NL2016307B1

NL2016307B1 - Mooring line connector.

Info

Publication number: NL2016307B1
Application number: NL2016307A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Sehic Jasmin
Original assignee: Moorlink Solutions Ab
Priority date: 2016-02-24
Filing date: 2016-02-24
Publication date: 2017-09-11
Also published as: WO2017144510A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mooring line connector for joining the meeting end eyes of two mooring lines, wherein the mooring line connector comprises two steel connecting plates that extend parallel and spaced apart from each other to receive the end eyes there between, and two cylindrical insert pins that are inserted in insert holes in the connecting plates in an insert direction and that extend through the end eyes, wherein at least one of the insert pins comprises two slots that from recesses in the outer surface of the insert pin, wherein the insert holes each define an edge in the connecting plates that is received in the slot by shifting the insert pin transverse to the insert direction, wherein the shifted position of the insert pin is locked by a locking body that is inserted in the remaining space in the insert hole.

Description

Mooring line connector BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a mooring line connector.

At deep sea oil drilling and oil recovery the floating platforms used for these purposes have to be anchored. This is done by means of mooring lines being of substantial length. Normally these lines are too long be produced or handled in one length over all, thus have to be joint together during the installation offshore. The mooring lines are joint by means of a mooring line connector. A known mooring line connector is the so called H-link, wherein the mooring lines comprise an eye prepared around a bushing or other device for enlarging the diameter are connected to bars that are mounted to connecting plates, one on each side of the mooring line eyes. The bars are provided with threaded ends to which nuts are tightened. This is strong enough to withstand the high transverse forces that are exerted by the eyes onto the connecting plates when they are spread out due to the pulling forces that act onto the connected mooring lines.

The mooring line connector is subject to corrosion. The threaded ends of the bars are in particular susceptible for corrosion due to their particular corrugated shape. The corrosion of the threaded ends causes a relative early failure of the mooring line connector. The service time of the known mooring line connector is thereby limited. Moreover, when the mooring line connector needs to be released, the nuts will hardly come of the corroded threads .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mooring line connector with an alternative connection to the eyes of a mooring line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a mooring line connector for joining the meeting end eyes of two mooring lines, wherein the mooring line connector comprises two steel connecting plates that extend parallel and spaced apart from each other to receive the end eyes there between, and two steel cylindrical insert pins that are inserted in insert holes in the connecting plates in an insert direction and that extend through the end eyes, wherein at least one of the insert pins comprises two slots that from recesses in the outer surface of the insert pin, wherein the insert holes each define an edge in the connecting plates that is received in the slots by shifting the insert pin transverse to the insert direction, wherein the shifted position of the insert pin is locked by a locking body that is inserted in the remaining space in the insert hole.

The mooring line connector according to the invention comprises an insert pin that is secured after insertion by sideward shifting. The slots keep the connecting plates well positioned to each other, also when the end eyes exert high transverse forces against it due to the pulling forces that act onto the connected mooring lines. The slots of the insert pin and the edges of the connecting plates may have the same smooth surfaces as the remainder of these parts, making them less vulnerable for corrosion.

In an embodiment the slots extend over only a part of the circumference of the insert pin, whereby the inset pin remains its strength at the engagement of the connecting plates .

In an embodiment the edges that are received in the slots are located at the side of the insert hole that faces the mooring line that is connected by means of the inserted pin, whereby the pulling force acting on that mooring line maintains the engagement of the connecting plates .

In an alternative embodiment the edges that are received in the slot are located at the side of the insert hole that faces away from the mooring line that is connected by means of the inserted pin. When a pulling force acts on the mooring line, the end eye tend to spread out against the connecting plates. These transverse forces are then directly transferred to the connecting plates via the adjacent received edges.

In an embodiment the slots are elongate and extend transverse to the insert direction of the insert pin .

In an embodiment the edges in the connecting plates comprise a first edge section with a radius that allows insertion of the insert pin, wherein the first edge section merges into a second edge section with a smaller radius and that is received in the slot. The first edge section may form a smooth guidance to insert the insert pin.

In an embodiment the mooring line connector comprises an end cap against the end of the insert pin, wherein the locking body forms part of the end cap. The engagement of the connecting plates is then easily locked by placing the end cap.

