6014results about "Waterborne vessels" patented technology

A system allowing persons to operate their computer comfortably while lying in bed. The system has a user friendly keyboard, that provides preselection feedback indicating prior to a keystroke being entered, thus allowing the individual to verify the correct key before pressing down the key. Additional aspects of the system include the user of display goggles with panning control, and a see-through mode. Numerous additional system and methods are described.

A floating support structure for a solar panel array having flotation elements and a support structure disposed above the flotation elements for adjustably and removably mounting at least one solar collector panel. Connectors joining floatation elements form a platform for gangways and catwalks providing access for installation, repair, and maintenance, even when the solar panel array is installed on a body of water.

A deepwater windpower plant (DWP) has a tension leg-type floating platform with an evacuable base for adjusting its buoyancy for installation at ocean depths ranging from 40 meters up to 1.5 kilometers and more. The DWP has a typical offshore wind turbine assembled close to shore which is then towed to a desired installation site on the ocean, and held in place by a gravity anchoring base (GAB), to which an evacuable portion or space of the DWP platform is anchored. The GAB has upwardly extending mooring tethers and a power cable which are brought to the ocean surface by attached buoys. The GAB is sunk to the ocean floor at the installation site under controlled conditions so that the GAB lands flat on the ocean floor. As the GAB sinks to the ocean floor, the mooring tethers and power cable are pulled to the surface by their respective buoys. The GAB is loaded with heavy ballast material that can be dropped from barges on the ocean surface into the upwardly open GAB below the barges.

An energy module comprising an energy absorber; and a mooring system, comprising a wing-shaped polymer shell attached to the energy absorber, the wing-shaped polymer shell designed to utilize the force of a passing current to create a downward force and thereby reduce any upward motion in the energy module; and a mooring cable housed inside the wing-shaped polymer shell and anchored to maintain the energy module in a fore and aft and a side-to-side position to provide stability, and to negate a rotational force on the energy module.

A vehicle-mounted generator is powered by relative wind produced by the combination of ambient wind and motion of the vehicle, or by movement of water when mounted on the hull of a water-borne vehicle. A rigid cylindrical housing forms an enclosed interior chamber. Wind asymmetrically enters the chamber through an inlet located on one side of a central longitudinal drive shaft, and exits through an outlet located at the top of the housing. A spiraling parabolic deck forms a floor of the interior chamber, and spirals around the central longitudinal shaft from the bottom of the housing to the outlet at the top. A turbine mounted on the drive shaft within the outlet converts energy of the exiting wind to mechanical energy. An electrical generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy for recharging a battery or powering an electric motor.

A hauling shroud, a cable termination and methods of hauling a fibre optic cable with a pre-connected optic termination along a conduit. The hauling shroud protects the optic termination when being hauled along the conduit. The hauling shroud includes a first housing member and a second housing member such that the first housing member and the second housing member can be joined together to enclose the optic termination. At least one anchoring member is used, for example, connecting pins, such that at least one strengthening element of the fibre optic cable engages with the anchoring member inside an internal cavity formed within the hauling shroud. Alternatively, at least two strengthening elements of the fibre optic cable are attached together to form a loop which engages with the at least one anchoring member, e.g., the connecting pins. This prevents any hauling forces from being applied to the optic termination.

The invention discloses an ocean submerged buoy system. In the system, buoys are connected with an underwater winch through a communication mooring cable; a plurality of profile measuring instruments are equidistantly arranged at the part of the communication mooring cable between the buoys and the underwater winch, which is adjacent to the buoys; the underwater winch is fixed on a main buoy body; a target detecting system and an ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) are both arranged on the main buoy body; an anchor mooring mechanism comprises a glass floating ball, a response releaser and a ballast anchor which are connected in series through anchor chains; a control center controls the buoy system to regularly float out of the ocean surface and dive into the ocean; the target detecting system detects movable targets; when a movable target enters into a preset range, the control center controls the buoy system to dive into the ocean; and when floating out of the ocean surface, the buoys transmit various received data to a ground shore station. By the ocean submerged buoy system disclosed by the invention, the ocean detected data are transmitted in real time; and the influencestormy waves and other factors on the service life of the buoys is avoided.

