Deployment mechanism and method for overboard pump

Abstract

A deployment system is utilized to deploy an overboard pump over the side of an offshore rig or vessel. A reel of hose with an overboard pump is securable to an end of the reel of hose. A bend restrictor supports the hose as the hose bends downwardly for deployment in water. The bend restrictor is mounted for movement with respect to the reel whereby the bend restrictor is movable away from the reel, preferably along a fixed and predetermined path, to a deployment position to permit the overboard pump and the hose to be deployed into the water over the side of the offshore rig. The bend restrictor is also movable to a non-deployed position such that the hose guide is above the rig floor where the pump may be serviced.

1 . A deployment system for deploying an overboard pump over the side of an offshore rig into water, comprising:
 a reel frame;   a reel of hose mounted to said reel frame, said overboard pump securable to an end of said reel of hose;   a rigid elongate deployment boom secured with respect to said reel frame, said deployment boom being mounted perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said reel;   a moveable bend restrictor which guides said hose from said reel and supports said hose as said hose bends downwardly for deployment into said water, said bend restrictor being mounted to said deployment boom for movement along a deployment path, said deployment boom defining said deployment path to be predetermined and fixed along a length of said deployment boom, said bend restrictor being movable away from said reel to a deployment position to permit said overboard pump and said hose to be deployed over said side of said rig into said water, said bend restrictor being movable toward said reel to a non-deployed position such that said bend restrictor is positioned above said rig floor.   
     
     
         2 . The deployment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved frame for said bend restrictor, a plurality of rollers being mounted to said curved frame to support said hose, said curved frame and said plurality of rollers being defining a curved path for said hose which prevents said hose from bending less than a minimum bending radius for said hose. 
     
     
         3 . The deployment system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical cable to supply power to said overboard pump, said at least one electrical cable being positioned inside said hose. 
     
     
         4 . The deployment system of  claim 1 , wherein said overboard pump weighs over fifteen hundred pounds and is supported only by said hose when in said deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . A method for making a deployment system for deploying an overboard pump over the side of an offshore rig into water, comprising:
 providing a reel frame;   mounting a hose reel to said reel frame;   securing a rigid deployment frame with respect to said reel frame;   providing a moveable bend restrictor which receives hose from said reel and supports said hose as said hose bends downwardly for deployment into said water;   mounting said moveable bend restrictor to said deployment frame such that movement is constrained along a straight line whereby said moveable bend restrictor is movable away from said reel to a deployment position to permit said overboard pump and said hose to be deployed over said side of said rig, said moveable bend restrictor being movable along said deployment frame with respect towards said reel to a non-deployed position such that said bend restrictor is positioned above said rig floor.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a curved frame for said moveable bend restrictor, and mounting a plurality of rollers to said curved frame to support said hose, providing that said curved frame and said plurality of rollers define a curved path for said hose which prevents said hose from bending less than a minimum bending radius for said hose. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a plurality of roller surfaces on said deployment frame, and providing a plurality of rollers secured to said bend restrictor operable to support said bend restrictor on said roller surfaces as said bend restrictor is moved between said deployment position and said non-deployed position. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing an elongate deployment boom as part of said deployment frame. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising positioning at least one electrical cable inside said hose to supply power to said overboard pump. 
     
     
         10 . A method for making a deployment system for deploying an overboard pump over the side of an offshore rig or vessel, comprising:
 providing a reel of hose to which an overboard pump may be secured;   providing a moveable bend restrictor to support said hose as said hose bends downwardly for deployment in water;   providing that said moveable bend restrictor is mounted so as to be constrained to a pre-determined and fixed path of movement with respect to said reel whereby said moveable bend restrictor is movable away from said reel to a deployment position to permit said overboard pump and said hose to be deployed over said side of said rig, said bend restrictor being movable to a non-deployed position above said rig floor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a curved frame for said moveable bend restrictor, and mounting a plurality of rollers to said curved frame to support said hose, providing that said curved frame and said plurality of rollers define a curved path for said hose which prevents said hose from bending less than a minimum bending radius for said hose. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing roller surfaces formed on said frame, and securing a plurality of rollers to said bend restrictor to support said bend restrictor as said bend restrictor is moved between said deployment position and said non-deployed position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising positioning at least one electrical cable inside said hose to supply power to said overboard pump.