CA1324917C - Reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and relevant seat, for anchorages under tension - Google Patents
Reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and relevant seat, for anchorages under tensionInfo
- Publication number
- CA1324917C CA1324917C CA000572977A CA572977A CA1324917C CA 1324917 C CA1324917 C CA 1324917C CA 000572977 A CA000572977 A CA 000572977A CA 572977 A CA572977 A CA 572977A CA 1324917 C CA1324917 C CA 1324917C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- coupling
- grooves
- side wall
- seat
- entry
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/50—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
- B63B21/502—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers by means of tension legs
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Prostheses (AREA)
- Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)
- Devices Affording Protection Of Roads Or Walls For Sound Insulation (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
Reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and relevant seat, for linking anchorages under tension to the foundation bases. The coupling is constituted by a hollow body open at its top, on whose outer surface a set of teeth protrude, which are positioned in a sunburst fashion; the body is closed at its bottom by a cylindrical appendix.
Inside the body of the coupling, a flexible element of ring shape is fastened, inside which a ring in fastened in its turn, which is mounted on the upper surface, of cone-frustum shape, or of spherical shape, of the enlarged portion provided at the bottom end of a rod; said rod comes out from the top opening of the body of the coupling, and at its top end, it is welded to the bottom end of the anchorage. The coupling seat comprises a cylindrical shell on whose inner surface grooves are provided, between which at least one set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of teeth of the coupling, separated from each other by a set of grooves blind at their upper end, in order to engage the same teeth. The coupling is stably engaged inside the relevant seat by completely introducing the coupling inside the same seat, and then lifting it. During the insertion of the coupling, the teeth slide in the entry grooves of the cylindrical shell, and are guided by these in such a way that, when the coupling is lifted, the same teeth enter the blind-top grooves, inside which they remain engaged. The disengagement of the coupling from the seat takes place by completely sinking the coupling inside the seat and then extracting it from said seat. When the coupling is sunk, the teeth are guided by the grooves of the cylindrical shell in such a way that, when the coupling is lifted again, the same teeth enter the entry grooves, making it possible the coupling to be extracted from the seat.
Reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and relevant seat, for linking anchorages under tension to the foundation bases. The coupling is constituted by a hollow body open at its top, on whose outer surface a set of teeth protrude, which are positioned in a sunburst fashion; the body is closed at its bottom by a cylindrical appendix.
Inside the body of the coupling, a flexible element of ring shape is fastened, inside which a ring in fastened in its turn, which is mounted on the upper surface, of cone-frustum shape, or of spherical shape, of the enlarged portion provided at the bottom end of a rod; said rod comes out from the top opening of the body of the coupling, and at its top end, it is welded to the bottom end of the anchorage. The coupling seat comprises a cylindrical shell on whose inner surface grooves are provided, between which at least one set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of teeth of the coupling, separated from each other by a set of grooves blind at their upper end, in order to engage the same teeth. The coupling is stably engaged inside the relevant seat by completely introducing the coupling inside the same seat, and then lifting it. During the insertion of the coupling, the teeth slide in the entry grooves of the cylindrical shell, and are guided by these in such a way that, when the coupling is lifted, the same teeth enter the blind-top grooves, inside which they remain engaged. The disengagement of the coupling from the seat takes place by completely sinking the coupling inside the seat and then extracting it from said seat. When the coupling is sunk, the teeth are guided by the grooves of the cylindrical shell in such a way that, when the coupling is lifted again, the same teeth enter the entry grooves, making it possible the coupling to be extracted from the seat.
Description
13249~7 1. CASO 2800 "REVERSIBLE, ARTICULATED MECHANICAL COUPLING AND RELEVANT
SEAT, FOR ANCHORAGES UNDER TENSION"
The present ;nvention relates to a reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and to the seat for such a coupl;ng, for the structural connect;on to the foundation bases, positioned at the sea bottom, of the anchorages of offshore platforms with anchorages under tension, known as "TLP", i.e., "Tension Leg Platforms".
It is known that such types of offshore platforms are anchored to the sea bottom by means of a set of anchorages under tension, which are structurally connected to the foundation bases, positioned at the sea bottom, by means of reversible mechanical couplings which get engaged inside suitable seats purposely provided in said foundation bases~
Now then, the various types of reversible mechanical couplings for connecting to the sea bottom offshore platforms of TLP type, known from the prior art~ require that the members constituting the same coupling be mechanically or hydraulically actuated in order to realize the engagement and the disengagement of the coupling in/from the relevant seat provided on the foundation bases.
The need for such actuation procedures, to be performed at the sea bottom, involves the use of auxiliary equipment, or of hydraulic l;nes ~hich connect the coupling with the platform, with consequent increases in costs and duration of the operat10ns, as well as with ;~ increasing risks of failure of the same operations due to a malfunctioning of said coupling-actuation equipment or members.
qP
132~7 2.
