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US20040192128A1 - Buoyancy device - Google Patents

Buoyancy device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040192128A1
US20040192128A1 US10/471,347 US47134704A US2004192128A1 US 20040192128 A1 US20040192128 A1 US 20040192128A1 US 47134704 A US47134704 A US 47134704A US 2004192128 A1 US2004192128 A1 US 2004192128A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
buoyancy device
buoyancy
restriction
restriction device
inflated
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/471,347
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John McGarry
Anthony Richard Warwick Emerson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Ltd
Original Assignee
Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Ltd filed Critical Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Ltd
Assigned to CONTROLLED VARIABLE BUOYANCY SYSTEMS LIMITED reassignment CONTROLLED VARIABLE BUOYANCY SYSTEMS LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MCGARRY, JOHN PETER, EMERSON, ANTHONY RICHARD WARWICK
Publication of US20040192128A1 publication Critical patent/US20040192128A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C7/00—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects
    • B63C7/06—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects in which lifting action is generated in or adjacent to vessels or objects
    • B63C7/10—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects in which lifting action is generated in or adjacent to vessels or objects using inflatable floats external to vessels or objects

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a buoyancy device particularly, but not exclusively, for attachment to large structures requiring to be lifted, lowered, positioned and transported via the ocean.
  • a buoyancy device for attachment to a structure to be floated or sunk, the buoyancy device comprising a restriction device and an inflatable member located substantially within the restriction device, such that the restriction device restricts inflation of the inflatable member, characterised in that the inflatable member comprises a first and second flexible portions, the first portion being coupled to the restriction device and the second portion being coupled to the first portion.
  • the second portion may be a bag, a diaphragm or a bladder
  • the first portion may be a bag and more preferably is a cylindrical bag.
  • the first portion or cylindrical bag is open ended at both ends and is preferably coupled to the restriction device at both of its ends.
  • the restriction device permits the ingress and/or egress of fluid from within the buoyancy device, and typically, the restriction device has at least one aperture to permit fluid to flow therethrough.
  • the buoyancy device is arranged such that water located outwith the restriction device can enter at least a portion of the restriction device and act upon the surface of the first and second portions.
  • the restriction device is of a substantially tubular nature, and is preferably open ended at both ends.
  • one end of the first portion is secured to one end of the restriction device, and typically, the said one end of the first portion is coupled to a first fluid inlet and/or outlet port, and which may be a gas, such as pressurised air inlet/outlet port.
  • a first fluid inlet and/or outlet port which may be a gas, such as pressurised air inlet/outlet port.
  • the other end of the first portion is secured to the other end of the restriction device, and typically, the said other end of the first portion is coupled to a second fluid inlet and/or outlet port, and which may permit water from outwith the buoyancy device to pass therethrough.
  • the first and second portions are preferably formed from a substantially flexible material, and the restriction device is preferably formed from a rigid material.
  • an end of the second portion is secured to the first portion at substantially the mid-point of the interior of the first portion, and typically, one face of the second portion is in fluid communication with the said one end of the restriction device and hence the first fluid inlet and/or outlet port.
  • the other face of the second portion is in fluid communication with the said other end of the restriction device and hence the second fluid inlet and/or outlet port.
  • the diaphragm or bladder is preferably formed from a substantially flexible material, and the restriction device is preferably formed from a substantially rigid material.
  • the first portion is secured to the second portion by welding and the first portion is secured to the restriction device by means of a pair of annular rings, which preferably comprise bores to provide the first and second fluid inlet and/or outlet ports.
  • the first portion is substantially tubular when inflated, and the second portion is substantially semi-circular or dome-shaped when inflated.
  • the first portion is restrained at substantially all points along its longitudinal axis by the restriction device when inflated
  • the second portion is restrained at substantially all points along its longitudinal axis by the first portion and the restriction device when inflated.
  • the buoyancy device may be operated between three configurations:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a buoyancy device in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a flexible joint of the buoyancy device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the buoyancy device of FIG. 1 prior to inflation with any fluid
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the buoyancy device of FIG. 3 after inflation of the buoyancy device with air;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the buoyancy device of FIG. 4 after evacuation of the air and the inflation of the buoyancy device with water;
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the buoyancy device of FIG. 1 showing the three different configurations thereof as shown previously in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 combined;
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the outer and inner bag of the buoyancy device of FIG. 1 in the configuration shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 1 shows a buoyancy device 1 which may be arranged in any suitable arrangement, such as that shown in FIG. 12 of WO 00/29285 and hence which may be attached in a substantially vertical orientation to legs of an offshore drilling structure requiring to be lifted from the ocean floor and moved to a remote location.
