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US 6,269,761 B1Granted
Buoyancy device
AssigneeControlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Limited
InventorsArthur Graham Abraham, Ian James Murray, Stephen Halden Johnson
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AssigneeControlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Limited
InventorsArthur Graham Abraham, Ian James Murray, Stephen Halden Johnson
Estimating the term…
A buoyancy device is described comprising a number of buoyancy members (9, 9A, 9B) which are substantially equi-spaced around the circumference of a coupling member (7) and the buoyancy members (9, 9A, 9B) being coupled to the coupling member (7) At least two of the buoyancy members (9, 9A, 9B) are inflatable members (9, 9A, 9B). The inflatable members (9, 9A, 9B) are formed from a substantially flexible material such that an inflatable member (9, 9A, 9B) substantially collapses when deflated. The coupling member (7) is is typically coupled to a structure, which may be a drilling rig (3) which requires to be lifted and subsequently moved, or which may be a large device such as a well head Christmas tree for an oil well which requires to be deployed in deep water.
A buoyancy device comprising a plurality of buoyancy members substantially equi-spaced around the circumference of a coupling member, the buoyancy members being coupled to the coupling member, wherein at least two of the buoyancy members are inflatable members, the inflatable members being formed from a substantially flexible material, such that the inflatable member substantially collapses when deflated wherein the inflatable member comprises an outer skin of substantially flexible material, the outer skin defining an inner space, and the outer skin comprising a body section and an end section being sealably coupled to both ends of the body section, the body and end sections comprising base edges by means of which the inflatable member is coupled to the coupling member, where the base edges are spaced apart, and where an inflation means inlet and a deflation means outlet are located within a coupling member side wall between the spaced apart base edges.
A buoyancy device comprising an array of chambers comprising at least one variable buoyancy chamber and at least one non-variable buoyancy chamber, and means to vary the buoyancy of said variable buoyancy chamber, wherein the array comprises an inner ring of chambers having variable buoyancy and an outer ring of chambers having non-variable buoyancy.
A buoyancy device comprising a plurality of buoyancy members substantially equi-spaced around the circumference of a coupling member, the buoyancy members being coupled to the coupling member, wherein at least two of the buoyancy members are inflatable members, the inflatable members being formed from a substantially flexible material, such that the inflatable member substantially collapses when deflated, wherein the inflatable member comprises an outer skin of substantially flexible material, the outer skin defining an inner space, and the outer skin comprising a body section and an end section being sealably coupled to both ends of the body section, where the body and end sections comprise base edges by means of which the inflatable member is coupled to the coupling member, wherein a coupling device is provided to couple the base edge of the inflatable member to the coupling member and where the coupling device couples one side member of the body section of a first inflatable member in a back-to-back relationship with a side member of the body section of a second inflatable member.
A buoyancy device comprising a plurality of buoyancy members substantially equi-spaced around the circumference of a coupling member, the buoyancy members being coupled to the coupling member, characterised in that at least two of the buoyancy members are inflatable members, the inflatable members being formed from a substantially flexible material, such that the inflatable member substantially collapses when deflated, wherein the coupling member is a tubular member formed from a substantially rigid material, and an inflatable member is provided within the tubular member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.