Abstract: A drilling vessel has a hold adapted to store and transport drilling pipes arranged parallel to the length of the vessel. An elevator extends lengthwise of the vessel in the mid-plane of the hold and communicates between a plurality of superposed holds and the deck. An elongated overhead crane that extends longitudinally of the vessel is arranged in the or each hold, the crane being supported at its ends on tracks extending transversely of the hold located fore and aft of the hold. These tracks are interrupted at their middle for vertical passage of the ends of the elevator. The ends of the elevator, in turn, ride on vertical tracks that are interrupted for passage of the ends of the cranes. In this way, the elevator can move vertically and the cranes traverse horizontally, without interfering with each other.

Abstract: Dredging apparatus has a bucket ladder pivotally mounted thereon for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis. To stabilize the bucket ladder, the free end of the ladder is supported by a pulley and cable assembly which at its upper end is supported from the free arm of a lever pivotally mounted on the pontoon of the dredging apparatus. A hydro-pneumatic or pneumatic spring is pivotally mounted at one end on the pontoon and mounted for pivotal and sliding movement on and along a downwardly concave path on the lever at its other end, thereby to vary the point of application and hence the magnitude and direction of the spring force on the lever.

Abstract: A ship-mounted crane is provided with a compensation device for ensuring that its load rope will suspend a load selectively stationary relative to the ship, or stationary relative to a load-receiving surface relative to which the ship moves. For this purpose, the crane is provided with a second rope separate from the load rope, and main and auxiliary pneumatic springs movable independently of each other. The load rope is trained about the main pneumatic spring; while the second rope is trained about both pneumatic springs and is selectively connectible to the load-receiving surface.

Abstract: A hopper barge has an unloading opening covered by a slide that moves parallel to the plane of the opening. In the closed position, the slide is sealed by an inflatable seal disposed in a channel that opens toward the slide and that surrounds the opening.

Abstract: A rotatable coupling for a plurality of conduits for different media, comprises a core member with a number of axial passageways connecting to conduits coupled to the core member at various levels. The conduits communicate with annular spaces defined between the core member and a plurality of stacked rotatable ring members. The core member is made up of a stack of bodies connected to each other by tension bolts or the like, these stacked bodies having radially projecting flanges between which the rotatable rings are axially confined. The rotatable rings have ample play both in axial and in radial directions.

Abstract: A suction dredging system comprises a vessel having an arm pivotally secured to it which can be positioned and held in an obliquely downwardly directed position and which itself comprises upper and lower parts which are pivotally interconnected with a link between them, the link making an angle with both parts of the arm so that motions of the upper part of the arm in the vertical plane are not or are hardly transmitted to the lower part of the arm by both parts of the arm. The lower part supports a suction mouth of a suction pipe as well as a rotary cutter whose shaft is disposed in the vertical plane of the arm, the lower part of the arm being stabilized by means of a hydropneumatic spring. A second hydropneumatic spring acts horizontally on the assembled link and lower part of the arm and cutter.

Abstract: Rigid conduit sections have a flexible hose interconnecting their ends with in a cardan joint. One end of the hose has a flange that rotatably seals in fluidtight relationship with a flange on the adjacent end of the associated rigid pipe section, thereby to relieve torsion in the hose.

Abstract: Ship or similar floating installation, equipped with a working deck, a lower intermediate deck and below this a bottom below water level. The intermediate deck is provided with spaces for the assembly of apparatus, which can be lowered through an opening. On the bottom and next to the opening the ship is provided with a dock with gates at the side of the opening and accessible from the intermediate deck, which gates can be opened and when closed allow the dock to be pumped dry.

Abstract: A floating structure useful as a mooring device for vessels, comprises an anchor having a rigid arm pivotally interconnected therewith and upstanding therefrom. The rigid arm at its upper end has a pivot about a horizontal axis and also a pivot 360.degree. about a vertical axis by which a float is interconnected to the rigid arm for vertical and horizontal swinging movement relative to the rigid arm. The float may directly overlie the rigid arm, in which case a further rigid arm extends laterally from the float to the vessel or to a further float which in turn is connected to the vessel. Alternatively, the float may be laterally offset from the rigid arm and connected thereto on one side by its own rigid arm and on the other side to the vessel by a further arm rigid with the float and pivotally connected to the vessel.

Abstract: A mooring system for carrying out production tests for gas and oil drilling on the high seas, comprises a vessel with rigid arms pivotally interconnected therewith for relative vertical swinging movement. The arms are connected with a slender vertical buoy by universal joint, and a float is connected to the arms at a distance from the buoy. The buoy has a taut but flexible connection with an underlying anchor on the sea floor.

Abstract: A bucket dredger has a bucket chain guided over a rocker, the buckets being pivotally interconnected by links of a length shorter than the length of the frame member of the buckets. Each link has an elongated opening with rounded ends in which the pivot pins of the chain are received, the pins associated with each link being pressed apart by rotation of a threaded spindle relative to a threaded socket. The bucket frames have lubricating channels surrounding the pins and sealed against the links.

Abstract: A marine dredging apparatus has a dredging aggregate that is connected to the surface by means of a plurality of articulatedly interconnected rigid pipe sections that can be wound up on a prismatic reel that in turn is disposed on, in or around a vessel. To facilitate winding in a helical configuration, the axis of the prismatic reel is disposed at an angle to the horizontal.

Abstract: A pump has an outer casing, an inner casing and a rotor within the inner casing. The inner casing is of brittle material of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the legs of the U extending into sealed axially sliding contact each with one of a pair of covers between which the rotor is disposed. A pump is provided to introduce a fluid under pressure between the inner and outer casings thereby to place the inner casing in compression to prestress the inner casing in opposition to fluid pressure peaks within the inner casing.