A surfboard-based powered water craft is propelled by gas or electric power plant. A water jet pump supplies water under pressure, which is exhausted through a steering nozzle. A steering shaft, carried by the surfboard-based body, pivots in response to movement of a steering arm. The steering arm pivots about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The weight of the power plant is carried forward the center, whereby a rider on top of the surfboard based body tends to balance the weight of the power plant.

Systems and methods for reducing vortex-induced vibration and drag about a marine element are provided. The system can include, but is not limited to, a shell rotatably mounted about the marine element, the shell having opposing edges defining a longitudinal gap configured to allow the shell to snap (be placed) around at least a portion of the marine element. A fin can be positioned along each opposing edge of the longitudinal gap, wherein each fin can extend outwardly from the shell. The fins can be positioned on the shell so as to reduce vortex-induced vibration and minimize drag on the marine element. One or more antifouling agents can be disposed on, in, or about at least a portion of the shell, the fins, or a combination thereof.

The invention is a submersible lighting device, having a substantially water-tight enclosure, and a plurality of lighting elements at the top of that enclosure. A beam of light projecting from at least some of the lighting elements is upwardly disposed from that lighting device, at an angle from the vertical.

A cable deployment system and method for laying a cable on the sea floor. The cable deployment system includes a cable having a first cable section connected to a riser cable section. The riser cable section includes an armor that is connected to a drum capable of containing a required length of the first cable section. A stinger is attached to the drum and shaped to allow the first cable section to exit the drum. The cable deployment system also includes a tensioning device attached to the drum. The tensioning device is capable of maintaining a tension in the first cable section during deployment of the first cable section from the drum. The method of deploying the cable in deep water from a surface vessel includes the steps of containing the first cable section within the drum and lowering the drum from the surface vessel. An end of the first cable section is secured to the sea floor and the first cable section is deployed from the drum onto the sea floor.

A floating foundation for wind turbines is disclosed, where the foundation essentially comprises at least three submerged buoyancy bodies connected to the lower end of the tower of the wind turbine at a common node member situated well above the surface of the sea. The buoyancy bodies are connected to the node member by means of relatively thin leg sections, whereby wave load on the foundation is reduced. By applying the foundation according to the present invention, stress concentrations and torques in the node member are reduced, whereby it becomes possible to apply a relatively lightweight and hence cheap node member. The overall weight of the construction is thereby reduced and hence the volume of the buoyancy bodies necessary to counteract the overall weight of the construction.

In some embodiments, apparatus for releasably gripping at least one elongated item and being used in pulling the elongated item(s) through at least one space includes a body and a plurality of gripping members associated with the body. The gripping members are moveable relative to the body and capable of engaging at least one elongated item.

A water skimmer vessel has two hulls (12, 14) between which a debris collection net or basket-like catcher (22) is arranged. Hinged flaps (68) are provided at each end of the catcher and operate to allow inflow but block outflow of debris from the catcher. Each hull of the vessel is equiped with amoter covered by a guard (28). The vessel may move in either direction and is equipped with sensors (30) on each hulll for effecting the turning and reversing of the vessel upon contact with pool skimmer box inlet (206) and the vessel can be controlled to enter the dock and permit the contents of the catcher to be discharged into the current of pool water flowing into the skimmer box.

A method and apparatus for near vertical laying of a pipeline offshore by a pipe laying vessel includes a tower to which is attached a strongback that load pipe sections from a supply point on the vessel into the tower where the lower end of the pipe section is welded onto the upper end of a pipe line that extends into the sea while the strongback returns to the supply point for a second pipe joint. Where the pipe section includes a bulky item such as a valve assembly box, after the pipe section has been welded to the pipeline the pipe section is moved generally horizontally out of the tower and a hoisting cable lowers the pipe section to a predetermined depth below the tower. The hoisting cable then returns the pipe section and attached pipeline to their original position.

An LED lighting fixture includes a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) having a rear side and a front side. At least one LED is mounted to the front side of the MCPCB. A transparent window is mounted and sealed to the front side of the MCPCB to enclose the LED. A portion of the MCPCB extends from the transparent window so that it can be in heat exchange contact with water when the window of the lighting fixture is submerged in water.

