MECHANISM FOR POSITIONING A BUOYANCY MODULE

Abstract

Buoyancy module 102 may be positioned and adjusted on umbilical 402 without needing to recover umbilical 402 to topside for removing or setting the position of the buoyancy module. Buoyancy module positioner 100 is deployed and buoyancy module 102 positioned into a predetermined position within parking frame 108 by using buoyancy module holder 104 to selectively spool out umbilical 402 until buoyancy module 102 reaches a predetermined position along umbilical 402 relative to parking frame 108. Buoyancy module 102 can then be locked inside parking frame 108.

Claims

1) A buoyancy module positioner, comprising: a. a buoyancy module, comprising a two-part split design which comprises an umbilical locking mechanism; b. an umbilical operatively connected to the buoyancy module; c. a buoyancy module holder configured to selectively spool out the umbilical until the buoyancy module reaches a predetermined position; and d. a buoyancy parking frame comprising a buoyancy module latch.

2) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 1, wherein the predetermined position of the buoyancy module may be changed multiple times by spooling the buoyancy module with respect to the buoyancy module holder and changing a desired locking position with the umbilical.

3) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy module holder comprises: a. a base frame, configured to provide support the buoyancy module holder; and b. a main parking frame disposed at an upper end of the base frame and configured to at least partially contain the buoyancy module therein.

4) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 1, wherein the parking frame comprises: a. a predetermined set of parking arms, each parking arm comprising a predetermined set of rollers affixed on a top of the parking arm; and b. a base plate operatively connected to a portion of a predetermined subset of the predetermined set of parking arms, each parking arm mounted on the base plate to create a firm structure using the predetermined subset of the predetermined set of parking arms and the base plate.

5) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 4, wherein the predetermined subset of the predetermined set of parking arms comprises three parking arms.

6) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 4, wherein the predetermined set of parking arms are pivotally connected to the base plate, the parking frame further comprising a set of torsional helical springs corresponding in number to the predetermined set of parking arms, the set of torsional helical springs disposed between, and operatively connecting, the connection of the parking arm and the base plate.

7) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 4, further comprising: a. a set of closed helical springs corresponding in number to the predetermined set of parking arms, the set of closed helical springs and corresponding predetermined set of parking arms defining a parking holder for the buoyancy module; and b. a set of mounting plates, each mounting plate operatively connected to a corresponding parking arm and its associated closed helical spring.

8) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 7, wherein the parking frame further comprises an activation handle adapted to release a parked buoyancy module from the parking frame.

9) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 8, wherein the activation handle defines a activation handle that comprises: a. a lift plate; and b. a lever profile comprising a fulcrum at a connector disposed proximate the lift plate.

10) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 9, wherein the lift plate is lifted upwards on activation of the activation handle which further lifts the buoyancy module upwards by expansion of the closed coiled helical springs due to the shape of the buoyancy module and the buoyancy module is release form the parking frame.

11) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 9, wherein the buoyancy module comprises an umbilical locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock the umbilical passing through the center of buoyancy module with the buoyancy module, comprising: a. a lock housing; b. a umbilical lock movably disposed within the lock housing; c. a spring is provided above the umbilical lock which keeps the umbilical lock down.

12) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 11, wherein the umbilical lock comprises a plurality of balls adapted to lock the umbilical when the umbilical lock is first position and to disengage when the umbilical lock is in a second position.

13) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 11, wherein the umbilical locking mechanism is fixed in the center of the buoyancy module.

14) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 11, wherein the buoyancy module further comprises a predetermined set of threaded rods disposed in-between the locking housing and the buoyancy module on the other side.

15) The buoyancy module positioner of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy module further comprises a top cap.

16) A method of positioning a buoyancy module and adjusting a position of the buoyancy module on the umbilical, without needing to recover the umbilical to topside for removing or setting the position of the buoyancy module, the method comprising: a. deploying a buoyancy module positioner subsea, the buoyancy module positioner comprising: i. a buoyancy module, comprising a two-part split design which comprises an umbilical locking mechanism; ii. an umbilical operatively connected to the buoyancy module; iii. a buoyancy module holder configured to selectively spool out the umbilical until the buoyancy module reaches a predetermined position; and iv. a buoyancy parking frame comprising a buoyancy module latch; b. positioning the buoyancy module into a predetermined position within the parking frame by using the buoyancy module holder to selectively spool out the umbilical until the buoyancy module reaches a predetermined position along the umbilical relative to the parking frame; and c. locking the buoyancy module inside the parking frame.

