Submarine pipelines
AssigneeNabalco Engineering Pty. Limited
InventorGordon Shields Gower
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure for propelling a pipeline as it is continuously formed at a construction site, wherein the formed pipeline is cap sealed at its leading end and is sealed adjacent its other end by a piston on which the pipeline slides as it is formed. The pipeline is propelled by admitting pressurized fluid through the piston from a delivery tube communicating through the piston with the interior of the seal pipeline and a stop or stops are provided to engage the delivery tube whereby thrust is applied to the cap sealed end of the pipeline.
Claims3
Propelling means for a pipeline as it is formed at a site to any desired length as a continuous pipeline and then directing the interconnected unitary pipeline to a site location for ultimate use adapted for passing fluids from end to end of the interconnected unitary pipeline, said propelling means comprising;
- a first sealing means mounted on the preformed pipeline and sealing one leading end thereof;
- a second sealing means slidably mounted in the preformed pipeline and spaced from said first sealing means;
- tube means connected to a source of pressurized fluid supply and mounted in the pipeline to deliver pressurized fluid into the pipeline between the first and second sealing means;
- and stop means on the tube means to prevent movement of the tube means and the second sealing means as said pipeline slides upon said second sealing means as a result of said pressurized fluid acting upon the first sealing means to move the leading end of the pipeline away from said second sealing means due to engagement of the pressurized fluid with the first sealing means to move the movable pipeline away from the stationary stop means and tube as long as additional pressurized fluid is being supplied and thereafter until the volume between the first and second sealing means increases sufficiently to dissipate the fluid pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.