The purpose of the present invention is obviating the above sa;d drawbacks and therefore supplying a novel coupling, which can be engaged and disengaged in/from the relevant seat in an automatic way, by simply sinking and lifting, and, possibly, rotating the anchorage.
eesides that, the coupling of the present invention is constituted by a s~all number of components, and is endowed with a high mechanical simpleness, with consequent advantages in terms of cost, operating reliab;lity, and sureness that the operations of engagement and disengagement can be carried out.
The above purpose is substantially achieved by means of the fact that the coupling is constituted by a hollow body open at its top, on whose outer surface a set of teeth protrude, which are positioned in a sunburst pattern, and to the bottom end of which a cylindrical appendix is fastened, which makes it easier to insert and correctly position the coupling inside the seat.
Inside the body of the coupling a flexible element of ring shape is fastened, inside ~hich a ring is fastened in its turn, which is mounted on the top surface, of cone frustum shape, or of spherical shape, of the enLarged portion provided at the bottom end of a rod.
Said rod comes out from the top opening of the body of the coupling, and in correspondence of its top end it is ~elded to~ or anyway made integral ~ith, the bottom end of the anchorage.
Said ring, and the members connected to it, i.e., the flexible element, the body of the coupl~ng and the relevant appendix, can rotate relatively to the rod around the vertical axis~
The seat of the coupling, fastened to the founda-tion basis, comprises a cylindrical shell on whose inner surface grooves are provided, between which at least a set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of the teeth, between which a set of grooves blind at their top end are provided in order to engage the same teeth.
More particularly, there is provided a reversible mechanical coupling and relevant seat of the type provided in a foundation basis in order to anchor an anchorage of an offshore platform of tension leg platform type to said basis and to allow the anchorage to be engaged in the seat or to be disengaged from it, ch~racterized in that said coupling comprising a hollow body having a top opening, an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom end, a set of teeth being positioned in a sunburst pattern on said outer sllrface, a downwardly-tapered appendix being fastened to the bottom end by a rod having an upper end rigidly attached to the bottom end of the anchorage, the rod passing through the top opening of the body and having an enlarged end portion inside the body, a flexible ring-shaped element being positioned between an upper surface of the enlarged portion :~ and the inner surface of the body, the element being directly or indirectly fastened to the upper and inner surfaces, the coupling having a seat comprising a ~: cylindrical shell, the shell having an inner surface on which one set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of the teeth, the entry grooves being separated by downwardly set blind grooves provided in a number equal to the number of the teeth, each entry groove having two side walls initially inclined, with reference to a vertical axis, and downwardly convergent towards a minimum entry groove cross-section area, each blind groove having an inclined upwardly convergent side wall and a vertical side wall.
1~249~
3a The coupling is engaged in the relevant seat by completeLy inserting the coupling inside the same seat~
and then lift1ng it.
When the coupling is inserted, the teeth slide inside the entry grooves of the cylindrical shell, which grooves, by being inclined, involve the rotation around the vertical axis of the body of the coupl;ng; when the coupling is lifted, owing to the effect caused by the rotation occurred during the insertion, the teeth sl;de inside the blind-top grooves, at whose top end they remain engaged.
The coupling is disengaged from the seat by completely sinking the coupling inside the seat and then extracting said coupl1ng from said seat.
When the coupling is sunk, the teeth are guided by the grooves, which, by being inclined, cause a further rotation around the vertical axis of the body of the coupLing; when the coupling is lifted at a later time, owing to the effect of the rotation occurred during the sinking, the teeth enter the entry grooves, thus making it poss1ble the coupling to be extracted from the seat.
When the coupllng 1s engaged in the seat, it is capable of transferring to said seat, through the teeth, the body of the coupling, the flexible element, the r~ng ~2~:91~`7 4.
and the rod, the forces transm;tted by the anchorage, which anchorange cam ~wing by tilt;ng relatively to the vert;cal by virtue of the deformabil;ty of the flexible element.
Further characteristics and preferred forms of practical embodiment of the present invention wiLl become known from the follo~ing, ~herein the invention is better explained with reference to the herPto attached drawings, which dep;ct a preferred form of practical embodiment given for merely exemplifying and non-Limitative purposes, in that techn;cal or structuraL changes can be supplied without departing from the scope of the present invention.
- Figure 1 represents a partially sectional front view of the coupling according to the invention, inserted and engaged inside the relevant seat;
- Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional view of the seat of the coupling, according to the present invention; and - Figure 3 represents a partialLy sectional front view of the coupling~ according to the invention, fully inserted in the relevant seat and with the rod and the anchorage inclined relatively to the vertical direction.
Referring to the figures, the coupling is constituted by a hollo~ body 1, open at its top, on whose outer surface a set of teeth 2 protrude, ~hich are positioned in a sunburst pattern, and at ~hose bottom end an appendix 3 is fastened.
