IP Library Granted Patent US 7,363,968
Granted Patent B1
US 7,363,968 · App. 11/059,726 · Granted Apr 29, 2008

Umbilical reel safety release

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,363,968
App. No.
11/059,726
Granted
Apr 29, 2008
Kind
B1
Abstract

The method of preventing over tension to an umbilical wrapped on the spool of an offshore reel when the umbilical is unexpectedly pulled from the spool on the reel, comprising providing a main disk, mounting the main disk on the spool of the reel with a slip connection which will slip at a desired force, connecting motor power for the reel to the main disk, connecting brakes to the main disk, such that when tension from the umbilical exceeds a desired force, the slip connection will slip and prevent the umbilical from being subjected to tension higher than the desired amount.

Claims (32)

1. The method of preventing over tension to an umbilical wrapped on the spool of an offshore reel when said umbilical is unexpectedly pulled from said spool on said reel, comprising

providing a main disk,

mounting said main disk on the spool of said reel with a slip connection which will slip at a desired force,

connecting motor power for said reel to said main disk,

connecting brakes to said main disk, such that

when tension from said umbilical exceeds a desired force due to restraint of said motor or said brakes, said slip connection will slip and prevent said umbilical from being subjected to tension higher than said desired amount said main disk is a circular plate with a sprocket profile on the perimeter and said motor is connected to said main disk by a chain.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said main disk is a circular plate with a gear profile on the perimeter.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising power to drive levelwind movement is transmitted from said motor to said levelwind by said main disk.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said desired force for slipping can be adjusted.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising said desired force for slipping is adjusted by rotating a screw.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising that adjusting said desired force includes a spring.

7. The method of allowing slippage on the connection between a spool and a reel frame comprising;

providing a main disk,

mounting said main disk on the spool of said reel with a slip connection which will slip at a desired force,

connecting motor power for said reel to said main disk,

connecting brakes to said main disk, such that

when tension from said umbilical exceeds a desired force due to restraint of said motor or said brakes, said slip connection will slip and prevent said umbilical from being subjected to tension higher than said desired amount said main disk is a circular plate with a sprocket profile on the perimeter and said motor is connected to said main disk by a chain.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising said main disk is a circular plate with a gear profile on the perimeter.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising power to drive levelwind movement is transmitted from said motor to said levelwind by said main disk.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising said desired force for slipping can be adjusted.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising said desired force for slipping is adjusted by rotating a screw.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising that adjusting said desired force includes a spring.

13. The method of releasing the spool of a reel to allow the umbilical on the reel to be paid off when the brakes and motor are locked, comprising

providing a main disk,

mounting said main disk on the spool of said reel with a slip connection which will slip at a desired force,

connecting motor power for said reel to said main disk,

connecting brakes to said main disk, such that

when tension from said umbilical exceeds a desired force due to restraint of said motor or said brakes, said slip connection will slip and prevent said umbilical from being subjected to tension higher than said desired amount said main disk is a circular plate with a sprocket profile on the perimeter and said motor is connected to said main disk by a chain.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said main disk is a circular plate with a gear profile on the perimeter.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising power to drive levelwind movement is transmitted from said motor to said levelwind by said main disk.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising said desired force for slipping can be adjusted.

17. The method of claim 4 , further comprising said desired force for slipping is adjusted by rotating a screw.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2014
From: TULSA POWER LICENSING CORP.
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 033451/0822 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 1, 2013
From: MEDALLION CAPITAL, INC.
To: TULSA POWER LICENSING CORP.
Reel/Frame 030744/0455 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2012
From: BAUGH, BENTON F.
To: REELPOWER LICENSING CORP.
Reel/Frame 029483/0218 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023720 FRAME 0467. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE TULSA POWER, INC.. Recorded Jan 7, 2010
From: TULSA POWER LICENSING CORP.
To: MEDALLION CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 023741/0535 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 5, 2010
From: TULSA POWER LICENSING CORP.
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 023731/0465 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2010
From: BAUGH, BENTON F.
To: TULSA POWER LICENSING CORP.
Reel/Frame 023720/0832 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2009
From: TULSA POWER, INC.
To: MEDALLION CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 023720/0467 →