Patents by Inventor Patrick Ducousso

Patrick Ducousso 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: 6916218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon transfer system (1) in which a floating construction (2) such as a FPSO is connected to an offloading buoy (3) via a submerged offloading pipeline (10). The motions of the buoy are de-coupled form the pipeline (10) via connection of the pipeline by a support member (7) and connecting member (8) while the pipeline (10) is extendable in a length direction to compensate for drift phenomena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Lavagna, Phillipe Jean, Jack Pollack, Patrick Ducousso
  • Publication number: 20040077234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon transfer system (1) in which a floating construction (2) such as a FPSO is connected to an offloading buoy (3) via a submerged offloading pipeline (10). The motions of the buoy are de-coupled form the pipeline (10) via connection of the pipeline by a support member (7) and connecting member (8) while the pipeline (10) is extendable in a length direction to compensate for drift phenomena.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Philippe Lavagna, Phillipe Jean, Jack Pollack, Patrick Ducousso
  • Patent number: 6070548
    Abstract: A vessel comprising at least one anchor line (15). Disconnect elements are attached to the anchor line for releasing the vessel from the sea bed. A first part of the disconnect element (16) is directly attached to the vessel and a second part is attached to the anchor line (17). Upon detaching the anchor lines from the vessel, no cables will protrude from underneath the vessel after disconnecting. Thereby the risk of interference of the anchor lines with the vessel itself, with other vessels or with objects on the seabed in shallow waters is avoided. Furthermore, the disconnect elements can be directly controlled from the vessel. Inspection and maintenance can be easily performed. Preferably, the vessel comprises two or more anchor lines, each anchor line having a disconnect element which can be independently operated. Thereby a staged release of the anchor lines is possible which may be adapted to weather conditions or approaching objects such as icebergs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Ducousso, Jean-Loup Isnard, Rene Perratone
  • Patent number: 5941746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel which is attached to the sea floor by at least one anchor line. A riser support buoy (9) is releasably connected to the vessel. The anchor line or anchor lines are attached to the vessel outside the area of the riser support buoy (9) such that the buoy can be detached from the vessel independently from the attachment of the anchor lines. By releasing the riser support buoy while maintaining the anchor lines in place, the buoy can be released by maintenance purposes, inspection of the buoy body or the riser without the vessel going adrift. Also the forces between the vessel and the buoy are reduced as the anchor lines are not attached to the riser supporting buoy. The riser supporting buoy may be provided with stabilisation lines (45,45') which on one end comprise a ballast weight (46,46').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Loup Isnard, Patrick Ducousso, Rene Perratone
  • Patent number: 4907995
    Abstract: Mooring device comprising a tower fixed to the water bottom, a ship and two rigid connecting arms, which are pivotably connected about horizontal axes to a turntable on the tower and which each are connected at or adjacent their ends by weight loaded connecting elements to the ship. These arms extend in opposite directions so that the two springs, each comprising an arm, a weight and a connecting element counteract each other to obtain a desired force/travel curve, allowing a larger shift of the ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Leendert Poldervaart, Patrick Ducousso