US2908142A

US2908142A - Supporting leg assembly for marine platform

Info

Publication number: US2908142A
Application number: US612809A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Suderow
Original assignee: De Long Corp
Current assignee: De Long Corp
Priority date: 1956-09-28
Filing date: 1956-09-28
Publication date: 1959-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-13

Description

Oct. 13,- 1959 y G. lE. suDERow 2,908,142

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United States Patent O SUPPORTING LEG FOR PLATFORM l George E. Suderow, New York, NtYL, assignor lto De Long Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to convertible marine platforms and more particularly to supportnigleg assemblies for such platforms having jacking mechanisms for relatively manipulating the supporting leg assemblies and platform so that the latter can be converted from a floating platform to an elevated platform supported by the marine bottom above the water level and vice versa.

The present invention is particularly useful inthe marine installation system such as disclosedI inthe Pointer application Serial No. 283,567 tiled August 22, 1952, and issued onV Ianuary l, 1957, as Patent No. 2,775,869. In general, this. system embodies the utilization of al iloating platform which may be transported to any suitable marine site, as by tugs or the like, and which is provided with a series of elongated supporting l'egs which are utilized when the floating barge has been transported to the marine site to support the floating barge from the marine bottom in an elevated position abovethewater level. The system disclosed in the aforesaid Pointer application illustrates the use of tubular one-piece supporting legs which are initially moved through the platform guide means by means of pneumatica-lly-operated jacking mechanisms until the lower end thereof are embeddedin the marine bottom. Subsequently, the jacking mechanisms are operable to raise the platform on the su] porti`ngv legs to a suitable height above the water level. With, the platformthus supported, the same may be, utilized for a4 variety of purposes. For example, permanent docks and piers have been constructed utilizingfthis, system andY itis also` valuable in off-shore drilling` operations where the platform is to be used. temporarily. In they latter case, after operations have been completed, the jacking mechanisms are` operable topermit the platform to be lowered on the supporting legs untilk the same is. again. floating on. the surface of they water and then to; subsequently raise the supporting legs clear of the marine bottom and to a transporting position-l onf the platform.`

In most installations it is of importance to` prov-ide4 an elevated platform which has; a substantially unobstructed upper deck surface. Due, tol the uncertainty andthe unevenness of the marineA bot-tomit is usually the-casewhen dealing with one-piece supportingflegs that' the upper ends thereof will: project above theupper deck surface of. the platform when the latter has reached its operative elevated position. In permanent installations the supporting legs can be Welded orr otherwisepermanently secured tothe platform; and the upper endscut; off, but thsisnot practical in temporary installations.. Moreover, this procedure is time consumingl and: costly.,

Consequently, in,` a` later application, Serial No. 584,- 962, filed May 15 1956, by George E. Suderow which is; a continuation of application Serial No; 502,313, filed Aprilf 19, 1955, now abandoned;v it was proposed. toY construct the supporting legs oii telescopic; sections; so as to insure that there. would be` no: obstructingV upper supporting leg ends extending above the platformiwhen the same is elevated: to its. operative position. lvl'oreovter,` thisv secj 2,908,142 l Patented Oct. 13, .1959

tional construction` renders the legs easier to handle and affords more flexibility in operation.

Briey, the telescopic supporting leg assembly disclosed in theabove-mentioned Suderow application includes a plurality of telescoping sections having jacking mechanisms between adjacent sections with the outer section mounted for vertical movement with respect to the. platform by a jacking mechanism carried by the platform. The jacking mechanisms disclosed are of the pin type embodying horizontallyV slidable pins engageable in aseries of longitudinally spaced' apertures formedv in the. supporting leg sections. While this type of' jacking mechanism provides a positivemechanical restraint against movement of the sections, the numerous manipulations required in the. normal operation thereof, renders the same somewhat time consuming.y

Accordingly, it is an object of the. present invention to provide a telescopic supporting leg assembly having` improved means fOr selectively eiecting or restraining relative longitudinallmovement between the sections thereof which is continuous in operation and,v hence, fast in operation.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a supporting, legy assembly of the type described which is simple. in construction, easy to operate andv economical to manufacture and maintain.

TheseI and other object-s willv become more apparent duri-ng the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention may best, be. understood, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein anillustrativeV embodiment is shown. l

In the drawings: v

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a supporting leg assembly embodying the, principles of the present. invention illustrating the same in itsV transporting position on. a platform;

Figure 2 isy a view similar to Figure. l illustrating: the manner in which the assembly isA initially lowered. with respect to the platform; Y

Figure 3 is a- View sim-ilartoI Figure l= illustrating the ina-nner in. which the inner sectionY of the assembly is` initiallymovedY downwardly;

Figure 4, is a` viewsimil-arl to, Figure 3 illustrating the manner'in which the innersectionis.- locked inf its: downward position;v t

Figure 5 is a view similar to' Figure l illustratingthe upper pont-ion of the assembly with an intermediate section7 moved/ downwardly;

Figure 5u' isV a= ViewI similar to- Figure 5- showing the lower, portioniof the assembly;L

Figure 6'is ar View similar to Figure l illustratingthe operative positiont of the' upperY portion of the assembly; and

Figure` 6a; is a: view similar to Figure @illustrating the lower portion*y of the assembly.

Referring now more particularly'to: thedrawings,f there is sho-wir ai telescopic supporting leg assembly,` gener-ally indicated' at lll, which! embodies the principles of the` present invention, As was brieIy/noted; abovepdaeassembly of the present'f inventionf is; particularly' adapted to: be

lutilizedl i'n4 the marine: construction system disclosed in the aforesaid Pointer application, although it willi be understood that the same maybe readily'used for other pur.- poses. As-shown, the assembly ismounted on a floating barge or platform, indicated at 12. It will= be-understood that` in accordance with `the Pointer system; the floating barge, or platform 12 may be providedwith a series: of telescopic, supjgiorting leg assemblies I0 which may be cooperatively operated so. as. to effect the various -l A *Y 3 movements essential to the drawings, only a portion ofthe floating platfonm is illustrated showing a single guide means 14 in the form of Ya vertical opening arranged` to receive the single as- "s'embly 10.

`The assembly comprises a plurality oftelescopically. arranged tubular sections of any desired number. As shown, Vthe assembly includes an outer section 16,-a irst intermediate section 18, a second intermediate section 20 and an inner section 22. The outer section 16 is mounted within an opening 14 of the platform 12 for substanjtially vertical movement therethrough. A jacking mech- *through it will be understood that other types of jacking mechanisms may be employed, if desired. Briey, the jacking mechanism 24 includes an upper pair of opposed pins or bolts26 mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement, asV by a fluid pressure-operated ram unit 28, into and out of engagement with a series of openings 30 'formed in' the tubular wall ofthe outer section 16 in diametrically opposed relation. The jacking mechanism also includes a pair of opposed lower pins or bolts 32 vmounted for horizontal reciprocation, `as by fluid pres sure-operated ram units 34. 'The pins 32 are also arranged to move into and out of apertures 30 formed in the outer section. Extending between the

pins

26 and 32 marine construction. In the and associated

ram units

28 and 34 is a pair of vertically disposed ram units 36. By selectively engaging one pair of pins 26 or 32' and actuating the ram units 36, the outer section 16 may be moved vertically in either direction with respect to the platformn12as is described in detail in the aforementioned Suderow application Serial No. 523,323. Y l

In order to effect vertical movement of each section of the assembly 10 between fully extended :and fully retracted positions, there is provided a. pilot piston and cylinder unit, generally indicated at 38. The upper end of the outer section 16 is provided with la plate-like head 40 which may be rigidly secured theretoj as by welding or the like. Extending downwardly from the central lportion of the plate 40 is an elongated piston 42A having its lower end disposed adjacent the lower end of the outer section and provided with a piston 44. A cylinder -46 of substantially the same length as the piston rod 42 slidably receives ,the piston 44. The piston 44 is preferably provided with an O-ring`48 which eng-ages the interior surface of the cylinder 46 so yas to form a pressure-tight seal therewith. The upper end of the cylinder 46 includes an apertured disc-like closure memberv 50 having an O-ring 52 mounted in the interior surface lthereof for engagement with the exterior surface of the piston rod 42. The lower end of the cylinder 46 is closed, as by la head member 53. The piston rod 42 may be of any suitable construction; however, as shown, it is tubular in form so as to receive

fluid pressure lines

54 and 56, each-of which extends through the central portion of the head plate 40, and downwardly into the hollow piston rod 42. rIhe end of the line 54 extends to a port 58 formed in the wall of the piston rod above the pistonp44 so as to communicate with the upper end of the cylinder, while the end of the line 56 leads to a port 60 extending through the piston 44 and communicating with the lower end of the cylinder. It will be seen .that by introducing a pressurized uid into line 56 and permitting the line 54 to exhaust, the cylinder 46 will be moved downwardly with respect to the piston 42 and, hence, the outerV section 16. Reversal of the lines 54 The rst intermediate section 18' includes la pair of opposed locking units 62 which -are selectively operable either to lock the first intermediate section with the outer section or to lock the first intermediate section Vto the pilot cylinder 46, so that the same can be moved vertically in either direction thereby with respect to the outer section. To this end, each unit 62 comprises arhousing 64 having an outwardly extending pin or bolt66 slidably mounted therein for horizontal reciprocation and an inwardly extending pin or kbolt -68 mounted thereiny for horizontal reciprocation.V Each pin is moved by means of a cylinder 70 having a spring-pressed plunger therein.(not shown) which is connected to the associated pin `and actuated by fluid under pressure from a line 72 extending from the cylinder 70 upwardly through. a suitable aperture formed in the head plate 40 of the outer section 16. Preferably, the outer section is provided with upper and lower

apertured bosses

74 and 76 vforreceiving the outer pins 66 so that the iirst intermediate section Ycan be locked with respect thereto either'in VVa fully retracted or fully extended position.4 In addi- .tion, the outer pins 66 may also be engaged within the apertures 30 formed in the tubular wall of the outer section as will hereinafter be more fully described. The

inner pins 68 are arranged to enterV apertures 78 formed in the upper wall of the cylinder 46V and in the'disc-like In asimilar manner, the second intermediate section V20 may be `alternately locked with the rst intermediate section 18 or with the pilot cylinder :46. To this end,

include a housing 82 having an outer pin 84V 4and an inner pin 86 mounted therein for horizontal reciprocation.

lA cylinder unit 88 for each pin is mounted onthe housing 82 for controlling the operation of the pin through a iluid pressure line 90 extending from the cylinder upwardly through a suitable aperture in the head plate 40 in the outer `section 16; The iirst intermediate section is provided with upper and lower

apertured bosses

92 and 94 for receiving the outer pins 84 so that the second intermediate Vsection can be locked to the rst intermediate section in either a fully extended or retracted position. The pilot cylinder 46 is provided with apertured bosses l96 for receiving the inner pins 86.

and 56 from exhaust to pressurized iiuid introduction and l VThe inner section also includes a pair of opposed locking units 98 which may be similar to the units 62, and

`80. Again, each unit may include a housing 100 having an outer pin 102 and an inner pin 104V mounted vtherein for horizontal reciprocation. A cylinder unit 106 `for each pin is mounted on the housing 100 for controlling the operationrof the pin through a lluid pressure line "108 which extends from the platform to the cylinder through a suitable aperture formed in the head plate 40. 'Ihe second intermediate section is provided with upper and lower

apertured bosses

110 and 112 for receiving the outer pins 102 so as to lock the inner section with respect to the second intermediate section whether in retracted or fully extended positions. The pilot cylinder includes apertured bosses 114 for receiving the inner pins 104.

It will be understood that there is a suitable means on the platform for providing a source of fluid under pressure and controlling the introduction andexhaust of the same through the

lines

54, 56, 72, 90, and 108.

Such means is not shown in the drawings, but may be of conventional form, such as an air compressor feeding compressed'air to the lines through suitable control valves. Preferably, the lines extending through the head plate of the outer section are connected toV reels (not shown) mounted on the platform which are operableto pay out or`retract the lines as desired during expansion orvretraction of the sections.

The outer section 16 in addition to the head plate 4 0 auna,"

may also be provided with an upper radially extending peripheral ange 116 which is arrangedk to engage the upper deck surface o f the platform when the` assembly is in its operative position. The remaining sections may be provided with reinforing rings 11s, l1z0 and 122 rigidly mounted on the exterior surface of their lower ends.

