Buoyant cable tether

Abstract

A tether for securing a buoyant structure to the ocean floor. The tether includes a cable or a plurality of cables whose weight is at least partially supported by a buoyancy tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for securing a buoyant structure to a foundation unit on the ocean floor comprising: a tether, said tether having (a) an upper tubular section having an upper end, a lower end, and a buoyancy tank, said buoyancy tank compensating for at least a portion of the weight of said tether; and   (b) a cable having an upper end and a lower end; said upper end of said cable connected to said lower end of said upper tubular section;     means for attaching said upper end of said tether to said buoyant structure; and   means for attaching said lower end of said tether to said foundation unit.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cable further comprises: a plurality of cable segments; and   means for connecting said plurality of cable segments in end-to-end relationship.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tether comprises: an upper tubular section connected to said buoyancy tank;   a plurality of substantially parallel cables having substantially equal lengths; each said cable having an upper end and lower end; each upper end of each said cable connected to said buoyancy tank; and   an attachment assembly having a lower end and an upper end; said upper end of said attachment assembly connected to said lower end of each said cable.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said attachment assembly further comprises: a plurality of tension links, each said tension link having an upper end and a lower end, each upper end of each said tension link connected to said lower end of one of said cables;   a plurality of link receptacles, where each said lower end of each said tension link is connected to one of each said link receptacles.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each cable of the plurality of substantially parallel cables comprises: two or more cable segments; and   means for connecting said cable segments in end-to-end relationship.