Temporary platform for attachment to an offshore structure

• US 20120321393A1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mervin Hale Jr. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: Mervin Hale Jr. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Mervin Hale Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/196
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 15/24 Bridges or similar structures, based on land or on a fixed structure and designed to give access to ships or other floating structures arrangement of ship-based ramps B63B27/14; loading ramps B65G69/28
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/00 Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor construction methods for floating platforms B63B75/00; anchoring floating platforms B63B21/00; floating platforms, e.g. anchored, B63B35/44; underwater reservoirs B65D88/78

Abstract

Temporary platforms and methods of securing such platforms to an offshore structure include a plurality of clamps secured to an existing portion of the offshore structure at a selected height. A receiver member can be secured to the clamps at a selected horizontal position, and a temporary platform structure can be secured to the receiver member, thereby providing a temporary platform that can be installed, removed, and repositioned efficiently, as needed, for a variety of purposes. Such platforms are usable in place of elevating boats and similar vessels, enabling operations to be conducted independent of the depth of the water.

Claims

1. A method for securing a temporary platform to an offshore structure, the method comprising the steps of:

securing a plurality of clamps to an existing portion of the offshore structure at a selected height;

securing a receiver member to the plurality of clamps at a selected horizontal position; and

securing the temporary platform to the receiver member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing the plurality of clamps to the existing portion of the offshore structure comprises securing a first portion of a clamp around a ‘

vertically extending member of the offshore structure, and wherein the step of securing the receiver member to the plurality of clamps comprises securing a second portion of the clamp around a horizontally extending portion of the receiver member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing the temporary platform to the receiver member comprises inserting a protruding portion of the temporary platform into a corresponding receptacle within the receiver member.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of removing the temporary platform, the receiver member, or combinations thereof, from the clamps;

repositioning the plurality of clamps to a differing height or a differing portion of the offshore structure; and

securing the temporary platform, the receiving member, or combinations thereof to the plurality of clamps.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of removing the clamps from the offshore structure;

and repositioning the clamps, the receiving member, and the temporary platform at a differing height or on a differing portion of the offshore structure.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising’

the steps of removing the temporary platform from the receiving member;

repositioning the clamps and the receiving member at a differing height or on a differing portion of the offshore structure; and

securing the temporary platform to the receiving member.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repositioning the receiver member to a differing horizontal position.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a surface, equipment, or combinations thereof to the temporary platform.

9. A temporary platform for use with an offshore structure, the temporary platform comprising:

a plurality of clamps removably secured to a portion of the offshore structure at a selected height;

a receiver member removably engaged with the plurality of clamps at a selected horizontal position; and

a platform removably engaged with the receiver member.

10. The temporary platform of claim 9, wherein at least one of the clamps comprises a first portion adapted for securing around an elongate vertical member of the offshore structure and a second portion adapted for securing around an elongate horizontal portion of the receiver member.

11. The temporary platform of claim 9, wherein said at least one of the clamps comprises a central member having a first recession for receiving the portion of the offshore structure and a second recession for receiving the receiver member, a first end member secured to the central member that encloses the portion of the offshore structure between the first end member and the central member, and a second end member secured to the central end member that encloses the receiver member between the second end member and the central member.

12. The temporary platform of claim 9, wherein the receiver member comprises an elongate horizontal portion adjustably moveable relative to the plurality of clamps.

13. The temporary platform of claim 9, wherein the platform comprises a protruding portion that engages a corresponding receptacle in the receiving member.

14. The temporary platform of claim 9, wherein the plurality of clamps comprises a first clamp and a second clamp engaged to a first elongate vertical member of the offshore structure, and a third clamp and a fourth clamp engaged to a second elongate vertical member of the offshore structure, and wherein the receiver member comprises a first elongate horizontal portion engaged to the first clamp and the third clamp and a second elongate horizontal portion engaged to the second clamp and the fourth clamp.

15. The temporary platform of claim 14, wherein the receiver member comprises a plurality of tubular members extending from the first elongate horizontal portion, the second elongate horizontal portion, or combinations thereof, each of said tubular members having a bore therein for receiving a protruding member of the temporary platform.

16. The temporary platform of claim 15, wherein the receiver member comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member extending from the first elongate horizontal portion, and a third tubular member and a fourth tubular member extending from the second elongate horizontal portion.

17. A platform for removable engagement with an offshore structure, the platform comprising:

a plurality of connectors, wherein each of said connectors comprises a first portion adapted for removably engaging a support member of the offshore structure and a second portion;

a structural member comprising an engagement portion and a support portion, wherein the engagement portion removably engages the second portion of the plurality of connectors; and

a platform surface removably positioned on the support portion of the structural member.

18. The platform of claim 17, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises a first connector and a second connector engaging a first support member of the offshore structure, and a third connector and a fourth connector engaging a second support member of the offshore structure.

19. The platform of claim 18, wherein the engagement portion of the structural member comprises a lower member that engages the second connector and the fourth connector, and an upper member that engages the first connector and the third connector.

20. The platform of claim 17, wherein the platform surface comprises a plurality of platform members, and wherein each of said platform members engages a respective section of the support portion of the structural member.