Rotary chain jack that maintains tension in a mooring line/chain
AssigneeBardex Corporation
InventorsCharlie O'Rourke, Tom Miller, Nick Atallah, Matt Frowiss, Kanghua Sun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary chain jack may include a frame, a dual chain wheel rotatably coupled to the frame, and a stopper assembly mechanically coupled to the frame. The stopper assembly may include latches. The stopper assembly may be positioned to selectively engage a chain passing over the dual chain wheel. The rotary chain jack may be used to moor offshore structures.
Claims27
A rotary chain jack comprising:
- a frame;
- a chain wheel coupled to the frame;
- and
- a stopper assembly coupled to the frame, the stopper assembly comprising a first stopper frame having at least one latch coupled thereto and a second stopper frame having at least one latch coupled thereto, wherein the first stopper frame is movable toward the second stopper frame into a closed position and is movable away from the second stopper frame into an open position, wherein, in the closed position, the latches of the stopper assembly are selectively movable between a closed configuration of the latches and an open configuration of the latches.
A method for mooring an offshore structure, the offshore structure including a rotary chain jack, the rotary chain jack including a frame, a chain wheel rotatably coupled to the frame, and a stopper assembly coupled to the frame, the stopper assembly including a first stopper frame having at least one latch coupled thereto and a second stopper frame having at least one latch coupled thereto, wherein the first stopper frame is movable toward the second stopper frame into a closed position and away from the second stopper frame into an open position, the method comprising:
- coupling a messenger chain to an anchor chain, wherein the anchor chain is coupled to an anchor, and wherein the messenger chain is coupled to the chain wheel;
- with the first stopper frame moved away from the second stopper frame into the open position, positioning the anchor chain by rotating the chain wheel to increase or decrease tension on the anchor chain;
- and
- moving the first stopper frame toward the second stopper frame into the closed position, and, after moving the first and second stopper frames into the closed position, closing the latches to engage the latches with the anchor chain.
A stopper assembly for use with a chain jack for mooring an offshore structure, the stopper assembly comprising:
- an inboard stopper assembly comprising an inboard frame having one or more latches coupled thereto;
- an outboard stopper assembly comprising an outboard frame having one or more latches coupled thereto;
- wherein at least one of the inboard stopper assembly and the outboard stopper assembly is movable toward the other of the inboard stopper assembly and the outboard stopper assembly to position the stopper assembly in an open position, and is movable away from the other of the inboard stopper assembly and the outboard stopper assembly to position the stopper assembly in a closed position;
- and
- wherein, when the stopper assembly is in the closed position, the latches are positioned to close or open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.