond its breaking strength and excessive bollard pull upon said support vessel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification