FR2489393A1 - FIXING DEVICE FOR PILOTS OF A PLATFORM MOUNTED ON JACKS, COMPRISING A RACK IN PLUG WITH A DRIVE GEAR MOUNTED ON THE PLATFORM - Google Patents

Abstract

FIXING DEVICE FOR PLATFORM PILLARS MOUNTED ON JACKS, INCLUDING A RACK IN ENGAGED WITH A DRIVE PINION MOUNTED ON THE PLATFORM. THIS DEVICE IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT INCLUDES A SERIES OF FIXING PARTS 29, 30 ENGAGED IN THE GROOVES OF THE CORRESPONDING RACK, A SUPPORT BODY 16 MOUNTED FIXED ON THE PLATFORM AND CARRYING THESE FIXING PARTS 29, 30 SO AS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AND REMOVE THEM SEPARATELY FROM THE CORRESPONDING RACK 6; AND LOCKING MEANS 24, 25 PROVIDED SEPARATELY FOR EACH OF THE SAID FIXING PARTS AND INTENDED TO REMOVE LOCKING EACH FIXING PART IN TAKEN WITH THE GROOVE OF THE CORRESPONDING RACK. VERTICALLY MOVABLE PLATFORM, ESPECIALLY FOR SEA DRILLING.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for fixing pillars

  for platform mounted on cylinders having pillars for carrying and moving vertically, device whereby each of the pillars can be fixed firmly to said platform, and it is more specifically a device for a mounted platform on racks of the rack and pinion type having on each of its pillars a rack up and down, this device having the role of firmly fixing each rack to said

  platform, in any high or low position.

  In the platforms mounted on jacks of rack-and-pinion type, a pinion mounted on the platform and engaged with the rack carried by the corresponding pillar moves the pillar in its longitudinal direction relative to the flat -form. Each pillar is provided with a guiding member which guides it and carries it and it can have a certain displacement relative to this guiding member, while, for its part, the pinion can have a certain displacement relative to the rack. , the assembly being such that the parts can move smoothly. Because of its size, which is generally very large, the

  platform requires that these trips be very important.

  As a result, between each pillar and the platform, a

  which has the unfortunate consequence that the weight of the platform

  shape and bending moment acting on a pillar can not be satisfactorily supported by this pillar in the form of a longitudinal load. In order to remedy this drawback, a small, associated rack with a series of teeth situated opposite those of the rack of the pillar is placed on the platform so as to be able to engage with the latter. Each pillar is thus fixed firmly by the two racks in engagement with each other. However, if the pitch of the teeth of one of the racks has irregularities, it may be that only one or two pairs of opposing teeth are properly engaged with each other, the other teeth being not very well applied on each other, with the result that only the teeth that are well supported bear the whole load and may therefore deform or be damaged due to the excessive force imposed on them. In addition, since the irregularities of pitch of the rack of the pillar vary from one part to another, it is impossible to match these irregularities to those of the associated rack. It is therefore not possible to remedy the drawbacks that have just been mentioned with the help of fixing devices of the type

described above.

  The invention essentially relates to a fixing device comprising parts mounted on the platform and which can come to engage properly in a number of teeth of a rack fixed on a pillar, even when the pitch of the teeth of this rack has irregularities, so as to completely eliminate the clearance between the pillar and the platform, so that the weight of the latter and the bending moment of this pillar can be satisfactorily supported by this pillar in the form

a longitudinal load.

  More specifically, the subject of the invention is a rigging device for a platform mounted on cylinders comprising pillars to each of which is fixed a rack, characterized in that it comprises a series of fasteners engaged in the grooves of the corresponding rack, a support body fixedly mounted on the platform and carrying these fasteners so as to bring them closer and separate them from the corresponding rack, and locking means provided separately for each of said fasteners and adapted to releasably lock each fastener

  in engagement with the groove of the corresponding rack.

