GAS DRIVEN ANCHOR AND LAUNCHING SYSTEM THEREFOR

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anchor system which includes an anchor projectile section (A) having a anchor body (10), beams (28) pivotally connected at their lower end to the body (10) and interconnected by flexible segments (30), a pressure storage or launching section (L) having a launching tube (36) in which the upper body (12) of the projectile section is positioned for being launched therefrom, a drag plate (62) secured around the launching section (L) with substantial weight (66) therein and sufficient diameter to create a large virtual water mass and hydrodynamic drag to resist upward movement of the launching section when the anchor projectile section is released for launching into the sea bottom, means (50) for releasably securing the anchor projectile section within the launching section until the anchor is to be launched for setting in the bottom.

Description: Background Offshore structures, vessels and floating rigs require anchors. Often the retrievable boat anchors would be used but such anchors are difficult to be embedded firmly in the sea bottom surfaces especially for holding large loads for long periods. For subsea applications, driving pilings is difficult, expensive and time consuming to set and subsea pile drivers are not available for deep water applications. Some efforts have been made to use explosive charges for driving subsea anchors into the sea bottom. US-A-3 170 433 discloses one type of structure utilizing explosives for driving an anchor into the sea bottom. US-A-3520268 discloses a ballistic anchor in which the anchor has a portion in sliding seal engagement with a propulsion chamber where the pressure gases from explosive charge expand, an inertial reactor (or drag pan) being provided to react to upward thrust and to have the major portion of the explosive energy used to push the anchor downward. Also, some efforts have been made to utilize flowing water by use of a valve to create water hammer forces or a sharp turn to create a driving force to set a subsea anchor. US-A-3 118 417 and US-A-3 371 643 are examples of this type of structure for setting a subsea anchor. US-A-3 646 598 discloses an air type of pile driver. Other types of anchor burying structures utilizing air jets are disclosed in US-A-4 347 802 and US-A-4 076 313. Summary The present invention relates to an improved subsea anchor setting system according to the features of claim 1. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved anchor setting system which is portable and may be set quickly without the danger of handling explosives. Another object is to provide an improved portable subsea anchor which is simple and quick to set A further object is to provide an improved portable subsea anchor having low drag during setting and high drag when loaded after setting. Brief Description of the Drawings These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are hereinafter set forth and explained with reference to the drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the anchor and setting assembly. FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the anchor and setting assembly taken along line 2 - 2 in FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a detail elevation view of the anchor projectile section of the present invention with some of the pivoted beams being removed to see the typical mounting of the other beams. FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the projectile section taken along line 4 - 4 in FIGURE 3. FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of the improved anchor and setting system of the present invention supported from a floating vessel and in position for lowering. FIGURE 6 is an elevation view showing the anchor lowered to its pre-launching position embedded in the sea bottom. FIGURE 7 is an elevation view illustrating the anchor projectile section having been ejected into the sea bottom. FIGURE 8 is another elevation view illustrating the deployment of the holding portion of the anchor section. Description of the Preferred Embodiment The improved anchor A of the present invention with the launching system structure L is shown in details in FIGURES 1 and 2 and its support from vessel V and the manner of positioning the complete structure for anchoring is disclosed in FIGURES 5 through 8. Some additional details of anchor A are shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Anchor A includes body 10 having upper rod 12, lower rod 14 with flange 16 therebetween. Lower rod 14 includes slot 18 near its upper end in which pulley 20 is positioned for the reasons hereinafter set forth. Cone 22 is positioned on the lower end of lower rod 14. Rod 14 immediately above cone 22 has a reduced section 24 having reduced diameter as which extends upwardly to a point a short distance below slot 18. Shoulder 26 formed above cone 22 faces upwardly and beams 28 are pivotally mounted thereto by suitable pivoting means 29 such as pins and brackets so that in their retracted position as shown in FIGURE 1 they have a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of shoulder 26 or they are within the shadow of cone 22. Positioned between beams 28 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 are foldable segments 30 of expandable metal plate sectors or flexible composite fabric sheets. Cables 32 are connected to the reduced section 24 of lower rod 14 and to a point on beams 28. The outer surface of upper rod 12 is smooth and round to ensure a proper seal by seal ring 34 within tube 36 which is supported axially within pressure vessel 38. Launching system L includes pressure vessel 38 with tube 36 supported within vessel 38 by braces 40. The upper end of tube 36 is flared outward as shown at 42 and is spaced from the upper interior of vessel 38. The lower end of vessel 38 is surrounded by flange 44 which is secured to flange 46 on the exterior of tube 36 by clamp 48. Releasable engaging means 50 connects from launching structure L to anchor A and includes collet connector 52 which includes fingers 54 engaging end flange 56 on tube 36 and flange 16 on anchor body 10. Collet connector 52 also includes an actuator (not shown) which causes wedge ring 58 to be moved with respect to fingers 54 in the usual manner. A suitable source of hydraulic fluid is supplied to connector 52 through line 60. Drag pan 62 is secured around the exterior of pressure vessel 38 and is supported therefrom by gussets 64. As shown, drag pan 62 is slightly conical with the apex of the cone facing downward. The interior of pan 62 is suitable weighted as by filling the upper interior of pan 62 with concrete 66 or other weighting material. Pan 62 has sufficient diameter to create a vertical water mass and hydrodynamic drag. Anchor cable 68 connects to messenger cable 70 which is coiled around lower rod 14 immediately above pulley 20. Messenger cable 70 extends through slot 18 in engagement with pulley 20 and connects to the lower end of collet connector 52 which is secured to the lower end of pressure vessel 38. As shown in FIGURE 5, anchor A and launching system structure L are supported from vessel V by lifting cable 72 which extends to structure L from hoist 74 that is supported on arm 76 mounted on davit 78 on the deck of vessel V. Anchor cable 68 extends to drum 80 and hydraulic line 60 and pressurized fluid supply line 82 which connects to the upper end of pressure vessel 38 are mounted on drums such as drum 84. Vessel also includes compressor 86 which connects to enlongated storage tanks 88 which may be supported on the exterior of vessel V. Line 82 connects to tanks 88 through suitable controls for the charging of the interior of pressure vessel 38. With the anchor A and launching structure L positioned as shown in FIGURE 5, they are lowered downward through the water until anchor A is embedded in sea bottom B with launching structure L positioned on the surface of sea bottom B. The anchor A preferably is fully into the sea bottom B with launching structure L having its pan near sea bottom B as shown in FIGURE 6. In this position, launching structure L is charged through pressurizing line 82. With launching system fully charged, collet connector 52 is disengaged allowing the charge of fluid pressure within pressure vessel 38 to expand with the movement of anchor rod 12 downwardly through tube 36 to launch anchor A into the sea bottom B. Sufficient pressure is provided in pressure vessel 38 to allow anchor A to be launched into sea bottom B with sufficient force to cause anchor A to move through sea bottom B to a depth which allows the desired anchoring. The position of anchor A at the end of its movement through the earth at sea bottom is shown in FIGURE 7. Since messenger cable 70 is connected between the lower end of collet connector 52 to anchor cable 68, the retrieving of launching structure L, as shown in FIGURE 8, brings the collet connector end of messenger cable 70 to the vessel V. Messenger cable 70 is pulled from the vessel V causing anchor cable 68 to be pulled through pulley 20 and back to vessel V. With anchor cable 68 secured on vessel V, it is hoisted to cause anchor A to be set as shown in FIGURE 8. The upward movement of anchor A causes beams 28 to pivot outwardly until they are in a position supported by cables 32 and segments 30 are unfolded to provide an inverted umbrella-like structure expanded into the earth of sea bottom B. In this expanded position, anchor A is firmly set and provides the desired anchoring through anchor cable 68. Also, it should be noted that the doubling of anchor cable 68 over pulley 20 allows easy replacement of anchor cable 68 whenever it is in need of replacement due to wear or corrosion or other damage.

