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US 6,536,993 B2Granted
Pile and method for installing same
AssigneeLiberty Offshore, Ltd.
InventorsPhilip Anton Strong, Duncan Cuthill, Martin Leon Kobiela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage, and a method of drilling and installing a pile in ground comprising the steps of: providing a pile, providing a drill bit at an end of the pile rotatable relative to the pile, engaging the ground with the drill bit, and rotating the drill bit relative to the ground and the pile generating a hole into which the pile is received.
Claims26
A method of installing a pile into the ground underwater to create a mooring anchorage, said method comprising:
- i. providing a hollow pile and an elongate drive member extending within the pile;
- ii. supporting a drill bit at an end of the elongate drive member and exteriorly of the hollow pile by means of a rotary bearing assembly mounted within the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit;
- iii. providing a releasable connection between the drill bit and the elongate drive member said releasable connection being disposed within the hollow pile and inwardly of the bearing assembly relative to the hollow pile;
- iv. providing a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in a pre-determined location remote from the drill bit, the mooring connection having an opening disposed laterally of the pile for receiving a mooring termination and
- v. utilizing drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit, via the drive member and the bearing assembly, relative to the pile while engaging the drill bit with the ground underwater to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk.
2 more elements
A method of installing a pile into ground underwater to create a mooring anchorage, comprising;
- i. providing a hollow pile;
- ii. providing a drive member and a drive motor within the pile;
- iii. supporting the drive motor and the drive member with an elongate member extending within the pile;
- iv. supporting a releasable drill bit at an end of the drive member and exteriorly of the hollow pile by means of a rotary bearing assembly mounted within the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit;
- v. providing a mooring connection rotatably mounted on the exterior of the pile in a pre-determined locate remote from the drill bit, the mooring connection having an opening disposed laterally of the pile for receiving a mooring termination and
- vi. utilizing the drive motor to impart rotary drive only to the drill bit, via the drive member and the bearing assembly, relative to the pile while engaging the drill bit with the ground to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk.
3 more elements
A method of installing a pile into the ground underwater to create a mooring anchorage, said method comprising:
- i. providing a hollow pile and an elongate drive member extending within the pile;
- ii. supporting a drill bit at an end of the elongate drive member and exteriorly of the hollow pile by means of a rotary bearing assembly mounted within the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit;
- iii. providing a releasable connection between the drill bit and the elongate drive member and inwardly of the bearing assembly relative to the hollow pile;
- iv. providing a mooring connection rotatably mounted on the exterior of the pile in a pre-determined locate remote from the drill bit, the mooring connection having an opening disposed laterally of the pile for receiving a mooring termination;
- v. utilizing drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit, via the drive member and the bearing assembly, relative to the pile while engaging the drill bit with the ground underwater to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- and
- vi. establishing a fluid diverter between the exterior of the pile and the surrounding wall surface of the hole and causing fluid to flow in a path extending downwardly through the elongate drive member around the exterior of the drill bit and predominantly upwardly between the interior of the pile and the exterior of the elongate drive member.
4 more elements
Apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage, comprising:
- i. a hollow pile with first and second ends;
- ii. an elongate drive member extending with the hollow pile;
- iii. a drill bit disposed adjacent the first end of the pile and exteriorly of the pile;
- iv. a bearing assembly mounted within the first end of the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit to support the drill bit for rotation, the drive member being drivable by drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit relative to the pile via the bearing assembly and to engage an underwater ground surface beneath the first end of the pile to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- v. a releasable coupling for connecting the drill bit to the drive member, the coupling being disposed within the pile inwardly of the bearing assembly and
- vi. a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in the vicinity of the second end, the mooring connection having an opening for receiving a mooring termination.
3 more elements
Apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage, comprising:
- i. a hollow pile with first and second ends;
- ii. a drive member and a drive motor disposed within the hollow pile;
- iii. an elongate member extending within the pile and supporting the drive motor and the drive member;
- iv. a drill bit releasably supported,on the drive member adjacent the first end of the pile;
- v. a bearing assembly mounted within the first end of the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit to support the drill bit for rotation, the drill bit being drivable by the drive member and the motor to perform rotary motion only and to engage an underwater ground surface beneath the first end of the pile to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk and
- vi. a mooring connection rotatably mounted on the exterior surface of the pile in the vicinity of the second end, the mooring connection having an opening for receiving a mooring termination.
