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US 9,003,994 B2Granted
In-line mooring connector and tensioner
AssigneeSeahorse Equipment Corp
InventorsSteven John Leverette, Jack Pollack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mooring system for offshore vessels uses a chain stopper within a preset mooring line. The chain stopper has means for attaching a removable hydraulic chain jack actuator which may be used to stroke the chain through the stopper assembly while both the stopper and the mooring line remain under load.
Claims21
An in-line [subsea] mooring chain tensioner comprising:
- a chassis having a first, upper end and an opposing, second, lower end;
- a connector on the second end of the chassis configured to engage an anchor line;
- a first opening in the first end of the chassis sized and configured to permit the passage of a mooring chain;
- a second opening in the chassis proximate the second end configured to direct a mooring chain exiting the chassis in a generally downward direction, off-axis the chassis;
- a first chain stopper within the chassis moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing from the first opening through the second opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the chassis;
- a chain jack removably mounted within the chassis and comprising
- a base plate having a generally U-shaped central opening;
- a pair of hydraulic cylinders attached to the base plate with one cylinder on either side of the central opening and a hydraulic actuator extending from each cylinder;
- a moveable plate having a U-shaped central opening connected to the hydraulic actuators and parallel to the base plate;
- a second chain stopper mounted on the moveable plate and moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing through the U-shaped central opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the central opening.
7 more elements
An in-line [subsea] mooring chain tensioner comprising:
- a chassis having a first, upper end and an opposing, second, lower end;
- a connector on the second end of the chassis configured to engage an anchor line;
- a first opening in the first end of the chassis sized and configured to permit the passage of a mooring chain;
- a second opening in the chassis proximate the second end configured to direct a mooring chain exiting the chassis in a generally downward direction, off-axis the chassis;
- a first chain stopper within the chassis moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing from the first opening through the second opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the chassis;
- a chain jack removably mounted within the chassis and comprising
- a base plate having a generally U-shaped central opening;
- a second chain stopper mounted on the base plate and moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing through the U-shaped central opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the central opening,
- a pair of hydraulic cylinders attached to the base plate with one cylinder on either side of the central opening and a hydraulic actuator extending from each cylinder;
- a moveable plate having a U-shaped central opening connected to the hydraulic actuators and parallel to the base plate;
- a third chain stopper mounted on the moveable plate and moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing through the U-shaped central opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the central opening.
8 more elements
An in-line [subsea] mooring chain tensioner comprising:
- a chassis having a first, upper end and an opposing, second, lower end;
- a first connector on the first end of the chassis having means for engaging a removable chain jack;
- a second connector on the second end of the chassis configured to engage an anchor line;
- a first opening in the first end of the chassis sized and configured to permit the passage of a mooring chain;
- a second opening in the chassis proximate the second end configured to direct a mooring chain exiting the chassis in a generally downward direction, off-axis the chassis;
- a first chain stopper within the chassis moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing from the first opening through the second opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the chassis;
- a chain jack removably engaged to the first connector on the first end of the chassis and comprising
- a base plate having a generally U-shaped central opening;
- a pair of hydraulic cylinders attached to the base plate with one cylinder on either side of the central opening and a hydraulic actuator extending from each cylinder;
- a moveable plate having a U-shaped central opening connected to the hydraulic actuators and parallel to the base plate;
- a second chain stopper mounted on the moveable plate and moveable from a first position that engages a mooring chain passing through the U-shaped central opening to a second position that permits movement of the chain through the central opening.
8 more elements
A method for tensioning a subsea anchor line comprising:
- providing a mooring connector in an anchor line between a first lower portion and a second upper portion comprised of chain, said mooring connecter having means for attaching a removable chain jack;
- attaching a removable chain jack to the mooring connector from a surface vessel while the anchor line is under tension;
- moving the upper portion of the anchor line relative to the lower portion of the anchor line and the mooring connector by actuating the chain jack;
- locking the upper portion of the anchor line to the mooring connector;
- detaching the removable chain jack from the mooring connector;
- and,
- recovering the removable chain jack at the surface vessel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.