In an embodiment the locking body forms part of a key that is secured to the end of the insert pin.

In an embodiment both insert pins comprise two slots that from recesses in the outer surfaces of the insert pins, wherein the insert holes each define an edge in the connecting plates that is received in the slots by shifting the insert pins transverse to the insert direction, wherein the shifted position of the insert pins is locked by a locking body that is inserted in the remaining space in the insert hole.

The invention further relates to a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a 3D printer to print a mooring line connector according to any one of the preceding claims.

The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows two mooring lines that are connected to each other by means of a mooring line connector according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the two mooring lines and the mooring line connector as shown in figure 1, in which one end cap thereof has been removed for illustrative purposes;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the two mooring lines and the mooring line connector as shown in figure 1;

Figure 4 shows the two mooring lines that are connected to each other by means of a mooring line connector according to a second embodiment of the invention, incorporating alternative features for its insert pins; and

Figures 5 and 6 show the two mooring lines and the mooring line connector as shown in figure 4, in which some parts has been removed for illustrative purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1-3 show two joint mooring lines 1 that are used for mooring floating sea oil drilling and oil recovery platforms at sea. The mooring lines 1 each comprise an end loop or end eye 2 in which a straight cylindrical bushing 3 is inserted as shown in figure 3. When a large pulling force F is exerted on the mooring lines 1 with respect to the bushings 3, the end eyes 2 tend to spread out at the bushings 3 in the transverse direction A. The mooring lines 1 are coupled at the bushings 3 by means of a mooring line connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

As best shown in figure 3, the mooring line connector 10 comprises two straight steel connecting plates 11 with a substantial elongate rectangular outline. Each connecting plate 11 comprises two insert holes 12 that at the outer side end in a broader circular recess 13. The connecting plates 11 are mounted parallel to each other by means of two steel connecting axis 14 each having at the ends a reduction 15 that fits inside two mounting holes 18 in the connecting plates 11, and a thread 16 on which a mounting nut 17 is tightened against the connecting plates 11.

As best shown in figure 3, the mooring line connector 10 comprises two straight cylindrical steel insert pins 30 that are inserted in the insert holes 12 in an axial insert direction B. The insert pins 30 each comprise two slots 31 that extend at the same side over about half the diameter of the insert pins 30. The insert holes 12 are both bounded by a first edge section 19 with a radius that allows the insertion of the entire insert pin 30. The first edge section 19 merges into a second edge section 20 with a smaller radius. The second edge sections 20 of each connecting plate 11 are located at the side that faces the mooring line 1 that is connected by the insert pin 30. The slots 31 in the insert pins 30 have about the same curvature as the second edge sections 20.

The insert pins 30 are inserted in the insert direction B in the insert holes 18 and the bushings 3. After insertion they are shifted sideways in radial direction, transverse to the insertion direction B, away from the center of the connecting plates 11 or towards the mooring line 1, whereby the second edges 20 are received inside the slots 31. This engaged position is locked by means of steel end caps 40 that are shown in figures 2 and 3. The end caps 40 each comprise a flat round base plate 41 that fits inside the circular recess 13 in the connecting plate 11, and a crescent shaped locking body 42 projecting therefrom that fits inside the remaining space between the first edge section 19 and the shifted insert pin 30. The end caps 40 are secured by means of a bolt 43 that is inserted through a hole 44 in the base plate 41 and that is tightened into a threaded hole 32 in the ends of the insert pins 30.

The engagement of the second edge sections 20 of the insert holes 12 inside the slots 31 of the insert pins 30 forms a form lock that is maintained also when large pulling forces F are exerted onto the mooring lines 1. In addition thereto, the form lock maintains the mutual position of the opposite connecting plates 11 at the insert pins 30, even when the end eyes 2 spread out in the transverse direction A due to the exerted pulling force F. In service, the forces that are applied onto the connecting plates 11 by the end eyes 2 in the transverse direction A are typically 200-500 tons.

Figures 4-6 show the same two joint mooring lines 1 as shown in figures 1-3, which are coupled by means of a mooring line connector 110 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The features that correspond to the features of the mooring line connector 10 according to the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numbers and are only discussed when necessary.

