583 G. NEW PATENTS This Section contains abstracts and, where appropriate, illustrations of recently issued United States patents and published patent applications filed from over 30 countries under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This information was obtained from recent additions to the Pergamon PATSEARCH ® online database in accordance with interest profiles developed by the Editors. Further information about Pergamon PATSEARCH ~ can be obtained from Pergamon International Information Corporation, 1340Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101 U.S.A. Copies of complete patents announced in this Section are available from Pergamon International Information Corporation for $8 per copy. Payment with order is required. Orders outside North America add $2 for air postage. Order by patent number for Pergamon International only. ~e 4425723 + - ~~ CLAM DREDGE ~ -~ Pete Erlandsen A shellfish dredge includes a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and spaced apart runners having a collecting bag mounted adjacent the rear thereof. The runners support a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally ex- tending spaced apart skids and at least two cross- bars connecting the skids together. Secured to each crossbar and extending forwardly and dow- nwardly therefrom at an acute angle are a plurality of tines thereby forming at least two parallel rows of parallel arranged tines. The skids extend downwardly beneath the bottom of the runners and are tapered at their forward ends so that the frame and tines will be cammed up- wardly should the skids encounter an obstruc- tion. Springs located between the runners and the skids bias the skids downwardly but allow for limited vertical movement between the runners and the skids. An apparatus and method are disclosed for aligning equipment lowered from the ocean sur- face with a fixed subsea structure without the use of guidelines. The apparatus comprises a guide frame including primary and secondary mem- bers, a mating guide base including primary and secondary members, vertical channeling means and rotational engagement means. In the prac- tice of the method, the frame is generally positioned above the base using known means of limited precision. Using remote means, the frame is first lowered to vertically channel the primary members into alignment, then rotated until the secondary members are engaged and finally lowered further to fully land the frame on the base. 4426197 4426173 REMOTE ALIGNMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS Jene A Richart, Bradley D Beitler, David G Deeken assigned to Exxon Production Research Co APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF POWER STROKES OF A RANDOM SEQUENCE AND OF RANDOM LENGTHS OF STROKES INTO POTENTIAL ENERGY Erwin Elkuch, FL 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Transcript
583
G. N E W P A T E N T S
This Section contains abstracts and, where appropriate, illustrations of recently issued United States patents and published patent applications filed from over 30 countries under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This information was obtained from recent additions to the Pergamon PATSEARCH ® online database in accordance with interest profiles developed by the Editors. Further information about Pergamon PATSEARCH ~ can be obtained from Pergamon International Information Corporation, 1340 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101 U.S.A.
Copies of complete patents announced in this Section are available from Pergamon International Information Corporation for $8 per copy. Payment with order is required. Orders outside North America add $2 for air postage. Order by patent number for Pergamon International only.
~e
4425723 + - ~~
CLAM D R E D G E ~ -~
Pete Erlandsen
A shellfish dredge includes a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and spaced apart runners having a collecting bag mounted adjacent the rear thereof. The runners support a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally ex- tending spaced apart skids and at least two cross- bars connecting the skids together. Secured to each crossbar and extending forwardly and dow- nwardly therefrom at an acute angle are a plurality of tines thereby forming at least two parallel rows of parallel arranged tines. The skids extend downwardly beneath the bottom of the runners and are tapered at their forward ends so that the frame and tines will be cammed up- wardly should the skids encounter an obstruc- tion. Springs located between the runners and the skids bias the skids downwardly but allow for limited vertical movement between the runners and the skids.
An apparatus and method are disclosed for aligning equipment lowered from the ocean sur- face with a fixed subsea structure without the use of guidelines. The apparatus comprises a guide frame including primary and secondary mem- bers, a mating guide base including primary and secondary members, vertical channeling means and rotational engagement means. In the prac- tice of the method, the frame is generally positioned above the base using known means of limited precision. Using remote means, the frame is first lowered to vertically channel the primary members into alignment, then rotated until the secondary members are engaged and finally lowered further to fully land the frame on the base.
