Patents by Inventor David William Kirkley

David William Kirkley 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).

  • Apparatus for a laser welding of a pipeline, particularly suitable for application on pipe-laying ships
    Patent number: 4001543
    Abstract: Apparatus which may be mounted upon a lay barge to weld an end of a pipe spool to an end of a pipeline used under water, includes a stand fixed to the pipeline to support and secure its outer end, a pipe spool support which may hold a spool in coaxial relationship with the pipeline and with one end abutting the outer end of the pipeline, a laser positioned to direct a beam of coherent radiation along the axis of the pipeline, a reflection system including a mirror mounted for movement through an arc of 360.degree. in the path of the laser beam to reflect that beam radially on the abutting ends of the pipeline and pipe spool, and a laser energy source for generating a beam of sufficient intensity to weld together the abutting ends of the pipeline and the pipe spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1977
    Assignees: Saipem S.p.A., BOC Limited
    Inventors: Ottavio Bove, Galeazzo Grossi, David William Kirkley