Remote conduit de-coupling device
AssigneeEnerpac Tool Group Corp.
InventorsJ. D. van der Velden, Jaap Broere, Timo Willemsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A jack assembly and a system for supporting a partially submerged structure. The jack assembly may include a fluid jack including a cylinder and a ram, the cylinder having at least one fluid chamber configured to receive a pressurized fluid to move the ram; and a valve housing removably coupled to the fluid jack for providing fluid communication between the fluid jack and at least one fluid conduit, the valve housing including a link movable from a first position toward a second position, the valve housing being secured to the jack while the link is in the first position, the valve assembly being disconnectable from the jack while the link is in the second position.
Claims14
A jack assembly comprising:
- a fluid jack comprising a cylinder and a ram, the cylinder having at least one fluid chamber configured to receive pressurized fluid to move the ram;
- a decoupling device removably coupled to the fluid jack for providing fluid communication between the fluid jack and a supply of pressurized fluid, the decoupling device comprising a link which is movable into and between a first position and a second position, the decoupling device being secured to the fluid jack when the link is in the first position, and the decoupling device being disconnectable from the fluid jack when the link is in the second position;
- wherein the link is biased into the first position;
- and
- a supply line and a disconnect line which are configured to provide the pressurized fluid to the cylinder via the decoupling device,
- wherein the decoupling device has a supply port coupled to the supply line and a disconnect port coupled to the disconnect line, and
- wherein the link comprises an annular flange or protrusion which engages the supply port in the first position, and further wherein the annular flange or protrusion is caused to disengage the decoupling device from the fluid jack when the pressurized fluid is provided via the disconnect line.
A system for supporting a partially submerged structure, the system comprising:
- a monopile;
- a transition structure mounted on an upper end of the monopile;
- a plurality of fluid jacks which each comprise a cylinder and a ram, the cylinder having at least one fluid chamber configured to receive pressurized fluid to move the ram, the ram being configured to engage a submerged portion of the partially submerged structure;
- each fluid jack in the plurality of fluid jacks having a first supply line for providing the pressurized fluid to the fluid jack;
- a plurality of devices for removably coupling the first supply lines to each of the plurality of fluid jacks, each device in the plurality of devices comprising a coupler and a link, the coupler being configured to selectively engage a fitting of the fluid jack to facilitate fluid communication between the first supply line and the fluid jack, the link being movable from a first position toward a second position, the link permitting the coupler to be secured to the fluid jack while the link is in the first position, the link permitting disconnection of the coupler from the fluid jack while the link is in the second position;
- and
- a second supply line for providing the pressurized fluid from a remote source to the device to actuate the link toward the second position,
- wherein the plurality of fluid jacks comprises a group of fixation devices which are actuatable independently or synchronously to secure the transition structure in a desired position relative to the monopile and a group of leveling devices which are actuatable independently or synchronously to level the transition structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.