MOORING APPARATUS

• US 20200130782A1
• Filed: 04/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flintstone Technology Limited (Bekaert SA)
• Original Assignee: Flintstone Technology Limited (Bekaert SA)
• Inventors: SMITH, David
• Granted Patent: US 11,198,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/04 Fastening or guiding equipment for chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like means for fastening cables or ropes in general F16G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/10 Fairleads
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/50 Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/24 Mooring posts

Abstract

A mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) comprising a socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) having a seat (15a, 15a′; 15b, 15b′; 15c, 15c′; 15d, 15d′) and a connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d), wherein the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) is receivable, such as removably receivable, in the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and rotatable on the seat (15a, 15a′; 15b, 15b′; 15c, 15c′; 15d, 15d′). A method of configuring a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) wherein the method comprises providing a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) and locating the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) in the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and/or on the seat (15a, 15a′; 15b, 15b′; 15c, 15c′; 15d, 15d′), and rotating the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) until the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) is retained by the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d). A method of configuring a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d), wherein the method comprises providing a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) and rotating the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) until the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) is not retained by the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and moving the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) from the seat (15a, 15a′; 15b, 15b′; 15c, 15c′; 15d, 15d′).

Claims

1. A mooring apparatus, comprising:

a socket having a seat, and

a connection member, wherein

the connection member is receivable, such as removably receivable, in the socket and rotatable on the seat.

3. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member is rotatable around a first axis between a non-retained position and a retained position when received on the seat.

4. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection member is receivable in or removable from the socket when the connection member is disposed in a first orientation or non-retained position; and

the connection member is retained in the socket when the connection member is disposed in a second orientation or retained position.

6. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises at least one projection, such as a trunnion, and optionally the connection member comprises a pair of projections or trunnions which are receivable/retainable on the seat.

7. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connection member is adapted to rotate on the seat around a first axis defined by the at least one projection.

8. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a joint defining a second axis about which at least a portion of the connection member is adapted to rotate.

10. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member is provided with an arrangement for connecting the apparatus to a mooring line.

12. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat is substantially hook-shaped or J-shaped.

15. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one projection is adapted to fit and/or sit on an inner surface of the seat.

16. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connection member comprises at least one shoulder, wing or hook and/or the connection member comprises a pair of shoulders, wings or hooks.

17. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one shoulder, wing or hook is adapted to move around and/or rotate around or about an outer surface of the seat.

18. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

in the retained position, at least a portion of the seat is located between the at least one projection and the at least one shoulder, wing or hook; and

in the non-retained position the seat is not located between the at least one projection and the at least one shoulder, wing or hook.

20. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the apparatus is adapted for connection to, and/or mounting on or in a structure, such as a floating structure, an offshore structure, a vessel, or an anchor and/or wherein, in use, such as during installation and/or stowage and/or removal, replacement or maintenance of the apparatus, the at least a portion of the connection member is at least partially submerged.

23. A method of configuring a mooring apparatus, wherein the method comprises:

providing a mooring apparatus according to claim 1, the method further comprising;

locating the connection member in the socket and/or on the seat; and

rotating the connection member until the connection member is retained by the or each socket.

24. A method of configuring a mooring apparatus, wherein the method comprises:

providing a mooring apparatus according to claim 1, the method further comprising;

rotating the connection member until the connection member is not retained by the socket; and

moving the connection member from the seat.

25. A system for attaching a mooring line to a structure, the system comprising a mooring apparatus according to claim 1.

26. The system for attaching a mooring line to a structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the system comprises a mooring line and optionally wherein:

at least a portion of the mooring line comprises a chain, such as a flexible/bendable chain, and/or the mooring line is connected to the connection member.

28. The system for attaching a mooring line to a structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the system comprises a structure such as a subsea structure, or an anchor, and optionally wherein the structure comprises at least one socket.

31. The system for attaching a mooring line to a structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein, in use, the connection member is lowered onto and or/into the or each socket by the mooring line until the connection member engages with the seat and the connection member is rotated within the or each socket until the connection member is in a retained position.

33. The mooring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of:

a distal end of the connection member is adapted for connection to a lifting wire; and

/or

the apparatus comprises a fastening device located at a distal end of the connection member.

2. (canceled)

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