A floating, semi-submerged, tethered device that supports a horizontal axis turbine and power generation equipment for extracting kinetic energy from a tidal stream or ocean current. A submerged body (1) is supported by surface piercing struts (2) of small water plane area (FIG. 6). The device is tethered to the seabed by a spread of mooring lines (12) that are deployed both into and away from the direction of the tidal current. A horizontal axis turbine (4) harnesses energy from the water flow and drives a generator housed within the body. A horizontal strut hydrofoil (24) corrects the trim of the device when subject to varying loads from the mooring system and can also be used to dampen pitch motion. Rudder flaps in the struts (25) can be used to counteract roll motion. Power is exported from the device to the seabed by an umbilical (17). A thrusters (22) can be used to constrain the rotation of the device about its mooring system to prevent excessive twist building up between the mooring lines and the power export umbilical.

A truck bed mounted surfboard storage rack is provided which aids in the storage and transportation of surfboards via pickup trucks and vans. Two fold up arms have three slots in each one, with each slot being padded with a weatherproof foam material. When extended in the up position, the slots allow up to three surfboards to be stored in a horizontal position on their long edge. When in the lowered position, the invention folds flat against the floor of the truck or van, to provide the maximum storage space for other items. When secured to the frame of the pickup truck or van with mechanical hardware such as stainless steel nuts and bolts, the carrier can also be used for snow boards or other similarly shaped objects.

An economical system provides gaseous hydrocarbon to numerous locations (16, 18) that are each in the vicinity of an ocean coast, such as islands in a developing country, so the coastal inhabitants have access to low cost, easily supplied by pipeline and clean-burning natural gas. The system includes a local supply station (24), or hub, that stores natural gas, as by receiving LNG (liquefied natural gas) that has been liquefied by cooling it to −160° C., from a large tanker (20) having a storage capacity of over 50 million standard cubic feet of natural gas. Shuttle boats (40) that each has a much smaller LNG storage capacity than the tanker, load LNG from the local supply station, carry it to one of a plurality of local coastal stations (12, 14), heat the LNG to produce gaseous hydrocarbons, and transfer the gaseous hydrocarbons to an offshore receiving facility of the local coastal station. The gaseous hydrocarbons are then used by the local coastal station as to distribute gaseous hydrocarbons to residents of the island or to fuel an electricity generating plant.

The invention relates to the field of water quality monitoring and water surface cleaning, and discloses an intelligent water quality monitoring and water surface cleaning ship which comprises a solar power supply module, a water surface cleaning module, a power control module, a water quality data acquisition module, a main processor, a wireless transmission module, a GPS (global position system) module, an automatic navigation module, an intelligent obstacle avoidance module and a remote control terminal. A new energy technology, an embedded platform development technology, a remote transmission and control technology, a sensing technology and a mechanical power technology are integrated and applied into the field of water quality monitoring and protection to manufacture the automatic and integrated monitoring and cleaning ship.

A rod having an embedded optical fibre has a stiff composite outer layer (10) to make the rod self straightening to enable it to be pushed into a pipe or borehole from a spool. This can help enable a reduction of friction between rod and conduit and can enable longer reach. A barrier layer is provided to separate the fibre from the composite layer. The rod can be retrieved after use. The rod can be narrow enough to enable normal flow along the pipe or borehole, and can be injected and retrieved even when the pipe or borehole is pressurised. The fibre can be used for remote sensing of conditions along the conduit. Other tools can be inserted by the rod during the intervention.

An integrated platform to house an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system that utilizes: (i) a cold water circuit consisting of a way of receiving and distributing the cold water from the cold water pipe (CWP) to vertical conduits housing the condensers into collectors that discharge via large pumps into open discharge channels connected to the discharge water pipe (DWP); (ii) a surface water circuit consisting of a way of collecting and distributing the surface water to vertical conduits housing the evaporators to surface water collectors that discharge via large pumps into the same discharge channels connected to the DWP; (iii) means of adjusting the buoyancy of the integrated platform by adding water as ballast into floatation chambers in the hull surrounding the discharge channels or in a plurality of either vertical or horizontal flotation chambers to provide protection to the CWP and DWP and stability to the integrated platform. By adjusting the buoyancy of the platform such that the collectors are about level with the sea level, pumping requirements are minimized.

