Buoy for the installation of underwater equipment

Abstract

The instant invention relates to a buoy for the installation of underwater equipment, preferably used in equipment associated with petroleum underwater exploration, comprising an outer body, which has a top lid and a bottom lid, passage pipes, which extends internally along the entire length of the buoy, being provided also of a plurality of thrust elements arranged internally, which consist of gas microbubbles with quartz spherical body, vinyl material of closed cells and resin.

Claims

1. A buoy for the installation of underwater equipment, comprising an outer body having a top portion and a bottom portion and at least one side wall extending between said top and bottom portions and further having an anti-shock mantle disposed internally to said at least one side wall, said at least one side wall having a plurality of holes therethrough and said shock mantle having a plurality of holes coincident to the plurality of holes in the at least one side wall to equalize the internal and external pressure of the buoy, in use, wherein the buoy additionally comprises passages extending internally along all the extension of the buoy, which are fastened to the top and bottom portions and, provided also with a plurality of buoyant elements internally arranged, which are made of generally spherical quartz bodies containing gas microbubbles.

2. The buoy for the installation of underwater equipment, according to claim 1, wherein the buoyant elements are arranged in rows and ordered inside the buoy.

3. The buoy of claim 1, further comprising a resin configured to protect the buoyant elements.

4. The buoy of claim 1, further comprising a low density closed cell material.

5. The buoy of claim 4, wherein the low density closed cell material is a vinyl material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The characteristics, the nature and the advantages of the instant description will be more evident from the detailed description provided below, when read together with the drawings, in which the same references refer to the same elements, where:

(2) FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the buoy, subject matter of the instant invention;

(3) FIG. 2shows a front view of the buoy of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3shows a sectional view of the buoy of FIG. 2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) The instant invention relates to a BUOY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT, preferably used in equipment associated with petroleum underwater exploration, whose installation or handling is conducted through a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The installation of the buoys on the launch line or of the associated equipment can also be performed on board and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) only monitor the operation.

(6) Now reference will be made to FIG. 1, that shows the buoy that comprises an outer body (1) made of engineering plastic, preferably polypropylene, nylon or polyurethane, with density lower than 1 g/cm.sup.3, wherein the outer body can have a plurality of holes (1A) along the walls, in order to equalize the internal and external pressure of the buoy, that is endowed with a top lid (2) and a bottom lid (3).

(7) Now reference is made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a view of the top lid (2), identical to the bottom lid (3) of the buoy, which are provided with, for example, fixing nuts (4) for the passage pipes (5) extending internally along, preferably the entire longitudinal extent of, the buoy.

(8) The passage pipes (5) are provided for the passage of steel cables used when the buoy is in operation, allowing the buoy to be fixed/fastened to the equipment or to the other buoy. This fastening system of two or more buoys allows increasing the thrust generated by all the buoys.

(9) Now, reference is made to FIG. 3, which shows an A-A sectional view of FIG. 2. It can be seen that, internally, the buoy has a plurality of thrust elements or enhanced buoyant (6) comprising gas microbubbles with quartz generally spherical body, low density material, such as vinyl material of closed cells and resin for protecting the buoyant elements. Said thrust elements (6) are inserted inside the buoys arranged in rows and ordered, and the amount will depend on the nominal thrust required by the operation. The concept of the thrust element is responsible for low weight and high resistance to hydrostatic pressure. The thrust element is obtained from a controlled and equated mixture between the main components, i.e., gas microbubbles with quartz spherical body, vinyl material of closed cells and special resin, wherein the ratio of each component defines the final density of the thrust element and its mechanical and thermal resistance properties.

(10) The buoy further comprises an anti-shock mantle (7) manufactured from a special fabric with synthetic fibers, which allows retaining the plurality of thrust elements (6) inside the buoy. Moreover, said anti-shock mantle allows internal pressure balance and acts as a dampening layer of thrust elements (6).

(11) In the preferred embodiment of the invention the buoy displays a hexagonal cylindrical configuration that facilitates its storage and prevents the buoy from rolling from side to side when stored. However, other shapes of buoy can be used, such as squared, rounded, etc., with the same objective of the scope of the invention, interpreted as comprised by the instant invention.

(12) In practice, the buoy of the instant invention provides a significant improvement in the conditions of assembly and fixing the buoy to the underwater equipment, apart from increasing the thrust considerably.

(13) Those skilled in the art would easily understand that the invention can undergo modifications without thereby departing from the concepts set forth in the foregoing description. These modifications must be considered as included within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the particular embodiments described in detail above are merely illustrative and not restrictive as to the scope of the invention, the full extension of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof must be given thereto.