Patent · US Expired

Helical apparatus for coupling submerged pipes

US4279544A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 24, 1979
Grant dateJul 21, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 24, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16L39/04
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Connecting means for connecting the ends of at least a pair of pipes, said pipe ends being immersed in water and one of the or each pair of pipe ends being mounted on a fixed structure and connected, e.g. to an oil well, and the other of the or each pair of pipes being mounted on a movable structure, e.g. a column, mounted for oscillatory movement relative to the fixed structure, comprises in respect of the or each pair of pipes a tube of a length greater than the maximum distance between the pipe ends and in a spiral and/or helical shape, wherein the tube is supported intermediate the ends thereof solely by means for correcting the buoyancy thereof to reduce the buoyancy to substantially zero.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.