Floating structure using mechanical braking
First Claim
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1. A structure for floating over a seabed and being subject to resonant oscillatory heave in response to wave action, comprising:
- at least one long member extending from said seabed, said long member having a bottom end fixed to said seabed and an upper end suspended from said structure;
first means coupled between said long member and said structure for applying a tension force to said long member;
second means for generating frictional coulomb damping forces on said structure when it moves vertically in an upward direction, thereby preventing excessive platform heave near resonance; and
third means for deactivating said second means when said structure heaves down.
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Abstract
The floating structure has a structural frame and a long member which has a lower end anchored to the seabed. The structural frame has limited heave motion relative to the long member. An extensible tensioner is between the frame and the long member. Mechanical brakes apply braking forces against the long member only when the floating structure heaves up. The brakes are inactive when the floating structure heaves down.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A structure for floating over a seabed and being subject to resonant oscillatory heave in response to wave action, comprising:
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at least one long member extending from said seabed, said long member having a bottom end fixed to said seabed and an upper end suspended from said structure; first means coupled between said long member and said structure for applying a tension force to said long member; second means for generating frictional coulomb damping forces on said structure when it moves vertically in an upward direction, thereby preventing excessive platform heave near resonance; and third means for deactivating said second means when said structure heaves down. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A structure for floating over a seabed and being subject to resonant oscillatory heave in response to wave action, comprising:
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at least one long member extending from said seabed, said long member having a bottom end fixed to said seabed and an upper end suspended from said structure; first means coupled between said long member and said structure for applying a tension force to said long member; and second means for generating frictional coulomb damping forces on said structure only when it moves vertically in an upward direction, thereby increasing said tension in said long member and preventing excessive platform heave near resonance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A structure for floating over a seabed and being subject to resonant oscillatory heave in response to wave action;
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at least one long member having a bottom end anchored to said seabed and a top end suspended from said structure; first means for applying a tension force to said long member; second means for generating frictional coulomb damping forces when said floating structure heaves up, said frictional forces increasing said tension in said long member; third means for deactivating said second means when said structure heaves down; and said third means including motion sensing means for activating said brakes when said floating structure heaves up.
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Specification