Patent ID: 6761506
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: B63B,F16L

Abstract:
A pipe lay vessel (1) with a reel (2) for carrying a length of pipe and first drive means (12) for controlling rotation of said reel (2), and a substantially vertical guide structure (3) comprising at its upper end a deflection member (6) for deflecting the pipe from a first trajectory (4) extending between the reel (2) and the guide structure (3) to a second, substantially vertical trajectory (5), a clamping member (13) for carrying a vertical pipe section, the clamping member having second drive means (17, 18, 19, 20) for feeding the pipe along the vertical trajectory (5), characterized in that the deflection member (6) comprises a movable tension compensator (7) which is movable around an equilibrium position for lengthening or shortening the first trajectory (4) of the pipe to maintain a substantially constant tension of the pipe along the first trajectory during unwinding of the reel (2), and a force element (31) which controls displacement of the tension compensator (7) from its equilibrium position dependent on a tension force exerted on the tension compensator (7) by the pipe and which returns the tension compensator (7) to its equilibrium position at a predetermined tension of the pipe.