AU2010212330A1

AU2010212330A1 - Shackle guide and shackle closing mechanism

Info

Publication number: AU2010212330A1
Application number: AU2010212330A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shane Spencer Parker; Brett Wayne Silich
Original assignee: Proserv Offshore Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Blakemere Engineering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-14
Filing date: 2010-08-13
Publication date: 2011-03-03

Description

Pool Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Shackle guide & shackle closing mechanism The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me I us: P111 H#AU/0610 SHACKLE GUIDE & SHACKLE CLOSING MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to underwater mechanical equipment. It has 5 particular relevance to equipment arranged for manipulation by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), but can also be used by divers. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Industries such as the Oil and Gas industry are increasingly employing 10 equipment in undersea settings. Often, this equipment is employed at depths which make servicing and installation by divers impractical or impossible. Instead, ROVs are used to perform a number of tasks. One task which is commonly performed by ROV is the shackling of underwater equipment. This may be shackling to cables for return of the 15 equipment to the surface, or may be shackling of two pieces of underwater equipment to each other. This is necessary, for instance, when the equipment is to be brought to the surface for maintenance or relocation. There are a number of types of shackle which are routinely used for this purpose. In general, these shackles are substantially U-shaped, with a pin 20 arranged to connect into corresponding apertures of opposed arms of the shackle. The system for engaging the pin with the aperture varies considerably among different shackle types. Systems employed include hydraulic actuation mechanisms, spring-loaded mechanisms, threaded mechanisms and many others. 25 Use of a shackle, particularly engaging a shackle using an ROV, requires a highly skilled operator. In order to engage with an article a shackle needs to locate precisely about the article, with the pin of the shackle aligned with an aperture of the article. Achieving this using an ROV is a difficult and often time consuming operation. 30 The present invention seeks to provide a shackle which can more easily engage with an underwater mounting point than many known shackles. In another aspect, the invention also seeks to provide a shackle with a pin more easily operated by an ROV than many known pins.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a shackle having a first arm and a second arm spaced from each other, a receiving opening being defined between the first and second arms; and an 5 engaging member arranged to be moveable between an engaged position in which the engaging member bridges the receiving opening and an unengaged position in which the receiving opening is able to locate about an article to be shackled; the shackle having a locating portion comprising two opposed members defining an introducing gap there between, the introducing gap being larger than 10 the receiving opening, whereby an article to be shackled can pass through the introducing gap to the receiving opening. Preferably the introducing gap is tapered from a relatively wide opening to a relatively narrow region, the relatively narrow region being similar in width to the receiving opening. 15 In a preferred form of the invention, the locating portion forms part of a spacing member, the spacing member having a base arranged to locate on a flanged part of an article to be shackled, the base being curved at least in part to allow rotation of the shackle relative to the article. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is 20 provided an closing mechanism for use in conjunction with a shackle, the closing mechanism having a bolt moveable within a collar, the bolt having a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion constituting an engaging member for the shackle, wherein an activating portion extends radially of the rear portion, the activating portion being outside the collar, the activating portion having a 25 latching member arranged to engage within the collar when the engaging member is in an engaged position, and whereby the grasping of the activating portion by the manipulator of an ROV acts to disengage the latching member from the collar. Preferably, the rear portion of the bolt includes an aperture, to enable 30 grasping of the rear portion by the ROV manipulator in the even that the bolt becomes jammed. This aperture may extend axially along the rear portion of the bolt.

3 The collar may include removable panels through which the rear portion of the bolt can be grasped. A further aspect of the present invention provides a shackle guide having a locating portion comprising two opposed members defining an introducing gap 5 there between, the introducing gap being as large as or larger than the receiving opening of a shackle to which the shackle guide mounts via a shackle guide mounting means, whereby an article to be shackled can pass through the introducing gap of the shackle to the receiving opening. Thus, advantageously, the shackle guide can be mounted for use to a 10 shackle when required for guiding an article into the shackle prior to lifting, and demounted when not required or when replacement is required, such as the mounting of a different shape of shackle guide to suit a different article or application. The shackle and removable guide therefore become more adaptable in use by the guide essentially adapting the shackle for particular needs and/or 15 protecting the shackle from damage or wear. The shackle guide may have the two opposed members pivotable relative to the shackle guide mounting means. A pivot means may be provided within the shackle guide, such as the opposed members being part of a body arranged to pivot on the mounting means, which may be a fixed portion. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the shackle of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the following 25 discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of a shackle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective of a first embodiment of a spacing member for 30 use with the shackle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear perspective of the shackle of Figure 1, including the spacing member of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front perspective of the shackle of Figure 4; 4 Figure 5 is a side view of the shackle of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a front perspective of the shackle of Figure 4 shown engaged with an article to be shackled; Figure 7 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 6; 5 Figure 8 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective of a second embodiment of a spacing member for use with the shackle of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a rear perspective of the shackle of Figure 1, including the spacing member of Figure 9; 10 Figure 11 is a side view of the shackle of Figure 10; Figure 12 is an underneath view of the shackle of Figure 10; Figure 13 is a front perspective of the shackle of Figure 10 shown engaged with an article to be shackled; Figure 14 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 13; and 15 Figure 15 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 13. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Figure 1, there is shown a shackle 10 for use by an ROV in an underwater environment. The shackle 10 has a U-shaped.body portion 12, 20 having a first arm 14 and a second arm 16, joined at an inner end 17. The arms 14, 16 each have an enlarged region 18 at an outer end thereof. An rigging receiving aperture 19 extends through the body portion 12 at the inner end 17. In the embodiment shown the rigging receiving aperture 19 is perpendicular to the plane of the arms 14, 16. 25 A gap 20 is formed between the arms 14, 16 of the body portion 12, between the respective enlarged regions 18. Each of the enlarged regions 18 includes a central aperture 22 extending between the gap 20 and an outer side of the respective arm 14, 16. The central apertures 22 are aligned so as to be able to receive an engaging member or a 30 bolt 24 in order to bridge the gap 20. The bolt 24 is part of a closing mechanism 30. The closing mechanism 30 features a substantially cylindrical collar 32, which extends outwardly from the outer side of the aperture 22 of the first arm 14. The collar 32 is sized and 5 positioned so as to sliding received the bolt 24, and to permit axial movement of the bolt 24 within and outside the collar 32. The bolt 24 has two portions, a substantially cylindrical forward portion which acts to bridge the gap 20 and a rear portion 34. The forward portion may be 5 slightly tapered so as to more easily located within the aperture 22 of the second arm 16. The rear portion 34 is formed from a plate having an axially aligned central aperture 36. The rear portion 34 is aligned in the same plane as the U shape of the shackle body 12. An axial slot 38 extends through the collar 32 aligned with the plane of the 10 rear portion 34. The axial slot is oriented towards the shackle body 12. An activating portion 40 is connected radially to and in line with the rear portion 34 of the bolt 24. The activating portion 40 extends through the slot 38, and is outside the collar 32. The activating portion 40 is substantially hollow rectangular in shape. The activating portion 40 is arranged to move along the slot 15 38, thus causing movement of the rear portion 34 bolt 24 within the collar 32 and thus movement of the forward portion within the gap 20. The activating portion 40 includes a latching member 44, which is oriented generally diagonally within the activating portion 40, having a forward end 46 adjacent the collar 32 and a rear end 48 spaced from the collar 32. The latching 20 member 44 is arranged to pivot about its rear end 48. The collar 32 includes a lateral receiving slot 50 located across the axial slot 38 in a position adjacent the first arm 14 of the shackle body 12. The arrangement is such that the latching member 44 is biased such that its forward end 46 locates within the receiving slot 50, preventing axial movement of the 25 activating portion 40 and thus the bolt 24. The latching member 44 can be released by rotation about its rear end 48, thus allowing for axial movement of the bolt 24. Release of the latching member 44 can be achieved through the use of a cable (not shown) extending from the forward end 46. Additionally, the activation 30 portion 40 is sized such that the insertion of an ROV manipulator between the latching member 44 and the collar 32 (for instance, during grasping of the activation portion 44) will dislodge the forward end 46 from the receiving slot 50, thus releasing the latching member 44.

6 The collar 32 further includes access panels 52 located on either side of the collar 32 adjacent the first arm 14. These access panels 52 are arranged to be readily removed by an ROV, thus providing a means by which the collar 32 can be grasped. In the event of the bolt 24 becoming jammed, and the activating 5 portion 40 unusable, the access panels 52 and thus the collar 32 can be removed to allow a direct force to be applied to the bolt 24. The shackle 10 also includes a subsidiary over-centre latching mechanism 53 associated with the aperture 22 of the second arm 16. The subsidiary latching mechanism 53 comprises two pivoting arms 54 which are biased to latch around 10 an outer end of the bolt 24 when it is received through the aperture 22 of the second arm 16. Each pivoting arm 54 includes a grasping portion 56 which can be manipulated to release the subsidiary latching mechanism 53. The shackle 10 is arranged for use with a spacing member. A first embodiment 60 of the spacing member is shown in Figures 2 to 8. 15 The spacing member 60 of the first embodiment has a U-shaped mounting portion 62 sized to located within the gap 20 of the shackle body 12. The mounting portion 62 has lateral extensions 64 at an inner end thereof, which are arranged to be connected to an inner end of the shackle body 12 by suitable connection means such as bolts. 20 The mounting portion 62 has circular apertures 64 located at outer ends of each arm of the mounting portion. The apertures 64 are sized and shaped to located adjacent to the apertures 22 of the shackle body 12, forming extensions of these apertures 22 into the gap 20. They are also sized so as to allow for the ready passage of the forward end of the bolt 24 there through. 25 A locating portion 70 is positioned within the arms of the mounting portion 62, and extends in a direction transverse to the axis of the apertures 64. The locating portion 70 is formed from two opposed side members 72 and a central bridge member 74. The bridge member 74 is substantially flat, and is located within the 30 mounting portion 62 inside the apertures 64. It extends laterally, and is substantially perpendicular to the arms of the mounting portion 62. The bridge member 74 has a central cut-out portion 76, and outer apertures 77 at either end thereof.

7 The side members 72 extend from the bridge member 74 past the apertures 64 and away from the mounting portion 62. Each side member 72 has an inner portion 78 which is substantially perpendicular to the bridge member 74 and an outer portion 80 which is angled relative to the inner portion 78. The 5 arrangement is such that a gap between the respective inner portions 78 is substantially constant in size, whereas the gap between the respective outer portions 80 is widest at an outermost point, and tapers towards the respective inner portions 78. The gap between the inner portions 78 represents a receiving opening, while the gap between the outer portions 80 represents an introducing 10 gap. The outer portions 80 have a curved base 82. Each inner portion 72 includes an aperture 84 which aligns with the apertures 64 of the mounting portion 62. The spacing member 60 can be mounted to the shackle body 12 by means 15 of the mounting portion 60. A shackle 10 thus assembled with a spacing member 60 is shown in Figures 3 to 5. Use of the shackle 10 to engage an article 90 to be shackled is shown in Figures 6 to 8. The article 90 has a substantially planar lip 92 including an aperture in which the shackle bolt 24 can be received. The lip aperture is larger 20 than the apertures 22, 64, 80 of the shackle 10. The article has a flange 94 projecting perpendicularly of the lip 92, inside the aperture. It will be appreciated that the shackle 10 is sized to suit the article 90, including the size of the receiving opening, the size of the cut out portion 76 and the size of the outer portions 80. It will also be appreciated that the position and orientation of the 25 flange 94 will vary between articles. When the shackle 10 is being positioned over the lip 92, an ROV is required to locate the shackle such that an outer edge of the lip 92 is within the introducing region, that is between the outer portions 80 of the spacing member side members 72. Once this is achieved, the shackle 10 can be moved towards 30 the flange 94. The tapered nature of the introducing region assists in guiding the shackle until the receiving opening locates over the lip 92. When the receiving opening is substantially in position, the base 82 comes to rest on or adjacent the flange 94. Similarly, the cut out portion 76 of the bridge 8 member 74 locates about the lip 92. These interactions assist in locating the bolt 24 and associated apertures 22, 64 and 84 in line and about the aperture of the lip 92, so that the shackle is readily maintained in position about the lip 92. When the apertures are appropriately aligned, the ROV can move the 5 shackle from an unengaged position (as shown relation to a second embodiment in Figures 13 to 15) to the engaged position shown in Figures 6 to 8. This is done by sliding the activating portion 40 of the closing mechanism 30 from an outer edge of the collar 32 to the position shown in Figures 6 to 8, where the activating portion 40 is adjacent the first arm 14, the latching member 44 is within the 10 receiving slot 50 and the engaging portion of the bolt 24 is extending through the apertures 22, 64, 84 about the aperture of the lip 92. The taper of the bolt 24 acts as a self aligning mechanism, such that movement of the bolt 24 into the engaged position acts to lock the apertures 22, 64, 84 in alignment. The bolt 24 extends through to the subsidiary latching mechanism 53. 15 .In this position the shackle 10 is engaged with the article 90, and the article 90 can be moved by a cable attached to the shackle 10 through the rigging receiving aperture 19. The application of tension to this cable may cause rotation of the shackle 10 about the aperture of the lip 92, in order to align the cable and the body portion 12 of the shackle 10. The size of the aperture of the lip 92 allows 20 the bolt 24 to move radially and to rotate easily within this aperture, thus allowing for alignment of the load with the cable. In the event that the spacing member 60 becomes jammed over the article 90, the outer apertures 77 of the bridge member 74 are sized to allow an ROV manipulator to locate within the outer aperture 77 to directly manipulated the 25 spacing member 60. Similarly, the bridge member 74 includes rope receiving channels 79 through which ropes may be located for manipulation by the ROV. A second embodiment 100 of the spacing member is shown in Figures 9 to 15. The spacing member 100 of the second embodiment mounts outside the 30 arms 14, 16 of the shackle body 12. The spacing member is formed from two side walls 102, two end walls 104, and four base portions 106. Each of the side walls 102 has an upper edge 108 which is substantially flat, and a lower edge 110 which is formed from two taped portions which meet at 9 a central apex 111, representing the deepest portion of the lower edge 110. An aperture 112 is located above the apex 111. The apertures 112 are sized so as to mount to the outside of the shackle arms 14,16, and to form an interference fit with complementary shaped axial 5 extensions 114 of the enlarged regions 18 of the arms 14, 16. The end walls 104 each have a substantially flat upper edge 116, the upper edges 116 being coplanar with the upper edges 108 of the side walls 102 to form a rectangular upper edge of the spacing member 100. The end walls 104 each have a lower edge having three portions, a central portion 118 and two side 10 portions 120. The central portion 118 is parallel to the upper edge 116, and is the same width as the gap 20 of the shackle body 12. The side portions 120 are angled at about 450 relative to the upper edge 116, from a low point at the edge of the respective side wall 102 to a highest point at the start of the central portion 118. 15 The end walls 104 thus each define an opening 122 which is at its widest at the base, where its width is equal to the width of the rectangular upper edge, and narrowest at its top, where its width is equal to the gap 20 of the shackle body 12. The base portions 106 can be best seen in Figure 12. Each base portion 106 is four sided, with three sides substantially at right angles to each other and 20 the fourth side extending at about 450 from the first side and 1350 from the third side. The first side 124 is the same size as, and extends along, one of the tapered portions of the lower edge 110 of a side wall 102. The second side 126 extends inwardly of the spacing member 100, away from the apex 111, to a 25 location aligned with the central portion 118 of the end walls 104. The fourth side 130 extends inwardly in a complementary fashion to the side portions 120 of the end walls 104. The third side 128 is sized to as to complete the base portion 106. It will be apparent that each third side 128 is opposed to the third side 128 of an opposite base portion 106, with there being a gap 132 there between equal 30 to the gap 20 of the shackle body portion 12. The opposite base portions 106 form a locating portion of the shackle 10. The gap 132, together with the narrowest portion of the opening 122, thus represents a receiving opening, while the wider portion of the opening 122 and 10 the gap between the respective fourth sides 130 of the opposed base portions 106 represents an introducing gap. Use of the shackle 10 with the second embodiment spacing member 100 to engage the article 90 to be shackled is shown in Figures 13 to 15. It will be 5 appreciated that the spacing member 100 is sized to suit the article 90. When the shackle 10 is being positioned over the lip 92, an ROV is required to locate the shackle such that an outer edge of the lip 92 is within the introducing region, that is between the side portions 120 of the spacing member 80 end walls 104. Once this is achieved, the shackle 10 can be moved towards 10 the flange 94. The tapered nature of the introducing region assists in guiding the shackle until the receiving opening locates over the lip 92. When the receiving opening is substantially in position, at least two of the base portions 106 comes to rest on or adjacent the flange 94. Similarly, the central portions 118 of the end walls 104 locate about the lip 92. These 15 interactions assist in locating the bolt 24 and associated apertures 22 and 84 in line and about the aperture of the lip 92, so that the shackle is readily maintained in position about the lip 92. When the apertures are appropriately aligned, the -ROV can move the shackle from an unengaged position shown in Figures 13 to 15 to the engaged 20 position shown in relation to the first embodiment in Figures 6 to 8. This is done in the same manner as described above. Once the shackle 10 is engaged with the article 90, the article 90 can be moved by a cable attached via a coupling 140 to the shackle 10 through the rigging receiving aperture 19. The application of tension to this cable may cause 25 rotation of the shackle 10 about the aperture of the lip 92, in order to align the cable and the body portion 12 of the shackle 10. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 30