  Because the fasteners of the device according to the invention can separately move closer to the rack to engage with it and disengage from it, it is possible to compensate for irregularities in the pitch of the teeth of this rack by arranging them properly. various fasteners relative to this rack, so that these fasteners can come into proper engagement

  with this rack and ensure the desired result.

  As a preferred embodiment of the locking means, there may be mentioned a wedge-shaped piece interposed between the end of the fastener farthest from the rack and the support body. Another advantageous embodiment consists of a threaded rod which starts from said end of the fastener and a threaded protrusion carried by this support body so as to be able to turn and into which said screw is screwed.

threaded shaft.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the support body is held so as to be able to move vertically by a guide member fixed to the platform and this body is provided with means for locking it to any desired position, whereby it is possible to precisely adjust the position of the fasteners relative to the relevant portion of the rack, so that, regardless of the portion of the rack that is in play after one has raises or lowers the pillar relative to the platform, the various fasteners suitably engage

with this rack.

  Suitable means for locking the support body include, for example, wedge-shaped parts interposed between the stationary member of the platform and the opposite ends of the support body in the direction of its displacement, or cylinders, for example screw jacks or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders having a locking function, arranged in the same way as these

wedge shaped pieces.

  Advantageously, the support body has openings for checking whether the fasteners are in engagement with the rack. Inspection through these openings allows the support body to be properly positioned for phase adjustment and to verify that

fixation are well engaged.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which will follow, made

  appended drawings and giving, by way of explanation but not limitation, two embodiments. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a platform mounted on cylinders; Figure 2 shows this same platform in front view; Figures 3 to 12 show a first embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention; 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a fixed frame in which is

housed a support body.

  Figure 4 shows the same frame in front view; Figure 5 is a plan view, partly in cross section, of the frame of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the support body provided with fasteners; Figure 7 is a plan view and partly in section, corresponding to Figure 6; Figure 8 is a front view corresponding to Figure 6; Figure 9 is a rear view corresponding to Figure 6; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a wedge-shaped piece engageable with the upper end or lower end of the support body; Figure 11 is a front view corresponding to Figure 10; Figure 12 is a plan view of the fastener; Figures 13 to 16 show a second embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention; more specifically, Figure 13 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a support body in which fasteners are housed; Figure 14 is a plan view, partly in section, of the support body with its guide members; Figure 15 is a front view corresponding to Figure 13; and Figure 16 is a side view, in elevation, showing the fastener according to the invention a

once installed.

  As an example of a platform mounted on cylinders, will be briefly described below, with reference to FIGS.

2, a drilling rig.

  A platform 1 is provided with a series of pillars 2 which pass through it and which can move in the direction of their length. The pillars 2 are lowered so that their lower end rests at the bottom of the sea, and the platform 1 is maintained by these pillars at the appropriate distance above the sea level S so as not to be subject to to the influence of the waves. The operations of the drilling rig are performed from this platform 1 occupying this position. Each of the pilers 2 intended to support the platform 1 comprises for example groups arranged one above the other of three parallel uprights 3 connected to each other and reinforced with spacers 4 and braces 5. Each of these uprights 3 is provided on its outermost faces with racks 6 arranged in the direction of its length. On the platform 1 are installed two pinions 7, one gear for each of the racks 6 used to raise and lower the pillar 2 corresponding. The platform 1 also comprises guide members (not shown) for guiding the pillars 2 in their vertical movement. This platform is carried by the pillars 2 because the pinions 7 are engaged with the racks 6 and can be moved along these pillars. To eliminate the clearance between the platform and the pillars 2, this platform is provided with fastening devices which engage the rack 6 of

  way to block these racks on this platform.

  If we consider Figures 3 to 12 showing a first embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention, we see that on the platform 1 is mounted a fixed frame 8 facing the rack 6 of the pillar 2, this frame containing fasteners that can engage in the rack. As indicated in FIGS. 3 to 5, this frame 8 is constituted by two side walls 9a, 9b having approximately the shape of an I, an upper wall 10 and a lower wall 11, this frame having the shape dl- a rectangular ring seen from the front, that is to say the side of the rack. The upper wall 10 and the lower wall 11 each comprise, in the middle of their end adjacent to the rack 6, a notch 12 for the passage of this rack. Each of the side walls 9a, 9b has, on its inner face, a vertical projection 13 and a strip 14 parallel to this projection and fixed to the corresponding wall by means of bolts so as to form a sliding groove 15 delimited by this protrusion 13 and by this

band 14.

  As can be seen from Figures 6 to 9, the support body 16 which fits in the fixed frame 8 has projections 17 for penetrating the sliding grooves and can slide along them. This support body 16 comprises two side walls 18a, 18b, an upper wall 19 and a bottom wall 20 and, like the frame 8, it is in the form of a rectangular ring when seen from the front. This upper wall 19 and this lower wall 20 each comprise, in the middle of their end facing the rack 6, that is to say the front end (as above), a notch 21 for the passage of this rack. The upper wall 19 has, on each of the faces of its front half, a chamfered projection 22 which descends from the rack 6, that is to say which is directed towards its rear end (as above). In the same way, the lower wall 20 has, on each side of its front half, a chamfered projection 23 turned upwards towards its rear end. Corner-mounted raising and lowering members 24 and 25 are interposed respectively between the upper wall 19 of the support body 16 and the upper wall 10 of the frame 8, and between the lower wall 20 of this support body and the wall. 11 of the frame 8. As seen from Figures 6, 10 and 11, each of these wedge-shaped members 24, 25 has two chamfered heads 26 intended to bear against the chamfered surfaces of the two projections 22 and 23. The upper corner 24 and the lower corner 25 each comprise, on their opposite lateral edges, projections 28 intended to engage in sliding grooves 27 formed in the inner faces of the side walls 9a, 9b of the frame. 8 and oriented from front to back, and these corners 24 and 25 can slide in these

grooves.

  Two fixing pieces 29 and 30 are arranged, one above the other, inside the support body 16. These fasteners each have a chamfered head which fits into a groove 6a of the rack 6 and they have on their opposite sides, projections 31 which can slide in sliding grooves 32 formed in the inner faces of the side walls 18a, 18b of the support body 16, these grooves being oriented from the front of the body rearwardly, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 12. In the rear half of each of the side walls 18a and 18b of the support body 16 are formed apertures 35 for the passage of wedge-shaped pieces 33 for come to bear against the rear ends of the fasteners 29 and 30. These wedge-shaped pieces 33 have a chamfered rear face 33a. A guide portion 36 of each corner having a chamfered face 36a intended to be applied against the chamfered face 33a is carried by radial arms 37, at the rear end of the support body 16. Each guide portion 36 is pierced a hole 38 for the passage of a handle rod for advancing or retracting the corresponding fastener (29 or 30). Each fastener comprises, at its rear end, a tapped hole 39 in which the front end of the handle rod can be removably screwed. The side walls 18a and 18b of the support body 16 comprise openings 40 which make it possible to check whether the fastening parts 29 and 30 are in engagement with the rack 6. The operation of this first embodiment of the fastening device according to FIG. The invention is as follows: The pillar 2 is raised or lowered, the fasteners 29 and 30 being retracted into a rear part of the support body 16. After the position of the platform 1 has been adjusted to desired level by raising or lowering each of the pillars 2, engaging the fasteners 29 and

  in the rack 6, as will be explained below.

  after. The support body 16, which can move vertically along the frame 8, can be adjusted to the proper position by varying the depression of the rising and falling corners 24 and 25, so that the the fasteners 29 and 30 can be placed in conformity with the phase of the grooves 6a of the rack 6. It is possible to fasten the support body 16 once it has been put in place.

  frame 8 by introducing the pieces 29 and 30 wedge-shaped.