A system compensates for heave induced pressure fluctuations on a floating rig when a drill string or tubular is lifted off bottom and suspended on the rig, such as when tubular connections are made during MPD, tripping, or when a kick is circulated out during conventional drilling. In one embodiment, a liquid and a gas interface moves along a flow line between a riser and a gas accumulator as the tubular moves up and down. In another embodiment, a pressure relief valve or adjustable choke allows the movement of fluid from the riser when the tubular moves down, and a pump with a pressure regulator moves fluid to the riser when the tubular moves up. In other embodiments, a piston connected with the rig or the riser telescoping joint moves in a fluid container thereby communicating a required amount of the fluid either into or out of the riser annulus. The system also compensates for heave induced pressure fluctuations on a floating rig when a riser telescoping joint located below a RCD is moving while drilling.

The chain-net type solid-liquid separating mechanical apparatus for cutting aquatic weed and cleaning river includes one aquatic weed cutting mechanism, one aquatic weed and waste fishing mechanism, one compressing and conveying mechanism, one flow forming mechanism, one anchor locating mechanism, one intercepting and driving mechanism and one control system. It is used to cut, collect, solid-liquid separate, pile, etc for maintaining clean river.

Disclosed are compliant variable tension risers (106) to connect deep-water subsea wellheads (102) to a single floating platform (104) in wet tree or dry try systems. The variable tension risers (106) allow several subsea wellheads (102), in water depths from 1220 to 3050 meters, at lateral offsets from one-tenth to twice the depth or more, to tie back to a single floating platform (104). Also disclosed are methods to counter buoyancy and install variable tension risers using a weighted chain ballast line (228, 230).

The invention relates to a self-sustaining marine environment monitoring system used in an offshore area. The system comprises a jellyfish, a measuring platform and an anchoring system; wherein, the anchoring system consists of an anchoring injection wire rope, a tension hammer, a storage chain, a heavy anchor block and a high holding power anchor. The measuring platform comprises a platform frame body, a buoyancy floating ball, a motor battery tank, a thermohaline depth sensor, a pawl mechanism, etc. The lower end of the jellyfish is connected with the upper end of the anchoring injection wire rope; the anchoring injection wire rope overhangs from the surface to the bottom of the offshore; the tension hammer, the storage chain, the heavy anchor block and the high holding power anchor are hung at the lower end of the anchoring injection wire rope. The measuring platform is spanned on the anchoring injection wire rope by the special transmission pawl mechanism; the measuring platform dives from the surface to the bottom of the offshore along the anchoring injection wire rope under the driving of the waves, can also float upward by the self positive buoyancy and carry out measuring and storing on the water body parameters by a sensor carried by the measuring platform during the upward floating process. The self-sustaining marine environment monitoring system has the characteristics of high efficiency, energy saving, low cost and high anti-biological adhesive ability.

Several embodiments of a device for economically harvesting wave energy are disclosed. A sealed vessel for air storage, the spar buoy, is mostly submerged under water is also used as an inertial body that surface floats move relative to. The spar buoy may take many geometrical forms, but all have a stem that is above the water surface. Piston pumps are placed at the top of the stem. The pump has a gearing reduction to optimize the rotational motion of the pump drive shaft. Small angular motion at the drive shaft results in multiple cycles of linear reciprocal motion of the piston. Various mechanisms could convert the relative motion between the floats and the spar buoy to a rotational motion of the shaft. The compressed air generated by the pump is stored in the spar buoy and regenerated as electrical energy by expanding the compressed air in a turbine.

A device and method for clamping and pulling an elongated item such as a wire or cable through a path such as in a conduit for a main body with a bore, and inwardly directed pivoting teeth. The teeth are arranged in circular bands. The end of the item is gripped after insertion of the item, and is cut off and ejected when the pulling is completed.

A water ride attraction is disclosed which utilizes a containerless riding surface to eliminate disadvantageous boundary layer effects. A sheet flow of water is directed up the incline to produce a simulated wave. The configuration and contour of the riding surface and the various flow parameters can be widely varied to produce numerous desirable wave conditions.

A buoy system for observing and monitoring the surface of a large predetermined area of water including a flotation device; a waterproof imaging device attached to the exterior of the flotation device, the imaging device operable for obtaining continuous real-time images of the surface of the predetermined area of water; a waterproof computer partially or wholly disposed within the flotation device, the computer operable for storing the continuous real-time images of the surface of the predetermined area of water; and one or more communications devices partially or wholly disposed within the flotation device, the one or more communications devices operable for transmitting a signal representing the continuous real-time images of the surface of the predetermined area of water to an operator at a remote location.