Interactive leg guide for offshore self-elevating unit
US7399142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE02B17/0818
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A leg guide for use in a leg of a jack up unit adapted to provide sliding guidance of the leg during vertical movement of the leg. The leg guide has a first portion contacting an edge of a leg chord and a second portion contacting a face of the leg chord along a longitudinal plane opposite the contact plane of the first portion. The edge contacting guide has a deflecting guide unit, which uses a compressible member sandwiched between two rigid plates. As the leg moves, the teeth of the leg chord contact the edge guide unit, with the compressible member absorbing compressible loads acting on the leg chord. The second portion provides for a face plate mounted transversely to the edge contacting guide for reducing the build-up of horizontal moment acting on the leg chord during the vertical movement of the leg and for reducing bending moments acting on the leg.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.