4426197
4426173
R E M O T E A L I G N M E N T M E T H O D A N D A P P A R A T U S
Jene A Richart, Bradley D Beitler, David G Deeken assigned to Exxon Production Research Co
APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF POWER S T R O K E S OF A R A N D O M
S E Q U E N C E A N D O F R A N D O M L E N G T H S O F S T R O K E S I N T O
P O T E N T I A L E N E R G Y
Erwin Elkuch, FL 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein
584 (;, New Patents OLR (1984) 31 (8~
The apparatus comprises at least one positive displacement pump, which is driven by the sea waves. The quantity of delivery of this pump is adjustable in accordance with the lengths of strokes made by the ocean waves. This is made possible in that the positive displacement pump comprises pistons having different volume dis- placements. The height of the incoming waves is measured by a membrane box connected to a transducer which generates signals such that only that piston of the plurality of pistons is made to operate, which has by design a volume displacement which gives the optimal recovery of the energy of the ocean waves. The or these pistons pump a working fluid into a storage ves- sel, which allows the generation of peak load as well as base load electrical energy.
4 4 2 7 ~ 1
FAIL-SAFE CIRCUIT MECHANISM FOR GENERATING
A PULSE INDICATING THE PRECISE MOMENT OF FIRING OF A GAS EXHAUSTING GUN
Lloyd E Elliott, John Hudson assigned to Tex- aco Inc
A new circuit is added to the old electrical circuit including two electrodes underwater positioned very close to a gas exhausting gun gaseous ex- haust such as an air gun, wherein the exhaust from the firing gas exhausting gun momentarily blows away the conductive sea water from one or both of the electrodes to produce a high voltage pulse due to the large increase in resistance in the circuit indicating the precise moment of firing of the gas exhausting gun. This new circuit added to the above circuit is a circuit polarity reversing
i l x !
circuit which includes particularly a positive cur- rent generator, a negative current generator, and a sea ground for forming a third electron source when any of the two electrodes becomes defec- tive, thus forming a fail-safe system. Further, the resultant circuit changes polarity of the elec- trodes after each firing of the gas exhausting gun and periodically reverses the current to the elec- trodes for reduced plating action on the electrodes, for reduced cross coupling between other channels, and for providing a fail-safe sys- tem.
4427320
ARCTIC OFFSHORE PLATFORM
Dilipkumar N Bhula assigned to Shell Oil Com- pany
1
An offshore structure for use in drilling and pro- ducing wells in arctic regions having a conical shaped lower portion that extends above the sur- face of the water and a cylindrical upper section. The conical portion is provided witha controlled stiffness outer surface for withstanding the loads produced by ice striking the structure. The stiff- ness properties of the outer shell and flexible members are designed to distribute the load and avoid high local loads on the inner parts of the structure
OLR (1984) 31 (8)
4427548
FILTERING METHOD AND APPARATUS
Joe A Quick assigned to The Dow Chemical Company
A marine and fresh water filtration and polishing method and apparatus which provides mechanical filtrations; improved removal of chlorinated hydrocarbons, ammonia, and ni- trite; aeration; and optionally is capable of buf- fering water and removing organic compounds from it. Invention operates by removing water from process aquarium or tank, and passing it in a trickle filter fashion through an open-cell poly- meric foam material.
4428841
OFFSHORE POLLUTION PREVENTION
Uncas Favret assigned to Engineering Special- ties Inc
1 ~
G. New Patents 585
water. A portion of the produced water which is relatively free of solid particles (less than 50 microns) is then treated in a water washer with a portion which is relatively rich in solid particles further treated in a solids cleaner. In the water washer 90% or more oil droplets (less than 50 microns) is removed from the produced water and the relatively oil free water is then disposed by way of a skim pile. A portion of fluid from the water washer is further treated in a high effi- ciency skimmer. In the solids cleaner a conical corrugated plate arrangement having periodic agitation by sand cleaning eductors removes free oil from the solids rich portion of the fluid which is relatively rich in solid particles and passes a relatively oil free and solids rich portion to a skim pile for disposal. Drained fluids from ex- posed decks and elsewhere are supplied directly to the skim pile for oil removal prior to passage into the surrounding body of water.
4429065
C O N T R O L L E D D E N S I T Y H Y D R A U L I C F L U I D S
Alan B Gancy
A variable density fluid is provided comprising a multiplicity of polymer micro-particles or poly- mer microfilaments added to a suspending li- quid. By varying the density, shape, size, and material of construction of the added micro- particles or microfilaments, the physical pro- perties of the composite liquid suspension, such as density, viscosity and compressibility, are controllable. In one specific embodiment, the polymer micro-particles can be used to selec- tively remove a liquid from a mixture of liquids, such as oil from sea water for example.
