EP0072898A1 - Hinge joint for connecting a movable support structure of an offshore platform to a foundation - Google Patents

Hinge joint for connecting a movable support structure of an offshore platform to a foundation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0072898A1
EP0072898A1 EP82105561A EP82105561A EP0072898A1 EP 0072898 A1 EP0072898 A1 EP 0072898A1 EP 82105561 A EP82105561 A EP 82105561A EP 82105561 A EP82105561 A EP 82105561A EP 0072898 A1 EP0072898 A1 EP 0072898A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
joint
ball
capsule
foundation
tower
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Granted
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EP82105561A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0072898B1 (en
Inventor
Werner Rank
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MAN AG
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MAN Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nuernberg AG
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Publication of EP0072898A1 publication Critical patent/EP0072898A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4406—Articulated towers, i.e. substantially floating structures comprising a slender tower-like hull anchored relative to the marine bed by means of a single articulation, e.g. using an articulated bearing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/32—Articulated members
    • Y10T403/32606—Pivoted
    • Y10T403/32631—Universal ball and socket

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an ankle joint for connecting a movable supply tower of an off-shore system to a component which is anchored in / on the sea floor and is designed as a foundation, using a ball joint which is pivotable on all sides and is sealed between the foot of the supply tower and the foundation and is sealed against water ingress which the joint part fastened in / at the foot of the tower is held together with the other joint part which is firmly anchored on the foundation by means of a tension member which is movable on all sides around the center of the ball joint, and a diving bell which partially surrounds the ankle joint.
  • An ankle of the aforementioned type is known from DE-PS 25 49 859.
  • the articulated part fastened in the foot of the tower is designed as an outer spherical zone which slides on the spherical articulated part which is immovably connected to the foundation when the tower moves.
  • the formation of the sliding surfaces of the ball joint is described in DE-OS 27 55 592.
  • interchangeable, spherically shaped, a spherical gap between them and sliding on the spherical mating surface of the other joint part are attached, the sliding surfaces of which consist of a material with a low coefficient of friction.
  • the sliding area between the two spherical half-shells is secured upwards and downwards by ring-shaped seals that close the gap between the spherical half-shells.
  • the sliding shoes arranged in the relatively narrow gap between the spherical half-shells are accessible only after the upper seal has been removed. Monitoring the functionality and condition by observation is therefore not possible. It is difficult to replace the spherically shaped slide shoes and the upper seal due to the limited space and the geometry within the ball joint. The production of the ball joint, in particular the machining of the ball half shells and the sliding shoes, requires considerable effort.
  • the object of the present invention is to improve the ankle in such a way that the components subject to wear, in particular the bearing plates and the stuffing box packing, are freely accessible in order to enable ongoing monitoring and maintenance and any necessary replacement of parts can be carried out easily and that the manufacture of the joint is simplified. Furthermore, the anchoring of the joint, including the tower, on the foundation on the seabed is to be facilitated and the accessible space for various uses is to be enlarged.
  • the articulated part of the ball joint fastened in / at the foot of the tower is mounted in a joint capsule, which is designed as a cylindrical capsule shell with a footplate firmly connected to the foundation, and several support bearings are arranged within the joint capsule which the joint part, which is designed as a joint ball and which is connected to the tower via the ball neck, slides, and a cover ring with a collar designed as a spherical zone is arranged on the capsule shell, which closes the ball joint except for a residual gap which is sealed from the inside of the joint capsule with a stuffing box .
  • the joint ball connected to the tower is pulled against the support surfaces of the support bearings by means of a tension member.
  • the tension member is fixed on the one hand in the tower base and anchored on the opposite side in the foundation via a universal joint.
  • the universal joint is arranged so that its axes of rotation intersect at the center of the ball joint.
  • the support bearings are interchangeably arranged on the circumference of a circle, the diameter of which is smaller than the equator of the joint ball, on brackets on the cylindrical capsule shell or on the base plate.
  • Each support bearing consists of the bearing foot, a bearing shell adapted to the surface of the joint ball and a hydraulic cylinder arranged between the bearing foot and the bearing shell, which is mounted by means of crowned end pieces in ball sockets of the bearing foot and the bearing shell.
  • the hydraulic cylinders of all support bearings are communicatively connected. This ensures that, in the event of fluctuations in the tower, the contact forces for all bearings and thus also the reaction forces acting on the joint capsule or on the foundation are always the same.
  • the storage of the hydraulic cylinders in ball sockets ensures that the contact surfaces always lie correctly and that the forces are safely transferred to the bearing brackets.
  • the bearing shells are designed for hydrostatic mounting of the joint ball and provided with PTFE plates that have grooves or chambers for the absorption of a lubricant.
  • the bearing shells are supplied with lubricant individually and independently of one another from a central pressure lubrication device. This ensures that the support bearing can be replaced without affecting the operational safety of the ball joint.
