# US 7,744,311 B2 · Light-weight versatile J-lay system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,311 B2 - Document ID: US7744311B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/592,101 - Filed: 2005-03-10 - Published: 2007-08-16 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-10 - Assignees: Gusto Engineering B.V. - Inventors: Theodorus Christianus Maria Vergouw; Mark van Heumen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744311B2 ## CPC - F16L 1/19: the pipes being J-shaped - F16L 1/23: Pipe tensioning apparatus - F16L 1/235: Apparatus for controlling the pipe during laying - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A vessel has a substantially vertical frame attached to a vessel support structure, an upper clamping element vertically displaceable along the frame via a displacement member, a lower clamping element aligned with the upper clamping element, a loading device for supplying a pipe segment to the upper clamping element, and a control device adapted to control the displacement member and the upper and lower clamping elements for lowering the pipe segment by the displacement member along a pipe trajectory, with the upper clamping element being engaged on the pipe segment, while the lower clamping element is disengaged, with the lower clamping element being situated on the vessel support structure, with a transverse track extending from a side position on the vessel to a position alongside the pipe trajectory, and a support member which is displaceable along the track to be situated in the pipe trajectory. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vessel comprising: a substantially vertical frame, a vessel support structure supporting said frame, an upper clamping element vertically displaceable along the frame via a displacement member, a lower clamping element supported by the vessel support structure and aligned with the upper clamping element, a loading device comprising an arm that is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a position parallel to the frame for supplying a pipe segment to the upper clamping element, a control unit adapted to control the displacement member and the upper and lower clamping elements for lowering the pipe segment by the displacement member along a pipe trajectory, the upper clamping element being engaged on the pipe segment while the lower clamping element is disengaged, a transverse track extending from a loading position on the vessel to a position alongside the pipe trajectory, and a support member which is displaceable along the track to move a pipe segment into the pipe trajectory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vessel according to claim 1 wherein the lower clamping element is positioned at a height lower than the support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vessel according to claim 2, wherein the frame is connected to the vessel via a hinge axis, and wherein drive means is provided for adjusting the angle of the frame by hinging around the axis, independently from the support member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vessel according to claim 3, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vessel according to claim 2, wherein the support member further comprises: a generally U-shaped welding table for attaching two pipe segments ends of a first pipe segment hanging from the upper clamping element and a second pipe segment hanging from the lower clamping element, having: two legs on each side of the pipe trajectory, and an upper positioning device on the welding table, having at least two clamping blocks for engaging with a pipe, the upper positioning device being attached to the welding table via at least two force transmitters for causing a displacement of the clamping blocks relative to the welding table. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vessel according to claim 5, wherein a second support element is positioned on the track to be displaceable along the track for receiving a structural element in a receiving position remote from the pipe trajectory, and for placing the structural element in the pipe trajectory. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vessel according to claim 5, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The vessel according to claim 2, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the frame is connected to the vessel via a hinge axis, and wherein drive means is provided for adjusting the angle of the frame by hinging around the axis, independently from the support member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vessel according to claim 9, wherein the support member further comprises: a generally U-shaped welding table for attaching two pipe segments ends of a first pipe segment hanging from the upper clamping element and a second pipe segment hanging from the lower clamping element, having: two legs on each side of the pipe trajectory, and an upper positioning device on the welding table, having at least two clamping blocks for engaging with a pipe, the upper positioning device being attached to the welding table via at least two force transmitters for causing a displacement of the clamping blocks relative to the welding table. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vessel according to claim 10, wherein a second support element is positioned on the track to be displaceable along the track for receiving a structural element in a receiving position remote from the pipe trajectory, and for placing the structural element in the pipe trajectory. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vessel according to claim 10, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The vessel according to claim 9, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the support member further comprises: a generally U-shaped welding table for attaching two pipe segments ends of a first pipe segment hanging from the upper clamping element and a second pipe segment hanging from the lower clamping element, having: two legs on each side of the pipe trajectory, and an upper positioning device on the welding table, having at least two clamping blocks for engaging with a pipe, the upper positioning device being attached to the welding table via at least two force transmitters for causing a displacement of the clamping blocks relative to the welding table. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vessel according to claim 14, wherein a second support element is positioned on the track to be displaceable along the track for receiving a structural element in a receiving position remote from the pipe trajectory, and for placing the structural element in the pipe trajectory. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vessel according to claim 15, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The vessel according to claim 14, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel further comprises: a storage device storing a length of cable, the cable comprising at spaced distances gripping members for engaging with the clamping elements, the cable being guided from the storage device to a guide roller on the frame, and from the guide roller downwardly along the pipe trajectory, a lifting member being attached to the end of the cable.