Claims
- 1. A tool for remotely installing a clamshell device around an elongated element comprising at least a portion comprising a non-vertically oriented section, the tool comprising:
(a) a frame having a longitudinal axis; (b) a hydraulic system supported by the frame; and (c) at least one set of two clamps supported by the frame, the set suitable for holding the clamshell device in a non-vertical orientation when the frame is oriented with its longitudinal axis vertical, and suitable for releasing the clamshell device onto the non-vertical section, wherein the clamshell device is selected from the group consisting of vortex-induced vibration reduction devices and drag reduction devices, wherein the set of clamps is connected to the hydraulic system.
- 2. The tool of claim 1,
wherein the frame has a top and a bottom, wherein the set of clamps is comprised of a first clamp and a second clamp, and wherein the first clamp is supported by the top of the frame and the second clamp is supported by the bottom of the frame.
- 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein there are at least two sets of clamps.
- 4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the set of clamps holds the clamshell device.
- 5. The tool of claim 2, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp each comprise at least one nipple for anchoring the clamshell device to the set of clamps.
- 6. The tool of claim 3, wherein there are at least two clamshell devices, and
wherein each of the at least two sets of clamps holds one clamshell device.
- 7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the length of the frame may be adjusted by the addition of sections of extension members.
- 8. A method of remotely installing a clamshell device having a longitudinal axis, around an elongated element comprising at least a non-vertical section, using a tool having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
(a) positioning a tool adjacent to the element wherein the tool carries the clamshell device selected from the group consisting of vortex-induced vibration reduction devices and drag reduction devices; (b) moving the tool to position the clamshell device around the element, wherein the tool is oriented with its longitudinal axis vertical, and the clamshell device is oriented with its longitudinal axis non-vertical; (c) operating the tool to close the clamshell device around the element; (d) securing the device in position around the element.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tool of step (a) carries at least two clamshell devices, the method further comprising:
(e) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), and (d).
- 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the clamshell device installed is an ultra-smooth sleeve.
- 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the clamshell device installed is a flotation module.
- 12. A tool for remotely installing a clamshell device and a collar around an element, the tool comprising:
(a) a frame; (b) a hydraulic system supported by the frame; and (c) at least one set of two clamshell-holding clamps supported by the frame, the set suitable for holding the clamshell device and releasing the clamshell device, wherein the clamshell device is selected from the group consisting of vortex-induced vibration reduction devices and drag reduction devices; (d) at least one set of two collar-holding clamps supported by the frame, the set suitable for holding the collar and releasing the collar; and wherein the set of collar-holding clamps and the set of clamshell-holding clamps are connected to the hydraulic system, and said claims may be independently or dependently operated.
- 13. The tool of claim 12,
wherein the frame has a top and a bottom, wherein the set of clamshell-holding clamps is comprised of a first clamp and a second clamp, and wherein the first clamp is supported by the top of the frame and the second clamp is supported by the bottom of the frame.
- 14. The tool of claim 12, wherein there are at least two sets of clamshell-holding clamps.
- 15. The tool of claim 12, wherein the set of clamshell-holding clamps holds the clamshell device.
- 16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp of the clamshell-holding clamp, each comprise at least one nipple for anchoring the clamshell device to the set of clamps.
- 17. The tool of claim 14, wherein there are at least two clamshell devices, and
wherein each of the at least two sets of clamshell-holding clamps holds one clamshell device.
- 18. The tool of claim 12, wherein the length of the frame may be adjusted by the addition of sections of extension members.
- 19. A method of remotely installing a clamshell device and a collar around an non-vertical element, the method comprising:
(a) positioning a tool adjacent to the element, wherein the tool carries the clamshell device and the collar, wherein the clamshell device is selected from the group consisting of vortex-induced vibration reduction devices and drag reduction devices; (b) moving the tool to position the clamshell device and collar around the element; (c) operating the tool to close the clamshell device and collar around the element; and (d) securing the device and collar in position around the element.
- 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tool of step (a) carries at least two clamshell devices, the method further comprising:
(e) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), and (d).
- 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the clamshell device installed is an ultra-smooth sleeve.
- 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the clamshell device installed is a flotation module.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,710, filed Oct. 19, 2001.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10032710 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Child |
10383154 |
Mar 2003 |
US |