Patent US3901040A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3901040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collision bumper for offshore structures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-07
•
Granted: 1975-08-26
•
Expires: 1994-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An offshore installation includes means to absorb or resist vessel collision forces. It includes a heavy bumper suspended by upright beam flexures which are in turn supported at their upper ends above the bumper; in addition, lateral supports locally resist lateral displacement of the flexure beams below the upper supports and above the bumper, so that the flexures may desirably bend throughout their lengths. The connections of the beam flexures to the upper supports and to the bumper may be such as to allow rotation of the flexures about upright axes in response to initial sideward displacement of the bumper, and into flexure positions accommodating their bending as described so that protection from vessel collision in any azimuth direction is afforded.
Inventors
- 👤 William A Sandberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:44
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/20; E02B3/26; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
In an offshore installation including support structure standing upright in water, the combination comprising a. bumper means extending sidewardly of and about said structure in spaced relation thereto, b. upright flexure beam means suspending said bumper means, said flexure beam means including a series of beam flexures spaced about said structure and tapering downwardly toward the bumper means, c. first support means suspending the upper extents of said beam flexures, d. lateral support means blocking lateral displacement of the beam flexures below the level of the first support means and above the bumper means while allowing bending of the beam flexures both above and below the second support means, e. said first and lateral support means carried by said structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an offshore installation including support structure standing upright in water, the combination comprising a. bumper means extending sidewardly of and about said structure in spaced relation thereto, b. upright flexure beam means suspending said bumper means, said flexure beam means including a series of beam flexures spaced about said structure and tapering downwardly toward the bumper means, c. first support means suspending the upper extents of said beam flexures, d. lateral support means blocking lateral displacement of the beam flexures below the level of the first support means and above the bumper means while allowing bending of the beam flexures both above and below the second support means, e. said first and lateral support means carried by said structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said first support means includes for each beam flexure a rotary bearing having a generally upright axis to accommodate beam flexure rotation about that axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said bumper extends in a loop about said structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said lateral support means includes a series of lateral supports spaced about said structure and providing generally vertical openings through which said beam flexures respectively freely extend, said openings located at a common horizontal level and above the major lengths of the flexures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said rotary bearing includes a bearing supported rotary plate to which said flexure has connection via a central auxiliary bearing accommodating tilting of the flexure at the plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein each flexure comprises a series of side-by-side stacked and interconnected upright leaves, the lower ends of different leaves terminating at successively higher elevations above the bumper means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said second supports define circular openings, there being bearing elements on the flexures and received in said openings to tilt and rotate therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the lower extents of the flexures have eccentric rotary connection with the bumper means so as to be self energized to rotate, into bending orientation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said structure comprises a heavy upright cylindrical shell about which said bumper extends, circularly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination fo claim 3 including a reinforcement ring at the periphery of said loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an offshore installation including structure standing upright in the water, the combination comprising a. a loop-shaped bumper extending sidewardly of and about said structure in sidewardly spaced relation thereto, b. longitudinally upright beam flexures suspending said bumper, c. upper supports suspending the beam flexures for bodily rotation about upright axes, d. lateral supports blocking lateral displacement of the flexures at a common level below the upper supports and above the bumper while allowing lateral bending of the flexures, the major lengths of the flexures located below that common level, e. said upper and lateral supports carried by said structure, f. there being means connecting the flexures to the bumper characterized in that the flexures are caused to rotate about said axes and into position to flex laterally and yieldably resist lateral displacement of the bumper means, in response to such bumper lateral displacement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an offshore installation including structure standing upright in the water, the combination comprising a. a loop-shaped bumper extending sidewardly of and about said structure in sidewardly spaced relation thereto, b. longitudinally upright beam flexures suspending said bumper, c. upper supports suspending the beam flexures for bodily rotation about upright axes, d. lateral supports blocking lateral displacement of the flexures at a common level below the upper supports and above the bumper while allowing lateral bending of the flexures, the major lengths of the flexures located below that common level, e. said upper and lateral supports carried by said structure, f. there being means connecting the flexures to the bumper characterized in that the flexures are caused to rotate about said axes and into position to flex laterally and yieldably resist lateral displacement of the bumper means, in response to such bumper lateral displacement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the flexure beams are alike and have cross sections which diminish in a downward direction below said lateral support means and characterized in that the section modulus of each flexure beam varies along the beam length at about the same rate as the change in bending moment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein the flexure beams are alike to have cross sections which diminish in a downward direction below said lateral supports and characterized in that the section modulus of each flexure beam varies along the beam length at about the same rate as the change in bending moment.
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) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |