Offshore floating vessel and a method of operating the same
First Claim
1. An offshore floating vessel comprising:
- one or more emergency brakes; and
a hoisting system adapted for suspending a load attached to a connecting device of the floating vessel and for lowering or raising a load connected to the connecting device from the floating vessel to or from the sea floor;
the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device, and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;
wherein the hoisting system is configured to be selectively operated at least in a hoisting mode and in an active heave compensation mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the active heave compensation mode and to operate without active heave compensation when operated in the hoisting mode;
wherein when the hoisting system is operating in either the hoisting mode or in the active heave compensation mode, the one or more emergency brakes are in an enabled mode wherein the one or more emergency brakes operate in a de-energized state where, in the event of a malfunction, the one or more emergency brakes engage so as to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel, and, when there is no malfunction, the one or more emergency brakes operate in an energized state where the one or more emergency brakes are not engaged and do not inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;
wherein the hoisting system is further operable in a fixed-to-bottom mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation, and when the hoisting system is operating in the fixed-to-bottom mode, the one or more emergency brakes are in a non-enabled mode and are prohibited from engaging and cannot inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An offshore floating vessel includes a hoisting system including a drive for moving connecting device and emergency brakes to inhibit motion of the connecting device; wherein the hoisting system is to be operated at least in a hoisting mode and in an active heave compensation mode; wherein hoisting system is to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the active heave compensation mode and to operate without active heave compensation when operated in the hoisting mode; wherein the emergency brakes are operable in a normally-energized mode including a de-energized state where the emergency brakes engage so as to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel; wherein the hoisting system is operable in a fixed-to-bottom mode; wherein the hoisting system is to perform an active heave compensation when operated in fixed-to-bottom mode; and wherein the hoisting system is adapted to prevent the emergency brakes from engaging.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An offshore floating vessel comprising:
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one or more emergency brakes; and a hoisting system adapted for suspending a load attached to a connecting device of the floating vessel and for lowering or raising a load connected to the connecting device from the floating vessel to or from the sea floor;
the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device, and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;wherein the hoisting system is configured to be selectively operated at least in a hoisting mode and in an active heave compensation mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the active heave compensation mode and to operate without active heave compensation when operated in the hoisting mode; wherein when the hoisting system is operating in either the hoisting mode or in the active heave compensation mode, the one or more emergency brakes are in an enabled mode wherein the one or more emergency brakes operate in a de-energized state where, in the event of a malfunction, the one or more emergency brakes engage so as to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel, and, when there is no malfunction, the one or more emergency brakes operate in an energized state where the one or more emergency brakes are not engaged and do not inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel; wherein the hoisting system is further operable in a fixed-to-bottom mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation, and when the hoisting system is operating in the fixed-to-bottom mode, the one or more emergency brakes are in a non-enabled mode and are prohibited from engaging and cannot inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20)
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4. An offshore floating vessel, comprising one or more emergency brakes and a hoisting system adapted for suspending a load attached to a connecting device of the floating vessel and for lowering or raising a load connected to the connecting device from the floating vessel to or from the sea floor;
- the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device, and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;
wherein the hoisting system is configured to be operated at least in a hoisting mode and in an active heave compensation mode;
wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the active heave compensation mode and to operate without active heave compensation when operated in the hoisting mode;wherein the one or more emergency brakes are operable in a normally-energized mode including a de-energized state where the one or more emergency brakes engage so as to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel; wherein the hoisting system is further operable in a fixed-to-bottom mode;
wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the fixed-to-bottom mode; and
wherein the hoisting system is adapted to prevent the one or more emergency brakes, at least temporarily, from engaging;wherein the one or more emergency brakes are hydraulic brakes;
wherein the hoisting system comprises a hydraulic system configured to maintain the one or more emergency brakes in a disengaged state by applying a hydraulic pressure to each of said emergency brakes by means of a pressurized fluid;
wherein the hydraulic system comprises a plurality of accumulator reservoirs for accommodating hydraulic fluid, each accumulator reservoir being in fluid communication with one of the emergency brakes via a respective conduit so as to provide hydraulic pressure to the corresponding emergency brake during a failure of the hydraulic system;
wherein each conduit comprises a valve for selectively opening and closing the conduit; and
wherein the hoisting system is operable to set each of said valves in an open position only when the hoisting system is operated in the fixed-to-bottom mode. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 12)
- the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device, and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;
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14. An offshore floating vessel comprising one or more emergency brakes and a hoisting system adapted for suspending a load attached to a connecting device of the floating vessel and for lowering or raising a load connected to the connecting device from the floating vessel to or from the sea floor;
- the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;
wherein said one or more emergency brakes are selectively operable in an enabled state and a disabled state and wherein the hoisting system is configured to be operated at least in; (i) an active heave compensation mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation and with said one or more emergency brakes in the enabled state; (ii) a hoisting mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform without an active heave compensation and with said one or more emergency brakes in the enabled state; and (iii) a fixed-to-bottom mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation and with said one or more emergency brakes in a disabled state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
- the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;
Specification