US3774562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
360{20 {11 rotary anchoring system with differential drive capability
Assignee: Global Marine Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-12
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A mooring system for a vessel has two independently drivable positioning bases in the form of rings. An upper of these rings carries the mooring chain winches and is disposed at the upper end of a moonpool in the vessel. The lower of the rings is at the bottom of the moonpool and carries fairleads for the anchor chains. Small positional changes of, say, one or two degrees required in the heading of a moored ship are accommodated by rotation of the vessel with respect to the bottom ring. Larger heading changes require the use of the ship''s positioning system in conjunction with the upper and lower positioning rings which are then synchronized together.
Inventors
- 👤 J Dean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:49
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B21/507
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An improved mooring system for drilling vessels and the like comprising: a. a vessel having anchor chains; b. a moonpool in the vessel; c. a lower rotation base in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; d. an upper rotation base in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; e. drive means for the upper and lower rotation bases operable to drive the lower rotation base independently of the upper rotation base and to drive the two together; and f. means for transmitting lateral thrust loads from the anchor chains to the lower rotation base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An improved mooring system for drilling vessels and the like comprising: a. a vessel having anchor chains; b. a moonpool in the vessel; c. a lower rotation base in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; d. an upper rotation base in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; e. drive means for the upper and lower rotation bases operable to drive the lower rotation base independently of the upper rotation base and to drive the two together; and f. means for transmitting lateral thrust loads from the anchor chains to the lower rotation base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved mooring system claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for transmitting lateral thrust loads to the lower rotation base includes a fairlead for each of the anchor chains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved mooring system claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper and the lower rotation bases are rotationally coupled to the vessel through respective sets of roller means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mooring system claimed in claim 3 wherein the upper rotation base includes a generally ring-like member horizontally disposed with respect to the vessel to transmit vertical downward forces applied to the upper rotational base through the roller means of the upper rotation base to the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a drilling vessel or the like, an improved mooring system comprising: a. a moonpool; b. a lower rotation base disposed in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; c. an upper rotation base disposed above the lower rotation base in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; d. a plurality of mooring winches disposed on the upper rotation base; e. an anchor chain operably coupled to each of the mooring winches, the anchor chain being extendable through the moonpool and the upper and lower rotation bases; f. means for transmitting lateral thrust loads from the anchor chains to the lower rotation base; g. drive means for the lower rotation base and the upper rotation base operable to drive the lower rotation base independently of the upper rotation base to rotate a ship about the lower rotation base while the upper rotation base rotates with the ship; and h. independent ship heading positioning means for changing the heading of a ship when a change in the heading is of a relatively large magnitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a drilling vessel or the like, an improved mooring system comprising: a. a moonpool; b. a lower rotation base disposed in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; c. an upper rotation base disposed above the lower rotation base in the moonpool and coupled to the vessel for rotation with respect thereto; d. a plurality of mooring winches disposed on the upper rotation base; e. an anchor chain operably coupled to each of the mooring winches, the anchor chain being extendable through the moonpool and the upper and lower rotation bases; f. means for transmitting lateral thrust loads from the anchor chains to the lower rotation base; g. drive means for the lower rotation base and the upper rotation base operable to drive the lower rotation base independently of the upper rotation base to rotate a ship about the lower rotation base while the upper rotation base rotates with the ship; and h. independent ship heading positioning means for changing the heading of a ship when a change in the heading is of a relatively large magnitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The mooring system claimed in claim 5 wherein the means for transmitting lateral thrust loads to the lower rotation base includes a plurality of fairleads attached to the lower rotation base with one of the fairleads being associated with each one of the anchor chains to transmit lateral thrust loads therefrom to the lower rotation base and to the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mooring system claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper and the lower rotation bases are rotationally coupled to the vessel through respective sets of roller means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mooring system claimed in claim 7 wherein the upper rotation base includes a generally ring-like member horizontally disposed with respect to the vessel to transmit vertical downward forces applied to the upper rotational base through the roller means of the upper rotation base to the vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |