Resilient unit
AssigneeDunlop Limited a British Company
InventorAlan F. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resilient unit able to accomodate a large movement comprises a stack of elastomeric bearing units arranged to be loaded in series and to deform primarily in shear. Preferably a plurality of the stacks are provided in a nested configuration and interconnected in series to enable even greater movements to be accommodated. The resilient unit is particularly suitable for use on an offshore platform to accommodate movement between the platform and a riser pipe while also maintaining a tension loading in the riser pipe.
Claims18
A resilient unit comprising an inner rigid member, an outer rigid member, and an elastomeric bearing assembly interposed between said rigid members whereby said rigid members are able to move axially relative to one another in a restrained manner, said elastomeric bearing assembly comprising an axially extending arrangement of a series of annular elastomeric elements which each alternate with and are bonded to respective support means of a series of rigid support means with a plurality of elastomeric bearing units arranged to be loaded in series and to deform in shear thereby to provide said restrained relative axial movement of the rigid members in response to applied axial load said series of rigid support means comprising a series of outer rings alternating with inner rings, the outer being bonded to radially outward portions of the elastomeric elements and the inner rings being bonded to inner portions of said elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.