Patents by Inventor Alberto Serena
Alberto Serena has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230415869Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle for the maintenance and inspection of permanent underwater installations has a frame; a plurality of motorized thrusters directable to navigate in a body of water; a tether to supply power and control the underwater vehicle from a remote location; and a tether management device to selectively wind and unwind the tether on board the underwater vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2021Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Alberto Serena, Giovanni Massari, Diego Lazzarin
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System and method for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles
Patent number: 11440626Abstract: A system for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles comprises a floating surface station for generating electric energy and receiving and transmitting data; an underwater station connectable to at least one unmanned underwater vehicle; at least one submerged depth buoy; and an umbilical, which comprises a power transmission line and a data transmission line, is mechanically and electrically connected to the surface station and to the underwater station, and is mechanically coupled to the depth buoy so that the umbilical comprises a first umbilical section that is stretched between the underwater station and the depth buoy and a second umbilical section that extends loose between the depth buoy and the surface station.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.Inventors: Alberto Serena, Giovanni Massari, Diego Lazzarin -
Patent number: 11168811Abstract: A machine configured to repair a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis determined in a body of water, the machine comprising: a frame configured to be clamped to the pipeline; an applicator configured to apply material along an outer surface of the pipeline and comprising a support body shaped as an open ring and configured to be arranged about the pipeline; and an actuating assembly, which is supported by the frame, is arranged between the frame and the applicator, has a distal end configured to support the applicator in a cantilevered fashion and in a rotatable manner, and is configured to displace the applicator along the longitudinal axis and/or to rotate the applicator about the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.Inventors: Alberto Serena, Diego Magri, Paolo Vielmo, Riccardo Mattarucco
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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER AND DATA TRANSMISSION IN A BODY OF WATER TO UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES
Publication number: 20210179233Abstract: A system for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles comprises a floating surface station for generating electric energy and receiving and transmitting data; an underwater station connectable to at least one unmanned underwater vehicle; at least one submerged depth buoy; and an umbilical, which comprises a power transmission line and a data transmission line, is mechanically and electrically connected to the surface station and to the underwater station, and is mechanically coupled to the depth buoy so that the umbilical comprises a first umbilical section that is stretched between the underwater station and the depth buoy and a second umbilical section that extends loose between the depth buoy and the surface station.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2018Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Alberto Serena, Giovanni Massari, Diego Lazzarin -
Patent number: 10850813Abstract: A supporting system for a floating unit in shallow water exerts controlled stresses on the floating unit hull and includes supporting structure for the hull. An extendable supporting device operatively connects to the supporting structure and is suitable to support a predetermined weight of the floating unit and load when entirely supported by the extendable supporting device and when the extendable supporting device rests on a bed of a water body. An actuator device connects to the supporting structure and operatively connects to the extendable supporting device for extension or contraction. A control device operatively connects to the actuator device to control the extraction or contraction movement of the extendable supporting device. The system includes at least one hull stress monitoring device operatively connected to the control device. A device to monitor the stress, or load, on the extendable supporting device operatively connects to the control device.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.Inventors: Alberto Serena, Diego Lazzarin, Olivier Fresnet
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Patent number: 10597849Abstract: A method for burying a pipeline in a bed of a body of water which includes: making a trench with a bottom surface in a bed of a body of water via a bed working vehicle advanced in an advancing direction; advancing a floating unit in the body of water; releasing a pipeline in the body of water via a tensioner and along a lay device tilted in an adjustable manner and constrained to the floating unit; guiding the pipeline to the bottom surface of the trench via a guide vehicle advanced on the bed of the body of water; and controlling the tensioner, the floating unit, the lay device, the bed working vehicle, and the guide vehicle to minimize stress along the pipeline.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.Inventors: Alberto Serena, Diego Lazzarin, Salvatore Torcivia, Massimo Bellin
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Publication number: 20200063895Abstract: A machine configured to repair a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis determined in a body of water, the machine comprising: a frame configured to be clamped to the pipeline; an applicator configured to apply material along an outer surface of the pipeline and comprising a support body shaped as an open ring and configured to be arranged about the pipeline; and an actuating assembly, which is supported by the frame, is arranged between the frame and the applicator, has a distal end configured to support the applicator in a cantilevered fashion and in a rotatable manner, and is configured to displace the applicator along the longitudinal axis and/or to rotate the applicator about the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2017Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Alberto Serena, Diego Magri, Paolo Vielmo, Riccardo Mattarucco