  • the free accessibility of the support bearings allows constant monitoring and maintenance of the same.
  • the polished surface of the joint ball sliding on the bearings which can be clad with a corrosion-resistant material, is largely accessible depending on the inclined position of the tower and can also be kept under control and easily freed of any adhering deposits. There is thus a significant advantage over the storage in known ankles.
  • the cover ring arranged on the capsule casing protects the surface of the joint ball connected to the tower with its collar designed as a spherical zone in conjunction with a diving bell and closes the gap between the fixed and movable joint part in the horizontal center axis of the ball joint.
  • the stuffing box gland is made of several parts to enable repacking.
  • the packing can consist of sleeve seals or packing rings with a pressure oil ring.
  • the glasses can be readjusted manually, via electrically driven adjusting devices or by means of hydraulically or pneumatically actuated actuators, the latter acting uniformly on the pack via lockable rocker arms and a pressure ring.
  • the ankle is surrounded in its upper area by a diving bell, which is designed as a multi-part spherical zone and is attached to the ball neck and in connection with the collar of the cover ring of the joint capsule forms a water barrier in that an air cushion with an air pressure corresponding to the water depth is maintained in the space between the diving bell and the collar.
  • the area of the air cushion is checked for water penetration by probes arranged in the wall of the collar of the cover ring and, if necessary, regulation of the air pressure is triggered. In normal operating conditions, no water gets to the gap seal between the movable joint ball and the cover ring.
  • the air escaping through the stuffing box into the interior of the joint serves to ventilate the room. Since the volume of the air cushion is relatively small, it is easy to maintain the pressure corresponding to the depth of the sea.
  • the connecting elements between the foundation and the base plate are arranged within the joint capsule and are provided with sealing devices.
  • the advantageous manufacture of the ankle described is that only one outer surface of the joint ball has to be machined, plated and ground, the cylindrical capsule shell is simpler in construction and the cover ring only requires machining of the flange and the stuffing box seat.
  • outward-facing secondary chambers are used in the cylindrical capsule shell, which have pressure-tight closure devices that can be actuated by hydraulic systems on both sides and can be drained and flooded via a pump and compressed air system.
  • the secondary chambers winches are arranged, which serve to support the management unda- Absenkmanövers of the tower to the F. At least three secondary chambers are preferably equipped with cable winches. A T rescuer is stationed in at least one secondary chamber for the safety of the maintenance personnel. In a further embodiment of the ankle it is provided that the secondary chambers are equipped with connection devices for the arrangement of further satellite chambers.
  • the ball joint 3 is arranged, which enables the tower to be pivoted on all sides.
  • the joint part 4 which is designed as a joint ball, is firmly connected on the one hand via the ball neck 5 to the foot of the tower 1 and others on the one hand in the articulated capsule 6 anchored on the foundation 2.
  • the tension member 7 can be adjustable in its longitudinal direction.
  • the joint ball of the joint part 4 has openings at the top and bottom through which the supply lines and oil production lines can be guided in addition to the pull rod 7 and which enable the joint capsule 6 to be walked on.
  • the joint capsule 6 consists of the cylindrical capsule shell 8, the base plate 9, a number of support bearings 11 arranged on brackets 10 or 10 a and a cover ring 12 or 12 a as well as a collar 13 designed as a spherical zone. According to FIG. 1, the brackets 10 are on attached inner diameter of the capsule shell 8 and the cover ring 12 combined with the collar 13 in one unit. With a larger diameter of the capsule shell 8 according to FIG.
  • the brackets 10 a can be arranged on the base plate 9 and the cover ring 12 a can be designed in a curved shape.
  • Figure 2 shows the structure of the support bearing 11, which is uniformly distributed below the horizontal central axis of the ball joint on a smaller diameter and is composed of the bearing base 14 with a ball socket 15, a hydraulic cylinder 16 with crowned end pieces 17 and the bearing shell 18, the sliding surface of which the joint ball 4 is adapted and the side facing the hydraulic cylinder 16 has a ball socket 15.
  • These support bearings are characterized by optimum adaptability to the movements of the joint ball 4.
  • a stuffing box 19 is provided in the horizontal central axis of the ball joint 3, which is supported on the cover ring 12 or the collar 13.
  • Figure 3 shows the anchoring of the joint capsule 6 on the F unda- element 2.
  • the connecting elements 21 between the foundation and the foot plate 9 are arranged within the joint capsule 6 and provided with sealing means 22nd It is also possible to design the connecting elements as hydraulically or pneumatically actuated locking devices.
  • a plurality of secondary chambers 23 are arranged on the circumference of the capsule shell 8, which are provided on the inside and outside with pressure-tight closure devices 24 which are actuated via hydraulic systems 25. Cable winches installed in at least three secondary chambers 23 simplify the lowering maneuver of the tower and the fastening of the ball joint 3 on the foundation 2. Furthermore, the secondary chambers 23 can have connection devices 26 for the arrangement of further satellite chambers 27, which can be used as storage containers or the like.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
  • Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
  • Foundations (AREA)
  • Revetment (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)

