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US 8,944,724 B2Granted
Gravity driven pile tower based device for pipeline lifting and support and method of use
AssigneeOceaneering International, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Gregory Restivo, Nikunj Patel, Kinton Lowell Lawler, Donald C. Nelson, Jason Ray Pollick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for securely cradling a subsea pipeline is claimed that lands on one side of the pipeline, is embedded into the sea floor, reaches under the pipeline, positions the cradling structure, and then lifts the pipeline. The system typically comprises a gravity driven pile based device, comprising a pile tower, a roller carriage assembly, and a jacking assembly that engages the roller carriage assembly and pile tower rails.
Claims20
A gravity driven pile based device, comprising:
- a. a pile tower, comprising:
- i. a plurality of legs arranged substantially parallel to each other to define an interior comprising an interior longitudinal central axis;
- and
- ii. a predetermined number of rails disposed about an outside of a plurality of the legs, the rails comprising outwardly exposed teeth;
- iii. a skirt dimensioned and adapted to be disposed between a predetermined portion of the plurality of legs and to further provide a bearing surface for embedment into soil;
- b. a roller carriage assembly (30) dimensioned and adapted to engage the rails, the roller carriage assembly further comprising:
- i. a carriage weldment;
- ii. a lead screw drive assembly, the lead screw drive assembly comprising a motor assembly dimensioned and adapted to drive the roller assembly back and forth along its rails;
- and
- iii. a roller arm assembly;
- and
- c. a jacking assembly dimensioned and adapted to engage the roller carriage assembly and the rails, the jacking assembly comprising a jacking frame.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.