Corrosion-and-chafing-resistant, mooring system and method

Abstract

A mooring system provides an anchor, imbedded in a sea floor from which arises a line to a mid-line float resisting entanglement by operation of a “worm grip” providing a tortuous path without exceeding permissible working loads nor reducing the tension capacity of the line. A slack region accommodates changing tides, before entering into an upright tube weighted at a lower end and flanged at an upper end thereof to secure a buoy in place. The embedded anchor is driven into the sea bed by hydraulic water jet drilling. From a thimble in the anchor to a thimble in the upright at the buoy, no intervening metal components are needed in the load path. Markings are durably and protectively embedded in recesses below the buoy's outer surface.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A method for anchoring to an underwater substrate, the method comprising:
 selecting a substrate forming a floor beneath a water feature;   providing a head, having a lead end and trailing end, the head being secured to a source of water pressurized above the pressure of the ambient water feature at the floor;   ejecting the pressurized water from the lead end;   drilling, by the pressurized water exiting the head, a bore in the substrate for a pre-selected distance;   removing the source of pressurized water; and   leaving the head in the bore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water feature is selected from a lake, ocean, bay, cove, river, sound, and pond. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the head further comprises:
 the lead end having a penetration formed to pass the pressurized water therefrom; and   the trailing end thereof, further shaped to engage a wall of the bore.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the drilling, further comprising forming the bore to have an inlet end and a blind, terminal end;   setting the head in the bore by engaging, by the trailing end, the wall, and driving the trailing end into the wall of the bore by drawing the head from proximate the terminal end toward the inlet end of the bore.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the trailing end comprises an edge, comparatively sharpened to form an acute angle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 providing a tube extending into at least a portion of the head, past the edge, to proximate the lead end; and   connecting the head to the source through the tube.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 securing a line to the head at a position spaced from the head end and the trailing end; and   the setting, further comprising drawing the head by applying tension to the line.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising securing a midline float to the line by:
 providing a worm grip creating a tortuous path having dimensions with respect to those of the line to provide sufficient frictional engagement with the line to substantially prevent the midline float from rising along the line;   fixing the position of the midline float with respect to the head;   securing the worm grip by passing the line through the tortuous path; and   the securing the worm grip, further imposing insufficient stress on the line to substantially de-rate the working-load capacity of the line.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 connecting the line to the head before the drilling;   connecting the tube to the head before the drilling;   leaving the line connected to the head during the drilling;   removing the tube after the drilling; and   imposing tension on the line to effect the setting.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the drilling further comprises:
 positioning the lead end at the surface of the substrate;   pumping water from the source, through the tube;   applying a force in a linear direction along the tube, toward the head; and   advancing the head, by the force to create the bore.   
     
     
         11 . A method for anchoring into a natural material, the method comprising:
 selecting a substrate formed of a naturally occurring material;   providing a head, having a lead end and trailing end, the head being secured to a source of water pressurized above the pressure of the ambient water feature at the floor;   ejecting the pressurized water from the lead end;   drilling, by hydraulic action of the pressurized water exiting the head, a bore in the substrate for a pre-selected distance;   ceasing the hydraulic action by operably disconnecting the source; and   fixing the head in the bore; and   anchoring an object to the head by a line extending from the head to the object.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bore is underneath the surface of a water body selected from a lake, ocean, bay, cove, river, sound, and pond. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the head further comprises:
 the lead end having a penetration formed to pass the pressurized water therefrom; and   the trailing end thereof, further shaped to engage a wall of the bore.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the drilling, further comprising forming a bore having a wall extending from an inlet end to a blind, terminal end;   setting the head in the bore by engaging, by the trailing end, the wall, and driving the trailing end into the wall by drawing the head from proximate the terminal end toward the inlet end.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the trailing end comprises an edge, comparatively sharpened to form an acute angle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a tube extending into at least a portion of the head, past the trailing end and toward the lead end; and   connecting the head to the source by way of a path passing through the tube.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 securing a line to the head at a position spaced from the head end and the trailing end; and   the fixing further comprising setting the head by applying tension to the line.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bore is underwater and the method further comprises securing a midline float to a line extending from the head to the midline float by:
 providing a worm grip creating a tortuous path having dimensions with respect to those of the line to provide sufficient frictional engagement with the line to substantially prevent the midline float from rising along the line;   fixing the position of the midline float with respect to the head;   securing the worm grip by passing the line through the tortuous path; and   the securing the worm grip, further imposing insufficient stress on the line to substantially de-rate the working-load capacity of the line.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 connecting a line to the head before the drilling;   connecting a tube to the head before the drilling;   leaving the line connected to the head during the drilling;   removing the tube after the drilling; and   imposing tension on the line to effect the fixing the head by penetrating a wall of the bore.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the object is a buoy;   the drilling further comprises
 positioning the lead end at the surface of the substrate, 
 pumping water from the source, through the tube, 
 applying a force in a linear direction along the tube, toward the head, and 
 advancing the head, by the force to create the bore; and 
   the method further comprises securing an upright to the line, the upright receiving the line therethrough and being received through the buoy with an engagement effective to right the buoy.