Abstract

Bei einem begehbaren Kugelgelenk zur Verbindung des Versorgungsturms einer Off-Shore-Anlage mit dem unterseeischen Fundament ist gemäß der Zeichnung, Figur 1, die Gelenkkugel 4 einerseits über den Kugelhals 5 fest mit dem Fuß des Turms 1 verbunden und andererseits in der auf dem Fundament 2 verankerten Gelenkkapsel 6 beweglich gelagert. Seide Gelenkteile sind durch das Zugglied 7 miteinander verbunden. Die Lagerung der Gelenkkugel 4 erfolgt auf innerhalb der Gelenkkapsel 6 angeordneten, gut zugänglichen, auswechselbaren Stützlagern 11. Den Abschluß der Gelenkkapsel 6 bildet ein Deckelring 12 mit einem als Kugelzone ausgebildeten Kragen 13. Zur Abdichtung und zum Schutz ist das Kugelgelenk in seinem oberen Bereich von einer Tauchglocke 13 umgeben, in der ein Luftpolster aufrechterhalten wird. Ferner ist der Spalt zwischen Deckelring und Gelenkkugel durch eine Stopfbuchse 19 abgedichtet.In the case of a walk-in ball joint for connecting the supply tower of an offshore system to the submarine foundation, the joint ball 4 is, on the one hand, firmly connected to the base of the tower 1 via the ball neck 5 and, on the other hand, on the foundation 2 anchored joint capsule 6 movably mounted. Silk joint parts are connected to each other by the tension member 7. The joint ball 4 is mounted on easily accessible, interchangeable support bearings 11 arranged inside the joint capsule 6. The end of the joint capsule 6 is formed by a cover ring 12 with a collar 13 designed as a spherical zone. For sealing and protection, the ball joint is in its upper region from surrounded by a diving bell 13 in which an air cushion is maintained. Furthermore, the gap between the cover ring and the joint ball is sealed by a stuffing box 19.

