US 12,655,593 B2 · Suction pile equipment

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include a suction pile vent plug having a cylindrically-shaped body having a sealing element, a plurality of coupling features, and a handle connected to the cylindrically-shaped body. The sealing element is configured to form a watertight seal with walls of a suction pile vent into which the vent plug is installed. The plurality of coupling features are configured to engage with corresponding coupling features of the suction pile vent. The movable handle is configured to be moved into one or more locked configurations. Disclosed embodiments further include a suction pile vent having a hollow cylindrically-shaped body having coupling features. The coupling features are configured to engage with corresponding coupling features of a suction pile vent plug to thereby mechanically couple the suction pile vent plug to the suction pile vent. Disclosed embodiments further include a fluidic port that fluidically couples a suction pile to a removable fluidic coupling.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A testing device for testing a suction pile vent plug, comprising:

a circular disk having a first aperture extending from a top surface of the circular disk to a bottom surface of the circular disk, wherein the circular disk is configured to be mounted inside of and to form a watertight seal with a cylindrical wall of a suction pile vent;
a first hose having a first end coupled to and forming a watertight seal with the first aperture on the bottom surface of the circular disk;
a pressure gauge operatively coupled to the first hose so as to detect a pressure of a fluid in the first hose;
and
a first valve coupled to the first hose such that the pressure gauge is located between the first end and the first valve.

2 more elements

A method of testing a suction pile vent and a suction pile vent plug with a testing device, comprising:

mounting the testing device in a lower portion of a cylindrical wall of the suction pile vent;
mounting a suction pile vent plug in an upper portion of the cylindrical wall of the suction pile vent;
introducing fluid into a collection space formed between a lower surface of the suction pile vent plug and an upper surface of the testing device;
raising a pressure of the fluid in the collection space to a first pressure;
and
monitoring the pressure of the fluid in the collection space for a predetermined period of time to determine if there are any fluid leaks out of the collection space.

3 more elements

A testing device for testing a suction pile vent plug, comprising:

a circular disk having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein first and second apertures extend through the circular disk from the top surface of the disk to the bottom surface of the disk, and wherein the circular disk has a size and shape that allow the circular disk to be mounted inside of and to form a watertight seal with a cylindrical wall of a suction pile vent;
a first hose having a first end coupled to the first aperture at the bottom surface of the circular disk;
a second hose having a first end coupled to the second aperture at the bottom surface of the disk;
and
a pressure gauge operatively coupled to the first hose so as to detect a pressure of a fluid in the first hose.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suction pile equipment

Life of this patent

Suction pile equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19