Patent ID: 9353889
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: E21B,F16L,H05K

Claim Text:
1. A modular subsea equipment assembly, comprising: a modular base frame; a plurality of modular superstructure devices configured for selective attachment to the modular base frame in a plurality of different possible configurations of two or more modular superstructure devices, each modular superstructure device comprising a mounting device for supporting or attachment to a respective component of an underwater system, and a base mount configured for attachment to the upper surface of the base frame; a cover member of trawl-resistant shape having a peripheral rim configured for attachment to the base frame and enclosing the superstructure devices on the base frame; the modular base frame comprising a frame member forming an outer periphery of the base frame, and a plurality of cross bars extending between opposite portions of the frame member in one or more directions, the frame member and cross bars having at least upper surfaces each having a plurality of connection points for attaching selected modular superstructure devices to the base frame in a plurality of different possible configurations, wherein the connection points on the frame member and cross bars together and independently form multiple arrays of connection points of different sizes and with different numbers of connection points; each base mount of the respective modular superstructure devices including an array of connection points configured for alignment with connection points of any selected array on the modular base frame of size matching the array of connection points on the respective base mount; a plurality of fasteners configured for attachment of respective base mounts of selected superstructure devices to the base frame via aligned connection points of the respective base mount and the selected matching array of connection points on the base frame; and wherein the cover member is of truncated square pyramid shape having two inclined side walls, two inclined end walls, a top wall, and an inwardly extending, peripheral rim extending around the lower ends of the end walls and side walls, the peripheral rim of the cover member being of shape and dimensions substantially matching those of the peripheral frame member and having a plurality of connection points configured for alignment with matching connection points on the peripheral frame member and for attachment to the base frame via fasteners at some or all of the aligned cover member and peripheral frame member connection points when the cover member is engaged over equipment mounted on the base frame with the inwardly extending peripheral rim seated on top of the peripheral frame member.