  Then the handle rod is screwed into the threaded hole 39 of each of the fasteners 29 and 30, and these fasteners are thus strongly fixed against the portion 6a of the groove of the rack opposite which they are. The handle rod is then removed. The wedge-shaped pieces 33 are force-fitted into the openings 35 of the support body 16, so as to block the fasteners 29 and 30. Since the fixing pieces 29 and 30 can be moved forward and 30 independently of each other, these parts can be properly engaged in the rack despite the irregularities of the pitch of the teeth of this rack. Through the openings 40 it is possible, from the outside, to inspect the phase of the rack 6 and to check whether the fasteners 29 and 30 are in contact with

this rack.

  In this way, it is possible to block the rack, and therefore the pillar. Because the fasteners 29 and 30 fit exactly into the grooves 6a of the rack 6 and are secured thereto by the wedge-shaped parts 33, the load acting between the platform and the pillar can be supported properly. More precisely, the weight of the platform 1 and the bending moment acting on the pillar 2 can be satisfactorily supported by this pillar in the form of a longitudinal load. Longitudinal components directed upwards and downwards respectively

also be supported.

  A second embodiment of the device according to the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16, in which the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals. This second embodiment comprises a support body 41, consisting of a support 43 and a housing 44 for threaded protuberances 52, this housing 44 being removably attached by opposite side edges 45 to the rear face of the support. 43 by means of bolts 46. Six fasteners 42 arranged parallel to each other along the rack 6 are slidably guided by the support.

  43, to get closer or move away from this rack.

  This support 43 is in one piece and it has, in the center of its front face, a vertical slot 47 in the form of a groove for the passage of the rack 6. Six holes 48, of rectangular section, for the passage of the pieces of fixing 42, pass through the support 43 from its front face to its rear face and these holes are arranged parallel to each other along the rack 6, with a spacing equal to the pitch of the teeth of this rack. The opposite lateral faces which delimit each hole 48 comprise sliding grooves 49 in which slide projections 50 disposed on either side of the corresponding attachment piece 42. This fastener comprises, at its front end, a chamfered head which engages in the groove 6a of the rack 6 and which is provided with a threaded rod 51 from its rear end. The various threaded rods 51 of the fasteners 42 are screwed into threaded protuberances 52 which are rotatably held in the housing 44. These protuberances 52, which are hollow cylinders, fit into blind cylindrical holes 53 formed in the housing 44. A retaining member 54, locked between the support 43 and the housing 44, has an inner peripheral portion which is in contact with the front end of the threaded protuberance 52. A rotating handle rod 55 which extends from the rear end of the threaded protuberance 52, protrudes behind the housing 44, by a

  hole 56 drilled in the bottom wall of the hole 53 of the housing 44.

  The support body 41 of this embodiment of the device according to the invention is maintained, in its vertical displacements, by front guide brackets 57 which are engaged in the front angles of the support 43 and by rear guide consoles 58, which are applied against the flanges 45 of the housing 44 and against the opposite faces of the rear end of the support 43. These various consoles are fixed to the platform 1. It is possible to adjust, in the vertical direction, the position of the body of support 41 with jacks 59 attached to the platform 1 and which rest against the upper end and against the lower end of the support body. These jacks 59 must provide a locking effect, so that it is appropriate to use screw jacks or

  hydraulic cylinders having locking means.

  Figure 16 shows securing devices of the second type, installed on the platform 1. A housing 60 installed on this platform contains a set of jacks 61 of rack and pinion type, in engagement with racks 6 of a pillar 2 to train the latter. Inside the platform 1 and below this housing 60 is a chamber 62 in which are housed the fasteners. Each support body 41 is carried, in its vertical displacements, by guide brackets 57 and 58 attached to the side walls of the chamber 62 and is held in place by means of jacks 59 fixed to the wall

  upper and lower wall of this chamber.

