Vessel comprising an inflatable sealing element
US5951345A · kind A · utility
13Cited by
2References
6Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B21/508
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vessel comprising a detachable buoy (3) which is connected to the vessel near keel level. the buoy or the vessel comprise on their contact surfaces an annular sealing element (6) comprising at least one inflatable tube (7,8,9). By placing the inflatable tube on the contact surfaces, the buoy and the vessel can be firmly connected, even when the contact surfaces are not completely flat. A water tight seal is formed by the inflatable tube such that the room in the top part of the buoy can be drained. Hereby a firm connection is achieved and a dry room becomes available for placing structures such as for instance a manifold system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.