Claims

1. A shackle having a first arm and a second arm spaced from each other, a receiving opening being defined between the first and second arms; and an engaging member arranged to be moveable between an engaged position in 5 which the engaging member bridges the receiving opening and an unengaged position in which the receiving opening is able to locate about an article to be shackled; the shackle having a locating portion comprising two opposed members defining an introducing gap there between, the introducing gap being larger than the receiving opening, whereby an article to be shackled can pass through the 10 introducing gap to the receiving opening.

2. A shackle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the introducing gap is tapered from a relatively wide opening to a relatively narrow region, the relatively narrow region being similar in width to the receiving opening.

3. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locating portion 15 forms part of a spacing member, the spacing member having a base arranged to locate on a flanged part of an article to be shackled, the base being curved at least in part.

4. A closing mechanism for use in conjunction with a shackle, the closing mechanism having a bolt moveable within a collar, the bolt having a forward 20 portion and a rear portion, the forward portion constituting an engaging member for the shackle, wherein an activating portion extends radially of the rear portion, the activating portion being outside the collar, the activating portion having a latching member arranged to engage within the collar when the engaging member is in an engaged position, and whereby the grasping of the activating 25 portion by the manipulator of an ROV acts to disengage the latching member from the collar.

5. A closing mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rear portion of the bolt includes an aperture. 12

6. A closing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the collar includes removable panels through which the rear portion of the bolt can be grasped.

7. A shackle guide having a locating portion comprising two opposed members defining an introducing gap there between, the introducing gap being as 5 large as or larger than the receiving opening of a shackle to which the shackle guide mounts via a shackle guide mounting means, whereby an article to be shackled can pass through the introducing gap of the shackle to the receiving opening.

8. A shackle guide according to claim 7, wherein the two opposed members 10 are pivotable relative to the shackle guide mounting means. WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS