Offshore turret lower bearing
US5782197A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B21/507
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bearing assembly that mounts the lower portion of a rotatable large (at least 4 meters diameter) turret in a moonpool near the center of a vessel, avoids damage resulting from turret and/or vessel deformation in heavy seas, while facilitating initial alignment. The turret (10) holds a substantially continuous bearing ring (44) while a hull part (42) holds a plurality of circumferentially-spaced segment structures (46) that have segment bearings (50) engaged with the bearing ring. Each segment structure includes a base (56), and an elastic body (60) that supports the bearing segment while allowing it to move radially or tilt. A deflection limiter (80) can limit deformation of the elastic body. Each segment structure can include an adjustment device (62) that adjusts the position of the bearing segment during setup. Each segment structure can include a spherical elastic body (246) which has circumferentially-spaced opposite sides (272, 274) that face a point (270) lying adjacent to the interface (241) of the bearing segment (240) with the continuous bearing ring (242).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.