US 12,012,177 B2
Fixation device and installation method
Andrew Hunt, Edinburgh (GB); and Nicholas Cresswell, Edinburgh (GB)
Assigned to SCHOTTEL MARINE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH, Spay (DE)
Appl. No. 17/634,167
Filed by SCHOTTEL Marine Technologies GmbH, Spay (DE)
PCT Filed Aug. 11, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/051911
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 9, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/028676, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1911535 (GB), filed on Aug. 12, 2019; and application No. 1911538 (GB), filed on Aug. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0315169 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B63B 21/26 (2006.01); E02D 5/80 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 21/26 (2013.01) [E02D 5/801 (2013.01); E02D 2600/30 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An elongate fixation device for use in subsea anchoring, the fixation device comprising:
an inner stem having a cutter disposed at a distal end and a tapered section located adjacent to and proximally of the cutter;
an intermediate stem having a generally tubular shape and being shorter than the inner stem, the intermediate stem surrounding a central portion of the inner stem and extending distally towards the taper section, wherein the intermediate stem has one or more flareable cutting fingers at its distal end; and
an outer stem having a generally tubular shape and a portion for retaining the fixation device in a substrate, the outer stem further having a third length in an axial direction less than the first length, the outer stem surrounding a proximal portion of the intermediate stem and extending proximally beyond a proximal end of the intermediate stem;
a first releasable coupling between the inner and intermediate stems; and
a second releasable coupling between the outer and intermediate stems; wherein
the inner, intermediate and outer stems are rotationally coupled to one another; wherein
the first releasable coupling has a coupled configuration in which relative axial motion between the inner and intermediate stems is prevented and an uncoupled configuration in which relative axial motion between the inner and intermediate stems along a first distance is possible; wherein
the second releasable coupling has a coupled configuration in which relative axial motion between the intermediate and outer stems is prevented and an uncoupled configuration in which relative axial motion between the intermediate and outer stems along a second distance is possible; wherein
the outer stem has a driving portion for coupling to a rotational drive and the inner stem has a tensioning nut located proximally of the driving portion for adjusting the relative axial positions of the inner and outer stems, the tensioning nut being located on the inner stem and adjustable by coupling to a rotational drive; and wherein
the tensioning nut and the driving portion are configured to couple to the same rotational drive.