초록

Method and apparatus whereby an anode may be mounted on a subsea propulsion vehicle, transported to a selected portion of a platform substructure and then remotely and operatively connected to the substructure, as by explosively-actuated bolts.

대표청구항 ▼

Method of attaching a cathodic-protection system anode provided with connector means to an underwater structure with a television-equipped self-propelled underwater vehicle equipped with thrusters adapted to be powered and operated with operations and underwater environment being observed visually a

Method of attaching a cathodic-protection system anode provided with connector means to an underwater structure with a television-equipped self-propelled underwater vehicle equipped with thrusters adapted to be powered and operated with operations and underwater environment being observed visually at the surface for selectively controlling the operations from a surface location connected to the vehicle by a power- and signal-transmitting cable, said method comprising: above the surface of a body of water, attaching an anode to be carried to the self-propelled underwater vehicle in a disconnectible manner at a point below the center of gravity of said vehicle, adjusting the vehicle and the connected anode to at least neutral buoyancy, lowering the vehicle and anode through the water together and propelling the vehicle and anode to a position adjacent a selected member of the underwater structure to which the anode is to be transferred from the vehicle to the underwater structure, connecting the anode to the selected point on the underwater structure, decreasing the buoyancy of the vehicle to a value sufficient to maintain the vehicle alone at just above neutral buoyancy, disconnecting the vehicle from the anode now connected to the underwater structure, propelling the vehicle from the underwater position adjacent the structure to the surface of the body of water.