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US 11,261,670 B1Granted
VIV suppression for retrofit with minimal tooling
AssigneeVIV Solutions LLC
InventorDonald Wayne Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression apparatus comprising: a strake having a cylindrical body portion dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular, a fin portion extending radially outward from the body portion and helically positioned around the body portion, and a gap formed through the body portion and the fin; and a connecting assembly configured to facilitate attachment of the strake to an underlying tubular.
Claims19
A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression system comprising:
- a strake having a cylindrical body portion dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular that is used underwater, a fin portion extending radially outward from the body portion and helically positioned around the body portion, and a gap formed through the body portion;
- and
- a connecting assembly configured to facilitate attachment of the strake to an underlying tubular, wherein the connecting assembly comprises a first pair of guide flanges extending from a first end of the cylindrical body portion and a second pair of guide flanges extending from a second end of the cylindrical body portion, the first and second pair of guide flanges extend less than an entire length of the cylindrical body portion and each of the first and second pair of guide flanges comprise a first guide flange extending from a first section of the body portion and a second guide flange extending from a second section of the body portion, the first and second guide flanges are on opposite sides of the gap and define an opening for receiving an underlying tubular that is less than 30 degrees relative to a circumference of the cylindrical body portion and each of the first and second guide flanges extend away from the gap and have curved sides that are dimensioned to increase a size of the gap upon pressing the first and second guide flanges against an underlying tubular.
A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device comprising:
- a strake body portion having a first section and a second section separated by a gap;
- a fin portion extending radially outward from the body portion;
- and
- a connecting assembly configured to facilitate attachment of the strake to an underlying tubular operable for use underwater, wherein the connecting assembly comprises a pair of guide flanges extending, from a first end of the cylindrical body portion, the pair of guide flanges extend less than an entire length of the cylindrical body portion and comprise a first guide flange extending from a first section of the body lion and guide flange extending from a second section of the body portion, the first and second guide flanges are on opposite sides of the gap and define an opening for receiving an underlying tubular that is less than 30 degrees relative to a circumference of the cylindrical body portion and each of the first and second guide flanges extend away from the gap and are dimensioned to increase a size of the gap upon pressing the first and second guide flanges against an underlying tubular.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.