FLEXIBLE PRODUCT REEL CARTRIDGE
Field and Background of Invention
[0001] The invention is generally related to the storage of flexible product such as flexible
pipe and cable and, more particularly, to the use of multiple reels for storage of such flexible
product on a vessel and for laying the product on the sea floor.
[0002] For the laying of product such as flexible pipe or cable on the sea floor, the product
has been wound onto a large reel on a vessel. The vessel then sails to the location for laying
the product and slowly moves along the intended sea floor path for laying the product as the
reel is rotated to release the product. Rotation of the reel requires a drive arrangement
capable of handling the weight of the reel and the product and also maintaining a certain
minimum amount of tension on the product during laying operations.
[0003] In some instances, such as for flexible product of cable or flexible pipe, multiple
smaller reels have been loaded with product at the point of manufacture, transported on the
smaller reels, and stored on the deck of the vessel.
[0004] One disadvantage of using multiple small reels is that they occupy a large amount of
deck space on a vessel where efficient use of deck space is important. Another disadvantage
is that multiple lifts are required to move the reels onto and off of the vessel as well as to
move the reels between the storage positions on deck and the laying position on deck. A
disadvantage of using large reels for flexible pipe is that the amount of pipe that can be
wound onto the reel may be limited to prevent crushing of the flexible pipe on the reel due to
the weight of the flexible pipe wound upon itself. Another problem with large reels is they
cannot be easily transported due to the complex logistics of finding equipment capable of
lifting larger reels and transporting these reels in the public way.
[0005] Therefore, it can be seen there is a need for an improved arrangement for storing
flexible product on vessels before and during laying operations offshore.
Summary of Invention
[0006] The present invention addresses the above need and is directed to a reel arrangement
on a vessel for storage and laying of flexible product from the vessel offshore that solves the
shortcomings in the known art. A cartridge reel is designed to receive multiple smaller,
flexible product standard storage reels in an epicyclic wheel arrangement for storing and
laying the flexible product. The cartridge reel is rotated to bring a selected standard product
storage reel from a storage position into a laying position where the product may be taken
from the product storage reel and laid on the sea floor. A reel drive head is mounted with the
product storage reel for laying product and maintaining proper tension on the product during
laying operations.
[0007] The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the present invention, and the operating advantages attained by its use,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, forming a part of
this disclosure, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008] In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which
reference numerals shown in the drawings designate like or corresponding parts throughout
the same:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the invention on a vessel.
[00010] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention on a vessel.
[00011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of item 3 in Fig. 2.
[00012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention without the product storage reels.
[00013] FIG. 5 is an end view of the invention without the product storage reels.
[00014] FIG. 6 is a side view of the invention with the product storage reels.
[00015] FIG. 7 is an end view of the invention with the product storage reels.
[00016] FIG. 8 is a side view of the invention on a vessel during laying operation with two of
the product storage reels emptied.
[00017] FIG. 9 is a side view of the invention that illustrates rotation of the cartridge reel to
place a product storage reel in position for laying product.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[00018] As seen in Fig. 1 and 6-8, the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral
10. Carousel product reel 10 is generally comprised of a cartridge reel 12 and a plurality of
product reels 14, means 16 for holding the cartridge reel 12 in a selected position and rotating
the cartridge reel 12 into a different position, and means 18 for selective, individual rotation
of each of the product reels 14.
[00019] , As seen in Fig. 2-5, the cartridge reel 12 is a relatively large revolving structure
designed to receive multiple smaller standard product storage reels 14 that hold a flexible
product such as cable or flexible pipe. The reels used on vessels for storing and laying rigid
or flexible product typically can have a diameter as much as 11.4 meters. In the embodiment
shown the cartridge reel 12 is positioned vertically on the vessel 15 such that the hub 17 that
provides the central axis of rotation of the cartridge reel 12 is in a horizontal plane.
However, it should be understood that a horizontal reel arrangement of the invention may
also be used.
[00020] As best seen in Fig. 5 and 7, the cartridge reel 12 is preferably a hub and spoke like
structure to reduce weight and cost. A typical pipe or cable reel on a vessel has sides with a
large enough diameter on each side of the hub or axle to receive as much product as possible
and so that gear cogs on one or both sides will engage with one or more drive motors that are
in a fixed position on the vessel.
[00021] Because the invention is configured to lay product stored on the smaller product reels
14, the cartridge reel 12 of the invention may be provided with structural side members 20 of
a smaller diameter than those on a typical reel. The cartridge reel 12 is provided with a drive
ring 22, best seen in Fig. 4, 5, and 7, that extends circumferentially from the structural side
members 20 on one side of the cartridge reel 12 so as to engage with the drive motor 24 on
the vessel to rotate and hold the cartridge reel 12 in a selected position. One drive ring 22
should provide sufficient force to rotate the cartridge reel 12 and hold it in position due to the
reduced payload on the product reels 14 and the fact that each product reel 14 will have a

separate drive mechanism for rotation thereof. The drive ring 22 and drive motor 24 are used
in combination as the means 16 for holding the cartridge reel 12 in a selected position and
rotating the cartridge reel 12 into a different position.
[00022] The product reels 14 are typical storage reels used for flexible product such as cable
or flexible pipe. Each product reel 14 is paired with means 18 for selective rotation and
holding the reel 14 in place in the form of a reel drive head 26 that locks into the central core
of the product reel 14. For ease of availability and use, the reel drive head 26 is preferably a
standard reel drive head as typically used in the offshore industry.
[00023] In operation, product reels 14 are loaded at an onshore location with product 28 such
as cable or flexible pipe. The product reels 14 may be installed onto a cartridge reel 12 at an
onshore location so that the cartridge reel 12, filled with product reels 14 having product, is
ready for lifting and installation onto a product laying vessel 15 in a single lift as seen in Fig.
1. The product reels 14 may also be installed one at a time onto a cartridge reel 12 that is
already installed on a vessel 15 while the vessel 15 is offshore and for replacement with full
reels 14 for potentially continuous laying of product 28 while offshore.
[00024] As seen in Fig. 1 - 3, the cartridge reel 12 is moved so as to position a product reel 14
for laying of the product 28. The product reel 14 is rotated by the reel drive head 26 and the
product 28 is guided by equipment on the vessel 15 for laying the product 28 on the sea floor.
The cartridge reel 12 is held in position by the engagement of the drive ring 22 and the drive
motor 24 during the pay out of product 28 from the product reel 14.
[00025] As seen in Fig. 8 the cartridge reel 12 is rotated to move another full product reel 14
into position once the product 28 has been paid out from other product reels 14. The
cartridge reel 12 may be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
[00026] As seen in Fig. 9, an empty product reel 14 may be removed from the cartridge reel
12 for replacement with a full product reel 14. A crane or other lifting arrangement on the
vessel 15 is used during product laying operations for removal and installation of the product
reels 14 if additional product reels 14 are available on the vessel 15.
[00027] It should be understood that, while the drawings illustrate equipment for vertical lay
of the product, equipment for horizontal lay of the product may also be used.
[00028] The invention provides several advantages over the previously used pipe and cable
laying reels.
[00029] The invention will allow the storage of more reels in a smaller area/footprint.
[00030] The invention also allows multiple storage reels to be lifted for installation onto, or
removal from, the laying vessel in a single lift of the main reel instead of multiple smaller
lifts from a supply vessel.
[00031] While specific embodiments and/or details of the invention have been shown and
described above to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it is understood
that this invention may be embodied as more fully described in the claims, or as otherwise
known by those skilled in the art (including any and all equivalents), without departing from
such principles.
Claims
What is claimed as invention is:
1. A reel arrangement on a vessel for storage and laying of flexible product from the vessel
offshore, comprising:
a. a cartridge reel received on the vessel for selectively controlled rotation thereon;
b. a plurality of product reels rotatably received on and spaced around the cartridge reel, said
product reels being smaller in diameter than the cartridge reel and designed to receive the
flexible product;
c. means for selectively rotating the cartridge reel into a selected position and holding the
cartridge reel in the selected position; and
d. means for selective, individual rotation of each of the product reels.
2. The reel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the means for rotating and holding the cartridge
reel in position comprises a drive motor mounted on the vessel that engages with the
cartridge reel.
3. The reel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the means for individual rotation of each of the
product reels comprises a reel drive head engaged with each product reel.
4. The reel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cartridge reel is positioned on the vessel in a
vertical orientation such that the central axis of rotation of the cartridge reel is in a horizontal
plane.
5. A reel arrangement for storage and laying of flexible product from a vessel offshore,
comprising:
a. a cartridge reel received on the vessel for selectively controlled rotation thereon;
b. a plurality of product reels rotatably received on and spaced around the cartridge reel, said
product reels being smaller in diameter than the cartridge reel and designed to receive the
flexible product;
c. a drive motor mounted on the vessel that engages with the cartridge reel for selectively
rotating the cartridge reel into a selected position and holding the cartridge reel in the
selected position; and
d. a reel drive head engaged with each product reel for selective rotation thereof.
6. The reel arrangement of claim 5, where the cartridge reel is positioned on the vessel in a
vertical orientation such that the central axis of rotation of the cartridge reel is in a horizontal
plane.

ABSTRACT

A reel arrangement on a vessel for storage and laying of flexible product from the vessel
offshore. A cartridge, main reel is designed to receive multiple smaller, flexible product
standard storage reels in an epicyclic wheel arrangement for storing and laying the flexible
product. The cartridge reel is rotated to bring a selected standard product storage reel from a
storage position into a laying position where the product may be taken from the product
storage reel and laid on the sea floor. A reel drive head is mounted with the product storage
reel for laying product and maintaining proper tension on the product during laying operations.