17) The method of positioning a buoyancy module of claim 16, wherein the buoyancy parking frame 108 further comprises an activation handle adapted to release a parked buoyancy module from the parking frame, the activation handle comprising a lever profile which forms a fulcrum at a bolt and a lift plate, and the buoyancy module further comprises an umbilical lock configured to lock and unlock the umbilical as it passes through a center of the buoyancy module, the method further comprising when it is desired to release a locked buoyancy module, pulling the activation handle to move the lift plate and, simultaneously, move the umbilical lock upwards, resulting in releasing of the buoyancy module from the parking frame.

18) The method of positioning a buoyancy module of claim 17, wherein the umbilical lock is movably disposed within a lock housing, the method further comprising: a. unlocking the umbilical using the upwards movement of the umbilical lock; and b. once the buoyancy module leaves the parking frame, using the spring to push the umbilical lock downwards which locks the umbilical with the buoyancy module, thus moving the umbilical along with the buoyancy module.

19) The method of positioning a buoyancy module of claim 17, once the operation is completed, further comprising: a. retracting the umbilical back; b. retracting the buoyancy module which is locked with the umbilical; c. parking the buoyancy module in the parking frame; d. once parked, deactivating the umbilical locking mechanism and allowing the umbilical to move inside the buoyancy module and to be reeled on a winch and be spooled back.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0003] Various figures are included herein which illustrate aspects of embodiments of the disclosed inventions.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a view in partial perspective of an exemplary buoyancy module positioner;

[0005] FIG. 2 is a view in partial perspective of an exemplary parking frame;

[0006] FIG. 3 is a side view in partial perspective of an exemplary buoyancy module positioner; and

[0007] FIG. 4 is a view in partial perspective of an exemplary buoyancy module illustrating a top cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In a first embodiment, referring generally to FIG. 1, buoyancy module positioner 100 comprises buoyancy module 102, comprising a two-part split design which comprises umbilical latch 111 (FIG. 4), preferably a centered umbilical locking mechanism; umbilical 402 operatively connected to buoyancy module 102; buoyancy module holder 104 configured to selectively spool out umbilical 402 as may be required until buoyancy module 102 reaches a predetermined position; and buoyancy parking frame 108, comprising buoyancy module latch 201 (FIG. 2) which may be adapted to hold and/or parking buoyancy module 102.

[0009] The predetermined position of buoyancy module 102 may be changed multiple times by spooling back buoyancy module 102 to or into buoyancy module holder 104 and changing the desired locking position with umbilical 402.

[0010] In embodiments, buoyancy module holder 104 comprises base frame 106, configured to provide support for buoyancy module holder 104; and main parking frame 108, disposed at upper end 107 of base frame 106 and configured to at least partially contain buoyancy module 102 therein.

[0011] Referring additionally to FIG. 2, parking frame 108 typically comprises a predetermined set of parking arms 202, e.g., three or more, each parking arm 202 comprising a predetermined set of rollers 204 affixed on a top of a set of parking arms 202, typically one roller 204 per parking arm 202; and base plate 206 operatively connected to a portion of a predetermined subset of the predetermined set of parking arms 202. In embodiments, each parking arm 202 is mounted on or otherwise connected to base plate 206 to create a firm structure using parking arms 202 and base plate 206.

[0012] In an embodiment, the predetermined set of parking arms 202 are pivotally connected to base plate 206 and buoyancy parking frame 108 further comprises a set of torsional helical springs 212 corresponding in number to the predetermined set of parking arms 202. The set of torsional helical springs 212 are typically disposed between, and operatively connect, parking arms 202 and base plate 206.

[0013] In embodiments, a set of closed helical springs 208 is present, corresponding in number to the predetermined set of parking arms 202, where the set of closed helical springs 208 and corresponding predetermined set of parking arms 202 define a park or holder for buoyancy module 102. A set of mounting plates 210 may also be present, each mounting plate 210 operatively connected to a corresponding parking arm 202 and its associated closed helical spring 208.

[0014] Buoyancy parking frame 108 may further comprise one or more activation handles 214 which are adapted to release a parked buoyancy module 102 from parking frame 108.

[0015] In embodiments, referring additionally to FIG. 3, activation handle 214 comprises a lever profile which forms a fulcrum at fastener 304, which may be a bolt or a pin or the like, and lift plate 302. Typically, lift plate 302 is lifted upwards on activation of activation handle 214 which further lifts buoyancy module 102 upwards by expansion of closed coiled helical springs 208 due to the shape of buoyancy module 102, thereby releasing buoyancy module 102 from parking frame 108.

[0016] In embodiments, referring additionally to FIG. 4, buoyancy module 102 further comprises umbilical latch 111 configured to lock and unlock umbilical 402 (FIG. 1) as it passes through a center of buoyancy module 102. Umbilical latch 111 typically comprises lock housing 406; umbilical lock 404 which is movably disposed within lock housing 406; one or more springs 408 which are provided above umbilical latch 111 which keeps umbilical latch 111 down. In embodiments, once umbilical 402 is locked with buoyancy module 102, umbilical 402 locks itself to be a part of buoyancy module 102 and moves along with buoyancy module 102.

[0017] In certain embodiments, referring still to FIG. 4, umbilical latch 111 comprises a plurality of balls 410 adapted to lock umbilical 402 (FIG. 1) when umbilical latch 111 is in a first position, e.g., down, and to disengage when umbilical latch 111 is in a second position, e.g., moved up as balls 410 are retarded back due to a design of umbilical latch 111 and lock housing 406, resulting in an unlocking of umbilical 402 from umbilical latch 111. Umbilical latch 111 is typically fixed in or near a center of the buoyancy module 102.

[0018] In certain embodiments, buoyancy module 102 further comprises a predetermined set of threaded rods 412 disposed in-between, and fixed, possibly bolted, to locking housing 406 and buoyancy module 102 on the other side.

[0019] Buoyancy module 102 may further comprise a top cap 414.

[0020] In the operation of exemplary methods, referring back to FIG. 1, buoyancy module 102, which is as described herein, may be positioned and adjusted on umbilical 402, without needing to recover umbilical 402 to topside for removing or setting the position of buoyancy module 102, by deploying buoyancy module positioner 100, which is as described herein, subsea, positioning buoyancy module 102 into a predetermined position within parking frame 108 by using buoyancy module holder 104 to selectively spool out umbilical 402 until buoyancy module 102 reaches a predetermined position along umbilical 402 relative to parking frame 108, and locking buoyancy module 102 inside parking frame 108. Once locked, buoyancy module 102 may be released such as by pulling activation handle 214 (FIG. 2) which, in turn, moves lift plate 302 (FIG. 3) and simultaneously moves umbilical latch 111 (FIG. 4) upwards, resulting in releasing of buoyancy module 102 from parking frame 108. Additionally, with an upwards movement of umbilical latch 111, umbilical 402 is unlocked. However, once buoyancy module 102 leaves parking frame 108, where present spring 406 may be used to push or otherwise urge umbilical latch 111 downwards which locks umbilical 402 to buoyancy module 102, resulting in moving umbilical 402 along with buoyancy module 102.

[0021] Further, once the operation is completed, umbilical 402 may be retracted and buoyancy module 102, which is locked with umbilical 402, also retracted thereby with buoyancy module 102 parked in parking frame 108. Once buoyancy module 102 is parked in parking frame 108, umbilical latch 111 may be deactivated, leaving umbilical 402 free to move inside buoyancy module 102. In this manner, umbilical 402 may be reeled on a winch (not shown) and/or otherwise spooled back once buoyancy module 102 is parked in parking frame 108 or buoyancy module holder 104. Accordingly, umbilical latch 111 allows a position of buoyancy module 102 to be adjusted along or on umbilical 402, as desired, eliminating a need to recover umbilical 402 to topside for removing or setting the position of buoyancy module 102.

[0022] The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions are illustrative and explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrative construction and/or an illustrative method may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.