In utilizing the present invention in the system of the aforesaid Suderow applicationv Serial No. 523,323, a series of telescopic supporting leg assemblies will be carried on the platformA and simultaneously moved, as described in that application. With the above in mind, operation of a single assembly of the present invention will now be described. It willbe noted that the arrangement of the locking units 6,2., 80 and 98 are such that independent relative vertical movement betweenv any two adjacent sections of the assembly can be readily effected. Moreover, independent relative vertical movement in either direction between the outer section and the platform can be readily achieved bythe jacking mechanism 24. Therefore, it will be understood that the precise manner or` order in which the sections of the assembly are moved may be varied,` as desired.- However, a preferred order of actuation is disclosed in the drawings in which Figure l illustrates the assembly in its transporting pQStiOn. on the platform In. this Posifionthe Pins 2,6 a11d32' 0f the jacking mechanism Z4, are extended into registering openings 30 in the outer section' 16 and the pins ofthe units 62, 8.0 and 98 are extended so as to. engagel the adjacent section and the pilot cylinder 46. I n this manner all of the sections of the assembly as well as the assembly itself are retained in their transporting position by a mechanical locking action. I nv this position the platform is floated, as by tugs or the like,y to a suitable marine site Where operations are to be carriedv on.

When the platform has reached the site of operation, jacking mechanism 2,4` is actuated in the manner described in the above-mentioned Suderow application Serial No. 523,323 so as to lower 'the entire assembly in its locked condition until the upper end of the outer section is disposed above the estimated bottom of the marine site a distance equal to that in which the platform will ultimately operate above the water' level taking into account the draft of the platform, as shown in Figure 2. It will be noted that the condition of the various locking units of the assembly are in the same position as illustrated in Figure 1. Next, the inner pins 68 and 86 of the

units

62 and 80 are moved out of engagement with the associated pilot cylinder apertures and the outer pins 102 of the units 98 are moved out of engagement with the apertured bosses 110 of the second intermediate section. The inner section is now locked to the pilot cylinder and free of engagement with the second intermediate section so that it will move with the pilot cylinder. The source of pressurized fluid is then introduced into the lower portion of the pilot cylinder through the line 56 and port 60 While permitting the fluid to exhaust through the port 58 and line 54. In

this manner, the inner section is moved downwardly with the pilot cylinder 46 until it reaches its fully extended position, as shown in Figure 3. Next, the outer pins 102 are actuated to move into engagement with the lower apertured bosses 112 of the second intermediate section 20. The inner pins 104 are then released from their position of engagement within the apertured bosses 114 of the pilot cylinder permitting the latter to again be moved upwardly, in the position illustrated in Figure 4, by reversing the flow through the

ports

58 and 60.

' Next, the inner pins 86 of the units 80 mounted on the upper end of the intermediate section 20 are actuated to move into the apertures of the bosses 96 carried by the pilot cylinder and the. outer pins 84 moved out of engagement with the: upper apertures of the bosses 9.2i of the first intermediate section. Thepilot cylinder is' now actuated to move the second intermediate section' and, hence, also the inner section, downwardlyA until the same reaches its fully extended position, as shown in Figures 5 andV 5a, at' which time` the outer pins 84 are engaged within't-he lower apertured' bosses 94 of the section: 1,8 andthe inner pins 86 are removed out of the apertured bosses 96 of the pilot cylinder. 'Ihe pilot cylinder is again moved upwardly into its upper limiting position so thatthe inner pins 68- of the unit 62 mounted on the upper end of the first intermediate section can be moved inwardly into engagement withy the l openingI '7,8 `formed in the upper end thereof.- The outer pins 66 are withdrawn from the apertured bosses-74A and the pilot cylinder is again moved downwardly until the rst 'intermediate section reaches its fully extended position, as shown in Figures- 6 and 6a.

In this regard, it willv be noted that during the downward movement of either of the intermediate sections, the lower end of the inner section may engage the marine bottom depending uponl the depth thereof. The operation of the pilot cylinderis such as to driver the lower endof the innersection into r-mengagement with; the marine bottom during its downward'A movement with the associated intermediate-section. It will also be noted thatY ther lirst intermediate sectionA may be locked byactuationof the outer pins 66 in several vertical positions off adjustmentintermediate its fully retracted and fully extended posit-ions by engagement within the apertures 30 formedv in the tubular wall thereof. In like manner,y to4 provide a wider range of adjustability soA ajs to accommodate marine bottoms which are relatively shallow, therst intermediate section may be` provided with a series of longitudinally spaced' apertures 1:24 for selectively receiving the outer pins 84; carried by the second-intermediate section.

