Abstract: A device for fabricating structures of large dimensions, layer by layer. The invention relates to a device making use of positioning an extrusion head in three dimensions by means of cables in order to deposit a pasty material continuously in thin layers, e.g. a mortar comprising either a hydraulic binder or thermoplastic compounds or thermosetting compounds or curable compounds. The invention is for making industrial elements of very large dimensions, and more particularly for making buildings.

Abstract: A device for fabricating structures of large dimensions, layer by layer. The invention relates to a device making use of positioning an extrusion head in three dimensions by means of cables in order to deposit a pasty material continuously in thin layers, e.g. a mortar comprising either a hydraulic binder or thermoplastic compounds or thermosetting compounds or curable compounds. The invention is for making industrial elements of very large dimensions, and more particularly for making buildings.

Abstract: A modular storage and holder device for a plurality of flexible lines having a circular turntable arranged on a plane such as the deck of a ship and having reversibly attached thereto a central cylinder around which at least a first line is wound in carousel mode with a plurality of coaxial layers of helically superposed touching turns, internal posts serving as a winding support for at least one second flexible line itself retained by a series of second intermediate posts around which it is possible to wind at least one third flexible line, itself retained by peripheral retaining posts at the periphery of the turntable, the second and third lines being wound in rotary basket type mode having superposed pluralities of layers of juxtaposed concentric touching turns resting on a common plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curvature limiter device constituted by fastening tubular sleeves (5) end-to-end, the tubular sleeves being fitted at their longitudinal ends with fastener-and-hinge devices (6) on their top faces and with bottom abutments (71, 72) diametrically opposite on their bottom faces. The present invention also provides a bottom-to-surface connection installation between undersea equipment such as an undersea well head or the end of an undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom (16) and a floating support (12) on the surface, the installation comprising an undersea flexible line (2) having its curvature controlled by a said curvature limiter device (1) of the invention, said curvature limiter device being arranged at an intermediate depth between the sea bottom (16) and the surface (17).

Abstract: A ship for laying flexible undersea lines at sea, the ship having a deck including a cavity receiving said turntable and a motor-driven device for rotating the turntable and fastened to the carrier structure of the hull of the ship, also known as the “hull girder”. The top face of the circular turntable does not project significantly above the plane of the deck that is juxtaposed therewith. The turntable presents attachment elements for attaching a modular storage and handling device for storing and handling flexible lines by winding and unwinding the flexible lines.

Abstract: A pipe having at least two steel pipe elements with internal lining that are assembled together end to end, with the ends of the two pipe elements being welded together. A tubular junction sleeve is interposed inside the pipe at the abutting ends of the two pipe elements so that the end terminal portions of the sleeve are at least in part in leaktight contact with respective ones of the terminal portions at the ends of the internal linings of the two pipe elements. The leaktight contact zone is a zone of fusion welding together the materials in mutual contact constituting at least a portion of each terminal portion of the sleeve and of each respective terminal portion of the lining. At each of the terminal portions of the sleeve in the leaktight contact zone, the tubular junction sleeve presents a Joule effect heater wire arranged in a double spiral on the outer surface of each terminal portion at the ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of using a buoyancy fluid presenting density that is less than that of sea water, and that is confined in a rigid or flexible leaktight casing, so as to constitute an immersed buoyancy element, wherein the buoyancy fluid is a compound that is naturally in a gaseous state at ambient atmospheric temperature and pressure, and in a liquid state at the underwater depth to which the buoyancy element is immersed. A method is also disclosed for placing a buoyancy element in place between the surface and the bed of the sea, wherein fluid is stored in a tank on a surface ship as a liquid in the cooled or compressed liquid state, and is injected in the liquid state into a pipe from the surface where it is stored to an immersed casing at an underwater depth at which the underwater pressure is not greater than the vapor pressure of the gas corresponding to the compound at the temperature at the depth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curvature limiter device constituted by fastening tubular sleeves (5) end-to-end, the tubular sleeves being fitted at their longitudinal ends with fastener-and-hinge devices (6) on their top faces and with bottom abutments (71, 72) diametrically opposite on their bottom faces. The present invention also provides a bottom-to-surface connection installation between undersea equipment such as an undersea well head or the end of an undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom (16) and a floating support (12) on the surface, the installation comprising an undersea flexible line (2) having its curvature controlled by a said curvature limiter device (1) of the invention, said curvature limiter device being arranged at an intermediate depth between the sea bottom (16) and the surface (17).

Abstract: A ship for laying flexible undersea lines at sea, the ship having a deck including a cavity receiving said turntable and a motor-driven device for rotating the turntable and fastened to the carrier structure of the hull of the ship, also known as the “hull girder”. The top face of the circular turntable does not project significantly above the plane of the deck that is juxtaposed therewith. The turntable presents attachment elements for attaching a modular storage and handling device for storing and handling flexible lines by winding and unwinding the flexible lines.

Abstract: A modular storage and holder device for a plurality of flexible lines having a circular turntable arranged on a plane such as the deck of a ship and having reversibly attached thereto a central cylinder around which at least a first line is wound in carousel mode with a plurality of coaxial layers of helically superposed touching turns, internal posts serving as a winding support for at least one second flexible line itself retained by a series of second intermediate posts around which it is possible to wind at least one third flexible line, itself retained by peripheral retaining posts at the periphery of the turntable, the second and third lines being wound in rotary basket type mode having superposed pluralities of layers of juxtaposed concentric touching turns resting on a common plane.

Abstract: pipe having at least two steel pipe elements with internal lining that are assembled together end to end, with the ends of the two pipe elements being welded together. A tubular junction sleeve is interposed inside the pipe at the abutting ends of the two pipe elements so that the end terminal portions of the sleeve are at least in part in leaktight contact with respective ones of the terminal portions at the ends of the internal linings of the two pipe elements. The leaktight contact zone is a zone of fusion welding together the materials in mutual contact constituting at least a portion of each terminal portion of the sleeve and of each respective terminal portion of the lining. At each of the terminal portions of the sleeve in the leaktight contact zone, the tubular junction sleeve presents a Joule effect heater wire arranged in a double spiral on the outer surface of each terminal portion at the ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of making steel undersea pipes designed to convey corrosive fluids including water, the method including acting in a workshop on land to assemble together respective ends of at least two unitary pipe elements with carbon-steel first welds to form pipe strings, the first welds being protected by first linings, and acting at sea from a laying ship to assemble together respective ends of the strings by use of anti-corrosion second welds of stainless steel or of anti-corrosion alloy to form a pipe. Each of the ends of the strings are provided with an anti-corrosion cladding which extends over the inside surface made of carbon steel of each end unitary pipe element over a first length of at least 4 times the thickness of the wall of the pipe.

Abstract: A ship or floating support for carrying or storing liquid consisting of a liquefied gas, preferably chosen from methane, ethylene, propane, and butane, cooled in a large tank that is preferably cylindrical and of polygonal cross-section, that is thermally insulated, and of large size with at least its smallest dimension in the horizontal direction, in particular its width, being greater than 20 m and preferably in the range 25 m to 50 m, and presenting a volume greater than 10,000 m3 the reservoir is equipped with at least one attenuation device for attenuating movements of the liquid and having a mechanism for moving the liquefied gas liquid inside the reservoir so as to form a horizontal stream immediately below the free surface of the liquefied gas at least locally over a depth of at least 0.5 m, and preferably at least 2 m.

Abstract: A peening device suitable for peening annular weld zones inside undersea pipes, the device comprising at least one peening tool, with at least one hammer actuated to perform radial reciprocating movement in translation for peening against the inside surface of the pipe and/or said weld, wherein: said peening tool has a single hammer; and said hammer is pivotally mounted so as to be capable of varying its angle of inclination relative to the surface for peening; and said device includes a carriage suitable for moving in axial longitudinal translation XX inside a pipe and for supporting means for moving said peening tool in longitudinal and radial translation, and in rotation relative to said carriage; and said hammer co-operates with means for actuating radial reciprocating movements in translation by peening by making use of electromagnetic energy and reciprocating motion inside a solenoid coil, preferably also in co-operation with a spring.

