Offshore access systems

Details Offshore access systems Offshore access systems

1989-11-30

1991-12-24

Skaggs, H. Grant

Elevator, industrial lift truck, or stationary lift for vehicle

Stationary lift for roadway vehicle or required component...

Having specific drive means for support

182142, 114312, B66B 900

Patent

active

050743821

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to offshore structures and more particularly to the inspection and maintenance operations necessary for the upkeep of such structures.


BACKGROUND ART

Inspection and maintenance operations are among the most important cost contributors to the ongoing operation expenditure of offshore structures. The costs involved in the performance of these operations may be itemised as follows: labour; access; materials; and equipment. Labour is conventionally required to set up scaffolding and to carry out associated rigging work where existing access is not provided. When an access problem is to be resolved in an environment in which work maybe heavily affected by weather conditions--for example, work performed under the sea deck of an offshore platform, on piles supporting wharves and jetties and the like--then costs associated with access work may well become the top cost contributor and, in some cases at least, affect both the work schedule and the estimated budget of a project.
Heretobefore, conventional demountable scaffolding has largely been employed as the primary means for providing access to offshore structures for the carrying-out of work at locations at which cranes and derricks cannot be employed. Scaffolding is, however, a time consuming and difficult task, requiring licensed scaffolders for the undertaking. For certain inspection procedures, scaffolding may well take up to as much as 95% of total working time.


DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by the provision of an access system designed to significantly reduce costs, and which can be rapidly and safely installed and recovered at minimum cost. Thus, to this end, the invention is directed to offshore access systems which are safe, portable, inexpensive, simple, durable and which have a long working life; moreover, the need for the employment of qualified riggers or scaffolders is eliminated or, at least, reduced to a minimum.
In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided an offshore access system comprising a mobile work platform or landing adapted to be movable in relation to a structural member of an offshore structure, on which, or in connection with which, a task is to be performed, so as to enable access to be gained thereto; and means for so moving the said mobile work platform or landing.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the present invention, hereinafter will be described certain embodiments thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an offshore access system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a corresponding side elevation;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an inventive support frame;
FIG. 4 is a corresponding side elevation;
FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 and 6A is a corresponding side elevation;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention, being a mobile work platform or landing for vertical and diagonal structural members;
FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the main frame of the landing of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 shows, schematically, the side elevation of the landing of FIGS. 7 and 8, in situ on a diagonal structural member.


BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively, front and side elevational views of a first embodiment of a offshore access system according to the present invention, which embodiment includes a support frame 1, a support sleeve 2, a vertically slidable post 3 and a mobile work platform or landing 4.
Slidable post 3 slides within support sleeve 2 to enable access to be had to areas underneath the deck of an offshore structure at varying heights. Control of the vertical disposition of slidable post 3 relative to support sleeve 2 is obtained by the actuation of a manually-operated wire rope winch 6 which connects, at 7, post 3 to a freely rotatabl

REFERENCES:
patent: 3908794 (1975-09-01), Stone
patent: 4474263 (1984-10-01), Christopher
patent: 4538705 (1985-09-01), Leivestad
patent: 4650036 (1987-03-01), Matsuda

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