Flexible Product Reel Cartridge

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.

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.