The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 19, 1977
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1975
Duncan Bell, Stanwood, WA (US);
Jack L Odell, Everett, WA (US);
David E Olson, Everett, WA (US);
Allen E Peirce, Lynnwood, WA (US);
Western Gear Corporation, Everett, WA (US);
Abstract
A system for measuring and displaying the side and top profiles of an underwater pipeline as the pipe line is being laid on the sea floor by a pipe laying vessel. The profiles are determined by sequentially measuring the position of points spaced apart along the pipeline with respect to a point on the vessel. The measurements are accomplished by sequentially transmitting an acoustic signal from three, non-colinear transducers. The acoustic signals from each transmission is detected by a plurality of receivers spaced apart along the pipeline. As each receiver detects a transmission it produces an indicating signal on a pair of electrical conductors which are connected to the vessel and all of the receivers on the pipeline. The elapsed time between a transmission from a given transducer and detection of that transmission by each receiver is an indication of the distance between the transducer and each receiver. After all three transducers have interrogated the receivers, the three-dimensional position of each receiver is known, and the pipeline profile as viewed from the top and side can then be platted. Examination of the pipeline profile indicates the stress along the pipe so that the pipeline tension, or barge yaw attitude, can be adjusted to prevent damage to the pipeline.