Hydraulic and earth engineering – Marine structure or fabrication thereof – Structure protection
Patent
1989-11-06
1991-06-25
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Marine structure or fabrication thereof
Structure protection
405195, E02D 560
Patent
active
050262122
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the removal and prevention of marine growth affecting marine platforms, underwater structures and the like, and more particularly to cost-effective means for controlling and combatting such marine growth by the use of natural forces to power apparatus for removing, and for preventing regrowth of, such fouling growth as occurs on water-line or splash zone and submerged structural components of, say, offshore oil platforms or "rigs".
BACKGROUND ART
Marine growth, in particular hard-fouling organisms such as barnacles, oysters and tubeworms together with soft-fouling organisms such as anemones and hydroid sponges, have long been recognised as a major cause of problems which affect the integrity of structures submerged in seawater in a number of ways:
Such marine growth adds detrimental extra mass to a submerged structure.
It increases the roughness of exposed surfaces, thus increasing the hydro-dynamic loading, on a structure.
It enlarges the dimensions of underwater members such as legs, underpinnings, struts, etc., and hence the surface areas of structures subjected to fluid loading.
It obscures underwater surfaces, thus preventing necessary visual surveillance.
Periodical removal of such marine fouling by careening and scraping has been employed as a principal means of controlling marine growth fouling on offshore oil platforms for decades. Traditionally, copper-plating and, later, Muntz metal-plating were used on ships' hulls and, recently, marine growth inhibition has again been realised by the introduction of anti-fouling paints and other anti-fouling materials such as plates or panels of cupro-nickel tightly fitted to cleaned members. These methods, however, have become prohibitively expensive both because of the time-consuming and costly diving operations involved and because of the anti-fouling materials used.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by the provision of apparatus for the combatting of marine growth on marine-based structures.
To this end, then, in a first aspect, the invention consists in apparatus adapted to surround a submerged member and to scrape marine growth therefrom; this apparatus being powered by utilization of ocean forces such as waves, swells, tides and currents.
In a second aspect, the invention also consists in apparatus adapted to surround a submerged member and to prevent marine growth from re-establishing on the member, this apparatus again being powered by utilization of ocean forces.
Thus, the present invention consists in apparatus for the combatting of marine growth on underwater structures, the apparatus being adapted to surround a submerged member of a said structure and to either scrape marine growth therefrom, or prevent marine growth from re-establishing thereon; characterized in that the said apparatus is powered by utilization of ocean forces in the form of waves, swells, tides and currents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the invention, hereinafter will be described certain preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a marine growth remover in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a floating ring;
FIG. 3 is a corresponding side elevation;
FIG. 4 is an end element of the floating ring of FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a submerged ring;
FIG. 6 is a corresponding side elevation;
FIG. 7 is a fragmented representation of an inverted Y-frame for supporting horizontally - acting rings;
FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a marine growth preventer according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a marine growth preventer ring;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a horizontal marine growth preventer ring; and
FIG. 11 is a schematic side elevation of a disc brush.
Throughout the drawings, like integers are referenced by t
REFERENCES:
patent: 1008669 (1911-11-01), Nixon
patent: 1036907 (1912-08-01), Reynolds
patent: 1134881 (1915-04-01), Lockwood
patent: 1266050 (1918-05-01), Reynolds
patent: 1266051 (1918-05-01), Reynolds
patent: 1279732 (1918-09-01), Lockwood
patent: 4676692 (1987-06-01), Henderson
IEV International Pty. Limited
Taylor Dennis L.
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