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Tilt lock mechanism for marine propulsion device
ii
New Patents
4575282 SYSTEM FOR DRIVING OPEN END PIPE PILES ON THE OCEAN FLOOR USING PNEUMATIC EVACUATION AND EXISTING HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
James H Pardue, James H Pardue, Charles R Pardue
A new pile assembly is disclosed. It comprises an open end pipe pile (a cylindrical pipe pile provided with a pile cap) that is provided with: (1) a diaphragm adapted to slide axially within said open end pipe pile; (2) a conduit that allows gases and liquids to flow to and from the upper portion of the interior of said open end pipe pile through a conduit port; and (3) a one-way valve that allows gases and liquids to flow from an inlet port (that is below said conduit port) in the interior of said open end pipe pile to an exhaust port on the exterior of said open end pipe pile. The preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises: (4) an open end pipe pile with a lower end of reduced interior diameter; (5) means for retaining drilling mud in the lower portion of said open end pipe pile; and (6) a flexible riser in the interior of said open end pipe pile that provides a passageway for liquids and gases from said inlet port to said one-way valve. A new process for driving an open end pipe pile into the sea floor at significant depths below the ocean surface is also disclosed. It comprises the steps of: (1) displacing liquid from the interior of an open end pipe pile (that has initially penetrated the sea floor) to the ambient by forcing compressed gas into the upper portion of said open end pipe pile; and (2) evacuating or venting said compressed gas from the upper portion of said open end pipe pile to the atmosphere thereby causing said pile to be driven by existing hydrostatic pressure. In the preferred embodiment of the process, the hydrostatic pile driving is done in a plurality of stages, with each stage comprising said steps (1) and (2). The preferred embodiment of the process also comprises the use of drilling mud: to provide lubrication between the diaphragm and the interior surface of the pipe pile, and between the exterior surface of the soil core and the interior surface of the pipe pile; and to give additional weight to the pile assembly thereby increasing the initial penetration of the sea floor, and preventing piping during the hydrostatic pile driving of step (2).
4575342 TILT LOCK MECHANISM FOR MARINE PROPULSION DEVICE Ryoji Nakahama, Takashi Iwashita, Iwata, Japan assigned to Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha A tilt locking and shock absorbing arrangement for a marine outboard drive embodying a single cylinder and piston assembly for controlling the tilt and trim positions of the drive and for further absorbing shocks applied to it. An accumulator arrangement is provided having gas over oil and is valved into the system in such a way as to prevent passage of the gas into the shock absorbing device per se. In addition, an arrangement is provided whereby the drive may be manually positioned without necessitating the operator's use of one hand to operate the mechanism when the desired position is reached.
4576518 FIXED/MOVABLE MARINE STRUCTURE SYSTEM William J C o o k e , James N Dancey, George B DeBoon, Norman W Miller, Glen R Yungblut, Kelowna, Canada assigned to EPI Resources Ltd A platform is provided for use in combination with a foundation affixable to a sea bed to provide a fixed/movable marine structure system for use at selected offshore locations. The platform is capable of alternately existing in a fixed mode in which the platform is releasably coupled to the foundation, and in a floating mode in which the platform is uncoupled from the foundation. The platform comprises a working deck, and a supporting structure including buoyancy adjustment means and securing means. The buoyancy adjustment means preferably comprises ballast adjustment means. Also provided is a marine structure system comprising a platform and a foundation, and a method of coupling and uncoupling the platform from the foundation. The system of the present invention is well adapted for use at offshore locations subject to conditions which may require a platform to be both relatively rigid and stable on site at times and to be safely moved off site at other times. Such locations include areas subject to severe weather conditions and periodic intrusion of icebergs or ice floes. The platform is well adapted for use as an oil or gas production platform.
New Patents
4575282 SYSTEM FOR DRIVING OPEN END PIPE PILES ON THE OCEAN FLOOR USING PNEUMATIC EVACUATION AND EXISTING HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
James H Pardue, James H Pardue, Charles R Pardue
A new pile assembly is disclosed. It comprises an open end pipe pile (a cylindrical pipe pile provided with a pile cap) that is provided with: (1) a diaphragm adapted to slide axially within said open end pipe pile; (2) a conduit that allows gases and liquids to flow to and from the upper portion of the interior of said open end pipe pile through a conduit port; and (3) a one-way valve that allows gases and liquids to flow from an inlet port (that is below said conduit port) in the interior of said open end pipe pile to an exhaust port on the exterior of said open end pipe pile. The preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises: (4) an open end pipe pile with a lower end of reduced interior diameter; (5) means for retaining drilling mud in the lower portion of said open end pipe pile; and (6) a flexible riser in the interior of said open end pipe pile that provides a passageway for liquids and gases from said inlet port to said one-way valve. A new process for driving an open end pipe pile into the sea floor at significant depths below the ocean surface is also disclosed. It comprises the steps of: (1) displacing liquid from the interior of an open end pipe pile (that has initially penetrated the sea floor) to the ambient by forcing compressed gas into the upper portion of said open end pipe pile; and (2) evacuating or venting said compressed gas from the upper portion of said open end pipe pile to the atmosphere thereby causing said pile to be driven by existing hydrostatic pressure. In the preferred embodiment of the process, the hydrostatic pile driving is done in a plurality of stages, with each stage comprising said steps (1) and (2). The preferred embodiment of the process also comprises the use of drilling mud: to provide lubrication between the diaphragm and the interior surface of the pipe pile, and between the exterior surface of the soil core and the interior surface of the pipe pile; and to give additional weight to the pile assembly thereby increasing the initial penetration of the sea floor, and preventing piping during the hydrostatic pile driving of step (2).
4575342 TILT LOCK MECHANISM FOR MARINE PROPULSION DEVICE Ryoji Nakahama, Takashi Iwashita, Iwata, Japan assigned to Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha A tilt locking and shock absorbing arrangement for a marine outboard drive embodying a single cylinder and piston assembly for controlling the tilt and trim positions of the drive and for further absorbing shocks applied to it. An accumulator arrangement is provided having gas over oil and is valved into the system in such a way as to prevent passage of the gas into the shock absorbing device per se. In addition, an arrangement is provided whereby the drive may be manually positioned without necessitating the operator's use of one hand to operate the mechanism when the desired position is reached.
4576518 FIXED/MOVABLE MARINE STRUCTURE SYSTEM William J C o o k e , James N Dancey, George B DeBoon, Norman W Miller, Glen R Yungblut, Kelowna, Canada assigned to EPI Resources Ltd A platform is provided for use in combination with a foundation affixable to a sea bed to provide a fixed/movable marine structure system for use at selected offshore locations. The platform is capable of alternately existing in a fixed mode in which the platform is releasably coupled to the foundation, and in a floating mode in which the platform is uncoupled from the foundation. The platform comprises a working deck, and a supporting structure including buoyancy adjustment means and securing means. The buoyancy adjustment means preferably comprises ballast adjustment means. Also provided is a marine structure system comprising a platform and a foundation, and a method of coupling and uncoupling the platform from the foundation. The system of the present invention is well adapted for use at offshore locations subject to conditions which may require a platform to be both relatively rigid and stable on site at times and to be safely moved off site at other times. Such locations include areas subject to severe weather conditions and periodic intrusion of icebergs or ice floes. The platform is well adapted for use as an oil or gas production platform.