Buoyancy device and a method for stabilizing and controlling the lowering or raising of a structure between the surface and the bed of the sea
US8776706B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 19, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE02B2015/005
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method of using a buoyancy fluid presenting density that is less than that of sea water, and that is confined in a rigid or flexible leaktight casing, so as to constitute an immersed buoyancy element, wherein the buoyancy fluid is a compound that is naturally in a gaseous state at ambient atmospheric temperature and pressure, and in a liquid state at the underwater depth to which the buoyancy element is immersed. A method is also disclosed for placing a buoyancy element in place between the surface and the bed of the sea, wherein fluid is stored in a tank on a surface ship as a liquid in the cooled or compressed liquid state, and is injected in the liquid state into a pipe from the surface where it is stored to an immersed casing at an underwater depth at which the underwater pressure is not greater than the vapor pressure of the gas corresponding to the compound at the temperature at the depth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.