Jack-up platform locking apparatus and method
US5915882A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE02B17/06
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A locking mechanism is disclosed for use on the legs of a jack-up offshore platform. Each chord of the legs includes a rack for cooperation with pinions used in raising and lowering the legs. The locking mechanism of the invention includes a rigid frame attached to the hull of the platform and housing a plurality of vertically aligned toothed chock segments adapted to engage the teeth of the rack on a leg. The chock segments have upper and lower inclined surfaces which cooperate with upper and lower movable wedges for supporting the chock segments. The design makes the chock segments sufficiently adjustable for independent alignment and engagement of the teeth of each chock segment with the corresponding teeth of the rack. Dimensional variances in the rack teeth spacing, resulting from manufacturing tolerances, thereby are accommodated and force concentrations between the rack teeth and chock teeth are minimized. Subsequent engagement and retention of the supporting wedges securely locks the chock segments into mating engagement with the rack teeth, to thereby lock the platform legs in place.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.