Turret drive mechanism
US5476059A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 19, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B21/507
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A torque enhancer (60, FIG. 1) is provided for an offshore system wherein a turret (18) is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis (22) on a vessel hull and the turret is anchored by catenary chain devices (24), to help minimize rotation of the turret when the vessel weathervanes. The torque enhancer may include a pair of members (80, 82, FIG. 3) with horizontally-spaced inner ends (84, 86) pivotally mounted on the turret and with outer ends (90, 92) coupled to a chain device (24) to transmit horizontal components (E) of tension force that tend to turn the turret to maintain it at its initial rotational orientation with respect to the seafloor. In one system, the arms are rigid beams arranged to form an A-frame, with the outer ends of the arms supporting a guide (100) and with the chain device slidably extending through the guide and attached to the vessel half way between the inner ends of the beams. In another system, a pair of chains (122, 124, FIG. 4) or other flexible tension members couple a chain device (136) to horizontally spaced locations on the turret.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.