Claims: An anchor setting system comprising a launching system structure (L) and an anchor (A), the launching system structure (L) having a pressure vessel (38) and a weighted drag pan (62) secured thereto, the anchor (A) having a body (10) in sliding seal engagement with the pressure vessel (38), characterized by further comprising a supply line (82) connected to the pressure vessel (38) and to an external source of pressurized fluid (86,88), to supply the pressure vessel (38) with pressurized fluid when the launching system structure (L) and the anchor (A) are lowered onto the sea bottom, and releasable engaging means (50) between the launching system structure (L) and the anchor (A), to withheld the anchor (A) until a launching pressure is reached in the pressure vessel (38). An anchor setting system according to claim 1, wherein the launching system structure (L) includes a tube (36) positioned within said pressure vessel (38) with its upper end open within the pressure vessel (38) and its lower end secured to said pressure vessel (38) and open to the exterior thereof, said body (10) of the anchor (A) having an upper rod (12) positioned within said tube (36), constituting said sliding seal engagement. An anchor setting system according to claim 2 wherein said releasable engaging means (50) includes a remotely operated collect connector (52). An anchor setting system according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of said tube (36) within said pressure vessel (38) is flared outwardly and upwardly to reduce pressure loss in fluid flow from the pressure vessel (38) into said tube (36). An anchor setting system according to claim 2, wherein the body (10) of the anchor (A) further comprises a lower rod (14) with a cone (22) positioned at the lower end thereof, a plurality of beams (28) pivotally mounted to the lower rod (14) immediately above said cone (22), and foldable segments (30) positioned between said beams (28). An anchor setting system according to claim 5, including a slot (18) in said lower rod (14) above said cone (22) with a pulley (20) positioned in said slot (18), a messenger cable (70) and an anchor cable (68) connected to the messenger cable (70), said messenger cable (70) extending over said pulley (20) and connecting to said launching system structure (L) whereby retrieval of said launching system structure (L) after setting of said anchor (A) pulls said anchor cable (68) through said slot (18) over said pulley (20) and back to the surface. An anchor setting system according to claim 1, wherein the drag pan (62) is conical in shape with the apex of the cone pointing downwardly. An anchor setting system according to claim 1, comprising a vessel (V) including means (74,76,78,80) for raising and lowering said launching system structure (L) and said anchor (A), and said external source of pressurized fluid (86,88). An anchor setting system according to claim 5, wherein the beams (28) in a retracted position have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cone (22).

Inventors: SCHNITZER, EMANUEL, WILLIAMS, LEONARD E., JR.
Applicants: CAMERON IRON WORKS, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B63B21
IPC codes: B63B21