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US 10,973,213 B2Granted
Marine clutch apparatus
AssigneeQatar University
InventorsIbrahim Al Maslamani, Mehmet Demirel, David Smyth, Bruno Weltergiraldes, Mark Chatting
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain embodiments may generally relate to a marine clutch apparatus for retrieving lines from the seafloor. The marine clutch apparatus may include a first base sled and a second base sled disposed adjacent to each other. The marine clutch apparatus may also include a first side panel and a second side panel, a connection rod disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, and a grabber head disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled.
Claims12
A marine clutch for retrieving a line on a seafloor, comprising:
- a first base sled and a second base sled disposed adjacent to each other;
- a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein the first side panel is attached within a first hollow space defined by the first base sled, and the second side panel is attached within a second hollow space defined by the second base sled;
- a connection rod disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, wherein the connection rod is attached to the first side panel and the second side panel;
- and
- a grabber head disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, wherein the grabber head is attached, at an attachment end, to the first side panel and the second side panel, and wherein the grabber head comprises a first hook and a second hook,
- wherein the grabber head comprises a neck portion that is disposed between the first hook and the second hook,
- wherein the grabber head comprises a first swing arm and a second swing arm,
- wherein the first swing arm is attached to the attachment end and extends along one side of the neck portion,
- wherein the second swing arm is attached to the attachment end and extends along another side of the neck portion,
- wherein the first swing arm is configured to open and close an opening defined by the first hook of the grabber head, and
- wherein the second swing arm is configured to open and close another opening defined by the second hook of the grabber head.
8 more elements
A method for retrieving a line on a seafloor, comprising:
- attaching one end of a cord to a connection rod of a marine clutch;
- attaching an opposite end of the cord to a vessel;
- deploying the marine clutch onto the seafloor;
- and
- pulling, with the vessel, the marine clutch by the connection rod along the seafloor;
- wherein the marine clutch comprises
- a first base sled and a second base sled disposed adjacent to each other;
- a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein the first side panel is attached within a first hollow space defined by the first base sled, and the second side panel is attached within a second hollow space defined by the second base sled;
- and
- a grabber head disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, wherein the grabber head is attached, at an attachment end, to the first side panel and the second side panel, and wherein the grabber head comprises a first hook and a second hook, and
- wherein the connection rod is disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, wherein the connection rod is attached to the first side panel and the second side panel,
- wherein the method further comprises catching the line on the seafloor with the grabber head,
- wherein the grabber head comprises a neck portion that is disposed between the first hook and the second hook,
- wherein the method further comprises securing the line after it is caught with either a first swing arm or a second swing arm,
- wherein the first swing arm is attached to the attachment end and extends along one side of the neck portion,
- wherein the second swing arm is attached to the attachment end and extends along another side of the neck portion,
- wherein the first swing arm is configured to open and close an opening defined by the first hook of the grabber head, and
- wherein the second swing arm is configured to open and close another opening defined by the second hook of the grabber head.
15 more elements
A method of assembling a marine clutch, comprising:
- connecting a first base sled with a second base sled, wherein the first base sled and the second base sled are connected adjacent to each other;
- attaching a first side panel within a first hollow space defined by the first base sled;
- attaching a second side panel within a second hollow space defined by the second base sled;
- attaching a joint structure to a face of the first side panel and to a face of the second side panel;
- attaching a connection rod to the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the connection rod is attached between the first base sled and the second base sled;
- and
- attaching a grabber head to the first side panel and the second side panel,
- wherein the grabber head is attached between the first side panel and the second side panel,
- wherein the grabber head comprises a first hook and a second hook, and
- wherein the grabber head is attached to the first side panel and the second side panel at an attachment end of the grabber head,
- wherein the grabber head comprises a neck portion that is disposed between the first hook and the second hook,
- wherein the method further comprises:
- attaching a first swing arm to the attachment end, the first swing arm extending along one side of the neck portion;
- and
- attaching a second swing arm to the attachment end, the second swing arm extending along another side of the neck portion,
- wherein the first swing arm is configured to open and close an opening defined by the first hook of the grabber head, and
- wherein the second swing arm is configured to open and close another opening defined by the second hook of the grabber head.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.