Buoyancy control systems for tubes
AssigneeFiberspar Corporation
InventorsPeter A. Quigley, Stephen C. Nolet, Thomas W. Wideman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buoyancy control system for controlling the buoyancy of a tube may includes generally tubular length of buoyancy control material having a selected buoyancy characteristic. The length of buoyancy control material may be attached to a section of the length of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the section of the tube. The length of buoyancy control material may be an integral, coaxial layer of the tube or, alternatively, the length of buoyancy control material may be externally attached to tube. In embodiments in which the length of the buoyancy control material is externally attached, the buoyancy control material may have a longitudinal axis that is spaced-apart from a longitudinal axis of the tube.
Claims33
A buoyancy control system for controlling the baoyancy of a tube, the system comprising:
- a generally tubular length of buoyancy control material comprising a negatively buoyant slurry, the length of buoyancy control material being attached to a section of the length of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the section of the tube.
The buoyancy control system of claim wherein the outer jacket further comprises at least one energy conductor coupled thereto.
A composite rube comprising:
- a substantially fluid impervious internal liner,
- a composite layer of fibers embedded within a matrix material, and
- a buoyancy control layer formed of a buoyancy control material having a specific gravity of greater than or equal to 1.25.
A composite tube comprising:
- a substantially fluid impervious internal liner,
- a composite layer at fibers embedded within a matrix material, and
- a buoyancy control layer formed of a buoyancy control material having a specific gravity less than over equal to 1.
A buoyancy control system for controlling the buoyancy of a tube, the system comprising:
- a generally tubular length of buoyancy control material having a selected buoyancy characteristic, the length of buoyancy control material being attached to a section of the length of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the section of the tube;
- and
- a collapsible and expandable containment layer positioned about the buoyancy control material.
A buoyancy control system for controlling the buoyancy of a tube, the system comprising:
- a generally tubular length of buoyancy control material having a selected buoyancy characteristic, the length of buoyancy control material being attached to a section of the length of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the section of the tube;
- and
- a containment layer positioned about the buoyancy control material, wherein the containment layer and the buoyancy control material are spoolable on a reel.
A buoyancy control system for controlling the buoyancy of a tube, the system comprising:
- a generally tubular length of buoyancy control material having a selected buoyancy characteristic, the length of buoyancy control material being attached to a section of the length of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the section of the tube;
- a containment layer positioned about the buoyancy control material, and
- an outer jacket that encapsulates at least a portion of the tube and the containment layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.