Abstract: A method of using a buoyancy fluid presenting density that is less than that of sea water, and that is confined in a rigid or flexible leaktight casing, so as to constitute an immersed buoyancy element, wherein the buoyancy fluid is a compound that is naturally in the gaseous state at ambient atmospheric temperature and pressure, and in the liquid state at the underwater depth to which the buoyancy element is immersed. The present invention also relates to a method of putting a buoyancy element into place between the surface and the bed of the sea, wherein the fluid is stored in a tank on a surface ship as a liquid in the cooled or compressed liquid state, and it is injected in the liquid state into a pipe from the surface where it is stored to an said immersed casing at an underwater depth at which the underwater pressure is not greater than the vapor pressure of the gas corresponding to the compound at the temperature at the depth.

Abstract: A method of using a buoyancy fluid presenting density that is less than that of sea water, and that is confined in a rigid or flexible leaktight casing, so as to constitute an immersed buoyancy element, wherein the buoyancy fluid is a compound that is naturally in a gaseous state at ambient atmospheric temperature and pressure, and in a liquid state at the underwater depth to which the buoyancy element is immersed. A method is also disclosed for placing a buoyancy element in place between the surface and the bed of the sea, wherein fluid is stored in a tank on a surface ship as a liquid in the cooled or compressed liquid state, and is injected in the liquid state into a pipe from the surface where it is stored to an immersed casing at an underwater depth at which the underwater pressure is not greater than the vapor pressure of the gas corresponding to the compound at the temperature at the depth.

Abstract: An insulating complex having a metal case and insulating material confined in a vacuum between the inner wall and the outer wall of the case and wherein each of the walls has a metal strip, at least one of which includes corrugations. An insulated pipe and a set of two coaxial pipes are also provided wherein the coaxial pipes are arranged as an inner pipe and an outer pipe, preferably undersea pipes for great depths.

Abstract: A method of making steel undersea pipes (1) designed to convey corrosive fluids and in particular water, the method comprising the steps consisting in: 1) acting in a workshop on land to assemble together respective ends of at least two unitary pipe elements (2a-2d) by means of carbon-steel first welds (41) so as to form pipe strings (3a, 3b), said first welds being protected by first linings (61); and 2) acting at sea from a laying ship (20) to assemble together respective ends of said strings (3a, 3b) by use of anti-corrosion second welds (42) of stainless steel or of anti-corrosion alloy so as to form a said pipe; each of the ends (31, 32) of said strings being provided with an anti-corrosion cladding (5) of same said stainless steel or of same said corrosion-resistant alloy, which cladding extends over the inside surface made of carbon steel of each said end unitary pipe element over a first length (l1) of at least 4 times the thickness of the wall of the pipe, and preferably in the range 4 times to 20 ti

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reinforced undersea unit pipe element (1) suitable for being laid empty at great depth. The element includes a tubular wall, having at least one external peripheral reinforcing element (6, 7) creating a plurality of localized zones on the outside surface of the wall, the radial distance (d1) between the outside surface of the pipe and the longitudinal axis (XX?) of the wall in the zones being greater than the outside radius (R) of the tubular wall portions lying between the successive zones in the longitudinal direction (XX?), two successive ones of the zones being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (XX?) of the tubular wall by a distance (D) equal to ½ to 4 times the outside diameter (d) of the tubular wall portions, the successive zones preferably being spaced apart regularly.

Abstract: An insulating complex having a metal case and insulating material confined in a vacuum between the inner wall and the outer wall of the case; and wherein each of the walls has a metal strip, at least one of which includes corrugations. An insulated pipe and a set of two coaxial pipes are also provided wherein the coaxial pipes are arranged as an inner pipe and an outer pipe, preferably undersea pipes for great depths.