Cantilever system and method of use
AssigneeEnsco, Inc.
InventorRICHARD R. ROPER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cantilever system for a rig comprising a hull, a beam coupled to the hull, an extension member coupled to the beam, and a hold-down member spaced from a support member and coupled to the extension member. A first end of the beam is extendable over an edge of the hull while a second end of the beam is positioned on the hull. The extension member increases the longitudinal length of the beam. The support member is disposed adjacent the edge of the hull. The hold-down member is configured to apply a force to the extension member in a direction toward the hull when the first end of the beam is extended over the edge of the hull. A method of increasing the capacity of the cantilever system comprises increasing the spacing between the support member and the hold-down member.
Claims18
A cantilever system for a rig, comprising:
- a hull;
- a beam movably coupled to the hull, wherein a first end of the beam is extendable over an edge of the hull while a second end of the beam is positioned on the hull;
- a passive hold-down member that is spaced from a support member to support the beam, wherein the passive hold-down member is positioned at a predetermined distance from the support member such that when the beam is fully extended, a maximum load that the beam supports is increased but a maximum reach of the beam is reduced;
- and
- an extension member coupled to the second end of the beam to increase the length of the beam, wherein when the beam is fully extended with the extension member, the maximum reach of the beam is increased.
A method of increasing a load capacity of a cantilever system that is supported by a hull of a rig, comprising:
- coupling a passive hold-down member and a support member to the hull for supporting a beam of the cantilever system, wherein a first end of the beam is extendable over an edge of the hull while a second end of the beam is positioned on the hull;
- spacing the passive hold-down member from the support member a predetermined distance such that when the beam is fully extended, a maximum load that the beam supports is increased but a maximum reach of the beam is reduced;
- and
- coupling an extension member to the second end of the beam to increase the length of the beam, wherein when the beam is fully extended with the extension member, the maximum reach of the beam is increased.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.