  • buoyancy device 1 may be attached in any suitable arrangement to objects other than offshore drilling structures, such as large ships, super tankers, cruise liners, etc. which may be required to be lifted in order to allow them to clear the open-sea end of dry docks.
  • a clamping device similar to the clamping device 207 of WO 00/29285 may be used to clamp around a suitable number of buoyancy devices 1 of the present invention to attach them to the structure to be moved.
  • the buoyancy device 1 comprise a rigid outer hull 3 which may be formed from suitable material such as glass reinforced plastic (GRP), carbon fibre or any other suitable material; it should be noted that GRP is preferred.
  • GRP glass reinforced plastic
  • FIG. 3 shows the buoyancy device prior to inflation with either water or air;
  • the outer bag 5 (shown in long dotted lines) is substantially cylindrical in nature and, when deflated, can be thought of having substantially the same shape as a windsock.
  • the outer bag 5 is coupled to the outer shell 3 at both ends 5 A, 5 B by means of an adapter ring flange 7 .
  • the “wet” end 5 B of the outer bag 5 is open to the outer environment, such that sea water can pass into the interior of the outer bag 5 via the opening or bore 14 B in the annular flange 7 B.
  • An anti-extrusion sieve plate 9 B is formed across the end 5 B and is arranged such that it permits water to pass through itself, but prevents the passage of other unwanted solid material into the interior of the outer bag 5 .
  • a similar anti-extrusion sieve plate 9 A is located across the other end 5 A of the outer bag 5 .
  • the “dry” end 3 A of the outer shell 3 and the outermost end of the adapter flange 7 A are coupled to a shell closure plate 10 which provides rigidity to the dry end 3 A.
  • An aperture 12 is provided at the centre point of the shell closure plate 10 and an air line 11 is secured to the aperture 12 via a valve 13 , such that pressurised air can be introduced into the bore 14 of the adapter flange 7 A by opening the valve 13 .
  • the air line 11 is coupled to a compressor which provides the pressurised air. In this manner, air can be introduced into the interior of the outer bag 5 .
  • An inner half bag 15 or diaphragm 15 is secured around the diameter of the middle of the outer bag 5 and a suitable fixing is shown in the form of a flexible joint in FIG. 2.
  • Both the outer bag 5 and the diaphragm 15 are preferably formed from a suitably strong and flexible material or fabric and a most preferred material is polyester coated with a plasticised PVC which may have a weight of in the region of 900 mg per square metre.
  • a suitable example of such a material is sold under the Trade Mark DURASKIN( RTM ).
  • the joint 17 is preferably formed by using known and conventional welding techniques to weld mid-pieces 19 , 21 to the outer bag 5 and the diaphragm 15 . Indeed, the welding process makes the joint 17 or hinge 17 stronger than the outer bag 5 or diaphragm 15 alone. Accordingly, the joint 17 will act as a soft flexible hinge to permit the diaphragm 15 to move from the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the configuration shown in FIG. 4 and all points in between, including the non-inflated configuration shown in FIG. 3.
  • the outer bag 5 and diaphragm 15 Prior to introduction of the buoyancy device 1 into water, the outer bag 5 and diaphragm 15 will take up a configuration something akin to that shown in FIG. 3. However, when the buoyancy device 1 is introduced into water, the water will flow into the interior of the outer bag 5 and will move the outer bag 5 toward the inner surface of the outer shell 3 . At the same time, the diaphragm 15 will move from right to left as shown in FIG. 3 until it takes up the configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The air that was previously in section A (as shown in FIG. 3) of the interior of the outer shell 3 is able to escape through a pair of non-return valves 23 , 24 provided in respective adapter rings 7 A, 7 B.
  • the non-return valves 23 , 24 communicate with the interior of the outer shell 3 to permit air to escape the interior. However, the non-return valves 23 , 24 prevent air from passing through themselves in the direction from outside the outer shell 3 to inside Section A of the interior of the shell 3 .
  • the anti-extrusion sieve plate 9 A also has the important task of preventing the diaphragm 15 from over inflation, that is, passing into the bore 14 of the adapter ring 7 A.
  • the valve 13 When the time has come to inflate the buoyancy device 1 to aid in lifting a structure to be moved in the water, the valve 13 is opened and pressurised air will enter into bore 14 and hence into the interior of the outer bag 5 . Since the joint 17 also provides a seal between the outer bag 5 and the diaphragm 15 , the pressurised air in Section B (see FIG. 3) will cause the diaphragm 15 to move from left to right as shown in FIG. 1 until it takes up the fully inflated configuration shown in FIG. 4. It is thought that the working pressure of the buoyancy device 1 ; that is the pressure of the air within the buoyancy device 1 ; will be in region of 2.5 atmospheres, although it is likely to be operable up to in the region of 6 atmospheres or higher.
  • the anti-extrusion sieve plate 9 B also has the important task of preventing the diaphragm 15 from moving into the bore 14 B of the flange 7 B.
  • the main purpose of the outer bag 5 is to provide a reasonably flexible mounting point for the joint 17 and diaphragm 15 .
  • the advantage provided by such a flexible joint 17 is that there is a far reduced risk of localised stresses building up in the wall of the outer shell 3 .
  • FIGS. 1 to 7 are not to scale. Indeed, the outer shell is in the region of 16 m in length and approximately 2.3 m in diameter.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
US10/471,347 2001-03-09 2002-03-08 Buoyancy device Abandoned US20040192128A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0105830.4A GB0105830D0 (en) 2001-03-09 2001-03-09 A bouancy device
GB0105830.4 2001-03-09
PCT/GB2002/000953 WO2002072416A1 (en) 2001-03-09 2002-03-08 A buoyancy device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20040192128A1 true US20040192128A1 (en) 2004-09-30