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein Fußgelenk zur Verbindung eines beweglichen Versorgungsturmes einer Off-Shore-Anlage mit einem im/am Meeresboden verankerten, als Fundament ausgebildeten Bauteil unter Verwendung eines zwischen dem Fuß des Versorgungsturmes und dem Fundament angeordneten allseitig schwenkbaren, gegen Wassereintritt abgedichteten Kugelgelenks bei dem das im/am Fuß des Turmes befestigte Gelenkteil mit dem anderen, auf dem Fundament fest verankerten Gelenkteil mittels eines um den Mittelpunkt des Kugelgelenks allseitig beweglichen Zuggliedes zusammengehalten ist, sowie einer das Fußgelenk teilweise umfassenden Tauchglocke.The invention relates to an ankle joint for connecting a movable supply tower of an off-shore system to a component which is anchored in / on the sea floor and is designed as a foundation, using a ball joint which is pivotable on all sides and is sealed between the foot of the supply tower and the foundation and is sealed against water ingress which the joint part fastened in / at the foot of the tower is held together with the other joint part which is firmly anchored on the foundation by means of a tension member which is movable on all sides around the center of the ball joint, and a diving bell which partially surrounds the ankle joint.

Ein Fußgelenk vorgenannter Gattung ist aus der DE-PS 25 49 859 bekannt. Dabei ist das im Fuß des Turmes befestigte Gelenkteil als äußere Kugelzone ausgebildet, die bei Bewegungen des Turmes auf dem mit dem Fundament unbeweglich verbundenen kugeligen Gelenkteil gleitet. Die Ausbildung der Gleitflächen des Kugelgelenks ist in der DE-OS 27 55 592 beschrieben. Danach sind im Gleitbereich zwischen den beiden Kugelhalbschalen auswechselbare, sphärisch geformte, einen sphärischen Spalt zwischen diesen freilassende und auf der kugeligen Gegenfläche des anderen Gelenkteils gleitende Gleitschuhe befestigt, deren Gleitflächen aus einem Werkstoff mit niedrigem Reibwert bestehen. Der Gleitbereich zwischen den beiden Kugelhalbschalen ist nach oben und unten durch ringförmige, den Spalt zwischen den Kugelhalbschalen abschließende Dichtungen gesichert.An ankle of the aforementioned type is known from DE-PS 25 49 859. The articulated part fastened in the foot of the tower is designed as an outer spherical zone which slides on the spherical articulated part which is immovably connected to the foundation when the tower moves. The formation of the sliding surfaces of the ball joint is described in DE-OS 27 55 592. Then, in the sliding area between the two spherical half-shells, interchangeable, spherically shaped, a spherical gap between them and sliding on the spherical mating surface of the other joint part are attached, the sliding surfaces of which consist of a material with a low coefficient of friction. The sliding area between the two spherical half-shells is secured upwards and downwards by ring-shaped seals that close the gap between the spherical half-shells.

Die in dem relativ engen Spalt zwischen den Kugelhalbschalen angeordneten Gleitschuhe sind nur nach Entfernung der oberen Dichtung zugänglich. Eine Überwachung der Funktionsfähigkeit und des Zustandes durch Beobachtung ist daher nicht möglich. Das Auswechseln der sphärisch geformten Gleitschuhe und der oberen Dichtung ist bei den beengten Platzverhältnissen und durch die Geometrie innerhalb des Kugelgelenks schwierig. Die Herstellung des Kugelgelenks, insbesondere die Bearbeitung der Kugelhalbschalen und der Gleitschuhe, erfordert einen erheblichen Aufwand.The sliding shoes arranged in the relatively narrow gap between the spherical half-shells are accessible only after the upper seal has been removed. Monitoring the functionality and condition by observation is therefore not possible. It is difficult to replace the spherically shaped slide shoes and the upper seal due to the limited space and the geometry within the ball joint. The production of the ball joint, in particular the machining of the ball half shells and the sliding shoes, requires considerable effort.

Die Aufgabe vorliegender Erfindung besteht darin, daß Fußgelenk dahingehend zu verbessern, daß die einer Abnutzung unterworfenen Bauteile, insbesondere die Lagerplatten und die Stopfbuchspackung, frei zugänglich sind, um eine laufende Überwachung und Wartung zu ermöglichen und ein evtl. notweniger Austausch von Teilen leicht durchführbar ist und daß die Herstellung des Gelenks vereinfacht wird. Weiterhin soll die Verankerung des Gelenks, einschließlich des Turmes, auf dem Fundament am Meeresboden erleichtert und der begehbare Raum zur mannigfaltigen Benutzung vergrößert werden.The object of the present invention is to improve the ankle in such a way that the components subject to wear, in particular the bearing plates and the stuffing box packing, are freely accessible in order to enable ongoing monitoring and maintenance and any necessary replacement of parts can be carried out easily and that the manufacture of the joint is simplified. Furthermore, the anchoring of the joint, including the tower, on the foundation on the seabed is to be facilitated and the accessible space for various uses is to be enlarged.

