Claims
- 1. A method of making an non-abrasive subsea mat comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one non-abrasive pad;
- providing at least one rivet;
- providing a rope;
- attaching said rivet to said non-abrasive pad;
- forming at least one concrete element around said rope so that said rope is embedded in said concrete element after the concrete has solidified;
- pressing said rivet into a concrete element while the concrete element is still soft in order to attach said non-abrasive pad to said element by mechanical means and form a padded element;
- providing at least one padded element and a plurality of concrete elements, said plurality of concrete elements and said at least one padded element being fastened to each other in a row and column array with sufficient space between each element to allow adjacent elements to conform to an uneven seabed and underwater installation.
- 2. A method for making a mat according to claim 1 wherein said rivet is made of nylon.
- 3. A method for making a mat according to claim 1 wherein said non-abrasive pad is made of polyvinyl chloride.
- 4. A method for making a mat according to claim 1 wherein said non-abrasive pad is made of low-density polyethylene.
- 5. A method for making a mat according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:
- forming loops at the entrance and exit of alternating rows and columns of said elements; and
- forming a groove on at least one of said elements, said groove constructed and arranged to allow said loop of a second mat to be placed into said groove in order to attach said second mat to said mat.
- 6. A method of making an non-abrasive subsea mat comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one non-abrasive pad;
- providing a plurality of rivets;
- providing a rope;
- attaching said rivets to said non-abrasive pad;
- forming a concrete element around said rivets so that said rivets are embedded in said concrete element after the concrete has solidified in order to attach said non-abrasive pad to said element by mechanical means and form a padded element;
- providing a plurality of concrete elements and at least one padded element;
- laceing said rope through said concrete elements and said non-abrasive padded element so that said rope is embedded in said elements after the concrete has solidified in order to fasten said elements to each other in a row and column array with sufficient space between each element to allow adjacent elements to conform to an uneven seabed and underwater installation.
- 7. A method for making a mat according to claim 6 wherein said rivets are made of nylon.
- 8. A method for making a mat according to claim 6 wherein said non-abrasive pad is made of polyvinyl chloride.
- 9. A method for making a mat according to claim 6 wherein said non-abrasive pad is made of low-density polyethylene.
- 10. A method for making a mat according to claim 6 comprising the additional steps of:
- forming loops at the entrance and exit of alternating rows and columns of said elements; and
- forming a groove on at least one of said elements, said groove constructed and arranged to allow said loop of a second mat to be placed into said groove in order to attach said second mat to said mat.
- 11. A method of making an non-abrasive subsea mat comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of non-abrasive pads;
- providing a plurality of rivets;
- providing a rope;
- attaching a plurality of rivets to each of said non-abrasive pads;
- forming a concrete element around said rivets on each of said non-abrasive pads so that said rivets are embedded in said concrete element after the concrete has solidified in order to attach said non-abrasive pad to said element by mechanical means and form a padded element;
- providing a plurality of concrete elements and a plurality of padded elements;
- laceing said rope through said concrete elements and said non-abrasive padded elements so that said rope is embedded in said elements after the concrete has solidified in order to fasten said elements to each other in a row and column array with sufficient space between each element to allow adjacent elements to conform to an uneven seabed and underwater installation.
- 12. A method for making a mat according to claim 11 wherein said rivets are made of nylon.
- 13. A method for making a mat according to claim 11 wherein said non-abrasive pads are made of polyvinyl chloride.
- 14. A method for making a mat according to claim 11 wherein said non-abrasive pads are made of low-density polyethylene.
- 15. A method for making a mat according to claim 11 comprising the additional steps of:
- forming loops at the entrance and exit of alternating rows and columns of said elements; and
- forming a groove on at least one of said elements, said groove constructed and arranged to allow said loop of a second mat to be placed into said groove in order to attach said second mat to said mat.
- 16. A method of making an non-abrasive subsea mat comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of non-abrasive pads;
- providing a plurality of rivets;
- providing a rope;
- attaching a plurality of rivets to each of said non-abrasive pads;
- forming a concrete element around said rivets on each of said non-abrasive pads so that said rivets are embedded in said concrete element after the concrete has solidified in order to attach said non-abrasive pad to said element by mechanical means and form a padded element;
- providing a plurality of padded elements;
- laceing said rope through said non-abrasive padded elements so that said rope is embedded in said elements after the concrete has solidified in order to fasten said elements to each other in a row and column array with sufficient space between each element to allow adjacent elements to conform to an uneven seabed and underwater installation.
- 17. A method for making a mat according to claim 16 wherein said rivets are made of nylon.
- 18. A method for making a mat according to claim 16 wherein said non-abrasive pads are made of polyvinyl chloride.
- 19. A method for making a mat according to claim 16 wherein said non-abrasive pads are made of low-density polyethylene.
- 20. A method for making a mat according to claim 16 comprising the additional steps of:
- forming loops at the entrance and exit of alternating rows and columns of said elements; and
- forming a groove on at least one of said elements, said groove constructed and arranged to allow said loop of a second mat to be placed into said groove in order to attach said second mat to said mat.
- 21. A method of making an non-abrasive subsea mat comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of non-abrasive pads;
- providing a plurality of rivets;
- providing a rope;
- attaching a plurality of rivets to each of said non-abrasive pads;
- forming a concrete element around said rivets and said non-abrasive pad so that said rivets and said non-abrasive pad are embedded in said concrete element after the concrete has solidified in order to attach said non-abrasive pad to said element by mechanical means and form a padded element;
- providing a plurality of padded elements;
- lacing said rope through said non-abrasive padded elements so that said rope is embedded in said elements after the concrete has solidified in order to fasten said elements to each other in a row and column array with sufficient space between each element to allow adjacent elements to conform to an uneven seabed and underwater installation.
- 22. A method for making a mat according to claim 21 wherein said rivets are made of nylon.
- 23. A method for making a mat according to claim 21 wherein said non-abrasive pads are made of polyvinyl chloride.
- 24. A method for making a mat according to claim 21 wherein said non-abrasive pads are made of low-density polyethylene.
- 25. A method for making a mat according to claim 21 comprising the additional steps of:
- forming loops at the entrance and exit of alternating rows and columns of said elements; and
- forming a groove on at least one of said elements, said groove constructed and arranged to allow said loop of a second mat to be placed into said groove in order to attach said second mat to said mat.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/633,472 filed on Apr. 17, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,795.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
633472 |
Apr 1996 |
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