Patent ID: 9523247
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: B63B,E21B,F16L

Claim Text:
1. A collar for forming a space between a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device and a tubular, the collar comprising: a cylindrical body portion dimensioned to encircle a tubular, the cylindrical body portion having a top end and a bottom end spaced a distance apart, and wherein the cylindrical body portion comprises an outer surface facing away from the tubular, and wherein the outer surface comprises a first outer diameter; a top spacer member extending radially outward from the top end of the cylindrical body portion and a bottom spacer member extending radially outward from the bottom end of the cylindrical body portion, each spacer member comprising a substantially planar surface having an inner edge facing toward the cylindrical body portion and an outer edge facing away from the cylindrical body portion, wherein the inner edge and the outer edge are spaced a distance apart and the outer edge defines a second outer diameter which is greater than the first outer diameter of the cylindrical body portion such that a channel is formed around the outer surface of the cylindrical body portion, and wherein the outer edge is dimensioned to contact an inner surface of a VIV suppression device positioned around the spacer members, and when the outer edge of the surface contacts the inner surface of the VIV suppression device, the channel is open to the inner surface of the VIV suppression device, and is positioned between the VIV suppression device and the tubular encircled by the cylindrical body portion; and a spacer slot formed in the substantially planar surface of each of the spacer members, wherein the spacer slot is formed along the inner edge of the substantially planar surface and comprises a radial width that is less than the entire radial distance between the inner edge and the outer edge of the substantially planar surface.