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Patent number: 10435865Abstract: A trenching assembly lays a continuous pipeline in a trench dug in a bed with uneven bathymetry, the trenching assembly including a trench digging device having a main body; at least four ground contact units, each unit having a height adjustment device, to position each ground contact unit with respect to the main body independently. A trench cutting tool digs in the bed includes a cutting depth adjustment device, for positioning the cutting tool with respect to the main body. A detection device detects bed bathymetry. A control device simultaneously allows cooperation between the detection device, the height adjustment device of each ground contact unit, and the cutting depth adjustment device. A command device cooperates with the control device to adjustment each ground contact unit and the cutting depth adjustment device, to obtain a trench having a height difference lower than a predefined tolerance and a predetermined burial depth.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.Inventors: Paolo Bonel, Diego Lazzarin, Alberto Serena
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Publication number: 20190226177Abstract: A method for burying a pipeline in a bed of a body of water which includes: making a trench with a bottom surface in a bed of a body of water via a bed working vehicle advanced in an advancing direction; advancing a floating unit in the body of water; releasing a pipeline in the body of water via a tensioner and along a lay device tilted in an adjustable manner and constrained to the floating unit; guiding the pipeline to the bottom surface of the trench via a guide vehicle advanced on the bed of the body of water; and controlling the tensioner, the floating unit, the lay device, the bed working vehicle, and the guide vehicle to minimize stress along the pipeline.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Alberto Serena, Diego Lazzarin, Salvatore Torcivia, Massimo Bellin
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Patent number: 10233701Abstract: A connection assembly for engaging a tubular member underwater to restrain the tubular member from radial movement relative to the connection assembly includes a plurality of pads for engaging the tubular member at circumferentially spaced positions; and a plurality of biasing arrangements, each for biasing a respective pad radially inwardly into engagement with the tubular member; wherein each biasing arrangement includes a pre-loadable, mechanical, compressed spring arrangement for resiliently pressing its respective pad against the tubular member. The assembly need not employ any hydraulic components.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.Inventors: Alberto Serena, Diego Lazzarin, Gabriele Cadeddu
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Publication number: 20180216314Abstract: A trenching assembly lays a continuous pipeline in a trench dug in a bed with uneven bathymetry, the trenching assembly including a trench digging device having a main body; at least four ground contact units, each unit having a height adjustment device, to position each ground contact unit with respect to the main body independently. A trench cutting tool digs in the bed includes a cutting depth adjustment device, for positioning the cutting tool with respect to the main body. A detection device detects bed bathymetry. A control device simultaneously allows cooperation between the detection device, the height adjustment device of each ground contact unit, and the cutting depth adjustment device. A command device cooperates with the control device to adjustment each ground contact unit and the cutting depth adjustment device, to obtain a trench having a height difference lower than a predefined tolerance and a predetermined burial depth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2016Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Paolo BONEL, Diego LAZZARIN, Alberto SERENA
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Publication number: 20180001976Abstract: A supporting system for a floating unit in shallow water exerts controlled stresses on the floating unit hull and includes supporting structure for the hull. An extendable supporting device operatively connects to the supporting structure and is suitable to support a predetermined weight of the floating unit and load when entirely supported by the extendable supporting device and when the extendable supporting device rests on a bed of a water body. An actuator device connects to the supporting structure and operatively connects to the extendable supporting device for extension or contraction. A control device operatively connects to the actuator device to control the extraction or contraction movement of the extendable supporting device. The system includes at least one hull stress monitoring device operatively connected to the control device. A device to monitor the stress, or load, on the extendable supporting device operatively connects to the control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Alberto SERENA, Diego LAZZARIN, Olivier FRESNET
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Publication number: 20170356254Abstract: A connection assembly for engaging a tubular member underwater to restrain the tubular member from radial movement relative to the connection assembly includes a plurality of pads for engaging the tubular member at circumferentially spaced positions; and a plurality of biasing arrangements, each for biasing a respective pad radially inwardly into engagement with the tubular member; wherein each biasing arrangement includes a pre-loadable, mechanical, compressed spring arrangement for resiliently pressing its respective pad against the tubular member. The assembly need not employ any hydraulic components.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2015Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Saipem S.p.A.Inventors: Alberto SERENA, Diego LAZZARIN, Gabriele CADEDDU
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Patent number: 9523181Abstract: A digging machine configured to bury a continuous elongated member in the bed of a body of water has a frame extending along a longitudinal axis; a guide assembly fitted to the frame to move crosswise to the longitudinal axis, and configured to engage and move along the continuous elongated member; and a control device configured to adjust the position of the guide assembly with respect to the frame and the continuous elongated member according to the conformation of the continuous elongated member.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.Inventors: Massimiliano Formenti, Alberto Serena, Mauro Bettanin
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Publication number: 20160083928Abstract: A digging machine configured to bury a continuous elongated member in the bed of a body of water has a frame extending along a longitudinal axis; a guide assembly fitted to the frame to move crosswise to the longitudinal axis, and configured to engage and move along the continuous elongated member; and a control device configured to adjust the position of the guide assembly with respect to the frame and the continuous elongated member according to the conformation of the continuous elongated member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Massimiliano Formenti, Alberto Serena, Mauro Bettanin