As shown in figure 4, the mooring line connector 110 comprises two straight steel connecting plates 111 that are mounted parallel to each other by means of three steel connecting axis 14, wherein the upper one is inserted through a shackle 114 to attach a ramification line to the mooring line connector 110. The connecting plates 111 comprise two insert holes 112 with two insert pins 130 as in the first embodiment, that are both bounded by the first edge section 19 that allows the insertion of the entire insert pin 130, and that merges into the second edge section 20 with a smaller radius. In this embodiment the second edge sections 20 of each connecting plate 111 are located at the side that faces away from the mooring line 1 that is connected by the insert pin 130.

As best shown in figures 4 and 5, the insert pins 130 are provided with engagement surfaces 134 at the ends that are located straight opposite to the slots 31. The insert pins 130 are shifted sideways in radial direction, transverse to the insertion direction B, towards the center of the connecting plates 111 or away from the mooring line 1, whereby the second edge sections 20 are received inside the slots 31. The engaged position is locked by means of a steel key 143. The steel key 143 comprises a semicircular locking body 142 that fits inside the remaining space between the first edge section 19 and the engagement surface 134. The key 143 comprises a larger head 144 that comes against the outer surface of the connecting plates 111. In this embodiment, the pulling force F that is exerted by the eye 2 of the connected mooring line 1 is transferred to the connecting plates 111 via the keys 143. The transverse force A that is exerted by the spreading eye 2 onto the connecting plates 111 is transferred directly adjacent to the received second edge section 20, which limits the bending moments in the connecting plates 111.

The installed keys 143 are secured to the insert pins 130 in two different ways, that can be used independent from or in addition to each other. The first fixture comprises an elongate steel plate 147 that fits into a slot 145 in the head 144 of the key 143 and that is provided with holes 149 through which bolts 150 are tightened into threaded holes 133 in the ends of the insert pins 130. The second fixture comprises a elongate slim steel pin 160 that is inserted through aligned bores 135, 148 in the end of the insert pin 130 and in the head 144 of the key 143. After insertion the insert pin 130 is bent in a Z-shape to secure it. Finally a steel end cap 140 is installed to cover the key 143 and the end of the insert pin 130.

The features of the two embodiments are interchangeable. For example the key 143 and its fixtures of the second embodiment can be applied to the first embodiment. The slots 31 and the engaged second edge sections 20 of the insert holes 12, 112 can have any tangential position with respect to the connected mooring line 1. The shackle 114 can be applied on the steel connecting axis 14 of both embodiments.

It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

An anchor line coupling for joining the encountered end eyes of two anchor lines together, the anchor line coupling being provided with two steel coupling plates extending parallel and spaced apart to receive the end eyes between them, and two cylindrical insert pins which are inserted into insert openings are inserted into the coupling plates and extend through the end eyes, wherein at least one of the insert pins is provided with two slots forming recesses in the outer surface of the insert pin, the insert openings each defining an edge in the coupling plates received in the slots by sliding the insert pin transversely to the insert direction, the shifted position of the insert pin being locked by a locking body that is placed in the remaining space in the insert opening.

Anchor line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the slots extend over only a portion of the circumference of the insert pin.

Anchor line coupling as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the edges which are received in the slots are situated on the side of the insert opening which is directed to the anchor line which is coupled by means of the insert pin.

Anchor line coupling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the edges which are received in the slots are located on the side of the insert opening that faces away from the anchor line which is coupled by means of the insert pin.

Anchor line coupling as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the slots are elongated and extend transversely to the insertion direction of the insert pin.

Anchor line coupling as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the edges in the coupling plates are provided with a first edge portion with a radius that allows the insertion of the insert pin, the first edge portion merging into a second edge portion with a smaller radius and which is received in the slot.

Anchor line coupling as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising an end cap against the end of the insert pin, wherein the locking body forms part of the end cap.

An anchor line coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking body forms part of a key fixed at the end of the insert pin.

An anchor line coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein both insert pins are provided with two slots forming recesses in the outer surfaces of the insert pins, the insert openings each defining an edge in the coupling plates received in the slots by the insert pins transversely of the insert direction to shift, wherein the shifted position of the insert pins is locked by a locking body that is placed in the remaining space in the insert opening.

A computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions adapted to cause printing of a [product] according to any one of the preceding claims.