Floating support fitted with a turret including rolling bearings protected from water
US8485116B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B22/026
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An oil production floating support including a disconnectable mooring system for anchor lines to the sea bottom and for bottom-to-surface connection pipes. The floating support comprises a mooring buoy for mooring lines and bottom-to-surface connection pipes, the buoy preferably being an annular buoy. The floating support being characterized in that said turret has a watertight tubular outer structure having a bottom wall assembled in watertight manner to the bottom end of the watertight tubular outer structure. The tubular outer structure contains an inner structure secured at its top end to the hull. The inner and outer tubular structures co-operate with at least one bottom rolling or friction bearing, enabling the inner structure to turn, with the outer structure not being caused to turn when the floating support is caused to turn about a vertical axis ZZ′ of the cavity and of the watertight tubular outer structure. The bottom rolling or friction bearing being situated beneath the surface of the water, but inside said watertight outer structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.