Abstract: The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations intended for deployment in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. It is a two-part structure comprising (1) a platform which is made up of a deck structure, multiple columns and braces; and (2) a reinforced concrete subbase that rests on the sea floor and upon which the platform is founded. The structure is normally held down by gravity for standard platform operations, but during the deballasting procedure due to an iceberg emergency a hold-down system is employed to keep the platform on the subbase until full deballasting is achieved. The system that is used to hold the platform down onto the subbase is located where the platform meets the subbase. It operates on the principle of hydrostatics. On the underside of the columns there are multiple chambers which may be evacuated by pumping and which are vented to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations which is deployed in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. The structure is normally held down by gravity, but during the deballasting procedure a hold-down system is employed to keep the platform on the subbase until site evacuation. The system that is used to hold the platform down onto the subbase is located where the platform meets the subbase. It operates on the principle of hydrostatics. On the underside of the columns, there are multiple chambers which may be evacuated by pumping and which are vented to the outside atmosphere. Flexible seals that define these chambers are positively engaged by water to create a fluid-tight seal so that no seawater will enter the evacuated chambers. The reduction of the buoyancy forces will hold the platform onto the subbase until such time as the platform is totally deballasted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gravity type oceanic structure and its stable installation wherein a skirt is provided downward on the outside periphery of the lower end of the part to be settled and fixed on the sea bed. When the structure is settled on the sea bed, the skirt is pushed into the sea bed foundation to intercept penetration of sea water from the circumference into the structure, and sea water in the skirt is adequately discharged by draining means to make the internal pressure equal to the atmospheric pressure. Buoyancy is thereby eliminated so that the bottom surface of the structure is fixed firmly to the sea bed.

Abstract: A water toy for infants comprises a floatable portion and a restraining portion for loosely restraining the floatable portion so that the floatable portion when floated in water in a pool or tub in which an infant is playing or being bathed is enabled to bob up and down, pitch and roll, spin through an angle of 360.degree. about a vertical axis, and move over a limited portion of the surface of the water but prevented from moving and remaining beyond the reach of the infant. Various ancillary toys are included.

Abstract: A new pile assembly is disclosed. It comprises an open end pipe pile (a cylindrical pipe pile provided with a pile cap) that is provided with: (1) a diaphragm adapted to slide axially within said open end pipe pile; (2) a conduit that allows gases and liquids to flow to and from the upper portion of the interior of said open end pipe pile through a conduit port; and (3) a one-way valve that allows gases and liquids to flow from an inlet port (that is below said conduit port) in the interior of said open end pipe pile to an exhaust port on the exterior of said open end pipe pile. The preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises: (4) an open end pipe pile with a lower end of reduced interior diameter; (5) means for retaining drilling mud in the lower portion of said open end pipe pile; and (6) a flexible riser in the interior of said open end pipe pile that provides a passageway for liquids and gases from said inlet port to said one-way valve.

Abstract: A readily portable seabed penetration system for conducting cone penetrometer tests or the like from a support disposed above the water over the portion of the seabed to be penetrated. The system includes a casing string connected at its upper end to the support and at its lower end to a suction anchor. A string of push rods encased within the casing string is provided at its lower end with a penetrometer cone. With the suction anchor evacuated, the lower end of the casing is securely anchored to the seabed. Upward tension is then applied to the casing while downward force is applied to the rod string to drive the penetrometer cone into the seabed. The rod string is supported against buckling by the tensioned casing string.

Abstract: A bottom-seated portable cofferdam is disclosed along with a method of using the cofferdam for providing working access to underwater surfaces which are generally horizontal. The cofferdam includes a housing having a bottom opening with a skirt extending about its periphery, first and second seal means being secured to the skirt in spaced-apart relation to form a differential pressure chamber open along its bottom. In use, the cofferdam is first positioned adjacent the underwater surfaces, water then being evacuated from the chamber in order to develop a differential pressure therein for urging the cofferdam into engagement with the underwater surfaces.

Abstract: A flotation restraint apparatus for use in a body of water comprising a longitudinal buoy of sufficient buoyancy to provide flotation along the longitudinal axis of a swimmer, an annular flotation collar connecting to the longitudinal buoy and extending about the body of the swimmer, a restraint line having one end attached radially proximate the point of attachment of the longitudinal buoy to the annular float collar, and an anchor connecting the other end of the restraint line to a fixed object.

Abstract: Anchor for connecting or attaching a buoyant device that exerts an upward force on an anchor. The anchor comprises a base body which is positioned on the bottom and is maintained in that position by its own weight and/or auxiliary means, which base body has guiding elements for a second body to which that upward force is applied. The coupling between both bodies comprises a chamber bounded by both bodies which chamber can be connected to a source of underpressure.

Abstract: A problem which sometimes occurs is that the plug of bottom material which enters the interior of a suction anchor during installation of the anchor may disturb the pumping process, since the reduced pressure may cause expansion of the said plug, the result being that the anchor does not reach the desired depth in the waterbottom. According to the invention this problem is solved by removing the upper part of said plug from said interior by introducing water into said interior, forming a mixture of bottom particles and water and removing the mixture formed from the said interior.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a tubular element to the bottom of a body of water, comprising the steps of lowering the tubular element from the watersurface to the waterbottom, removably securing the pumping unit to the tubular element either before or after the lowering of the tubular element, closing the tubular element at the upper end, reducing the pressure within the tubular element by operating the pumping unit, so as to cause the tubular element to penetrate into the waterbottom to a desired depth. Subsequently, the operation of the pumping unit is stopped and the pumping unit is disconnected from the tubular element and raised to the watersurface to recover it.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of pin or pile members in combination with a uction anchor to increase greatly the pull-out resistance of the anchor. The suction anchor acts as a base from which the pin or pile members are driven into the bed material. The pin members may be driven substantially vertically into the bed material externally of the anchor skirt or may be contained within the skirt and driven through apertures in the skirt to provide additional lateral anchorage.

Abstract: A system for placing piles into the seafloor by using pressure differential as the driving force. The pressure differential is created by a pump unit located either within or external to the pile. Operation of the pump unit which displaces both water and soil across a bulkhead section, enables the pile to be driven into and under the seafloor. A section of piling with a pump unit can operate as an uplift anchor, and multiple pumps on a large diameter piling can be embedded into the seafloor as a large foundation.

Abstract: A connecting structure for interconnecting a floating structure and a submerged anchor station is disclosed. This structure comprises an anchor cap which is adapted to be fixed to the anchor station and an arm which is pivotably connected to the floating structure. The pivotal connection to the anchor cap is by a ball and socket joint with the socket extending around more than half the lateral area of the ball. The cap is adapted to be pressed down to the enclosure by hydrostatic pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for establishing an anchorage in the of a liquid. The apparatus comprises essentially a substantially hollow structure into which solids from the liquid bed are induced as solids in liquid suspension. When the apparatus is being used as an anchoring device the design is such that as solids from the liquid bed are induced into the substantially hollow structure they fill or partially fill the structure which then proceeds to bury itself into the liquid bed thereby establishing an anchorage.