Abstract: In a device for connecting and disconnecting hoses or pipes to and from difficultly accessible structures such as under water, it is aimed at providing a reliable device, which will be easy to operate, lends itself to repeated connecting and disconnecting of the hoses or pipes, also if necessary by remote control, and which is to a considerable extent selfcleaning. To this end the device has a movable supporting structure for carrying the hose or tube by engaging a freely rotatable end part thereon and an endless chain slung around a driving pinion and around two other chain pinions in the device, which latter pinions are positioned one to each side of the hose or pipe, are movable towards and away therefrom and are urged away therefrom. The chain is slung around part of the periphery of said part to engage a gear ring thereon with its run between the said two other chain pinions.

Abstract: An underwater gas/liquid reservoir 1, particularly designed to be used as a ballast/buoyancy tank in an offshore drilling platform, has a pressurized supply duct 2 for introducing gas into the reservoir to control the liquid level therein. The gas supply duct has two openings 8, 11, one near the bottom of the reservoir and the other near the top. A movable straddle packer 14 is disposed in the gas supply duct for selectively closing the bottom opening 8 so that gas is allowed to flow only through the top opening 11 of the supply duct. The packer can also be positioned to uncover the bottom opening 8 of the gas supply duct. In operation, the liquid level within the reservoir is controlled by the introduction or release of pressurized gas into or from the reservoir through the openings of the gas supply duct either to force liquid from the reservoir or to allow liquid to flow into it.

Abstract: A marine structure for guiding a plurality of ducts from deeper to higher submerged devices such as an oil well at the sea bottom and a production or storage station, respectively. The apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention compensates for relative movement between the higher and lower device by providing a rigid column having pivots at both the higher and lower devices. A plurality of ducts are attached to the rigid column and are connected to a corresponding plurality of higher ducts by similar pivot means. The higher ducts are arranged at the higher device so as to allow for relative longitudinal movement of the higher ducts with respect to the higher device.

Abstract: A personnel bridge for connecting a stationary offshore working platform 1 to a floating housing platform 2. A first span 3 is vertically pivoted at 5 to the platform 1 on one end, and vertically pivoted at 6 to the outer end of a second span 4 whose inner end is mounted to the platform 2 by a ball joint 8. The outer ends of the spans 3, 4 are also connected through a horizontal pivot axis 7, whereby movements between the platforms 1, 2 in three mutually orthogonal directions may be accommodated. The spans may be supported from a tower 10 by a fixed cable 9 pivotable at one end about an axis 11 aligned with the vertical axis 5, and by a winch controlled cable 12.

Abstract: A flexible, universal coupling structure for underwater oil lines including an anchored base 1 having upstanding bracket plates 2 defining a horizontal axis 4 between them. A pivot piece 5 in the shape of an open tetrahedron is journalled about the axis 4, and at its upper end has lugs 6 defining a horizontal axis 7 above and perpendicular to the axis 4. A riser column 8-12 is pivoted about the axis 7. Oil or fluid carrying tubes 13 on the base branch into passages 15-18 which converge above axis 7 into tubes 9 and 10. Each passage includes flexible ducts 20, 22 joined by an intermediate curved and inclined tube 21, with the ducts 20 being aligned on axis 4 and and the ducts 21 being aligned on axis 7.