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AssigneeZentech, Inc.
InventorsKenneth P. Choate, John S. Laird, II
Estimating the term…
An arrangement of a jackup platform's elevating system, leg guides, hull-to-legs load transfer device, and method of operation of the load transfer device for an offshore jackup platform's hull to be supported by legs which have one or more vertical toothed gear racks attached. An apparatus consisting of rectangular blocks with protruding lugs that are shaped for efficient engagement with a portion of the upper faces of the gear rack teeth, that extend vertically on the leg chords of the jackup platform. The rectangular blocks are movable in a direction perpendicular to one side of the gear rack. Powered guide assemblies control movement of the rectangular blocks such that their protruding lugs can move into the spaces in between the gear rack teeth. The protruding lugs of the rectangular blocks can then bear against the gear rack teeth and faces of the rectangular blocks can bear against structure of the hull to transfer hull weight and storm induced interaction forces between the hull and the legs of the jackup platform.
An improved jackup platform elevating system, and an improved hull-to-legs load transfer device for an offshore jackup platform which utilizes at least one gear rack mounted to a leg of said jackup platform with teeth extending in a first direction, and at least one locking lug mounted for straight line movement for insertion from a second direction transverse to said first direction between said teeth of said gear rack, and further comprises rollers, mounted in elevating gear unit housings, and positioned with the perimeters of said rollers tangent to the opposite sides of the chords from the gear racks.
An improved jackup platform elevating system, and an improved hull-to-legs load transfer device for an offshore jackup platform which utilizes at least one gear rack mounted to a leg of said jackup platform, and at least one locking lug for insertion between teeth of said gear rack, and further comprises rollers, mounted in elevating gear unit housings, and positioned with the perimeters of said rollers tangent to the opposite sides of the chords from the gear racks;
An improved jackup platform elevating system, and an improved hull-to-legs load transfer device for an offshore jackup platform which utilizes at least one gear rack mounted to a leg of said jackup platform, and at least one locking lug for insertion between teeth of said gear rack, and further comprises rollers, mounted in elevating gear unit housings, and positioned with the perimeters of said rollers tangent to the opposite sides of the chords from the gear racks;
The invention of claim wherein said gear train is electrically powered.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.