US 5,211,114 AGranted

Offshore structure pulling system

AssigneesMcDermott International, Inc., John Gibson (Lifting Gear) Agencies Ltd.

InventorsPaul D. Chaplin, Brian D. Hyde, Edwin A. B. W. Campbell, Paul F. Gibson, Michael J. Taylor

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Abstract

A pulling system for pulling or moving a large object, such as pulling components of an offshore oil/gas production platform onto an adjacent barge that is subsequently transported to the installation site. This pulling system incorporates a single elongated rod that is connected between the object to be moved and a puller unit that pulls the object along a track. During operation, the puller unit causes a gripping unit to grip the rod so that the puller unit can move the object. Afterwards, the gripping unit releases its engagement of the rod, repositions itself with respect to the rod, and regrips the rod so that movement of the object may again be initiated by the puller unit.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A pulling apparatus for pulling or moving a large object comprising:

(a) an elongated frame;
(b) a skid track secured to said frame upon which the large object is moved;
(c) a puller unit for pulling the large object along said track;
(d) pulling means coupled between the object and said puller unit for enabling the object to be pulled along said track by said puller unit pulling on said pulling means, said pulling means comprising a single rod formed from a plurality of rod sections removable secured to one another to form a rod of a predetermined length;
and,
(e) connecting means for connecting said rod to the object, said connecting means permitting relevant movement between the object and said rod thereby enabling the object to move relative to said rod.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.