Patents by Inventor Gianfranco Gamba

Gianfranco Gamba 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).

  • Patent number: 8800462
    Abstract: A traction method for an operating line, in particular a mooring line, of a floating production unit includes the steps of: attaching an end chain portion of the operating line to a socket of a main cable running through a sheave at a work station; reeling in the main cable, using a winch, to bring the socket of the main cable up to the sheave; locking the operating line with a chain stopper; slackening the main cable and moving the sheave closer to the chain stopper to reduce pull on the main cable; reeling in the main cable to run the socket of the main cable through the sheave; once the socket of the main cable has run through the sheave, releasing the operating line from the chain stopper, and reeling in, by means of the winch, the main cable and the operating line connected to it, to set the operating line to a given tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Saipem S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Fenini, Gianfranco Gamba
  • Patent number: 8291848
    Abstract: A traction system for operating lines, in particular mooring lines and/or production lines, of a floating production unit has a number of work stations distributed along the unit, at least at two ends of the unit, and engaged by respective operating lines; a main winch; and a cable transmission device having a duty cable connected to the main winch, and guide means for selectively routing the duty cable to each work station for attachment to a respective operating line; at least one auxiliary winch, having an auxiliary cable connectable to the duty cable, is used to unwind the duty cable off the main winch and run the duty cable, along paths defined by the guide members, into a number of positions close to respective work stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Fenini, Gianfranco Gamba
  • Publication number: 20120111255
    Abstract: A traction method for an operating line, in particular a mooring line, of a floating production unit includes the steps of: attaching an end chain portion of the operating line to a socket of a main cable running through a sheave at a work station; reeling in the main cable, using a winch, to bring the socket of the main cable up to the sheave; locking the operating line with a chain stopper; slackening the main cable and moving the sheave closer to the chain stopper to reduce pull on the main cable; reeling in the main cable to run the socket of the main cable through the sheave; once the socket of the main cable has run through the sheave, releasing the operating line from the chain stopper, and reeling in, by means of the winch, the main cable and the operating line connected to it, to set the operating line to a given tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Fenini, Gianfranco Gamba
  • Publication number: 20090260559
    Abstract: A traction system for operating lines, in particular mooring lines and/or production lines, of a floating production unit has a number of work stations distributed along the unit, at least at two ends of the unit, and engaged by respective operating lines; a main winch; and a cable transmission device having a duty cable connected to the main winch, and guide means for selectively routing the duty cable to each work station for attachment to a respective operating line; at least one auxiliary winch, having an auxiliary cable connectable to the duty cable, is used to unwind the duty cable off the main winch and run the duty cable, along paths defined by the guide members, into a number of positions close to respective work stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Fenini, Gianfranco Gamba