# US 10,308,324 B2 · Porch mounted variable reluctance measurement technology tendon tension monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,324 B2 - Document ID: US10308324B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/839,436 - Filed: 2017-12-12 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-13 - Assignees: Oil States Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Oil States Industries, Inc. - Inventors: John Ray Baileys; Michael Eugene Hogan; Joseph Michael O'Neil; Daniel Joseph Tye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308324B2 ## CPC - B63B 21/502: {by means of tension legs} - B63B 35/4413: {Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices} - E21B 17/01: Risers - E21B 19/004: {supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform} - E21B 47/001: for underwater installation - E21B 47/007: Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing (for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09) - E21B 47/07: Temperature - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - G01L 1/20: by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids (of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18); by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress - G01L 1/26: Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload - G01L 5/0038: {applying a pushing force} - B63B 2021/008: {Load monitors} - B63B 2021/505: {Methods for installation or mooring of floating offshore platforms on site} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors are mounted in a mechanical strain amplifier between the pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges comprise indentations, wherein each mechanical strain amplifier engages at least one indentation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a boot, the boot circumscribing the plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors and configured to inhibit the ingress of sea water into the axial space between the substantially parallel mounting flanges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the boot comprises rubber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the volume encompassed by the pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges, the boot, and the one or more cylindrical compression cells is filled with a non-conductive fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the non-conductive fluid is a silicone-based fluid or gel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the non-conductive fluid is a non-aqueous fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the boot engages an outer circumference of the pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more cylindrical compression cells comprises a plurality of compression cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors are radially equidistant from a longitudinal central axis of the tendon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors are equiangularly displaced around the pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said variable reluctance measurement technology sensors are configured to collect data reflecting changes in the axial distance between said pair of substantially parallel mounting flanges, and said apparatus further comprising a computing system configured to receive and process said data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the computing system is communicatively coupled to the plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the computing system is communicatively coupled to the plurality of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors through cabling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The porch-mounted tendon tension monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the coil windings of the C-core comprise at least 164 turns of wire.