Said appendix 3 has an upper cross-section equal to the bottom cross-section of the hollow body 1 of the ~2~9~`7 5.
coupLing and the cross-section progressively decreases towards the bottom, down to a diameter beyond which said cross-section remains constant, and the appendix takes its cylindr;cal shape, possibly ending at its bottom with S a cone or a half-sphere.
From the ;nter;or of the hollow body 1 of the coupl;ng, through its upper opening, the rod 4 comes out, whose upper end is welded toO or is anyway ~ade integral ~ith, the lower end of the anchoraye 5.
The bottom end of said rod 4 ends inside said hollow body 1 of the coupl;ng ~ith an enlarged portion 6 which, is its upper port;on, preferably has, at least partially, a from cone-frustu~ to spherical shape.
In correspondence of its bottom end, said rod 4 rests on the spherical seat 7 fastened inside the appendix 3.
On the upper surface, ~hifh preferably has a cone-frustum or spher;cal shape, of the enlarged port;on 6, the ring 8 is mounted, ~hich can rotate relat;vely to the rod 4 around the vert;cal axis.
9etween the outer surface of the ring 8 and the inner surface of the hollo~ body 1, the flexible element of ring shape is fastened, which is composed by elastomer and metaL, or by other suitable materials; said flexible element 9, by elastically deform;ng, enables the rod 4, and there~ore the lower end o~ the anchorage 5, to tilt relati~ely to ~he vertical d;rect;on, as shown in Figure 3~
rhe seat of the coupling, wh;ch is fastened to the foundation bases installed at the sea bottom, comprises a cylindr;cal shell 11 ~ith an entry cone 10 at the top.
~324917 Inside said cylindrical shell 11, the grooves 12, 13, 14 and 15 are provided; inside such grooves 12, 13, 14 and 15, the teeth 2 of the coupling body slide when this latter is inserted into, or extracted from, the seat.
Inside the cyl;ndrical sheLL 11, under the reg;on concerned by said grooves, the centering cone 17 is fastened, which is provided with a top opening having a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the shell 11, and with a bottom opening having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cyLindrical portion of the appendix 3; at the bottom end of the centering cone 17, the centering ring 18 is fastened.
The entry grooves 12, whose number is equal to the number of the teeth 2, are provided near the upper end of the cylindrical shell 11. In the upper portion, the side ~alls of each of said entry grooves 12 are inclined relatively ~o the vertical dirertion, and ar~ convergent downwards, and in the bottom portion the wall 12a diverges downwards and the wall 12b becomes vertical.
The bLind-top grooves 13 are provided near the upper end of the cylindr;cal shelL 11 in the areas between the entry grooves 12. The side walL 13a of each one of the blind-top grooves 13 adjacent to the waLl 12b of the entry groove 12 is inclined and convergent up~ards, whilst the side wall 13b of each one of the blind grooves 13 is vertical; said bLind grooves 13 are closed at their top end by the surface against which the teeth16 are designed to come to rest~
The lo~er entry grooves 14 are provided inside the cylindrical sheLL 11 under the entry grooves 12 and the bLind grooves 13.
132~917 The lower entry grooves 14 are in a number equal to the number of the teeth, and each one thereof has a side wall 14a which begins on the vertical of the narrowest cross-section of an upper entry groove 12 and continues 5downwards in;t;ally inclined and convergent towards the second side wall 14b, with this latter being vertical and under the inclined side wall of a blind groove 13.
The lower exit grooves 15 are provided inside the cylindrical shell 11 under the entry grooves 12 and the 10blind grooves 13, in the areas between the lower entry grooves 14.
Each one of the lower ex;t grooves 15 has a s;de wall 15a wh;ch begins on the verticaL of a blind groove 13 and continues downwards initially inclined and 15convergent to~ards the second side wall 15b, with this latter being vertical and under the inclined, do~nwards-divergent side wall of an upper entry groove 12.
The engasement of the coupling inside the relevant seat takes place by inserting the coupling ins;de the : 20cylindrical shell 11, in this way the teeth 2 of the body 1 of the coupling entering ~he entry grooves 12; the insertion of the coupling continues until the teeth slide into the lower entry grooves 14.
: During the sinking of the coupling, due to the 25effect of the slope of the side walls of the entry grooves 12 and of the lo~er entry grooves 14a, the body of the coupling 1, and, consequently, the flexible element 9 and the ring 8 rotate around the vertical axis.
During the sink;ng of the coupling, the cylindrical 30appendix 3 guided by the centering cone 17 enters the centering ring 18; when the coupling is completely ~L~32~91~
8.
inserted ;n the seat, the body 1 of the coupling rests aga;nst the centering cone 17 (see specificaLly Figure 3).
When after being completely inserted in the seat, the coupling is lifted, the teeth 2 of the body 1 of the coupling enter the blind grooves 13, at whose top end the teeth 2 stop against the tooth resting surfaces 16 provided in the cylindrical shell 11.
Said tooth resting surfaces 16 prevent any further vertical and horizontal movements, asc well as any rotations of the body 1 of the coupLing.
