US 12,589,836 B2Granted

Surge damping systems and processes for using same

AssigneeModec America, Inc.

InventorsHao Yu, Yonghui Liu, Stephen Lindblade

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Surge damping systems and processes for using same. In some embodiments, a system for mooring a vessel can include a mooring support structure that can include a base structure and a turntable disposed on the base structure. A vessel support structure can be disposed on the vessel. At least one extension arm can be suspended from the vessel support structure. A ballast tank can be connected to the extension arm. A uni-directional passive surge damping system can be disposed on the vessel and can include an elongated tension member connected to the ballast tank that can be configured to dampen a movement of the ballast tank by applying a tension thereto. A yoke can extend from and can be connected at a first end to the ballast tank and can include a yoke head disposed on a second end thereof that can be configured to connect to the turntable.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A uni-directional passive damping system configured to be disposed on a first body, comprising:

an elongated tension member having a first end configured to be connected to the uni-directional passive damping system or the first body and a second end configured to be connected to a second body;
a hydraulic cylinder comprising a cylinder, a piston partially disposed within the cylinder that has an end extending from the cylinder, and a pulley connected to the end of the piston extending from the cylinder;
an accumulator;
and
a manifold block, wherein:
the manifold block is disposed between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator,
the hydraulic cylinder, the accumulator, and the manifold block are in fluid communication with one another,
the manifold block comprises a check valve and a pressure reducing fitting,
when the uni-directional passive damping system is disposed on the first body, the first end of the elongated tension member is connected to the uni-directional passive damping system or the first body, routed around the pulley connected to the end of the piston extending from the cylinder, and the second end of the elongated tension member is connected the second body, the manifold block is configured to apply a pressure to the hydraulic cylinder by restricting a flow of a fluid from the hydraulic cylinder into the accumulator by flowing the fluid through the pressure reducing fitting when the first body and the second body move away from one another,
when the uni-directional passive damping system is disposed on the first body, the first end of the elongated tension member is connected to the uni-directional passive damping system or the first body, routed around the pulley connected to the end of the piston extending from the cylinder, and the second end of the elongated tension member is connected to the second body, the manifold block is configured to flow the fluid from the accumulator into the hydraulic cylinder by flowing the fluid through the check valve when the first body and the second body move toward one another,
when the pressure is applied to the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder applies a force to the elongated tension member via the piston partially disposed within the cylinder and the pulley, and
at least a portion of the force is transferred to the second body as a tension applied by the elongated tension member.

9 more elements

A process for absorbing energy with a uni-directional passive damping system, comprising:

providing a first body having the uni-directional passive damping system disposed thereon, the uni-directional passive damping system comprising:
an elongated tension member having a first end connected to the uni-directional passive damping system or the first body and a second end configured to be connected to a second body;
a hydraulic cylinder comprising a cylinder, a piston partially disposed within the cylinder that has an end extending from the cylinder, and a pulley connected to the end of the piston extending from the cylinder;
an accumulator;
and
a manifold block, wherein:
the manifold block is disposed between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator,
the hydraulic cylinder, the accumulator, and the manifold block are in fluid communication with one another,
the manifold block comprises a check valve and a pressure reducing fitting,
the elongated tension member is routed around the pulley connected to the end of the piston extending from the cylinder,
when the second end of the elongated tension member is connected to the second body, the manifold block is configured to apply a pressure to the hydraulic cylinder by restricting a flow of a fluid from the hydraulic cylinder into the accumulator by flowing the fluid through the pressure reducing fitting when the first body and the second body move away from one another,
when the second end of the elongated tension member is connected to the second body, the manifold block is configured to flow the fluid from the accumulator into the hydraulic cylinder by flowing the fluid through the check valve when the first body and the second body move toward one another,
when the pressure is applied to the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder applies a force to the elongated tension member via the piston partially disposed within the cylinder and the pulley, and
at least a portion of the force is transferred to the second body as a tension applied by the elongated tension member;
connecting the second end of the elongated tension member to the second body;
and
absorbing energy with the uni-directional damping system by applying the tension to the second body with the elongated tension member as a distance between the first body and the second body increases.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/152,259Filed 10 Jan 2023 · continuation
Priority: 8 Nov 2019
Published: US 2023/0166816 A11 Jun 2023
Granted: 31 Mar 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B63B 21/20
Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring: adaptations of chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like, or of parts thereof
B63B 21/507
Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers: with mooring turrets
B63B 13/00
Conduits for emptying or ballasting
B63B 39/00
Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movements

Family

Application62/932,902Us provisional application · filed 8 Nov 2019
Application17/091,610Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Nov 2020
US 2023/0166816 A1Pre-grant publication · published 1 Jun 2023
US 11,560,203 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2021/0139108 A1Published application
US 12,589,836 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.