초록 ▼

A tie-down assembly for securing an article by a strap has a frame to which one end of the strap is immovably connected and a winding shaft about which the other end of the strap is wound and unwound. A handle pivoted to the frame engages ratchet teeth on the winding shaft to rotate the winding shaf

A tie-down assembly for securing an article by a strap has a frame to which one end of the strap is immovably connected and a winding shaft about which the other end of the strap is wound and unwound. A handle pivoted to the frame engages ratchet teeth on the winding shaft to rotate the winding shaft in a strap take-up direction when the handle moves from a second to a first position while not rotating the winding shaft when the handle moves the first toward the second position. A lock mechanism actuated by a key is provided to positively and selectively lock the handle to the frame when the handle is in the second position.

대표청구항 ▼

A tie-down assembly for securing an article by a strap has a frame to which one end of the strap is immovably connected and a winding shaft about which the other end of the strap is wound and unwound. A handle pivoted to the frame engages ratchet teeth on the winding shaft to rotate the winding shaf

A tie-down assembly for securing an article by a strap has a frame to which one end of the strap is immovably connected and a winding shaft about which the other end of the strap is wound and unwound. A handle pivoted to the frame engages ratchet teeth on the winding shaft to rotate the winding shaft in a strap take-up direction when the handle moves from a second to a first position while not rotating the winding shaft when the handle moves the first toward the second position. A lock mechanism actuated by a key is provided to positively and selectively lock the handle to the frame when the handle is in the second position. ended direction of movement during pipe-laying than the bottom of the tower; repeatedly assembling sections of pipe in a generally horizontal position on the vessel to form a longer length, raising that length of pipe from the deck to a position aligned with the tower, joining that length of pipe to a pipeline being laid, and gripping the pipeline with tensioners and lowering it into the water while maintaining a desired tension in the pipeline; guiding the pipeline as it leaves the vessel using a lower ramp provided with rollers; and gripping the pipeline with one or more clamps below the tensioners during any interruptions in laying. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the assembling step comprises welding four sections of pipe to form a single length. 17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the tower is pivoted to a desired angle between a vertical position and an angle of about 30° forwards. 18. A method according to claim 15, which comprises raising the lengths of pipe by means of a cradle pivotally mounted at or near the foot of the tower. 19. A method according to claim 15, which comprises monitoring the load on the pipeline as it passes over the rollers on the lower ramp. 20. A method according to claim 15, which comprises monitoring the pipe from a rear portion of the vessel where it touches down on the water bottom. 21. A method according to claim 20, which comprises monitoring the touchdown of the pipeline by a remotely operated vehicle operated from the vessel. 22. A method according to claim 15, in which the lower ramp comprises a lower guide arrangement including a plurality of sets of guide rollers spaced apart along the path of the pipeline, the pipeline undergoing some bending as it passes through the lower guide arrangement. 23. A pipe-laying vessel comprising: means for propelling the vessel during pipe-laying; a tower at the bow of the vessel, with respect to an intended direction of movement during pipe-laying, pivotally mounted so that it can be angled to the vertical with the top of the tower being further forward in the intended direction of movement during pipe-laying than the bottom of the tower; means for raising a length of pipe from a deck of the vessel to a position aligned with the tower; and means for joining such a length of pipe to a pipeline being laid; wherein the tower is placed at the extreme bow of the vessel whereby pipeline being laid by the vessel is not enclosed by the vessel in the region of the hull of the vessel. 24. A method of laying pipes from a vessel, comprising; providing a tower at the bow of the vessel, with respect to an intended direction of movement during pipe-laying, pivotally mounted so that it can be angled to the vertical with the top of the tower being further forward in the intended direction of movement during pipe-laying than the bottom of the tower; repeatedly raising lengths of pipe from a deck of the vessel to a position aligned with the tower; and joining each length of pipe in turn to a pipeline being laid; wherein the tower is at the extreme bow of the vessel, whereby pipeline being laid by the vessel is not enclosed by the vessel in the region of the hull of the vessel. 25. A pipe-laying vessel comprising: means for propelling the vessel during pipe-laying; a tower on the vessel; an upper pipe joining station at an upper location along the tower; means for raising a length of pipe from the deck to a position aligned with the tower and with the bottom of the length of pipe at substantially the level of the upper joining station; a lower pipe joining station at a lower location along the tower, separated from the upper joining station by substantially the length of one length of pipe; and means at the upper and/or lower joining stations for joining a length of pipe to a pipeline being laid. 26. A pipe-laying vessel according to claim 25, wherein the raising means comprises a first means for bringing the lengths o