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AssigneeContinental Emsco Company
InventorCharles J. Moses
Estimating the term…
Vertical movement of a floating marine platform is reduced by tendons extending from the platform to anchors on the seabed. A final tension adjustment to equalize the load on all of the tendons is made by a respective tension adjustment mechanism incorporated into the top connector of each tendon. The tension adjustment mechanism includes a split load ring assembly having an upper ring and a lower ring. The upper ring and the lower ring abut each other at respective complementary surfaces. Each surface has a series of serrated ramps. A rotation of one ring with respect to the other causes the upper ring to climb over the lower ring to thereby increase the tension in the tendon. Rotation of the upper ring with respect to the lower ring, for example, is achieved by a motor driven gear ring.
A tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting tension of a tendon depending from a floating marine platform, the tension adjustment mechanism comprising a split load ring assembly mounted between an upper portion of the tendon and the floating marine platform for applying tension force from the tendon to the floating marine platform, the split load ring assembly including an upper ring and a lower ring, the upper ring and the lower ring abutting each other at respective complementary surfaces, the complementary surface of each of the upper ring and the lower ring having a series of serrated ramps such that rotation of one of the upper and lower rings with respect to the other of the upper and lower rings causes the upper ring to climb over the lower ring to thereby increase the tension force.
A tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting tension of a tendon depending from a floating marine platform to a subsea anchor, the tension adjustment mechanism comprising an adjustable load ring assembly mounted between an upper portion of the tendon and the floating marine platform for applying tension force from the tendon to the floating marine platform, the adjustable load ring assembly including an upper ring and a lower ring surrounding the upper portion of the tendon, the upper ring and the lower ring having opposed stepped inclined surfaces which extend around the upper portion of the tendon, the upper and lower rings abutting each other at steps of the stepped inclined surfaces, at least one of the upper and lower rings being rotatable for adjustment of the tension force.
A tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting tension of a tendon depending from a floating marine platform to a subsea anchor, the tension adjustment mechanism comprising an adjustable load ring assembly mounted between an upper portion of the tendon and the floating marine platform for applying tension force from the tendon to the floating marine platform, the adjustable load ring assembly including an upper ring and a lower ring surrounding the upper portion of the tendon, the upper ring and the lower ring having opposed stepped inclined surfaces which extend around the upper portion of the tendon, the upper and lower rings abutting each other at steps of the stepped inclined surfaces, at least one of the upper and lower rings being rotatable for adjustment of the tension force, and further comprising an elastomeric flex element mounted between the upper portion of the tendon and the upper ring to permit flexing of the tendon with respect to the floating marine platform.
A tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting tension of a tendon depending from a floating marine platform to a subsea anchor, the tension adjustment mechanism comprising an adjustable load ring assembly and an elastomeric flex element coupled to the adjustable load ring assembly for mounting between an upper portion of the tendon and the floating marine platform for applying tension force from the tendon to the floating marine platform, the adjustable load ring assembly including an upper ring and a lower ring for surrounding the upper portion of the tendon, the upper ring and the lower ring having opposed stepped inclined surfaces, the upper and lower rings abutting each other at steps of the stepped inclined surfaces, at least one of the upper and lower rings being rotatable for adjustment of the tension force.
A tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting tension of a tendon depending from a floating marine platform to a subsea anchor, the tension adjustment mechanism comprising an adjustable load ring assembly adapted to be mounted between an upper portion of the tendon and the floating marine platform for applying tension force from the tendon to the floating marine platform, the adjustable load ring assembly including an upper ring and a lower ring for surrounding the upper portion of the tendon, the upper ring and the lower ring having opposed stepped inclined surfaces, the upper and lower rings abutting each other at steps of the stepped inclined surfaces, at least one of the upper and lower rings being rotatable for adjustment of the tension force.
A tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting tension of a tendon depending from a floating marine platform to a subsea anchor, the tension adjustment mechanism comprising an adjustable load ring assembly adapted to be mounted between an upper portion of the tendon and the floating marine platform for applying tension force from the tendon to the floating marine platform, the adjustable load ring assembly including an upper ring and a lower ring for surrounding the upper portion of the tendon, the upper ring and the lower ring abutting each other at respective complementary surfaces, the complementary surface of each of the upper ring and the lower ring having a circular series of ramps of a certain height extending over one circumference such that rotation of one of the upper ring and lower ring with respect to the other of the upper ring and the lower ring over a fraction of the one circumference provides a variable displacement between the upper ring and the lower ring of said certain height for adjustment of the tension force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.