Die Lösung der Aufgabe besteht darin, daß das im/am Fuß des Turmes befestigte Gelenkteil des Kugelgelenks in einer Gelenkkapsel gelagert ist, die als zylindrischer Kapselmantel mit einer mit dem Fundament fest verbundenen Fußplatte ausgeführt ist, und innerhalb der Gelenkkapsel mehrere Stützlager angeordnet sind, auf denen das über den Kugelhals mit dem Turm verbundene, als Gelenkkugel ausgebildete Gelenkteil gleitet, und auf dem Kapselmantel ein Deckelring mit als Kugelzone ausgebildetem Kragen angeordnet ist, der das Kugelgelenk bis auf einen Restspalt verschließt, der vom Innern der Gelenkkapsel her mit einer Stopfbuchse abgedichtet ist. Zur Verbindung der beiden Gelenkteile wird die mit dem Turm verbundene Gelenkkugel mittels eines Zuggliedes gegen die Auflageflächen der Stützlager gezogen. Das Zugglied ist einerseits in der Turmbasis fest eingespannt gelagert und gegenüberliegend über ein Kardangelenk im Fundament verankert. Das Kardangelenk ist so angeordnet, daß sich seine Drehachsen im Mittelpunkt des Kugelgelenks schneiden.The solution to the problem is that the articulated part of the ball joint fastened in / at the foot of the tower is mounted in a joint capsule, which is designed as a cylindrical capsule shell with a footplate firmly connected to the foundation, and several support bearings are arranged within the joint capsule which the joint part, which is designed as a joint ball and which is connected to the tower via the ball neck, slides, and a cover ring with a collar designed as a spherical zone is arranged on the capsule shell, which closes the ball joint except for a residual gap which is sealed from the inside of the joint capsule with a stuffing box . To connect the two joint parts, the joint ball connected to the tower is pulled against the support surfaces of the support bearings by means of a tension member. The tension member is fixed on the one hand in the tower base and anchored on the opposite side in the foundation via a universal joint. The universal joint is arranged so that its axes of rotation intersect at the center of the ball joint.

Die Stützlager sind in gleichen Abständen auf dem Umfang eines Kreises, dessen Durchmesser kleiner als der Äquator der Gelenkkugel ist, auf Konsolen am zylindrischen Kapselmantel bzw. auf der Fußplatte auswechselbar angeordnet. Jedes Stützlager besteht aus dem Lagerfuß, aus einer der Oberfläche der Gelenkkugel angepaßten Lagerschale und einem zwischen Lagerfuß und Lagerschale angeordneten Hydraulikzylinder, der mittels balliger Endstücke in Kugelpfannen des Lagerfußes und der Lagerschale gelagert ist. Die Hydraulikzylinder aller Stützlager sind untereinander kommunizierend verbunden. Damit wird erreicht, daß bei Schwankungen des Turmes die Anlagekräfte für alle Lager und damit auch die auf die Gelenkkapsel bzw. auf das Fundament wirkenden Reaktionskräfte stets gleich groß sind. Die Lagerung der Hydraulikzylinder in Kugelpfannen gewährleistet eine stets korrekte Anlage der Berührungsflächen und eine sichere Übertragung der Kräfte auf die Lagerkonsolen. Die Lagerschalen sind für eine hydrostatische Lagerung der Gelenkkugel ausgelegt und mit PTFE-Platten versehen, die Nuten bzw. Kammern für die Aufnahme eines Schmiermittels aufweisen.The support bearings are interchangeably arranged on the circumference of a circle, the diameter of which is smaller than the equator of the joint ball, on brackets on the cylindrical capsule shell or on the base plate. Each support bearing consists of the bearing foot, a bearing shell adapted to the surface of the joint ball and a hydraulic cylinder arranged between the bearing foot and the bearing shell, which is mounted by means of crowned end pieces in ball sockets of the bearing foot and the bearing shell. The hydraulic cylinders of all support bearings are communicatively connected. This ensures that, in the event of fluctuations in the tower, the contact forces for all bearings and thus also the reaction forces acting on the joint capsule or on the foundation are always the same. The storage of the hydraulic cylinders in ball sockets ensures that the contact surfaces always lie correctly and that the forces are safely transferred to the bearing brackets. The bearing shells are designed for hydrostatic mounting of the joint ball and provided with PTFE plates that have grooves or chambers for the absorption of a lubricant.

Die Schmiermittelversorgung der Lagerschalen erfolgt einzeln und unabhängig voneinander von einer zentralen Druckschmiereinrichtung aus. Damit ist gewährleistet, daß die Stützlager ohne Beeinträchtigung der Betriebssicherheit des Kugelgelenks ausgewechselt werden können.The bearing shells are supplied with lubricant individually and independently of one another from a central pressure lubrication device. This ensures that the support bearing can be replaced without affecting the operational safety of the ball joint.

Die freie Zugänglichkeit der Stützlager erlaubt eine ständige Überwachung und Wartung derselben. Die auf den Lagern gleitende polierte Oberfläche der Gelenkkugel, die mit einem korrosionsbeständigen Werkstoff plattiert sein kann, ist in Abhängigkeit von der Schräglage des Turmes weitgehend zugänglich und kann ebenfalls unter Kontrolle gehalten und von evtl. anhaftenden Ansätzen leicht befreit werden. Damit besteht gegenüber der Lagerung bei bekannten Fußgelenken ein bedeutender Vorteil.The free accessibility of the support bearings allows constant monitoring and maintenance of the same. The polished surface of the joint ball sliding on the bearings, which can be clad with a corrosion-resistant material, is largely accessible depending on the inclined position of the tower and can also be kept under control and easily freed of any adhering deposits. There is thus a significant advantage over the storage in known ankles.

