US3722775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Equipment for laying or recovering submarine cables
Assignee: Pirelli and C SpA
•
Filing: 1972-02-04
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1992-02-04
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for laying or recovering a submarine cable in which the cable is fed to or from a storage device by a pair of drive pulleys intermediate the storage device and a pulley for guiding the cable into the water, such pulleys rotating in planes at an angle to each other, having braking and hydraulic motor units for braking or driving them and being mounted on a frame permitted slight oscillating movement in the direction of the cable laying. Pressure wheels maintain the cable in the driving pulley races, and the cable extends from the storage device to and part way around the drive pulley farther from the storage device, then to and part way around the other drive pulley and then to the guide pulley. The braking units are water cooled and air operated and a hydraulic system controls the hydraulic motors. A dynamometer measures the pulley supporting frame movement, and instrumentation for indicating cable tension, speed and movement and braking pressure is included.
Inventors
- 👤 M Sarracino
- 👤 A Ferrintino
- 👤 A Borroni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:31
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G1/00; H02G1/06; H02G1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for feeding a submarine cable to and from a storage device respectively from and to the water comprising a guide means spaced from said storage device in the direction of laying of the cable for guiding said cable into the water, first and second rotatably mounted drive pulleys intermediate said storage device and said guide means and having cable receiving peripheral races, said pulleys being mounted in spaced relation in said direction with said first pulley nearer said storage device than said second pulley and with the planes of rotation of both said pulleys extending substantially parallel to said direction but with one said plane at an angle to the other whereby said cable may pass without interference from said storage device to one portion of said second pulley and part way therearound, then to one portion of said first pulley and part way therearound and then to said guide means, motor means for driving said pulleys connected thereto and braking means for braking said pulleys connected thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for feeding a submarine cable to and from a storage device respectively from and to the water comprising a guide means spaced from said storage device in the direction of laying of the cable for guiding said cable into the water, first and second rotatably mounted drive pulleys intermediate said storage device and said guide means and having cable receiving peripheral races, said pulleys being mounted in spaced relation in said direction with said first pulley nearer said storage device than said second pulley and with the planes of rotation of both said pulleys extending substantially parallel to said direction but with one said plane at an angle to the other whereby said cable may pass without interference from said storage device to one portion of said second pulley and part way therearound, then to one portion of said first pulley and part way therearound and then to said guide means, motor means for driving said pulleys connected thereto and braking means for braking said pulleys connected thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said motor means comprises a pair of hydraulic motors, one connected to drive one of said pulleys and the other connected to drive the other of said pulleys.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, Further comprising a hydraulic fluid system including a pair of fluid pumps, one connected to drive one of said motors and the other connected to drive the other of said motors, and at least one of said pumps being a variable capacity pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein both of said pumps are variable capacity pumps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein one of said pumps is a fixed capacity pump and further comprising a relief valve connected in the fluid system thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said system comprises a diesel engine connected to said pumps for driving the latter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said motors are connected to said pulleys through a dog clutch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said braking means comprises a pair of air actuated brakes, one connected to brake one of said pulleys and the other connected to brake the other of said pulleys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising means for water cooling said brakes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said water cooling means includes a heat exchanger, means for circulating fresh water through said brakes and one portion of said heat exchanger, and means for circulating sea water through another portion of said heat exchanger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pulleys are mounted on a frame mounted for reciprocal movement to a predetermined extent in said direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said frame is mounted on a base by a pair of uprights spaced in said direction and extending from said base to said frame, said uprights each having a pivotal connection at opposite ends with said base and said frame with substantially parallel pivot axes extending transversely to said direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said motor means is mounted on a fixed supporting structure and comprises a pair of motors having rotatable shafts, said motors being mounted wit the axes of said shafts extending at right angles to said direction, and said motor means is connected to said pulleys by universal coupling means extending between said shafts and said pulleys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising means for limiting said movement of said frame comprising a stationary frame adjacent and connected to said first-mentioned frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising pressure sensitive cells connected between said stationary frame and said first-mentioned frame and responsive to movement of the latter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further comprising indicating means connected to said cells for indicating the movement of said first-mentioned frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said pulleys has V-shaped races covered with a material having a relatively high co-efficient of friction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said material is rubber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means adjacent to the peripheries of at least one of said pulleys for engaging and pushing said cable into the races thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said means comprises rotatable wheels with peripheral tires mounted with their planes of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the pulley adjacent thereto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said wheels are mounted in pairs on pairs of crossed arms which are pivotally interconnected and mounted where they cross.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, further comprising resilient means interconnecting said arms for urging the wheels on said arms toward each other.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said wheels and said arms are mounted in an arc adjacent said second pulley and further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the mounting of said arms radially of the axis of said second pulley.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pair of second braking means, each of said second braking means being hand operable and being connected to brake one of said pulleys.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |