Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7140319 | Pile anchor with external vanes An elongated hollow member (160), as shown in FIG. 1, with longitudinally disposed external vane(s) (275A–B) for securing an offshore structure to the seafloor. The external vanes help maintain the heading and bearing of the anchor during the ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 6854412 | Underwater vacuum attachment device A suction device includes a suction cell formed to include a cup having an open end and a stem extending from a side of the cup opposite from the open end. A control system is connected to the stem and arranged to form a partial vacuum in the cup such that the cup i... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6851895 | Methods of and apparatus for mooring and for connecting lines to articles on the seabed There is disclosed improved mooring apparatus and method suitable for use with large offshore vessels. To avoid deploying an anchor with a full weight of mooring chain, they are deployed separately. An anchor, such as a suction anchor (1), is fitted with a sh... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6719496 | ROV installed suction piles A method is disclosed for deploying a suction pile anchor in which flood valves are opened on the top of a suction pile and the suction pile anchor is off loaded from the anchor boat and lowered it to the sea floor. The suction pile anchor is set down and the rate o... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6692194 | Method for installing a conductor casing through a suction substructure A suction substructure (2) is for the setting of one or more conductor casing strings (14) in connection with drilling of at least one underwater well, preferably a petroleum well. Use of the suction substructure (2) renders possible the installation of c... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6685396 | Method and apparatus for suction anchor and mooring deployment and connection A method and apparatus for deployment of mooring systems for buoyant marine structures such as mobile offshore drilling units (MODU's) and for connecting the same to the mooring lines thereof. An anchor handling vessel carries one or more anchors each hav... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6488446 | Marine structure Marine structure with one or more suction piles for embedment into the subsea bottom and with buoyancy sufficient such that the structure can be transported over water independently floating, including in an upright position, wherein the buoyancy is conce... | 12/03/2002 |
| 6457908 | Method and apparatus for suction anchor and mooring deployment and connection A method and apparatus for deployment of mooring systems for buoyant marine structure such as mobile offshore drilling units (MODU's) and for connecting the same to the mooring lines thereof. An anchor handling vessel carries one or more anchors each havi... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6360682 | Sea anchor and method for its deployment A combination of an installation device and a sea bottom anchor is adapted to install the anchor (1) into the subsea bottom by means of suction pressure. The anchor has one or more anchoring amplification members that can be brought into an active positio... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6244786 | Method for offshore load transfer operations and, a floater for offshore transport installation and removal of structural elements A floater that is U-shaped in plan view for offshore load transfer is provided with storage/deployment apparatus for suction anchors. The suction anchors are placed in the seabed directly from the floater and are connected to the floater by adjustable tet... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6203248 | Sliding-resistant bottom-founded offshore structures A bottom-founded offshore structure in relatively shallow waters is protected against sliding. It uses at least one pile and a suction pump inside the pile. The pile has a length-to-diameter ratio such as to achieve sufficient pile imbedment with the sele... | 03/20/2001 |
| 6132145 | Pumpskid for suction anchors A pumpskid comprises a frame adapted for connection to a remotely operated vehicle for positioning thereby. A male connector mounted on the frame is adapted for engagement with the suction port on a suction anchor. Clamping apparatus is provided for secur... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6122847 | Method of and apparatus for installation of plate anchors In a method of and apparatus for anchor installation, a plate anchor is mounted at the bottom of a suction follower comprising a hollow cylinder having an open lower insertion end and a closable upper suspension end. The suction follower and the anchor se... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6113315 | Recoverable system for mooring mobile offshore drilling units In a system for mooring offshore drilling units, a first mooring assembly is installed at a first drilling venue, after which the mobile offshore drilling unit is moored by connection to the mooring lines. A second mooring assembly is installed at a secon... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6009825 | Recoverable system for mooring mobile offshore drilling units In a system for mooring offshore drilling units, a first mooring assembles installed at a first drilling venue, after which the mobile offshore drilling unit is moored by connection to the mooring lines. A second mooring assembly is installed at a second ... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5992060 | Method of and apparatus for anchor installation In a method of and apparatus for anchor installation, a plate anchor is mounted at the bottom of a suction follower comprising a hollow cylinder having an open lower insertion end and a closable upper suspension end. The suction follower and the anchor se... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5927904 | Pumpskid for suction anchors A pumpskid comprises a frame adapted for connection to a remotely operated vehicle for positioning thereby. A male connector mounted on the frame is adapted for engagement with the suction port on a suction anchor. Clamping apparatus is provided for secur... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5704732 | Deep water piling and method of installing or removing A deep water pile and installation and removal method that eliminates the need for underwater hammers or pile drivers. The pile is a hollow tube that is open at the lower end and provided with a fitting at the upper end for attachment to a lowering pipe. ... | 01/06/1998 |
| 4775346 | Apparatus for anchoring a flotation device An apparatus for anchoring a flotation device is comprised of a plurality of adjustable straps attached at respective first ends thereof to a lower major surface of a flotation device which is in contact with the water. A suction device is attached at a s... | 10/04/1988 |
| 4755082 | Removable bottom founded structure The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations intended for deployment in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. It is a two-part structure comprising (1) a platform which ... | 07/05/1988 |
| 4733993 | Subsea foundation element and applications thereof A foundation element, preferably for subsea use. The element consists of a number of open-bottom cells which are closed at their top and which are delimited by cell walls and comprise a common roof. The element is arranged to penetrate down into the sea b... | 03/29/1988 |
| 4721415 | Well base in ocean floor A wellhead apparatus and a method for positioning the apparatus on the ocean floor. The wellhead apparatus is equipped with a removable pump and a central opening for receiving a well conductor pipe. The apparatus provides a well base structure that is hi... | 01/26/1988 |
| 4695198 | Lip-type sealing system for a removable bottom founded structure The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations intended for depolyment in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. The structure is normally held down by gravity, but during ... | 09/22/1987 |
| 4695201 | Removable bottom founded structure The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations intended for deployment in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. It is a two-part structure comprising (1) a platform which ... | 09/22/1987 |
| 4695200 | Membrane seal for a removable bottom founded structure The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations which is deployed in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. The structure is normally held down by gravity, but during the de... | 09/22/1987 |
| 4695197 | Elastomeric seal for a removable bottom founded structure The Removable Bottom Founded Structure (RBFS) is an offshore platform for petroleum drilling and producing operations intended for deployment in waters with severe weather and iceberg conditions. The structure is normally held down by gravity, but during ... | 09/22/1987 |
| 4693637 | Gravity type oceanic structure and its stable installation The present invention relates to a gravity type oceanic structure and its stable installation wherein a skirt is provided downward on the outside periphery of the lower end of the part to be settled and fixed on the sea bed. When the structure is settled ... | 09/15/1987 |
| 4689032 | Water toy A water toy for infants comprises a floatable portion and a restraining portion for loosely restraining the floatable portion so that the floatable portion when floated in water in a pool or tub in which an infant is playing or being bathed is enabled to ... | 08/25/1987 |
| 4575282 | System for driving open end pipe piles on the ocean floor using pneumatic evacuation and existing hydrostatic pressure A new pile assembly is disclosed. It comprises an open end pipe pile (a cylindrical pipe pile provided with a pile cap) that is provided with: (1) a diaphragm adapted to slide axially within said open end pipe pile; (2) a conduit that allows gases and liq... | 03/11/1986 |
| 4572304 | Portable seabed penetration system A readily portable seabed penetration system for conducting cone penetrometer tests or the like from a support disposed above the water over the portion of the seabed to be penetrated. The system includes a casing string connected at its upper end to the ... | 02/25/1986 |
| 4522532 | Bottom-seated portable cofferdam and method of use A bottom-seated portable cofferdam is disclosed along with a method of using the cofferdam for providing working access to underwater surfaces which are generally horizontal. The cofferdam includes a housing having a bottom opening with a skirt extending ... | 06/11/1985 |
| 4519783 | Swimmer's restraining apparatus A flotation restraint apparatus for use in a body of water comprising a longitudinal buoy of sufficient buoyancy to provide flotation along the longitudinal axis of a swimmer, an annular flotation collar connecting to the longitudinal buoy and extending a... | 05/28/1985 |
| 4476802 | Anchor Anchor for connecting or attaching a buoyant device that exerts an upward force on an anchor. The anchor comprises a base body which is positioned on the bottom and is maintained in that position by its own weight and/or auxiliary means, which base body h... | 10/16/1984 |
| 4432671 | Suction anchor and method of installing a suction anchor A problem which sometimes occurs is that the plug of bottom material which enters the interior of a suction anchor during installation of the anchor may disturb the pumping process, since the reduced pressure may cause expansion of the said plug, the resu... | 02/21/1984 |
| 4318641 | Method for securing a tubular element to the bottom of a body of water and apparatus for carrying out this method A method and apparatus for securing a tubular element to the bottom of a body of water, comprising the steps of lowering the tubular element from the watersurface to the waterbottom, removably securing the pumping unit to the tubular element either before... | 03/09/1982 |
| 4270480 | Pinned suction anchors The invention concerns the use of pin or pile members in combination with a uction anchor to increase greatly the pull-out resistance of the anchor. The suction anchor acts as a base from which the pin or pile members are driven into the bed material. The ... | 06/02/1981 |
| 4257721 | System for placement of piles into the seafloor A system for placing piles into the seafloor by using pressure differential as the driving force. The pressure differential is created by a pump unit located either within or external to the pile. Operation of the pump unit which displaces both water and ... | 03/24/1981 |
| 4048944 | Interconnection of a floating structure and a submerged anchor station A connecting structure for interconnecting a floating structure and a submerged anchor station is disclosed. This structure comprises an anchor cap which is adapted to be fixed to the anchor station and an arm which is pivotably connected to the floating ... | 09/20/1977 |
| 4036161 | Underwater anchoring apparatus The invention concerns an apparatus for establishing an anchorage in the of a liquid. The apparatus comprises essentially a substantially hollow structure into which solids from the liquid bed are induced as solids in liquid suspension. When the apparat... | 07/19/1977 |
| 3974794 | Vacuum actuated ship mooring devices A suction cup assembly mounted on a mount which in turn is attached to a vessel or pier is attached to the pier or vessel and actuated by a vacuum pump or the like so as to make fast the vessel for towing or mooring without the use of the tow ropes or moo... | 08/17/1976 |
