Bearing support for single point terminal
US5515804A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 14, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B21/507
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An arrangement is described for mounting a turret (18, FIG. 3) on the outer ends of beams, or mounts, whose inner ends are supported by a vessel hull (14) that can weathervane about the turret. An upper bearing (42) is supported on a largely rigid upper mount (30), by a resiliently deflectable support structure (50) that includes a plurality of elastomeric shear pads (52). Each shear pad subtends an angle (B, FIG. 5) of no more than 20.degree. about a common point (26) along the rotatable axis of the turret. This allows a shear pad to use flat rubber sheets instead of spherically curved sheets, as well as avoiding excess stiffness. The support structure includes six posts (54) extending radially from the common point along the turret axis, each post having a gap where a shear pad is mounted, with the area around each shear pad being open to facilitate replacement of a shear pad. A limiter which extends in parallel with the shear pads to prevent them from being torn loose in the event of bearing seizing, can include a limiter member (122, FIG. 11) fixed with respect to one mount plate (70) of a shear pad and surrounding the opposite mount plate (72) of the shear pad.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.