US 10,308,324 B2 · Porch mounted variable reluctance measurement technology tendon tension monitoring system

Abstract

The invention relates to floating platform mooring and involves an improved platform mounted tendon tension monitoring system with porch-mounted variable reluctance measurement technology sensors configured. The variable reluctance measurement technology sensors of this system are optimized for porch mounting. The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system can also be configured such that the porch-mounted optimized variable reluctance measurement technology sensors are replaceable. Sensors may be replaced to extend the desired useful lifetime of a tendon tension monitoring system or in the event that a sensor happens to malfunction. A plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors can be configured in sensor packs at the corners or at other locations where tendon tension monitoring can be useful for a floating platform.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system comprising:

a connector assembly configured to connect to the top of a tendon;
and
a tendon tension monitoring apparatus secured to the connector assembly and comprising:
a pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges separated by an axial distance;
a plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors, each such sensor comprising a C-core and an I-core, and the C-core comprising coil windings;
said plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors positioned between said pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges, such that neither the C-core nor the I-core is fixedly connected to either of the substantially parallel mounting flanges, and configured to measure changes in the axial distance between said mounting flanges;
and
one or more cylindrical compression cells positioned between and supporting said mounting flanges.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/839,436Filed 12 Dec 2017 · us provisional application

Priority

13 Dec 2016

Published

US 2018/0162491 A114 Jun 2018

Granted

4 Jun 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B63B 21/502
Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers: by means of tension legs
B63B 35/4413
Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices: floating drilling platforms, e.g.…
E21B 17/01
Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings: risers
E21B 19/004
Specially adapted for underwater drilling: supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform

Porch mounted variable reluctance measurement technology tendon tension monitoring system

Life of this patent

Porch mounted variable reluctance measurement technology tendon tension monitoring system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16