Vertical reel pipe laying vessel
First Claim
1. A vertical reel pipelaying vessel, comprising:
- a vertical pipe storage reel rotatably positioned aft of midship for rotation about a horizontal axis;
a vertical aligner wheel positioned forward of said reel for receiving pipe from said storage reel and for rotation about a horizontal axis;
support means supporting said aligner wheel on said vessel for rotational movement about said axis of said wheel;
a moon pool positioned forward of said reel;
direction means secured to said support means and being extensible for moving said aligner wheel to allow a pipe take-off forward of said axis of said aligner wheel, whereby the angle of pipe take-off from said aligner wheel may vary between almost vertical for deep depth pipe laying to less than perpendicular for shallower depths.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vertical reel pipelaying vessel having a vertical pipe storage reel rotatably positioned aft of midship and a vertical aligner wheel positioned forward of the reel. A guide means includes supports for the aligner wheel on the vessel to permit rotational movement about the axle of the aligner wheel. A moon pool is positioned forward of the reel. A direction means is provided for pivoting the aligner wheel over the moon pool to allow pipe takeoff forward of the axis of the aligner wheel and into the moon pool. The aligner wheel is provided with strain gauges along the axle to measure directly the tension of the pipeline being unspooled and passing into the water through the moon pool. A pipe straightener to apply independent transverse forces to the pipe remote from the aligner includes an endless track with rollers and sprockets in order to apply a first force at the pipeline and aligner wheel contact and a second force to the pipeline after the pipe takeoff from the aligner to bend the deformed pipeline to become straight. A transverse shifting assembly shifts the vertical aligner wheel, the supporting structure for the aligner wheel as well as the direction means for pivoting the aligner wheel. The transverse shifting assembly operates athwartship. A pipeline A&R clamp with engagement latch, shells and slips is provided to hold the pipeline after it leaves the aligner wheel and before it enters the water.
53 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vertical reel pipelaying vessel, comprising:
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a vertical pipe storage reel rotatably positioned aft of midship for rotation about a horizontal axis; a vertical aligner wheel positioned forward of said reel for receiving pipe from said storage reel and for rotation about a horizontal axis; support means supporting said aligner wheel on said vessel for rotational movement about said axis of said wheel; a moon pool positioned forward of said reel; direction means secured to said support means and being extensible for moving said aligner wheel to allow a pipe take-off forward of said axis of said aligner wheel, whereby the angle of pipe take-off from said aligner wheel may vary between almost vertical for deep depth pipe laying to less than perpendicular for shallower depths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification