Deck-to-column connection for extendable draft platform
First Claim
1. An arrangement for securing the deck of an extendable draft platform (EDP) to a buoyancy column that is installed in a leg well in the deck for vertical movement within the leg well from a raised position to a submerged position, the arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of first guide elements near the top of the column;
a plurality of complementary second guide elements secured to the deck around the leg well, each of which is configured and located so as to engage an associated one of the first guide elements when the column is lowered to its submerged position; and
a locking mechanism that is operable to restrict the motion of the column relative to the deck when the first guide elements are engaged with the second guide elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An extendable draft platform, having a deck and buoyancy columns installed in leg wells in the deck for vertical movement from a raised position to a submerged position, includes a connection arrangement for securing the columns to the deck when the columns are in the submerged position. In the connection arrangement, a plurality of first guide elements near the top of each column is engageable by a plurality of complementary second guide elements secured to the deck around each leg well when the column is lowered to its submerged position. A locking mechanism is operable between the columns and the deck when the first guide elements are engaged with the second guide elements. The first and second guide elements may be configured so that the connection between the deck and the columns may be enhanced by over-ballasting the columns and/or by welding the columns to the deck.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An arrangement for securing the deck of an extendable draft platform (EDP) to a buoyancy column that is installed in a leg well in the deck for vertical movement within the leg well from a raised position to a submerged position, the arrangement comprising:
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a plurality of first guide elements near the top of the column; a plurality of complementary second guide elements secured to the deck around the leg well, each of which is configured and located so as to engage an associated one of the first guide elements when the column is lowered to its submerged position; and a locking mechanism that is operable to restrict the motion of the column relative to the deck when the first guide elements are engaged with the second guide elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an extendable draft platform (EDP) having a deck and a plurality of buoyancy columns, each of which is mounted for vertical movement within a leg well through the deck, wherein each column includes a plurality of radially-movable locking members arranged circumferentially thereon, and wherein the deck includes a plurality of locking member engagement elements arranged circumferentially around each of the leg wells in circumferential positions corresponding to the positions of the locking members, a method of installing the EDP at a selected site in a body of water, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of first guide elements near the top of each column and providing a plurality of complementary second guide elements around each of the leg wells; (b) ballasting the columns to move them downward in the leg wells from a fully raised position to a fully lowered position in which the first and second guide elements come into engagement; (c) locking the columns to the deck after the columns are moved to their fully lowered position by moving the locking members radially outward into a locking engagement with the locking member engagement elements; and (d) over-ballasting the columns to create a compressive engagement between the first and second guide elements. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. In an extendable draft platform (EDP), of the type including a deck and a plurality of buoyancy columns installed in leg wells in the deck for vertical movement from a raised position to a submerged position, the improvement comprising:
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a plurality of first guide elements near the top of each of the columns; a plurality of complementary second guide elements fixed to the deck around each of the leg wells, each of the second guide elements being configured and located so as to engage an associated one of the first guide elements when the column is lowered to its submerged position; a plurality of radially-movable locking members arranged circumferentially on each of the columns; a plurality of locking member engagement elements on the deck and arranged around each of the leg wells in circumferential positions corresponding to the positions of the locking members; and a locking member actuation mechanism operable on the locking members so as to move the locking members radially outward into a locking engagement with the locking member engagement elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In an extendable draft platform (EDP), of the type having a deck and a plurality of buoyancy columns installed in leg wells in the deck for vertical movement from a raised position to a submerged position, the improvement comprising:
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a plurality of radial bulkheads extending vertically from the top of each column, each of the bulkheads having a first guide element defined between an upper edge and a radially outer end; and a cap beam having a plurality of radial arms having circumferential positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of the bulkheads, each of the arms defining a second guide element located so as to be engageable by one of the first guide elements, each of the arms terminating in a radial outer end that is secured to the deck around the leg well and defining a second guide element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. In an extendable draft platform (EDP) having a deck and a plurality of buoyancy columns, each of which is mounted for vertical movement within a leg well through the deck, a method of installing the EDP at a selected site in a body of water, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of first guide elements near the top of each column and providing a plurality of complementary second guide elements around each of the leg wells; (b) ballasting the columns to move them downward in the leg wells from a fully raised position to a fully lowered position in which the first and second guide elements come into engagement; (c) guiding the columns to center them in their respective leg wells; and (d) locking the columns to the deck. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification