Gripping device for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage, and relative auxiliary gripping tool
AssigneeSaipem S.P.A.
InventorsMichel Baylot, Nicolas Boutin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gripping device, for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage, has jaws that are pressed onto a pipeline extending along an axis-substantially parallel to a laying direction, and have respective friction pads that are brought cyclically into contact with the outer face of the pipeline; and auxiliary gripping tools, which have panels for covering respective friction pads, and are selectively connectable to the jaws to increase grip between the jaws and the pipeline.
Claims46
A gripping device for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage, the gripping device comprising:
- jaws that are configured to be brought cyclically into contact with an outer face of a pipeline and pressed onto the pipeline extending along an axis substantially parallel to a laying direction;
- each jaw comprising a friction pad;
- and
- an auxiliary gripping tool, which comprises a panel selectively connectable to each jaw to cover the friction pad and increase grip between each jaw and the pipeline, the auxiliary gripping tool including a first fastening means for attachment to each jaw, the first fastening means including hook-shaped lateral tabs that hook onto either side of each jaw, and each jaw including a second fastening means cooperating with the first fastening means, the second fastening means including openings formed in each jaw and defining fasteners cooperating with the hook-shaped lateral tabs.
An auxiliary gripping tool for a gripping device for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage;
- the gripping device including jaws that are configured to be brought into contact with an outer face of a pipeline and pressed onto the pipeline extending along an axis substantially parallel to a laying direction;
- each jaw comprising a friction pad, the auxiliary gripping tool comprising:
- a panel selectively connectable to each jaw to cover the friction pad and increase grip between each jaw and the pipeline by means of a first fastening means for attachment to each jaw, the first fastening means including hook-shaped lateral tabs that hook onto either side of each jaw, and the first fastening means cooperating with a second fastening means on each jaw.
A gripping device for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage, the gripping device comprising:
- jaws that are configured to be brought cyclically into contact with an outer face of a pipeline and pressed onto the pipeline extending along an axis substantially parallel to a laying direction, each jaw comprising a friction pad;
- and
- an auxiliary gripping tool including:
- a panel for covering the friction pad, the panel selectively connectable to each jaw to increase grip between each jaw and the pipeline, the panel including:
- a metal plate including:
- a concave face including projections and positioned for contact with the pipeline;
- and
- a convex face having projections and positioned for contact with the friction pad, the friction pad comprising a first polymer material.
An auxiliary gripping tool for a gripping device for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage, the gripping device including jaws that are configured to be brought into contact with an outer face of a pipeline and pressed onto the pipeline extending along an axis substantially parallel to a laying direction, each jaw comprising a friction pad, the auxiliary gripping tool comprising:
- a panel for covering the friction pad and selectively connectable to each jaw to cover the friction pad and increase grip between each jaw and the pipeline, the panel including:
- a metal plate, the metal plate including:
- a concave face having projections and positioned in contact with the outer face of the pipeline;
- and
- a convex face having projections and positioned in contact with the friction pad;
- and
- wherein:
- the pipeline comprises a protective covering made of a first polymer material;
- and
- the friction pad comprises a second polymer material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.