A complete system for removing oil from pro- duced water and deck drain fluids in an offshore facility includes a surge settler which receives the produced water from a three-phase separator. In the surge settler, the produced water flows cros- swise through a corrugated plate assembly to separate free oil and solids from the produced
4430812
ENDLESS BELT DREDGER
Ent Ari Van der, Nieuw Lekkerland, Nether- lands assigned to IHC Holland N V
A dredging apparatus comprising a floating device and a frame suspended adjustably therein. The frame supports reversing wheels 1,2 for an endless conveying member 3 provided with blades 4 for loosening and feeding upwards the soil material. The apparatus is further provided with a chute 29 for receiving the material dis- charged from the members. The endless con-
586 G, New Patents OLR llgei4) 31 (81
veying member 3 comprises a closed endless belt 3 flexible in at least one direction perpendicular to its surface and provided with digging blades or partitions 4 fixed thereon. The frame is provided with a tube 9 open at top and bottom. The up- wards running section of the endless belt 3 runs through the tube 9 which encloses the belt 3 with blades 4 with a small clearance. Furthermore, the frame has a part 14 projecting downwards beyond the tube and supporting a reversing wheel 2 for the belt 3. The angle of that part with respect to the vertical is adjustable such that the belt section 22 can engage the bottom at the inlet of tube 9. The downwards running section 18 ex- tends through a tube 17 as well which has its top above water level and to which air may be sup- plied.
4430861
O P E N C Y C L E O T E C P L A N T
William Avery assigned to The Johns Hopkins University
The present invention provides an open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion plant for deriving power from the thermal differential bet- ween the surface waters and cold waters at a depth in tropical oceans. Warm surface water is sprayed into a lower chamber which is at pre- ssure approximately equal to the vapor pressure of the warm water where part of the water evaporates. The vapor then passes through a venturi or venturis dividing the lower chamber from the upper chamber which is maintained at pressure approximately equal to the vapor pre- ssure of the cold water. The pressure difference across the venturi(s) causes the vapor to emerge into the upper chamber at supersonic speed, Cold water injected into the supersonic jets gains momentum and energy from the jets which causes it to be forced upward to the top of the chamber where it is collected. In the process the vapor is cooled and condensed by cold water. The cold water is collected and is permitted to flow downward to drive hydraulic turbines thereby providing exploitable electrical energy.
4432064
APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A PLURALITY OF OPERATIONS
Kenneth D Barker, Edward P Arnold assigned to Halliburton Company
I co~r~o~ ,
! " I 1 i f i n :
An apparatus for monitoring a plurality of operations, particularly on an offshore drilling rig, comprises a portable housing, a plurality of dedicated monitoring units associated with the housing, and a master microcomputer unit as- sociated with the housing for handling informa- tion transfers between each of the dedicated monitoring units. Each monitoring unit includes a dedicated central processing unit which con- trois the operation of that unit. Control is main- tained over a number of transducers which detect various physical conditions associated with the monitored operation. The electrical signals obtained from monitoring the conditions are processed and displayed on respective dis- play consoles located in the housing, Inter- communication among the various units is achieved through serial input/output devices establishing communication channels between each unit and the master microcomouter unit
OLR (1984) 31 (8) G. New Patents 587
4432~9
ICE ISLAND CONSTRUCTION
Gordon F N Cox, Kenneth G Nolte assigned to Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
32 ""h / 28 / 30 28
An ice island is constructed in a marine area having a sheet of natural ice whereby, in a basic embodiment, a lower layer of fresh water ice is made by continually adding fresh water to the ice sheet and letting it freeze until the sheet is on bot- tom. An impervious insulating layer is put on top of the fresh ice and an upper layer is constructed thereon from sea water or mined ice blocks.
4433337
PASSIVE STABILIZATION CONVERSION UNIT
Dorsey T Smith, Albert Bieser, Warren H Kint- zinger assigned to Tracor BEI Inc
An interconnect system from a combination gyro and pendulum weight passive stabilization system unit and an equipment platform, such as an antenna platform, whereby the platform is position stabilized in pitch and roll as controlled by the passive stabilization system unit. The interconnect system may take the form of a selsyn system used with a generator and a motor interconnected by multiple wire circuitry to per- mit location of a passive stabilization system unit at an ideal location in an ocean-going ship, such as in the epicenter region of the ship, with mini- mized pitch and roll acceleration forces, and with the antenna platform stabilized thereby ideally located for antenna purposes as much as hundreds of feet away from the passive stabiliza- tion system unit.
