US 5,348,423 A · Device and process for unrolling flexible tubular conduits essentially vertically

Abstract

A device for laying flexible tubular conduits from a floating support comprises rigid accessories the outer diameter of which is greater than the outer diameter of the conduit. It comprises main, linear winch-type tensioning means (6) for normal lowering of the flexible conduit (3) to be laid. The linear winch has an essentially vertical axis and comprises the last means for guiding the flexible conduit at the level of the floating support (1) and auxiliary holding means (19) which hold the flexible conduit by means of an accessory (21) mounted on the flexible conduit, such as an end fitting or an auxiliary accessory, and enable the main tensioning means (6) to clear a section of flexible conduit on which the accessory (21) is mounted.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Device for laying, from a floating support, flexible conduits comprising rigid accessories, whose outer dimension is greater than the outer diameter of the conduit, comprising:

first linear winch-type tensioning means (6) for lowering said flexible conduit (3) and supporting the weight of said flexible conduit, said first linear winch-type tensioning means having an approximately vertical axis and comprising guiding means for guiding said flexible conduit at a substantially vertical position at a of said floating support (1),
auxiliary holding means (19) for holding said flexible conduit to lower said flexible conduit and support the weight of said flexible conduit during passage of an accessory (21) mounted on said flexible conduit within the first tensioning means, said [auxiliary holding]first tensioning means being in an open position during passage of said accessory mounted on said flexible conduit within the first tensioning means.

Process for laying flexible conduits from a floating support, wherein it comprises stages consisting in:

unrolling a section of flexible tubular conduits grasped by its outer surface by main tensioning means (6) of linear winch type, the axis of the linear winch being approximately vertical, said linear winch absorbing the traction exerted by flexible conduit (3) and constituting the last guiding element of the flexible conduit aboard floating support (1);
absorbing the traction exerted by flexible conduit (3) by auxiliary holding means working in cooperation with a rigid accessory (21) mounted on the flexible conduit and outer dimensions greater than the outer diameter of the flexible conduit, this accessory being mounted on the flexible conduit;
releasing main tensioning means (6) and separating them laterally to allow a free passage in the axis of the tensioning means of greater dimension than the outer bulkiness of the accessory mounted on the flexible conduit;
performing the clearing of main tensioning means (6) by the section of flexible conduit on which is mounted the accessory, the tension exerted by flexible conduit (3) being supported by auxiliary holding means (20) while flexible conduit (3) is lowered through the free space between the main tensioning means;
grasping by main tensioning means (6) the outer surface of the new section of flexible conduit (3) located upstream from the accessory so that the tension exerted by the flexible conduit can again be assumed by main tensioning means (6);
releasing the auxiliary holding means;
taking up the unrolling of the new section of tubular conduit (3).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and process for unrolling flexible tubular conduits essentially vertically

Life of this patent

Device and process for unrolling flexible tubular conduits essentially vertically

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14