When the coupling is lifted, due to the effect of the slope of the side ~3lls of the blind grooves 13a, the body of the coupling 1, the flexible element 9 and the ring 8 rotate around the vertical axis.
In order to disengage the couplin~ from the seat, it is enough to make it sink again inside the cylindrical shelL 11; - the teeth 2 of the body of the coupling 1, leaving the blind grooves 13, enter the lower exit grooves 15. When, after being completely sunk inside the seat, the coupling is subsequently lifted, the teeth 2 sLide into the entry grooves 12, enabling the coupling to be extracted from the seat.
Also during the sinking and the lifting of the coupl1ng in order to engage it in, or disengage it from, the seat, due to the effect of the slope of the side walls of the lo~er exit grooves 15a and of the entry grooves 12a, the body of the coupling 1, the flexible element 9 and the ring 8 rotate around the vertical axis.
3û The coupling can also be oade ~ithout the ring 8 and with the flexible element 9 being directly fastened to ~32~17 9.
the enlarged portion 6 of the rod 4; in such event, the engagement and diseng~gement of the coupling ;n/from the seat will stiLl take place according to the above dislosed procedure, but, in th;s case, when the coupling is lifted and sunk ;nside the seat, also the rod 4 and the anchorage 5 will rotate~
The shape of the grooves as shown in Figure 2 makes it possible the coupling to be engaged in, or disegnaged from, the seat, by simply sinking and lifting the same c 10 coupling, without any need for controlling the amplitude of the rotations of the body of the coupling, ;n that these are determined by the geometry of the grooves;
however, ;t is aLso possible to realize grooves with a different geometry, on condition that entry grooves and exit grooves for the teeth of the coupling, and blind-top grooves in order to prevent further vertical and horizontal movements of the teeth, and therefore of the same coupling body, once that said teeth have entered them, are provided.
SEAT, FOR ANCHORAGES UNDER TENSION"
The present ;nvention relates to a reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and to the seat for such a coupl;ng, for the structural connect;on to the foundation bases, positioned at the sea bottom, of the anchorages of offshore platforms with anchorages under tension, known as "TLP", i.e., "Tension Leg Platforms".
It is known that such types of offshore platforms are anchored to the sea bottom by means of a set of anchorages under tension, which are structurally connected to the foundation bases, positioned at the sea bottom, by means of reversible mechanical couplings which get engaged inside suitable seats purposely provided in said foundation bases~
Now then, the various types of reversible mechanical couplings for connecting to the sea bottom offshore platforms of TLP type, known from the prior art~ require that the members constituting the same coupling be mechanically or hydraulically actuated in order to realize the engagement and the disengagement of the coupling in/from the relevant seat provided on the foundation bases.
The need for such actuation procedures, to be performed at the sea bottom, involves the use of auxiliary equipment, or of hydraulic l;nes ~hich connect the coupling with the platform, with consequent increases in costs and duration of the operat10ns, as well as with ;~ increasing risks of failure of the same operations due to a malfunctioning of said coupling-actuation equipment or members.
qP
132~7 2.
The purpose of the present invention is obviating the above sa;d drawbacks and therefore supplying a novel coupling, which can be engaged and disengaged in/from the relevant seat in an automatic way, by simply sinking and lifting, and, possibly, rotating the anchorage.
eesides that, the coupling of the present invention is constituted by a s~all number of components, and is endowed with a high mechanical simpleness, with consequent advantages in terms of cost, operating reliab;lity, and sureness that the operations of engagement and disengagement can be carried out.
The above purpose is substantially achieved by means of the fact that the coupling is constituted by a hollow body open at its top, on whose outer surface a set of teeth protrude, which are positioned in a sunburst pattern, and to the bottom end of which a cylindrical appendix is fastened, which makes it easier to insert and correctly position the coupling inside the seat.
Inside the body of the coupling a flexible element of ring shape is fastened, inside ~hich a ring is fastened in its turn, which is mounted on the top surface, of cone frustum shape, or of spherical shape, of the enLarged portion provided at the bottom end of a rod.
Said rod comes out from the top opening of the body of the coupling, and in correspondence of its top end it is ~elded to~ or anyway made integral ~ith, the bottom end of the anchorage.
Said ring, and the members connected to it, i.e., the flexible element, the body of the coupl~ng and the relevant appendix, can rotate relatively to the rod around the vertical axis~
The seat of the coupling, fastened to the founda-tion basis, comprises a cylindrical shell on whose inner surface grooves are provided, between which at least a set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of the teeth, between which a set of grooves blind at their top end are provided in order to engage the same teeth.
More particularly, there is provided a reversible mechanical coupling and relevant seat of the type provided in a foundation basis in order to anchor an anchorage of an offshore platform of tension leg platform type to said basis and to allow the anchorage to be engaged in the seat or to be disengaged from it, ch~racterized in that said coupling comprising a hollow body having a top opening, an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom end, a set of teeth being positioned in a sunburst pattern on said outer sllrface, a downwardly-tapered appendix being fastened to the bottom end by a rod having an upper end rigidly attached to the bottom end of the anchorage, the rod passing through the top opening of the body and having an enlarged end portion inside the body, a flexible ring-shaped element being positioned between an upper surface of the enlarged portion :~ and the inner surface of the body, the element being directly or indirectly fastened to the upper and inner surfaces, the coupling having a seat comprising a ~: cylindrical shell, the shell having an inner surface on which one set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of the teeth, the entry grooves being separated by downwardly set blind grooves provided in a number equal to the number of the teeth, each entry groove having two side walls initially inclined, with reference to a vertical axis, and downwardly convergent towards a minimum entry groove cross-section area, each blind groove having an inclined upwardly convergent side wall and a vertical side wall.
1~249~
3a The coupling is engaged in the relevant seat by completeLy inserting the coupling inside the same seat~
and then lift1ng it.
When the coupling is inserted, the teeth slide inside the entry grooves of the cylindrical shell, which grooves, by being inclined, involve the rotation around the vertical axis of the body of the coupl;ng; when the coupling is lifted, owing to the effect caused by the rotation occurred during the insertion, the teeth sl;de inside the blind-top grooves, at whose top end they remain engaged.
The coupling is disengaged from the seat by completely sinking the coupling inside the seat and then extracting said coupl1ng from said seat.
When the coupling is sunk, the teeth are guided by the grooves, which, by being inclined, cause a further rotation around the vertical axis of the body of the coupLing; when the coupling is lifted at a later time, owing to the effect of the rotation occurred during the sinking, the teeth enter the entry grooves, thus making it poss1ble the coupling to be extracted from the seat.
When the coupllng 1s engaged in the seat, it is capable of transferring to said seat, through the teeth, the body of the coupling, the flexible element, the r~ng ~2~:91~`7 4.
and the rod, the forces transm;tted by the anchorage, which anchorange cam ~wing by tilt;ng relatively to the vert;cal by virtue of the deformabil;ty of the flexible element.
Further characteristics and preferred forms of practical embodiment of the present invention wiLl become known from the follo~ing, ~herein the invention is better explained with reference to the herPto attached drawings, which dep;ct a preferred form of practical embodiment given for merely exemplifying and non-Limitative purposes, in that techn;cal or structuraL changes can be supplied without departing from the scope of the present invention.
- Figure 1 represents a partially sectional front view of the coupling according to the invention, inserted and engaged inside the relevant seat;
- Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional view of the seat of the coupling, according to the present invention; and - Figure 3 represents a partialLy sectional front view of the coupling~ according to the invention, fully inserted in the relevant seat and with the rod and the anchorage inclined relatively to the vertical direction.
Referring to the figures, the coupling is constituted by a hollo~ body 1, open at its top, on whose outer surface a set of teeth 2 protrude, ~hich are positioned in a sunburst pattern, and at ~hose bottom end an appendix 3 is fastened.
Said appendix 3 has an upper cross-section equal to the bottom cross-section of the hollow body 1 of the ~2~9~`7 5.
coupLing and the cross-section progressively decreases towards the bottom, down to a diameter beyond which said cross-section remains constant, and the appendix takes its cylindr;cal shape, possibly ending at its bottom with S a cone or a half-sphere.
From the ;nter;or of the hollow body 1 of the coupl;ng, through its upper opening, the rod 4 comes out, whose upper end is welded toO or is anyway ~ade integral ~ith, the lower end of the anchoraye 5.
The bottom end of said rod 4 ends inside said hollow body 1 of the coupl;ng ~ith an enlarged portion 6 which, is its upper port;on, preferably has, at least partially, a from cone-frustu~ to spherical shape.
In correspondence of its bottom end, said rod 4 rests on the spherical seat 7 fastened inside the appendix 3.
On the upper surface, ~hifh preferably has a cone-frustum or spher;cal shape, of the enlarged port;on 6, the ring 8 is mounted, ~hich can rotate relat;vely to the rod 4 around the vert;cal axis.
9etween the outer surface of the ring 8 and the inner surface of the hollo~ body 1, the flexible element of ring shape is fastened, which is composed by elastomer and metaL, or by other suitable materials; said flexible element 9, by elastically deform;ng, enables the rod 4, and there~ore the lower end o~ the anchorage 5, to tilt relati~ely to ~he vertical d;rect;on, as shown in Figure 3~
rhe seat of the coupling, wh;ch is fastened to the foundation bases installed at the sea bottom, comprises a cylindr;cal shell 11 ~ith an entry cone 10 at the top.
~324917 Inside said cylindrical shell 11, the grooves 12, 13, 14 and 15 are provided; inside such grooves 12, 13, 14 and 15, the teeth 2 of the coupling body slide when this latter is inserted into, or extracted from, the seat.
