John Y Cha

US Patent:

42602874, Apr 7, 1981

Filed:

May 24, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/909260

Inventors:

Stanley T. Uyeda - Orange CA
John Cha - Orange CA

Assignee:

Santa Fe International Corporation - Alhambra CA

International Classification:

B63B 3504
F16L 100

US Classification:

405168

Abstract:

A method for laying a substantially continuous length of pipe on the sea bottom from a carrier vessel, in which a pipe carrying reel is rotatably mounted on the carrier vessel, pipe straightening means are mounted to the carrier vessel downstream of the reel in the direction of unspooling for movement in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the reel, and pipe guide means are mounted to the carrier vessel downstream of the straightener means in the direction of pipe unspooling for movement in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the reel, wherein the method comprises the steps of rotating the reel in a direction to unspool the pipe and maintain a substantially constant dynamic braking force on the reel to maintain tension on the pipe as it is unspooled.

US Patent:

42433452, Jan 6, 1981

Filed:

Jul 18, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/058523

Inventors:

John H. Cha - Orange CA
Wesley A. Brown - Orange CA
Harry P. Weldon - London, GB2
Daniel G. Whyte - Amersham, GB2

Assignee:

Santa Fe International Corporation - Orange CA

International Classification:

B63B 3504
F16L 100

US Classification:

405168

Abstract:

An offshore system for laying a continuous length of pipe on the sea bottom from a pipe-carrying reel adapted to be mounted on a carrier vessel having an improved pipe handling and conditioning apparatus for working on the unspooled pipe. The improved apparatus includes a pipe straightener for imparting a reverse plastic bending moment to the unspooled pipe passing therethrough, and which comprises at least two pairs of pipe support rollers, each pair being aligned along the pipe path and mounted for rotational movement about respective rotational axes normal to the pipe path and parallel to the plane of the deck of the carrier vessel, and for pivoting movement about a pivot axis located between and substantially parallel to the respective rotational axes. A straightener carriage mounts the pipe straightening means for movement (1) about a pivot axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the reel, (2) in a substantially vertical direction relative to the deck of the carrier vessel, and (3) in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the reel.