Flexible submersible compartment
OwnerJose De Jesus F. S. Lopez, Vincente R. P. Vazquez +1inventors
InventorsJose De Jesus F. S. Lopez, Vincente R. P. Vazquez, Jose A. A. C. Yamin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible, submersible compartment for underwater work in dry conditions which is particularly suited for work on petroleum drilling structures. The flexible, submersible compartment includes a flexible bell of reinforced elastomeric material having an opening surrounded by a collar at its top portion. A rigid platform-brace having a contractible outer ring is located beneath and attached to the flexible bell. The platform-brace also includes an inner ring which can be secured to a submerged portion of the petroleum drilling structure. In the event of contact with a rigid obstacle, the flexible bell adapts to the shape of the obstacle while the platform-brace contracts.
Claims31
A flexible, submersible compartment which allows a user to perform repairs on submerged structures in dry conditions in the presence of rigid obstacles, said compartment comprising:
- a flexible diving bell adapted to be inflated so as to partially enclose a submerged structure, said flexible diving bell having an opening at an upper portion;
- a collar attached to said flexible bell at the opening including a seal element for sealing the opening about the submerged structure;
- and
- a lower platform-brace attached to said flexible bell comprising a plurality of interconnected modules for anchoring to the structural element, each module including a boundary member wherein the boundary members of the interconnected modules form a discontinuous ring, at least two of the modules including a boundary member having first and second pivotally interconnected segments;
- whereby said flexible bell when inflated, and the second segments contract upon contact with a rigid obstacle.
A flexible, submersible compartment which allows a user to perform repairs on submerged structures in the presence of rigid obstacles, said compartment comprising:
- a flexible bell having an opening at an upper portion;
- a collar attached to said flexible bell at the opening for securing said bell to the submerged structure;
- a lower platform-brace attached to said flexible bell comprising a plurality of interconnected modules defining concentric structural borders including an inner border and an outer border,
- the outer border including first and second arc members, the first arc members having first and second segments pivotally interconnected so that the second segments of the outer border pivot towards the center of the outer border upon contact with a rigid obstacle.
A submersible compartment according to claim 27 wherein the inner border includes a latching mechanism.
A lower platform-brace for a diving bell comprising:
- a plurality of modules, each module having:
- (a) an arc member, and
- (b) a support extending from the arc member;
- a plurality of pivotal connectors, each pivotal connector interconnecting two modules;
- a boundary member connected to each module, at least one of said boundary members being divided into segments wherein each segment is pivotally connected to an adjacent boundary member.
A flexible, submersible compartment for underwater work in dry conditions which is particularly suited for work on petroleum drilling structures, said compartment comprising:
- an inflatable flexible bell of reinforced elastomeric material having an opening defined by a sealing element which can be fitted about a submerged structure to seal the opening;
- and
- a rigid platform-brace having a discontinuous outer ring defined by first and second arc members, the first arc members including first and second pivotally interconnected segments and an inner ring adapted to be anchored to a submerged portion of the petroleum drilling structure, said platform-brace being located beneath and attached to said flexible bell;
- whereby in the event of contact with a rigid obstacle, the flexible bell adapts to the shape of the obstacle while the second segments contract.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.