Hybrid winch with controlled release and torque impulse generation control for anchor handling offshore
First Claim
1. A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel, the system comprising:
- an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel;
an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch;
a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch;
an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable;
an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable; and
a winch controller for selectively applying the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch, whereby the winch controller being configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of the anchor cable in case of loss of the generated power;
a torque control processor;
an input/output port for connecting the electric winch to the winch controller; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium in data communication with the torque control processor and comprising a computer program having executable instructions to;
determine if the electric generator power failed;
measure tension on the anchor cable attached to the electric winch and the anchor when the electric generator power has failed; and
adjust torque of the electric winch pulling the anchor cable for controlled release thereof by providing stored power from the battery.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel comprises an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel, an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch, a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch, an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable, an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable and a winch controller for selectively applying the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch. The winch controller is configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of the anchor cable in case of loss of the generated power.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel, the system comprising:
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an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel; an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch; a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch; an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable; an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable; and a winch controller for selectively applying the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch, whereby the winch controller being configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of the anchor cable in case of loss of the generated power; a torque control processor; an input/output port for connecting the electric winch to the winch controller; and a non-transitory computer readable medium in data communication with the torque control processor and comprising a computer program having executable instructions to; determine if the electric generator power failed; measure tension on the anchor cable attached to the electric winch and the anchor when the electric generator power has failed; and adjust torque of the electric winch pulling the anchor cable for controlled release thereof by providing stored power from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel, the system comprising:
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an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel; an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch; a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch; an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable; an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable; and a winch controller comprising; a torque control processor; an input/output port for connecting the electric winch to the winch controller; and a non-transitory computer readable medium in data communication with the torque control processor and comprising a computer program having executable instructions to selectively apply the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch, whereby the winch controller being configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of tension on the anchor cable in case of loss of the generated power. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a winch system associated with an anchor handling vessel by executing a computer program stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium of a torque control processor connected to an electric winch thereof, the computer program having executable instructions which when executed performs the steps of:
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determining at the winch controller if an acceptable stability parameter for the anchor handling vessel is exceeded; and adjusting the torque on the electric winch until the acceptable stability parameters for the anchor handling vessel is not exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification