Coupled fairing systems
AssigneeVIV Solutions LLC
InventorsDonald Wayne Allen, Julie Ann Dehne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device including a body portion dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular and a tail portion extending laterally outward from the body portion, the tail portion having a top end and a bottom end. The device further including an engaging member positioned at least at the top end or the bottom end of the body portion or the tail portion. The engaging member may be dimensioned to engage with an adjacent VIV suppression device.
Claims19
A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression system comprising:
- a first vortex-induced vibration device comprising:
- a body portion dimensioned to partially encircle an underlying tubular;
- a tail portion extending laterally outward from the body portion, the tail portion having a first side wall and a second side wall that are formed as a single piece with the body portion and extend from the body portion toward one another to form an enclosed space around an underlying tubular partially encircled by the body portion, and each of the first side wall and the second side wall having a top end and a bottom end;
- a block positioned within the enclosed space and attached to interfacing surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall to secure the body portion and the tail portion to the underlying tubular;
- and
- a bar aligned with the enclosed space and extending from the block;
- and
- a second vortex-induced vibration device that is adjacent to the first vortex-induced vibration device, and the adjacent VIV suppression device comprises an opening for receiving the bar, and the opening has a cross-sectional dimension that is greater than that of the bar.
A system for suppressing a vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a tubular, the system comprising:
- a VIV suppression device having a first side wall and a second side wall that taper toward one another and partially encircle an underlying tubular, and a fin extending from the first side wall or the second sidewall;
- a bolt extending from, and fixedly attached to, a top end of the VIV suppression device;
- and
- an opening formed through a portion of the first side wall or the second side wall at a bottom end of the VIV suppression device.
A system for suppressing a vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a tubular, the system comprising:
- a VIV suppression device having a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall having interfacing surfaces that taper toward one another to form a substantially triangular shaped region against an underlying tubular;
- at least one support member positioned within the triangular shaped region, and in contact with, the interfacing surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall;
- a copper plate attached to a top end of the VIV suppression device, wherein the copper plate comprises a triangular shape;
- a first engaging member comprising a bolt fixedly attached to the at least one support member and extending above the copper plate of the VIV suppression device, wherein the bolt is dimensioned to directly engage with an adjacent VIV suppression device;
- and
- a second engaging member positioned at the bottom end of the VIV suppression device, and
- wherein the second engaging member is different than the bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.