Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Buoy – For mooring a vessel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-02-27
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Buoy
For mooring a vessel
C405S224200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193574
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a vessel comprising a swivel assembly with at least two swivels having a common central axis and a support structure carrying the swivel assembly, each swivel comprising an inner annular wall and concentric therewith an outer annular wall, the annular walls being connected via axial and radial bearings and defining a ring-shaped chamber therebetween.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Such a swivel assembly is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,467. In the swivel assembly according to this patent the core members of the different swivels are mutually interconnected by means of tension bolts. If one of the swivels from the assembly needs to be exchanged for maintenance or repair work, the core parts need to be disconnected and the upper swivels need to be lifted for one of the swivels to be removed from the assembly in a radial direction.
The outer piping that is connected to swivels that are located above the swivel which needs to be removed from the assembly, must also be disconnected. Hence the removal of a swivel from the known swivel assembly is a difficult and cumbersome operation. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a swivel assembly in which an individual swivel can be easily removed and/or exchanged without disturbing the other swivels, and without having to loosen the outer piping of adjacent swivels. It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a swivel assembly in which better access to the swivels is possible.
Hereto the vessel comprising a swivel assembly according to the present invention is characterised in that the support structure comprises at least two swivels connecting means which are connected to the respective outer or inner annular walls of the swivels and which at least substantially carry the weight of each swivel. In a preferred embodiment, no substantial weight-bearing constructions are present between the inner walls of the adjacent swivels and between the outer walls of the swivels.
Because each swivel is independently connected to the support structure, for instance via its outer annular wall, it is possible to exchange an individual swivel without removing the adjacent swivels and without disturbing the outer piping connected to adjacent swivels. By individually attaching the outer annular walls of each swivel to the support structure, the swivel spacing can be as large as needed and sufficient access space to the inner swivel piping can be achieved. As the piping can be closer to the swivel due to the easy accessibility of each swivel, the swivel size can be reduced. Because each outer annular wall is connected to the support structure, no individual drives for the rotation of the outer swivels are necessary.
The term “ring-shaped” chamber as used herein it is intended to comprise chambers with circular, square or other cross-section which have a generally toroidal shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of a vessel according to the invention, the inner walls comprise an opening that is in fluid communication with the ring-shaped chamber and that is on one side in fluid communication with a duct connected to the inner annular wall. The ducts of the swivels extend in the axial direction within the central space bounded by the inner annular walls. The duct that is connected to the inner wall of a first swivel and which extends in the region of a second swivel located above or below the first swivel, is comprised of detachable pipe segments. Hereby the second swivel can be removed in the radial direction when the pipe segments of the first swivel are decoupled.
The supporting structure may comprise a frame which is mounted on the turret or on the hull, wherein the frame is placed in such a position with respect to the swivels that after disconnecting the swivels, they can be removed from the assembly in a radial direction. This means that the spacing between the support elements of the frame structure should be larger than the diameter of the outer annular walls.
When the frame is supported on the turret, the inner annular walls are mutually coupled by a rotation transfer member. At least one of the inner walls is connected to a rotation drive means that is connected to the hull. In this way the inner rings can be accurately rotated in conjunction with the hull of the vessel. The rotation transfer members may comprise for instance a bolt connection between each inner annular wall.
The vessel may comprise a gantry which extends above the turret, the rotation drive means being mounted on the gantry.
In an other embodiment, the frame of the swivel assembly is suspended from the gantry wherein the inner annular walls are mutually coupled by rotation transfer members and at least one of the inner walls is fixedly connected to the turret. In this way the outer rings will rotate with the vessel and no drive means are necessary as the weight of the outer rings is sufficiently low to be rotated by means of the gantry and the frame.
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Morano S. Joseph
Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
Vasudeva Ajay
Young & Thompson
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