Inside the cyl;ndrical sheLL 11, under the reg;on concerned by said grooves, the centering cone 17 is fastened, which is provided with a top opening having a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the shell 11, and with a bottom opening having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cyLindrical portion of the appendix 3; at the bottom end of the centering cone 17, the centering ring 18 is fastened.
The entry grooves 12, whose number is equal to the number of the teeth 2, are provided near the upper end of the cylindrical shell 11. In the upper portion, the side ~alls of each of said entry grooves 12 are inclined relatively ~o the vertical dirertion, and ar~ convergent downwards, and in the bottom portion the wall 12a diverges downwards and the wall 12b becomes vertical.
The bLind-top grooves 13 are provided near the upper end of the cylindr;cal shelL 11 in the areas between the entry grooves 12. The side walL 13a of each one of the blind-top grooves 13 adjacent to the waLl 12b of the entry groove 12 is inclined and convergent up~ards, whilst the side wall 13b of each one of the blind grooves 13 is vertical; said bLind grooves 13 are closed at their top end by the surface against which the teeth16 are designed to come to rest~
The lo~er entry grooves 14 are provided inside the cylindrical sheLL 11 under the entry grooves 12 and the bLind grooves 13.
132~917 The lower entry grooves 14 are in a number equal to the number of the teeth, and each one thereof has a side wall 14a which begins on the vertical of the narrowest cross-section of an upper entry groove 12 and continues 5downwards in;t;ally inclined and convergent towards the second side wall 14b, with this latter being vertical and under the inclined side wall of a blind groove 13.
The lower exit grooves 15 are provided inside the cylindrical shell 11 under the entry grooves 12 and the 10blind grooves 13, in the areas between the lower entry grooves 14.
Each one of the lower ex;t grooves 15 has a s;de wall 15a wh;ch begins on the verticaL of a blind groove 13 and continues downwards initially inclined and 15convergent to~ards the second side wall 15b, with this latter being vertical and under the inclined, do~nwards-divergent side wall of an upper entry groove 12.
The engasement of the coupling inside the relevant seat takes place by inserting the coupling ins;de the : 20cylindrical shell 11, in this way the teeth 2 of the body 1 of the coupling entering ~he entry grooves 12; the insertion of the coupling continues until the teeth slide into the lower entry grooves 14.
: During the sinking of the coupling, due to the 25effect of the slope of the side walls of the entry grooves 12 and of the lo~er entry grooves 14a, the body of the coupling 1, and, consequently, the flexible element 9 and the ring 8 rotate around the vertical axis.
During the sink;ng of the coupling, the cylindrical 30appendix 3 guided by the centering cone 17 enters the centering ring 18; when the coupling is completely ~L~32~91~
8.
inserted ;n the seat, the body 1 of the coupling rests aga;nst the centering cone 17 (see specificaLly Figure 3).
When after being completely inserted in the seat, the coupling is lifted, the teeth 2 of the body 1 of the coupling enter the blind grooves 13, at whose top end the teeth 2 stop against the tooth resting surfaces 16 provided in the cylindrical shell 11.
Said tooth resting surfaces 16 prevent any further vertical and horizontal movements, asc well as any rotations of the body 1 of the coupLing.
When the coupling is lifted, due to the effect of the slope of the side ~3lls of the blind grooves 13a, the body of the coupling 1, the flexible element 9 and the ring 8 rotate around the vertical axis.
In order to disengage the couplin~ from the seat, it is enough to make it sink again inside the cylindrical shelL 11; - the teeth 2 of the body of the coupling 1, leaving the blind grooves 13, enter the lower exit grooves 15. When, after being completely sunk inside the seat, the coupling is subsequently lifted, the teeth 2 sLide into the entry grooves 12, enabling the coupling to be extracted from the seat.
Also during the sinking and the lifting of the coupl1ng in order to engage it in, or disengage it from, the seat, due to the effect of the slope of the side walls of the lo~er exit grooves 15a and of the entry grooves 12a, the body of the coupling 1, the flexible element 9 and the ring 8 rotate around the vertical axis.
3û The coupling can also be oade ~ithout the ring 8 and with the flexible element 9 being directly fastened to ~32~17 9.
the enlarged portion 6 of the rod 4; in such event, the engagement and diseng~gement of the coupling ;n/from the seat will stiLl take place according to the above dislosed procedure, but, in th;s case, when the coupling is lifted and sunk ;nside the seat, also the rod 4 and the anchorage 5 will rotate~
The shape of the grooves as shown in Figure 2 makes it possible the coupling to be engaged in, or disegnaged from, the seat, by simply sinking and lifting the same c 10 coupling, without any need for controlling the amplitude of the rotations of the body of the coupling, ;n that these are determined by the geometry of the grooves;
however, ;t is aLso possible to realize grooves with a different geometry, on condition that entry grooves and exit grooves for the teeth of the coupling, and blind-top grooves in order to prevent further vertical and horizontal movements of the teeth, and therefore of the same coupling body, once that said teeth have entered them, are provided.
