Fasteners 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.
Claims20
An underwater drilling assembly, comprising:
- a frame;
- a drilling assembly supported by the frame;
- a self-tapping connection stud actuatable by the drilling assembly, wherein the self-tapping connection stud comprises:
- a cutting body;
- self-tapping threads configured to affix the self-tapping connection stud to a ship skin;
- a shank portion;
- and
- a drivable head;
- and
- a connection flange assembly attachable to the ship skin by the self-tapping connection stud, wherein the connection flange assembly comprises:
- a gasket;
- a central bore;
- and
- an outer rim comprising a containment structure, wherein the gasket is positioned between the outer rim and the ship skin, and wherein the containment structure comprises:
- a sealing grommet;
- and
- a containment cavity through which the self-tapping connection stud is configured to pass as the self-tapping connection stud is actuated by the drilling assembly to affix the outer rim to the ship skin, wherein the sealing grommet seals the containment cavity as the self-tapping connection stud passes through the sealing grommet.
A fastening system for an underwater drilling assembly, wherein the fastening system comprises:
- a fastener;
- and
- a port assembly, comprising:
- a gasket positionable against a ship skin;
- a body, comprising:
- an outer rim;
- a sealing grommet;
- and
- a containment enclosure, wherein a containment void is defined by the containment enclosure and the sealing grommet, wherein the fastener is movable through the sealing grommet, the containment void, and the gasket, and wherein, while at least a portion of the fastener is positioned within the containment void, the containment void is sealed.
A method for extracting fluid from a vessel using an underwater drilling assembly, the method comprising:
- positioning the underwater drilling assembly on a hull of the vessel;
- actuating leg assemblies of the underwater drill assembly to attach the underwater drilling assembly to the hull;
- driving, with a fluidic drill of the underwater drilling assembly, at least one self-tapping stud into the hull through a connection flange assembly of the underwater drilling assembly comprising a containment housing to secure the connection flange assembly to the hull;
- drilling, with the fluidic drill, a hole in the vessel within an inner void defined in the connection flange assembly;
- sealing, with the connection flange assembly, the contents inside of the hole drilled by the fluidic drill from ambient water;
- disconnecting a portion of the underwater drilling assembly from the connection flange assembly;
- and
- extracting fluid through the connection flange assembly and the hole drilled by the fluidic drill.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.