Method and apparatus
US7500439B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 4, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63C7/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention concerns a buoyant fluid comprising a liquid and a plurality of rigid containers, the rigid containers each having a sealed void containing a gas. A particular use is to transport heavy objects subsea. The gas in the rigid containers provides buoyancy but does not compress at different subsea pressures. Therefore effective buoyancy control subsea is much easier compared to known methods. For certain embodiments, a secured supply container may be provided subsea to supply the liquid and rigid containers to a lifting device having a container therefor and an attachment mechanism secured to the object being transported. The liquid is preferably a biodegradable substance such as vegetable oil.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.