Marine power generator deployment and retrieval system
OwnerDonald H Gehringinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An offshore structure for deploying and retrieving underwater electrical power generators that converts energy derived from water currents into electrical energy. The offshore structural platform includes a pair of vertical guide rails to guide a propulsion device lowering said generator underwater onto a seabed propulsion device. The seabed propulsion device is engaged on an underwater seabed rail system and transports the generator onto one of many unique frames specifically designed to support underwater generators. Securing devices are utilized to ensure the generators remain anchored to each propulsion device and to the unique frame. Rail transferring elements are also utilized for a smooth and safe transition during the transport process.
Claims20
A marine power generator deployment and retrieval system, comprising,
- an offshore site structure;
- at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- a vertical securing element;
- a vertical propulsion device;
- a seabed guide rail system;
- a seabed propulsion device;
- a seabed rail securing element;
- a plurality of parking spaces;
- a plurality of rail transfer elements;
- the seabed guide rail system further comprises at least one pair of horizontal guide rails and a pair of interconnecting seabed rails;
- the at least one pair of vertical guide rails being mounted to a lateral face of the offshore site structure and extending from a seabed of a body of water to above the waterline of the body of water;
- the seabed guide rail system being underwater and connected to the bottom of the lateral face shared by the at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- the seabed guide rail system being perpendicularly attached to the at least one pair of vertical guide rails on the seabed of the body of water;
- the plurality of parking spaces laying on the seabed of the body of water and each being perpendicularly connected to the at least one pair of horizontal guide rails;
- the vertical propulsion device being engaged to the at least one pair of vertical guide rails and is able to move upwards and downwards along the at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- the seabed propulsion device being engaged to the seabed guide rail system and allowed to travel along the at least one pair of horizontal guide rails and the pair of interconnecting seabed rails;
- and
- the plurality of rail transfer elements being positioned on both the vertical propulsion device and the seabed propulsion device.
A marine power generator deployment and retrieval system, comprising,
- an offshore site structure;
- at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- a vertical securing element;
- a vertical propulsion device;
- a seabed guide rail system;
- a seabed propulsion device;
- a seabed rail securing element;
- a plurality of parking spaces;
- a plurality of rail transfer elements;
- the offshore site structure further comprises at least one deck, at least one jacket, and at least one crane;
- the at least one jacket of the offshore site structure being positioned on a seabed and the offshore site structure extending vertically upward to above a waterline;
- the at least one deck being connected on top of the offshore site structure above the waterline and being parallel to the seabed;
- the at least one crane being mounted on top of the at least one deck and extending upwards;
- the seabed guide rail system further comprises at least one pair of horizontal guide rails and a pair of interconnecting seabed rails;
- the at least one pair of vertical guide rails being mounted to a lateral face of the offshore site structure and extending from the seabed of a body of water to above the waterline of the body of water;
- the seabed guide rail system being underwater and connected to the bottom of the lateral face shared by the at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- the seabed guide rail system being perpendicularly attached to the at least one pair of vertical guide rails on the seabed of the body of water;
- the plurality of parking spaces laying on the seabed of the body of water and each being perpendicularly connected to the at least one pair of horizontal guide rails;
- the vertical propulsion device being engaged to the at least one pair of vertical guide rails and is able to move upwards and downwards along the at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- the seabed propulsion device being engaged to the seabed guide rail system and allowed to travel along the at least one pair of horizontal guide rails and the pair of interconnecting seabed rails;
- the plurality of rail transfer elements being positioned on both the vertical propulsion device and the seabed propulsion device;
- and
- at least one turbine being attached underwater to a different lateral face of the offshore site structure.
A marine power generator deployment and retrieval system, comprising,
- an offshore site structure;
- at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- a vertical securing element;
- a vertical propulsion device;
- a seabed guide rail system;
- a seabed propulsion device;
- a seabed rail securing element;
- a plurality of parking spaces;
- a plurality of rail transfer elements;
- the offshore site structure further comprises at least one deck, at least one jacket, and at least one crane;
- the at least one jacket of the offshore site structure being positioned on a seabed and the offshore site structure extending vertically upward to above a waterline;
- the at least one deck being connected on top of the offshore site structure above the waterline and being parallel to the seabed;
- the at least one crane being mounted on top of the at least one deck and extending upwards;
- the at least one pair of vertical guide rails further comprises a left vertical guide rail and a right vertical guide rail;
- the right vertical guide rail and the left vertical guide rail positioned in parallel to each other on the lateral face of the offshore site structure;
- the right vertical guide rail and the left vertical guide rail being attached to the lateral face of the offshore site structure and extending vertically from the seabed to above the waterline;
- the vertical propulsion device being engaged to both the right vertical guide and the left vertical guide;
- the vertical securing element being attached to the vertical propulsion device;
- the seabed guide rail system further comprises at least one pair of horizontal guide rails and a pair of interconnecting seabed rails;
- the at least one pair of vertical guide rails being mounted to a lateral face of the offshore site structure and extending from a seabed of a body of water to above the waterline of the body of water;
- the seabed guide rail system being underwater and connected to the bottom of the lateral face shared by the at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- the seabed guide rail system being perpendicularly attached to the at least one pair of vertical guide rails on the seabed of the body of water;
- the plurality of parking spaces laying on the seabed of the body of water and each being perpendicularly connected to the at least one pair of horizontal guide rails;
- the vertical propulsion device being engaged to the at least one pair of vertical guide rails and is able to move upwards and downwards along the at least one pair of vertical guide rails;
- the seabed propulsion device being engaged to the seabed guide rail system and allowed to travel along the at least one pair of horizontal guide rails and the pair of interconnecting seabed rails;
- the plurality of rail transfer elements being positioned on both the vertical propulsion device and the seabed propulsion device;
- and
- at least one turbine being attached underwater to a different lateral face of the offshore site structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.