Der auf dem Kapselmantel angeordnete Deckelring schützt mit seinem als Kugelzone ausgebildeten Kragen in Verbindung mit einer Tauchglocke die Oberfläche der mit dem Turm verbundenen Gelenkkugel und verschließt den zwischen feststehendem und beweglichem Gelenkteil vorhandenen Spalt in der horizontalen Mittelpunktachse des Kugelgelenks.The cover ring arranged on the capsule casing protects the surface of the joint ball connected to the tower with its collar designed as a spherical zone in conjunction with a diving bell and closes the gap between the fixed and movable joint part in the horizontal center axis of the ball joint.

Zur Abdichtung dieses Spalts ist eine vom Innenraum des Gelenks zugängliche Stopfbuchse vorhanden. Die Stopfbuchsenbrille ist mehrteilig ausgeführt, um ein Nachpacken zu ermöglichen. Die Packung kann aus Manschettendichtungen oder Packungsringen mit einem Druckölring bestehen. Das Nachstellen der Brille kann manuell, über elektrisch angetriebene Verstelleinrichtungen oder mittels hydraulisch bzw. pneumatisch betätigter Stellglieder erfolgen, wobei letztere über arretierbare Kipphebel und einen Druckring gleichmäßig auf die Packung einwirken.To seal this gap there is a stuffing box accessible from the interior of the joint. The stuffing box gland is made of several parts to enable repacking. The packing can consist of sleeve seals or packing rings with a pressure oil ring. The glasses can be readjusted manually, via electrically driven adjusting devices or by means of hydraulically or pneumatically actuated actuators, the latter acting uniformly on the pack via lockable rocker arms and a pressure ring.

Das Fußgelenk ist zum Schutz gegen die Einflüsse am Meeresboden und zur Gewährleistung seiner Beweglichkeit in seinem oberen Bereich von einer Tauchglocke umgeben, die als mehrteilige Kugelzone ausgebildet und am Kugelhals befestigt ist und in Verbindung mit dem Kragen des Deckelringes der Gelenkkapsel eine Wassersperre dadurch bildet, daß in dem Raum zwischen der Tauchglocke und dem Kragen ein Luftpolster mit einem der Wassertiefe entsprechenden Luftdruck aufrechterhalten wird. Der Bereich des Luftpolsters wird auf Eindringen von Wasser von in der Wand des Kragens des Deckelringes angeordneten Sonden kontrolliert und bei Bedarf eine Regulierung des Luftdruckes ausgelöst. Bei normalem Betriebszustand gelangt kein Wasser an die Spaltabdichtung zwischen der beweglichen Gelenkkugel und dem Deckelring. Die durch die Stopfbuchse in den Innenraum des Gelenks entweichende Luft dient der Belüftung des Raumes. Da das Volumen des Luftpolsters relativ klein ist, ist die Aufrechterhaltung des der Meerestiefe entsprechenden Druckes leicht möglich.To protect against the influences on the sea floor and to ensure its mobility, the ankle is surrounded in its upper area by a diving bell, which is designed as a multi-part spherical zone and is attached to the ball neck and in connection with the collar of the cover ring of the joint capsule forms a water barrier in that an air cushion with an air pressure corresponding to the water depth is maintained in the space between the diving bell and the collar. The area of the air cushion is checked for water penetration by probes arranged in the wall of the collar of the cover ring and, if necessary, regulation of the air pressure is triggered. In normal operating conditions, no water gets to the gap seal between the movable joint ball and the cover ring. The air escaping through the stuffing box into the interior of the joint serves to ventilate the room. Since the volume of the air cushion is relatively small, it is easy to maintain the pressure corresponding to the depth of the sea.

Zur Verankerung des Fußgelenks auf dem am Meeresboden vorhandenen Fundament ist vorgesehen, daß die Verbindungselemente zwischen Fundament und Fußplatte innerhalb der Gelenkkapsel angeordnet und mit Dichtungseinrichtungen versehen sind.For anchoring the ankle on the foundation present on the seabed, it is provided that the connecting elements between the foundation and the base plate are arranged within the joint capsule and are provided with sealing devices.

Die vorteilhafte Herstellung des beschriebenen Fußgelenks besteht darin, daß nur eine Außenfläche der Gelenkkugel bearbeitet, plattiert und geschliffen werden muß, der zylindrische Kapselmantel einfacher im Aufbau ist und der Deckelring nur eine Bearbeitung des Flansches und des Stopfbuchsensitzes erfordert.The advantageous manufacture of the ankle described is that only one outer surface of the joint ball has to be machined, plated and ground, the cylindrical capsule shell is simpler in construction and the cover ring only requires machining of the flange and the stuffing box seat.

Zur Ausgestaltung des Fußgelenks wird vorgeschlagen, daß in den zylindrischen Kapselmantel nach außen gerichtete Nebenkammern eingesetzt sind, die beidseitig druckdichte, über Hydrauliksysteme betätigbare Verschlußeinrichtichtungen aufweisen und über ein Pump- und Druckluftsystem lenz- und flutbar sind.For the design of the ankle, it is proposed that outward-facing secondary chambers are used in the cylindrical capsule shell, which have pressure-tight closure devices that can be actuated by hydraulic systems on both sides and can be drained and flooded via a pump and compressed air system.

In den Nebenkammern sind Seilwinden angeordnet, die zur Unterstützung des Absenkmanövers des Turmes auf das Funda- ment dienen. Vorzugsweise werden mindestens drei Nebenkammern mit Seilwinden ausgerüstet. Für die Sicherheit des Wartungspersonals ist in mindestens einer Nebenkammer ein Tauchretter stationiert. In weiterer Ausgestaltung des Fußgelenks ist vorgesehen, daß die Nebenkammern mit Anschlußeinrichtungen für die Anordnung weiterer Satellitenkammern ausgerüstet sind.In the secondary chambers winches are arranged, which serve to support the management unda- Absenkmanövers of the tower to the F. At least three secondary chambers are preferably equipped with cable winches. A T rescuer is stationed in at least one secondary chamber for the safety of the maintenance personnel. In a further embodiment of the ankle it is provided that the secondary chambers are equipped with connection devices for the arrangement of further satellite chambers.