Family

ID=9910315

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/471,347 Abandoned US20040192128A1 (en) 2001-03-09 2002-03-08 Buoyancy device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20040192128A1 (no)
GB (2) GB0105830D0 (no)
NO (1) NO20033958L (no)
WO (1) WO2002072416A1 (no)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0604719D0 (en) * 2006-03-09 2006-04-19 Pritchard Philip A A floatation device
US7500439B2 (en) * 2006-06-15 2009-03-10 Ythan Environmental Services Ltd. Method and apparatus
US7841917B2 (en) 2008-08-20 2010-11-30 Deep Sea Recovery Ltd Floatation device
GB2465170C (en) * 2008-11-06 2017-04-26 Deep Sea Recovery Ltd A floatation device with a buoyancy chamber and cryogen reservoir

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2299611A (en) * 1942-06-03 1942-10-20 United Aircraft Prod Pressure accumulator
US2928108A (en) * 1958-01-08 1960-03-15 Cochrane John Inflatable life boat
US3814043A (en) * 1972-07-25 1974-06-04 L Krout Ship salvage apparatus
US5655938A (en) * 1994-04-11 1997-08-12 Huguenin; John E. Variable buoyancy ballast and flotation unit for submerged objects or structures

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9610216D0 (en) * 1996-05-16 1996-07-24 Prosyst Limited Inflatable lifting device
WO2000029285A1 (en) * 1998-11-16 2000-05-25 Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Limited A buoyancy device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2299611A (en) * 1942-06-03 1942-10-20 United Aircraft Prod Pressure accumulator
US2928108A (en) * 1958-01-08 1960-03-15 Cochrane John Inflatable life boat
US3814043A (en) * 1972-07-25 1974-06-04 L Krout Ship salvage apparatus
US5655938A (en) * 1994-04-11 1997-08-12 Huguenin; John E. Variable buoyancy ballast and flotation unit for submerged objects or structures

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2389341A (en) 2003-12-10
NO20033958D0 (no) 2003-09-08
NO20033958L (no) 2003-11-10
GB0105830D0 (en) 2001-04-25
WO2002072416A1 (en) 2002-09-19
GB0321044D0 (en) 2003-10-08
GB2389341B (en) 2006-03-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CONTROLLED VARIABLE BUOYANCY SYSTEMS LIMITED, UNIT

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MCGARRY, JOHN PETER;EMERSON, ANTHONY RICHARD WARWICK;REEL/FRAME:015335/0244;SIGNING DATES FROM 20040506 TO 20040510

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE