Frame for an underwater drilling assembly
AssigneeResolve Marine Group, Inc.
InventorsJoseph E. Farrell, III, Todd G. Holtz, Nolan B. Conway, Cody C. Kurtz, Petrus Maria Leonardus Van Der Sanden, Josephus Kuijs, Peter Theo Frank Van Poppel, Ewoud Anton Georges Goorix, René Timotheus Gerardus Witteman, Jeroen Mooij
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Abstract
Underwater drilling assemblies and systems are disclosed. The underwater drilling assemblies and systems include drill assemblies, frames for drill assemblies, and connection flange assemblies to be fastened to a ship skin. The underwater drilling assemblies and systems further include waste cartridges and automatic air-bleed valve assemblies.
Claims19
An underwater drilling assembly, comprising:
- a drill assembly;
- a connection flange assembly configured to be attached to a ship skin by the drill assembly, wherein the connection flange assembly comprises a plurality of guide tabs;
- and
- a frame supporting the drill assembly, wherein the frame comprises:
- a lower platform comprising attachment legs extending therefrom, wherein the attachment legs are configured to attach the underwater drill assembly to a ship skin, and wherein each attachment leg comprises:
- a fluidic actuator comprising an output shaft;
- an expandable leg assembly attached to the output shaft;
- a suction cup base attached to the expandable leg assembly by way of a ball and socket joint;
- and
- a guide flange comprising a slot configured to receive one of the guide tabs of the connection flange assembly.
An underwater drilling assembly frame, comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a plurality of legs configured to secure the frame to a ship skin, wherein each leg comprises:
- a suction cup base;
- a piston;
- an outer column fixedly attached to the frame;
- an inner column positioned within the outer column, wherein the inner column comprises:
- an upper tube fixedly attached to the piston;
- and
- a lower leg vertically constrained relative to the suction cup base, wherein the piston is actuatable to expand the upper tube relative to the lower leg to pull the upper tube away from the ship skin.
A method for attaching an underwater drilling assembly to a ship skin, wherein the underwater drilling assembly comprises a frame, a drill assembly attached to the frame, and a connection flange assembly comprising a gasket, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of legs, wherein each leg comprises a suction cup base and an expandable leg assembly, the method comprising:
- lowering the underwater drill assembly onto a ship skin and pressing the gasket against the ship skin to provide a seal against the ship skin with the connection flange assembly;
- positioning each suction cup base of the plurality of legs against the ship skin;
- initiating a suction force to secure each suction cup base to the ship skin;
- actuating a fluidic actuator of each leg to pull an upper leg portion of the expandable leg assembly of each leg to increase a holding force of the plurality of legs;
- attaching the connection flange assembly to the ship skin;
- and
- drilling a hole in the ship skin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.