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:
Apr. 17, 2018
Filed:
Jan. 14, 2015
Acergy France Sas, Suresnes, FR;
Brice Viellard, Boulogne-Billancourt, FR;
Acergy France SAS, Suresnes, FR;
Abstract
A method of transporting a rigid tie-in connection across a body of water for installation underwater is disclosed. The method includes the step of supporting the tie-in connection in the water by buoyancy acting on a frame that supports the tie-in connection until installation. The buoyancy-supported frame is lowered and the tie-in connection into a sub-surface transit configuration. The method further includes in the transit configuration, towing the buoyancy-supported frame and the tie-in connection behind a towing vessel toward an installation site. Also disclosed is a system for implementing the method. The system includes a towable frame arranged to support the tie-in connection until installation and an external buoyancy attached to the frame by an extensible suspension link arranged to suspend the frame from the buoyancy in water in use. The link is extensible to lower the frame from a raised surface-tow configuration into a lowered sub-surface transit configuration.