Patent · US Expired

Compliant offshore structure stabilized by resilient pile assemblies

US4721417A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
7References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 10, 1986
Grant dateJan 26, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 10, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE02B2017/0073
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A compliant offshore structure in which stabilization against excessive sway is provided by a resilient pile assemblies. A series of drive piles extend into the ocean floor beneath the base of the structure. Drive piles extend upward to a position proximate a pile attachment location on the structure a spaced distance above the ocean floor. The upper end of each drive pile is secured to the structure at the pile attachment location by a resilient coupling. The resilient coupling permits the structure to move upward and downward a slight distance relative to the substantially rigid drive pile. This accommodates sway of the structure. The resilient coupling biases the structure back to a vertical orientation in response to sway of the structure. In a preferred embodiment the pile attachment location is situated proximate the base of the offshore structure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.