Claims (5)
1. A reversible mechanical coupling and corres-ponding seat, for use in a foundation basis in order to anchor to said basis an offshore tension leg platform provided with an anchorage for this purpose, and to allow said anchorage to be engaged in said seat or to be disengaged from it, characterized in that said coupling comprises:
- a hollow body having a top opening, an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom end;
- a set of teeth positioned in a sunburst pattern on said outer surface;
- a downwardly-tapered appendix fastened to said bottom end by a rod having an upper end rigidly attached to said bottom end of said anchorage, said rod passing through said top opening of said body and having an enlarged end portion inside said body;
- a flexible ring-shaped element positioned between an upper surface of said enlarged portion and said inner surface of said body, said ring-shaped element being directly or indirectly fastened to said upper and inner surfaces;
- said coupling also having a seat comprising a cylindrical shell, said shell having an inner surface on which one set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of said teeth, said entry grooves being separated by downwardly set blind grooves provided in a number equal to the number of said teeth, each entry groove having two side walls initially inclined, with reference to a vertical axis, and downwardly convergent towards a minimum entry groove cross-section area, each blind groove having an inclined upwardly convergent side wall and a vertical side wall.
- a hollow body having a top opening, an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom end;
- a set of teeth positioned in a sunburst pattern on said outer surface;
- a downwardly-tapered appendix fastened to said bottom end by a rod having an upper end rigidly attached to said bottom end of said anchorage, said rod passing through said top opening of said body and having an enlarged end portion inside said body;
- a flexible ring-shaped element positioned between an upper surface of said enlarged portion and said inner surface of said body, said ring-shaped element being directly or indirectly fastened to said upper and inner surfaces;
- said coupling also having a seat comprising a cylindrical shell, said shell having an inner surface on which one set of entry grooves are provided in a number equal to the number of said teeth, said entry grooves being separated by downwardly set blind grooves provided in a number equal to the number of said teeth, each entry groove having two side walls initially inclined, with reference to a vertical axis, and downwardly convergent towards a minimum entry groove cross-section area, each blind groove having an inclined upwardly convergent side wall and a vertical side wall.
2. A reversible mechanical coupling and corresponding seat according to claim 1, wherein said appendix has a top cross-section equal to a bottom cross-section of said body and said top cross-section progressively decreases downwards down to a diameter which remains constant, said appendix having a lower cylindrically shaped portion ending with a cone or a semisphere, a centering cone being provided inside said cylindrical shell, said centering cone having an upper opening of a diameter equal to an inner diameter of said shell, and a bottom opening having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said lower cylindrically-shaped portion of said appendix.
3. A reversible mechanical coupling and corres-ponding seat according to claim 1, wherein said flexible element has an upper side fastened to an interior surface of said body, and a lower side, fastered to a ring, mounted on said upper surface of the enlarged portion of said rod, said ring being rotatable around a vertical axis with reference to said rod.
4. A reversible mechanical coupling and corres-ponding seat according to claim 1, wherein:
- one of said two side wall of said entry groove extends downwardly in a vertical direction from said minimum entry groove cross-section area, said vertical side wall being adjacent to said inclined upwardly convergent side wall of said blind groove;
- the other side wall of said entry groove extends downwardly from said minimum entry groove cross-section area and is inclined downwardly convergent with said vertical side wall of said blind groove;
- said shell comprises lower entry grooves and lower exit grooves positioned below said entry grooves and said blind grooves, said lower entry grooves and said lower exit grooves being each provided in a number equal to the number of said teeth and being disposed in alternation;
- each lower entry groove comprises a beveled first side wall and a vertical second side wall, said first side wall having an inclined first part at a top portion thereof and a vertical second part at a bottom portion thereof, said first side wall being vertically aligned with said minimum entry groove cross-section area; said second side wall being vertically aligned with said inclined upwardly convergent side wall of said blind grooves;
- each lower exit groove comprises a beveled first side wall and a vertical second side wall, said first side wall having an inclined first part at a top portion thereof and a vertical second part at a bottom portion thereof, said first side wall being vertically aligned with said blind groove, said second side wall being vertically aligned with said inclined downwardly convergent extension of one of said side walls of said entry grooves.
- one of said two side wall of said entry groove extends downwardly in a vertical direction from said minimum entry groove cross-section area, said vertical side wall being adjacent to said inclined upwardly convergent side wall of said blind groove;
- the other side wall of said entry groove extends downwardly from said minimum entry groove cross-section area and is inclined downwardly convergent with said vertical side wall of said blind groove;
- said shell comprises lower entry grooves and lower exit grooves positioned below said entry grooves and said blind grooves, said lower entry grooves and said lower exit grooves being each provided in a number equal to the number of said teeth and being disposed in alternation;
- each lower entry groove comprises a beveled first side wall and a vertical second side wall, said first side wall having an inclined first part at a top portion thereof and a vertical second part at a bottom portion thereof, said first side wall being vertically aligned with said minimum entry groove cross-section area; said second side wall being vertically aligned with said inclined upwardly convergent side wall of said blind grooves;
- each lower exit groove comprises a beveled first side wall and a vertical second side wall, said first side wall having an inclined first part at a top portion thereof and a vertical second part at a bottom portion thereof, said first side wall being vertically aligned with said blind groove, said second side wall being vertically aligned with said inclined downwardly convergent extension of one of said side walls of said entry grooves.