Die Erfindung ist in der Zeichnung schematisch dargestellt und nachfolgend näher beschrieben.The invention is shown schematically in the drawing and described in more detail below.

Es zeigen:

  • Figur 1: Einen Schnitt durch das Kugelgelenk,
  • Figur 2: einen Schnitt durch ein Stützlager in größerem Maßstab,
  • Figur 3: die Befestigung der Gelenkkapsel am Fundament,
  • Figur 4: einen Teilschnitt durch das Kugelgelenk mit eingesetzter Nebenkammer und
  • Figur 5: den Anschluß einer Satellitenkammer an eine Nebenkammer.
Show it:
  • FIG. 1: a section through the ball joint,
  • FIG. 2: a section through a support bearing on a larger scale,
  • FIG. 3: the attachment of the joint capsule to the foundation,
  • Figure 4: a partial section through the ball joint with inserted secondary chamber and
  • Figure 5: the connection of a satellite chamber to a secondary chamber.

Zwischen dem Versorgungsturm 1 und dem Fundament 2 ist das Kugelgelenk 3 angeordnet, das eine allseitige Verschwenkbarkeit des Turmes ermöglicht. Das Gelenkteil 4, welches als Gelenkkugel ausgebildet ist, ist einerseits über den Kugelhals 5 fest mit dem Fuß des Turmes 1 verbunden und andererseits in der auf dem Fundament 2 verankerten Gelenkkapsl 6 beweglich gelagert. Die Verbindung des Gelenkteils 4 mit der Gelenkkapsel 6 erfolgt mittels des um den Mittelpunkt des Kugelgelenks 3 allseitig beweglichen Zuggliedes 7, welches auf der einen Seite im Fuß des Versorgungsturms 1 fest eingespannt und gegenüberliegend über die Gelenkkapsel 6 im Fundament verankert ist. Das Zugglied 7 kann in seiner Längsrichtung verstellbar sein. Die Gelenkkugel des Gelenkteils 4 weist oben und unten öffnungen auf, durch die außer der Zugstange 7 die Versorgungsleitungen sowie Erdölförderleitungen geführt werden können und die eine Begehbarkeit der Gelenkkapsel 6 ermöglichen. Die Gelenkkapsel 6 besteht aus dem zylindrischen Kapselmantel 8, der Fußplatte 9, einer Anzahl auf Konsolen 10 bzw. 10 a angeordneter Stützlager 11 und einem Deckelring 12 bzw. 12 a sowie einem als Kugelzone ausgebildeten Kragen 13. Gemäß Figur 1 sind die Konsolen 10 am inneren Durchmesser des Kapselmantels 8 befestigt und der Deckelring 12 mit dem Kragen 13 in einer Baueinheit vereinigt. Bei einem größeren Durchmesser des Kapselmantels 8 gemäß Figur 4 können die Konsolen 10 a auf der Fußplatte 9 angeordnet und der Deckelring 12 a in gewölbter Form ausgeführt sein. Figur 2 zeigt den Aufbau der unterhalb der horizontalen Mittelachse des Kugelgelenk auf einem kleineren Durchmesser gleichmäßig verteilten Stützlager 11, die sich zusammensetzen aus dem Lagerfuß 14 mit einer Kugelpfanne 15, einem Hydraulikzylinder 16 mit beiderseits balligen Endstücken 17 und der Lagerschale 18, deren Gleitfläche der Oberfläche der Gelenkkugel 4 angepaßt ist und deren dem Hydraulikzylinder 16 zugewandte Seite eine Kugelpfanne 15 aufweist. Diese Stützlager zeichnen sich aus durch eine optimale Anpassungsfähigkeit an die Bewegungen der Gelenkkugel 4. Zur Abdichtung zwischen der auf dem Fundament verankerten Gelenkkapsel 6 und der mit dem Turm 1 verbundenen Gelenkkugel 4 ist in der horizontalen Mittelachse des Kugelgelenks 3 eine Stopfbuchse 19 vorgesehen, die sich auf dem Deckelring 12 bzw. dem Kragen 13 abstützt. Eine das Kugelgelenk 3 in seinem oberen Bereich umgebende am Kugelhals 5 befestigte Tauchglocke 20 dient dem Schutz gegen die Einflüsse am Meeresboden. Figur 3 zeigt die Verankerung der Gelenkkapsel 6 auf dem Funda- ment 2. Die Verbindungselemente 21 zwischen Fundament und Fußplatte 9 sind innerhalb der Gelenkkapsel 6 angeordnet und mit Dichtungseinrichtungen 22 versehen. Es ist auch möglich, die Verbindungselemente als hydraulisch oder pneumatisch betätigte Verriegelungseinrichtungen auszubilden. In weiterer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung sind am Umfang des Kapselmantels 8 mehrere Nebenkammern 23 angeordnet, die nach innen und außen mit druckdichten Verschlußeinrichtungen 24 versehen sind, welche über Hydrauliksysteme 25 betätigt werden. In mindestens drei Nebenkammern 23 installierte Seilwinden vereinfachen das Absenkmanöver des Turmes und die Befestigung des Kugelgelenks 3 auf dem Fundament 2. Weiterhin können die Nebenkammern 23 Anschlußeinrichtungen 26 für die Anordnung weiterer Satellitenkammern 27 aufweisen, die als Vorratsbehälter oder dergleichen eingesetzt werden können.Between the supply tower 1 and the foundation 2, the ball joint 3 is arranged, which enables the tower to be pivoted on all sides. The joint part 4, which is designed as a joint ball, is firmly connected on the one hand via the ball neck 5 to the foot of the tower 1 and others on the one hand in the articulated capsule 6 anchored on the foundation 2. The connection of the hinge portion 4 with the G elenkkapsel 6 by means of the about the center of the ball joint universally movable 3 the tension member 7, which is firmly clamped on one side in the foot of the supply tower 1 and opposite anchored by the joint capsule 6 in the foundation. The tension member 7 can be adjustable in its longitudinal direction. The joint ball of the joint part 4 has openings at the top and bottom through which the supply lines and oil production lines can be guided in addition to the pull rod 7 and which enable the joint capsule 6 to be walked on. The joint capsule 6 consists of the cylindrical capsule shell 8, the base plate 9, a number of support bearings 11 arranged on brackets 10 or 10 a and a cover ring 12 or 12 a as well as a collar 13 designed as a spherical zone. According to FIG. 1, the brackets 10 are on attached inner diameter of the capsule shell 8 and the cover ring 12 combined with the collar 13 in one unit. With a larger diameter of the capsule shell 8 according to FIG. 4, the brackets 10 a can be arranged on the base plate 9 and the cover ring 12 a can be designed in a curved shape. Figure 2 shows the structure of the support bearing 11, which is uniformly distributed below the horizontal central axis of the ball joint on a smaller diameter and is composed of the bearing base 14 with a ball socket 15, a hydraulic cylinder 16 with crowned end pieces 17 and the bearing shell 18, the sliding surface of which the joint ball 4 is adapted and the side facing the hydraulic cylinder 16 has a ball socket 15. These support bearings are characterized by optimum adaptability to the movements of the joint ball 4. For sealing between the joint capsule 6 anchored on the foundation and the one with the Tower 1 connected joint ball 4, a stuffing box 19 is provided in the horizontal central axis of the ball joint 3, which is supported on the cover ring 12 or the collar 13. A diving bell 20, which is attached to the ball neck 5 and surrounds the ball joint 3 in its upper region, serves to protect against the influences on the sea floor. Figure 3 shows the anchoring of the joint capsule 6 on the F unda- element 2. The connecting elements 21 between the foundation and the foot plate 9 are arranged within the joint capsule 6 and provided with sealing means 22nd It is also possible to design the connecting elements as hydraulically or pneumatically actuated locking devices. In a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of secondary chambers 23 are arranged on the circumference of the capsule shell 8, which are provided on the inside and outside with pressure-tight closure devices 24 which are actuated via hydraulic systems 25. Cable winches installed in at least three secondary chambers 23 simplify the lowering maneuver of the tower and the fastening of the ball joint 3 on the foundation 2. Furthermore, the secondary chambers 23 can have connection devices 26 for the arrangement of further satellite chambers 27, which can be used as storage containers or the like.

Claims (14)

1. Fußgelenk zur Verbindung eines beweglichen Versorgungsturmes einer Off-Shore-Anlage mit einem im/am Meeresboden verankerten, als Fundament ausgebildeten Bauteil unter Verwendung eines zwischen dem Fuß des Versorgungsturmes und dem Fundament angeordneten allseitig schwenkbaren, gegen Wassereintritt abgedichteten Kugelgelenks, bei dem das im/am Fuß des Turmes befestigte Gelenkteil mit dem anderen, auf dem Fundament fest verankerten Gelenkteil mittels eines um den Mittelpunkt des Kugelgelenks allseitig-beweglichen Zuggliedes zusammengehalten ist, sowie einer das Fußgelenk teilweise umfassenden Tauchglocke, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das im/am Fuß des Turmes befestigte Gelenkteil (4) des Kugelgelenks (3) in einer Gelenkkapsel (6) gelagert ist, die als zylindrischer Kapselmantel (8) mit einer mit dem Fundament (2) fest verbundenen Fußplatte (9) ausgeführt ist, und innerhalb der Gelenkkapsel (6) mehrere Stützlager (11) angeordnet sind, auf denen das über den Kugelhals (5) mit dem Turm (1) verbundene, als Gelenkkugel ausgebildete Gelenkteil (4) gleitet, und auf dem Kapselmantel (8) ein Deckelring (12, 12 a) mit als Kugelzone ausgebildetem Kragen (13) angeordnet ist, der das Kugelgelenk (3) bis auf einen Restspalt verschließt, der vom Innern der Gelenkkapsel her mit einer Stopfbuchse (19) abgedichtet ist.1. F ußgelenk for connecting a movable supply tower of an off-shore installation with an anchored in / on the sea bottom, formed as a base component using a between the foot of the supply tower and the foundation is arranged on all sides pivotable sealed against water ingress ball joint, in which the in / on the foot of the tower, the articulated part is held together with the other articulated part, firmly anchored on the foundation, by means of a tension member which is movable all around the center of the ball joint, and a diving bell which partially surrounds the ankle, characterized in that the in / on the foot of Tower-mounted joint part (4) of the ball joint (3) is mounted in a joint capsule (6), which is designed as a cylindrical capsule shell (8) with a footplate (9) firmly connected to the foundation (2), and inside the joint capsule (6 ) several support bearings (11) are arranged, on which the ball neck (5) with the tower ( 1) connected, designed as a joint ball joint part (4) slides, and on the capsule shell (8) a cover ring (12, 12 a) is arranged with a collar (13) designed as a spherical zone, which closes the ball joint (3) except for a residual gap , which is sealed from the inside of the joint capsule with a stuffing box (19). 2. Fußgelenk nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Stützlager (11) in gleichen Abständen auf. dem Umfang eines Kreises, dessen Durchmesser kleiner als der Äquator der Gelenkkugel (4) ist, auf Konsolen (10, 10 a) am zylindrischen Kapselmantel (8) bzw. auf der Fußplatte (9) auswechselbar angeordnet sind.2. Ankle according to claim 1, characterized in that the support bearing (11) at equal intervals. the circumference of a circle, the diameter of which is smaller than the equator of the joint ball (4), on brackets (10, 10 a) on the cylinder Drische capsule casing (8) or on the base plate (9) are arranged interchangeably. 3. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes Stützlager (11) besteht aus dem Lagerfuß (14), aus einer der Oberfläche der Gelenkkugel (4) angepaßten Lagerschale (18) und einem zwischen Lagerfuß und Lagerschale angeordneten Hydraulikzylinder (16), der mittels balliger Endstücke (17) in Kugelpfannen (15) des Lagerfußes und der Lagerschale gelagert ist.3. Ankle according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each support bearing (11) consists of the bearing foot (14), one of the surface of the joint ball (4) adapted bearing shell (18) and a hydraulic cylinder (16 ), which is mounted by means of spherical end pieces (17) in ball sockets (15) of the bearing foot and the bearing shell. 4. Fußgelenk nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Hydraulikzylinder (16) aller Stützlager (11) untereinander kommunizierend verbunden sind.4. Ankle according to claim 3, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinders (16) of all support bearings (11) are communicatively interconnected. 5. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Lagerschalen (18) der Stützlager (11) von einer zentralen Druckschmiereinrichtung mit Schmiermittel versorgt werden.5. F ußgelenk according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bearing shells (18) are supplied to the support bearing (11) from a central pressurized lubricating means with lubricant. 6. Fußgelenk nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Tauchglocke (20) als mehrteilige Kugelzone ausgebildet und am Kugelhals (5) befestigt ist und in Verbindung mit dem Kragen (13) des Deckelringes (12, 12 a) der Gelenkkapsel (6) eine Wassersperre dadurch bildet, daß in dem Raum zwischen der Tauchglocke und dem Kragen ein der Wassertiefe entsprechender Luftdruck aufrechterhalten wird.6. Ankle according to claim 1, characterized in that the diving bell (20) is designed as a multi-part spherical zone and is attached to the ball neck (5) and in connection with the collar (13) of the cover ring (12, 12 a) of the joint capsule (6) forms a water barrier in that an air pressure corresponding to the water depth is maintained in the space between the diving bell and the collar. 7. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verbindungselemente (21) zwischen Fundament (2) und Fußplatte (9) innerhalb der Gelenkkapsel (6) angeordnet und mit Dichtungseinrichtungen (22) versehen sind.7. Ankle according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting elements (21) between the foundation (2) and foot plate (9) are arranged inside the joint capsule (6) and are provided with sealing devices (22). 8. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß in den zylindrischen Kapselmantel (8) der Gelenkkapsel (6) nach außen gerichtete Nebenkammern (23) eingesetzt sind.8. F ußgelenk according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the cylindrical capsule shell (8) of the capsule (6) are inserted outwardly directed secondary chambers (23). 9. Fußgelenk nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Nebenkammern (23) beidseitig druckdichte, über Hydrauliksysteme betätigbare Verschlußeinrichtungen (24) aufweisen.9. Ankle according to claim 8, characterized in that the secondary chambers (23) have pressure-tight closure devices (24) which can be actuated via hydraulic systems on both sides. 10. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 8 und 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Nebenkammern (23) über ein Pump- und Druckluftsystem lenz- und flutbar sind.10. Ankle according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the secondary chambers (23) can be drained and flooded via a pump and compressed air system. 11. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 8 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mehrere, vorzugsweise drei Nebenkammern (23) mit Seilwinden ausgerüstet sind.11. Ankle according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that several, preferably three secondary chambers (23) are equipped with winches. 12. Fußgelenk nach Ansprüchen 8 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß in mindestens einer Nebenkammer (23) ein Tauchretter stationiert ist.12. Ankle according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that a diving rescuer is stationed in at least one secondary chamber (23). 13. Fußgelenk nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Nebenkammern (23) mit Anschlußeinrichtungen (26) für die Anordnung weiterer Satellitenkammern (27) ausgerüstet sind.13. Ankle according to claim 8, characterized in that the secondary chambers (23) are equipped with connection devices (26) for the arrangement of further satellite chambers (27). 14. Fußgelenk nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Stopfbuchse (19) nachstell- und nachstopfbar ist und die Nachstellung über elektrisch oder pneumatisch oder hydraulisch angetriebe Stellglieder erfolgt.14. Ankle according to claim 1, characterized in that the stuffing box (19) can be adjusted and re-stuffed and the adjustment is carried out via electrically or pneumatically or hydraulically driven actuators.
EP82105561A 1981-08-19 1982-06-24 Hinge joint for connecting a movable support structure of an offshore platform to a foundation Expired EP0072898B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3132711 1981-08-19
DE3132711A DE3132711C1 (en) 1981-08-19 1981-08-19 Ankle joint for connecting a movable supply tower of an offshore system to a foundation

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EP0072898A1 true EP0072898A1 (en) 1983-03-02
EP0072898B1 EP0072898B1 (en) 1985-02-13

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US (1) US4432668A (en)
EP (1) EP0072898B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5841185A (en)
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NO (1) NO822806L (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4432668A (en) 1984-02-21
NO822806L (en) 1983-02-21
DE3262320D1 (en) 1985-03-28
JPS5841185A (en) 1983-03-10
DE3132711C1 (en) 1982-12-16
EP0072898B1 (en) 1985-02-13

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