After' the Ysections ofthe assembly have been extendeda desired amount suicient to; embed'Y the lower end of thel inner section in the marine bottom, the jacking I nechanism 24" is actuated to raise the platform 12 I on'fthe outer section 16 of the assembly until the same reaches a position adjacent the upper end of the outersection with the upper deck, surface ofthe platform in substantially" flush` relationship Withlrespet to. the upper end' ofthe outer'section and the entire assembly is pinned oif.

Where temporary operations have been completed, or for some other reason, it is desired to move the platform to a different marine site, the above proceduremay be reversed so as to move the assembly from its operative position back into its transporting position, as illustrated in Figure 1.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. v

I claim:

l. A forcefully eXtensible and contractible support comprising: inner, intermediate, and outer telescoping sections; a member mounted within said outer section for longitudinal movement therein substantially throughout its length; means for forcefully moving said member longitudinally Within said outer section; means for selectively connecting said inner section with said member for longitudinal movement therewith between fully extended and fully retracted positions with respect to said intermediate section in response to the movement of said member; means cooperating with said inner and intermediate sections for retaining said inner section in either of said positions' with respect to said intermediate section; means for selectively connecting said intermediate section with saidtmember for longitudinal movement therewithV between fully extended and retracted positions with respectto said outer section in response to the movement of said member; and means cooperating with said intermediate and outer sections for retaining said intermediate section in either of said positions with respect to said outer section.

' 2. A support as dened in claim 1 wherein means for selectively connectingsaid inner section with -said member comprises a power-actuated pin mounted on said inner'section for horizontal reciprocation and wherein said member includes an aperture for receiving said pin.

3. Asupport as defined in claim 2V wherein said means for retaining said inner section with respect to said intermediate section comprises a second power-actuated pin mounted on said inner section for Ihorizontal reciproca- .tion in line with said first-mentioned pin land wherein said intermediate section includes apertures for receiving said second pin.

4. A forcefully extensible and contractible support comprising: inner, intermediate, and outer telescoping section; arpiston rod secured within said outer section and having a piston on one end thereof, a cylinder' slidably receiving said piston and movable longitudinally in either direction relative to said outer section, first releasable means carried Vby said inner section and engageable with said cylinder for effecting longitudinal movement of said inner section in either direction with respect to said intermediate section between fully extended and fully retracted positions with respect thereto in response to the movement of said cylinder; iirst holding means releasably engageable between said inner and intermediate section in either of said positions for restraining relative longitudinal movement therebetween in either direction upon release of said lirstrreleasable means; second releasable means carried by said intermediate section and engageable with said cylinder for effecting longitudinal movement of said intermediate section in either direction with respect to said outer section between fully extended and fully retracted positions with respect thereto in response to the movement of said cylinder; and second holding means releasably engageable between said` intermediate and outer section in either of said positions for restraining relativeflongitudinal move- -tion and an inner section; guide means on said platform mounting said outer section for substantially vertical moyement in either direction relative to said platform; a

pair of vertically spaced and relativelyvertically movable holding means carried by said platform and releasably engageable With said outer section for restraining relative vertical movement in either direction between said outer section and said platformr and power-actuated means operable upon release of one of said pair of holding means to eiect relative vertical movement between said platform and saidouter section in either direction; a member mounted within said outer sectionY for" longitudinal movement with respect thereto in either directionf means for selectively connecting said inner section with said member for longitudinal movement therewith between fully extended and fully retracted positions with respect to said intermediate section;,means for retaining said inner section in either of said positions with-respect vto said intermediate section, means for selectively connecting said intermediate section withsaid member -for longitudinal movement therewith between fully extended' and fully retracted positions with respect to said outer section; and means for retaining said intermediate section in elther of said positions withV respect to said outer section.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said intermediate section retaining .means comprises a horizontally disposed pin movable into and out of engagement with a section. Y Y

The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said outer section includes upper and lower apertures for receiving Va pin.

l Y Y References Cited in the file of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 515,208 Beigium Nov. 14, 1952