3 more elements
Apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage comprising:
- i. a hollow pile with first and second ends;
- ii. an elongate drive member extending with the hollow pile;
- iii. a drill bit releasably coupled to the drive member adjacent the first end of the pile with the drill bit located exteriorly of the pile;
- iv. a bearing assembly mounted within the first end of the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit to support the drill bit for rotation, the drive member being drivable by drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit relative to the pile via the bearing assembly and to engage an underwater ground surface beneath the first end of the pile to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- v. a releasable coupling for connecting the drill bit to the drive member, the coupling being disposed within the pile inwardly of the bearing assembly;
- vi. a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in the vicinity of the second end, the mooring connection having an opening for receiving a mooring termination;
- and
- wherein the elongate drive member is hollow and the apparatus further comprises fluid diverting means on the exterior of the pile which engages with the wall surface of the bore and cooperates with the pile and the elongate member to define a flow path extending downwardly through the interior of the elongate member around the exterior of the drill bit and then upwards between the interior of the pile and the exterior of the elongate member.
5 more elements
Apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage, comprising:
- i. a hollow pile with first and second ends;
- ii. an elongate drive member extending with the hollow pile;
- iii. a drill bit releasably coupled to the drive member adjacent the first end of the pile with the drill bit located exteriorly of the pile;
- iv. a bearing assembly mounted within the first end of the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit to support the drill bit for rotation, the drive member being drivable by drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit relative to the pile via the bearing assembly and to engage an underwater ground surface beneath the first end of the pile to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- v. a releasable coupling for connecting the drill bit to the drive member, the coupling being disposed within the pile inwardly of the bearing assembly;
- vi. a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in the vicinity of the second end, the mooring connection having an opening for receiving a mooring termination;
- and
- vii. a deflection load bearing assembly attached to the second end of the pile, said assembly being of greater diameter than the pile to contact the ground after the pile has been installed to enhance the ability of the mooring anchorage to cope with lateral loading.
5 more elements
A method of installing a pile into the ground underwater to create a mooring anchorage, said method comprising:
- i. providing a hollow pile and an elongate drive member extending within the pile;
- ii. supporting a drill bit at an end of the elongate drive member and exteriorly of the hollow pile by means of a rotary bearing assembly mounted within the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit;
- iii. providing a releasable connection between the drill bit and the elongate drive member said releasable connection being disposed within the hollow pile and inwardly of the bearing assembly relative to the hollow pile;
- iv. providing a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in a pre-determined location remote from the drill bit, the mooring connection having an opening disposed laterally of the pile for receiving a mooring termination;
- v. utilizing drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit, via the drive member and the bearing assembly, relative to the pile while engaging the drill bit with the ground underwater to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- and
- vi. establishing a fluid diverter between the exterior of the pile and the surrounding wall surface of the hole and causing fluid to flow in a path extending downwardly through the elongate drive member around the exterior of the drill bit and predominantly upwardly between the interior of the pile and the exterior of the elongate drive member.
4 more elements
Apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage, comprising:
- i. a hollow pile with first and second ends;
- ii. an elongate drive member extending with the hollow pile;
- iii. a drill bit disposed adjacent the first end of the pile and exteriorly of the pile;
- iv. a bearing assembly mounted within the first end of the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit to support the drill bit for rotation, the drive member being drivable by drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit relative to the pile via the bearing assembly and to engage an underwater ground surface beneath the first end of the pile to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- v. a releasable coupling for connecting the drill bit to the drive member, the coupling being disposed within the pile inwardly of the bearing assembly;
- and
- vi. a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in the vicinity of the second end, the mooring connection having an opening for receiving a mooring termination, wherein the elongate drive member is hollow and the apparatus further comprises fluid diverting means on the exterior of the pile which engages with the wall surface of the bore and cooperates with the pile and the elongate member to define a flow path extending downwardly through the interior of the elongate member around the exterior of the drill bit and then upwards between the interior of the pile and the exterior of the elongate member.
4 more elements
Apparatus for providing a mooring anchorage, comprising:
- i. a hollow pile with first and second ends;
- ii. an elongate drive member extending with the hollow pile;
- iii. a drill bit disposed adjacent the first end of the pile and exteriorly of the pile;
- iv. a bearing assembly mounted within the first end of the hollow pile adjacent the drill bit to support the drill bit for rotation, the drive member being drivable by drive means to impart rotary motion only to the drill bit relative to the pile via the bearing assembly and to engage an underwater ground surface beneath the first end of the pile to produce a hole into which the pile is sunk;
- v. a releasable coupling for connecting the drill bit to the drive member, the coupling being disposed within the pile inwardly of the bearing assembly and a deflection load bearing assembly attached to the second end of the pile, said assembly being of greater diameter than the pile to contact the ground after the pile has been installed to enhance the ability of the mooring anchorage to cope with lateral loading.
- vi. a mooring connection on the exterior of the pile in the vicinity of the second end, the mooring connection having an opening for receiving a mooring termination.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.