5. A reversible mechanical coupling and corres-ponding seat according to claim 1, wherein said rod has a top portion that is at least partially from a cone-frustum to a spherically shaped surface.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT84148A/87 | 1987-08-07 | ||
| IT8784148A IT1214271B (en) | 1987-08-07 | 1987-08-07 | JOINTED REVERSIBLE MECHANICAL JOINT AND RELATIVE SEAT, FOR TENSION ANCHORAGES. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1324917C true CA1324917C (en) | 1993-12-07 |
Family
ID=11324793
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000572977A Expired - Fee Related CA1324917C (en) | 1987-08-07 | 1988-07-25 | Reversible, articulated mechanical coupling and relevant seat, for anchorages under tension |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0302546A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS6452994A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1031355A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU600155B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8804173A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1324917C (en) |
| DK (1) | DK441188A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1214271B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX169598B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO883443L (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0417123B1 (en) * | 1988-05-20 | 1994-04-13 | Shell Oil Company | Rotating lug anchor connector |
| BR9303646A (en) | 1993-08-31 | 1995-04-25 | Petroleo Brasileiro Sa | Foundation system for tilt leg platforms |
| US6036404A (en) | 1993-08-31 | 2000-03-14 | Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.-Petrobras | Foundation system for tension leg platforms |
| FR2791316B1 (en) | 1999-03-26 | 2001-06-08 | Techlam | DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A TUBULAR STRUCTURE TO AN UNDERWATER ANCHOR |
| SE0402552D0 (en) * | 2004-10-22 | 2004-10-22 | Moorlink Ab | Anchoring device |
| FR2932840B1 (en) * | 2008-06-19 | 2010-08-27 | Techlam | REMOVABLE CONNECTOR FOR UNDERWATER PETROLEUM INSTALLATION |
| WO2013186553A1 (en) * | 2012-06-11 | 2013-12-19 | Ftl Subsea Ltd. | Subsea connector |
| CN115367051B (en) * | 2022-07-04 | 2024-05-28 | 中国电建集团贵阳勘测设计研究院有限公司 | Overwater photovoltaic concrete anchor block capable of reducing water flow impact effect |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2087330B (en) * | 1980-11-06 | 1984-05-16 | Vickers Ltd | Marine anchor tethering device |
| NL179893C (en) * | 1981-08-05 | 1986-12-01 | Heerema Engineering | DEVICE FOR MOVING A PIPE IN VERTICAL DIRECTION |
| GB2105769B (en) * | 1981-09-18 | 1984-12-12 | Baj Vickers Ltd | Releasable anchor connectors |
| IT1210110B (en) * | 1984-07-09 | 1989-09-06 | Tecnomare Spa | REVERSIBLE MECHANICAL JOINT FOR TENSION ANCHORAGES. |
| GB8429920D0 (en) * | 1984-11-27 | 1985-01-03 | Vickers Plc | Marine anchors |
| JPH056365Y2 (en) * | 1985-02-19 | 1993-02-18 | ||
| GB2178101B (en) * | 1985-07-03 | 1988-09-14 | Hunting Oilfield Services Ltd | Improvements in and relating to connector assemblies |
-
1987
- 1987-08-07 IT IT8784148A patent/IT1214271B/en active
-
1988
- 1988-07-15 EP EP88201523A patent/EP0302546A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1988-07-25 CA CA000572977A patent/CA1324917C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-08-01 AU AU20261/88A patent/AU600155B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-08-02 JP JP63192189A patent/JPS6452994A/en active Pending
- 1988-08-02 MX MX012523A patent/MX169598B/en unknown
- 1988-08-03 NO NO88883443A patent/NO883443L/en unknown
- 1988-08-05 DK DK441188A patent/DK441188A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1988-08-05 BR BR8804173A patent/BR8804173A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-08-06 CN CN88104895A patent/CN1031355A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2026188A (en) | 1989-02-09 |
| JPS6452994A (en) | 1989-03-01 |
| NO883443D0 (en) | 1988-08-03 |
| AU600155B2 (en) | 1990-08-02 |
| BR8804173A (en) | 1989-03-14 |
| MX169598B (en) | 1993-07-14 |
| EP0302546A1 (en) | 1989-02-08 |
| IT1214271B (en) | 1990-01-10 |
| CN1031355A (en) | 1989-03-01 |
| DK441188A (en) | 1989-02-08 |
| IT8784148A0 (en) | 1987-08-07 |
| DK441188D0 (en) | 1988-08-05 |
| NO883443L (en) | 1989-02-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |