MODULAR BUOYANCY ELEMENT

• Main Author: SKARNES, GUNNAR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 04.04.2018
• Subjects: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVINGPURPOSES; BLASTING; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC; CHAINS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERATION; HEATING; INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINEDOPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PIPES; RELATED EQUIPMENT; ROPES; ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL; SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; TEXTILES; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

The buoyancy element comprises a plurality of, and preferably two, buoyancy modules interconnected to form a buoyancy element around the electrical cable or pipeline, wherein a first buoyancy module is provided with at least one first fastening element and a second buoyancy module is provided with at least one second fastening element, and wherein the first fastening element comprises a snap element that snaps onto the second fastening element when the first buoyancy module is secured to the second buoyancy module. According to one aspect, a single embodiment of the buoyancy module comprises both the first fastening element and the second fastening element, oriented such that two identical buoyancy modules may be clamped together, whereby mutually cooperating first and second fastening elements of the respective modules align in locking engagement. This aspect of the invention reduces production costs, as only a single type of module needs to be manufactured.