  In this second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the fastening pieces 42 are moved closer to and away from the rack 6 by rotating the handle rods 55. Each fastening piece 42 is locked on the corresponding rack 6 by a self-locking device. -blocking the threaded rod 51 in the threaded protrusion 52. In this way, the same means serves to move the fastener 42 and withstand the horizontal reaction that acts on the piece 42. The provision that the support body 41 is formed of two separable parts, namely the support 43 and the housing 44 fixed to this support with bolts, facilitates the inspection and replacement of the fasteners 42 and threaded protrusions 52. Because the support body 41, in its vertical displacements, is held by the guide brackets 57 and 58, the horizontal reaction and the rotational torque acting on the support body 41 are transmitted by these consoles to the platform 1 which, in this way, supports this load. The upward or downward vertical reaction acting on the support body 41 is transmitted to the platform 1 by the cylinder 59. In addition, since this support body is held in an adjustable vertical position by means of the cylinders 59 of so as to properly place the fasteners 42 of the rack 6, each of the pillars is blocked under the best conditions. For example, it is possible to adjust the position of the support body 41 in such a way that, when the platform is to be supported after being lifted by the jacks, the lower faces of the heads of the fasteners are applied against the upper faces of the teeth of the racks, or that, when the pillar is to be supported for towing, the upper faces of the fixing heads are applied against the lower faces of the teeth of the racks. If you install a load detector on the cylinder, you can know the load acting on

the corresponding pillar 2.

  In each of the two embodiments of the device according to the invention, the heads of the fasteners 29, 30 and 42 should have the same shape as the teeth of the racks, with their ends notched so as to form chamfered short heads. , so that, when the fastener-is pressed against the corresponding rack with its upper and lower faces chamfered in contact with the teeth of the rack, the chamfered end of the fastener is released from the bottom of the groove of the rack. In addition, hydraulic or pneumatic electrical drive members may be used to engage the wedge-shaped raising and lowering members 24, 25, the fasteners 29, 30 and the wedge members 33 in place. of the first embodiment, or to rotate the handle rods 55 of the second embodiment. Under these conditions, the fasteners can be brought to

  tooth contact of the racks under uniform pressure.

  The fixing device according to the invention can advantageously be used in petroleum installations

  or other platforms mounted on cylinders.

Claims (10)

  1. Device for fixing pillars for platform   form mounted on cylinders provided with pillars which pass through it, each of these pillars carrying a rack engaged with a drive pinion mounted on said platform, characterized in that it comprises a series of fasteners (29, 30) engaged in the grooves of the corresponding rack, a support body (16) fixedly mounted on the platform (1) and carrying these fasteners (29, 30) so as to bring them closer and away separately from the corresponding rack (6), and locking means provided separately for each of said fasteners and adapted to removably lock each fastener part engaged with the groove of the corresponding rack.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said locking means is constituted by a piece (24, 25) wedge disposed between the end of the fixing piece (29, 30) farthest the rack (6) and the part of the rack 6 and the part of the support body (16) opposite to said end. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said locking means is constituted by a threaded rod (51) which starts from the end of the fastener (42) farthest from the rack (6). and by a threaded protrusion (52) carried by the support body (41) so as to be rotatable and   in which is screwed said threaded rod (51).   4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support body (16) is carried so as to be able to move along the rack (6) by a guide member fixed to the platform (1) and it includes means for locking it in any position desired.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said guide member is constituted by a frame (8) inside which is housed said support body 16. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said means for locking the support body comprise a wedge-shaped piece (24, 25) interposed between each of the two opposite ends of the support body (16) in the direction of displacement and the inner surface of the frame 8 opposite the end of this support body.   7. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said means for locking the support body consist of a jack (59) mounted on the platform 1 and ensuring contact with each of the opposite ends   of this support body (41) in the direction of its displacement.   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized   in that said jack is a screw jack.   9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder having for role of ensuring a lock.   10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support body has openings which make it possible to check whether the fasteners (29, 30)   are well engaged with the rack (6).