Gripping device
US7744140B2 · kind B2 · utility
16Cited by
5References
3Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2021/003
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A mooring connector or pipeline recovery tool comprising a mandrel (10) around which is concentrically disposed a ball cage (11) having balls (12) protruding therefrom so that relative longitudinal movement of the mandrel (10) and ball cage (11) causes the balls to ascend ramped surfaces of the mandrel (10) thus to protrude outwardly through the ball cage (11). The conventional arrangement of balls in regular rows and columns is replaced by helical rows or random arrays of the balls thus to avoid excessive grooving and deformation of the wall of a receptor into which the connector is inserted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.