Patent US4439055A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4439055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Anchor connector
Assignee: Vetco Gray LLC
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Filing: 1982-01-25
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Granted: 1984-03-27
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Expires: 2002-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An anchor connector incorporating a flexible joint (16) for securing the tension legs (14) of a tensioned leg platform. A latch dog head (34) engages a first recess (26) on the fixed member (22) of the flexible joint and a template recess (30) to prevent disconnection when the dog heads (34) and latch carrier (40) are in a lower position. With the latch carrier (40) in an upper position the latch dog heads (34) fit within a second recess (44) in the fixed member with the dog heads claring shoulder (32) of template recess (30), whereby the connector may be released.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel F. Quigg
- 👤 Darrell L. Jones
- 👤 Richard G. McFerron
- 👤 James L. Bell, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:56
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B21/502; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/16; Y10T403/1616; Y10T403/1624; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32713; Y10T403/60; Y10T403/602; Y10T403/604; Y10T403/608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
An anchor connector for connecting a tension leg of a tensioned leg platform to a subsea template comprising: A flexible joint having a universally pivotable member for connection to the tension leg, and a fixed member; said fixed member having a first circumferential recess on its outer diameter at an elevation above the pivot center of said flexible joint with an upwardly facing shoulder at its lower end, and a second circumferential recess on its outer diameter, above, contiguous with, and deeper than said first recess; a cylindrical template receptacle having an annular circumferential template recess on its inner diameter with a downwardly facing shoulder at its upper end; a latch carrier free to move between an upper position and an lower position with respect to said flexible joint; a plurality of latch dogs pivotally connected to said latch carrier, and having a dog head at the upper end of each; said dogs, template recess, and first recess being sized such that in the lower latch carrier position said dog head must engage both the upwardly facing shoulder of said first recess and the downwardly facing shoulder of said template recess on upward movement of said flexible joint; and said dogs and said second recess being sized such that in the upper latch carrier position said dog head fits within said second recess sufficiently for said dogs to clear said downwardly facing shoulder of said template recess on upward movement of said flexible joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
An anchor connector for connecting a tension leg of a tensioned leg platform to a subsea template comprising: A flexible joint having a universally pivotable member for connection to the tension leg, and a fixed member; said fixed member having a first circumferential recess on its outer diameter at an elevation above the pivot center of said flexible joint with an upwardly facing shoulder at its lower end, and a second circumferential recess on its outer diameter, above, contiguous with, and deeper than said first recess; a cylindrical template receptacle having an annular circumferential template recess on its inner diameter with a downwardly facing shoulder at its upper end; a latch carrier free to move between an upper position and an lower position with respect to said flexible joint; a plurality of latch dogs pivotally connected to said latch carrier, and having a dog head at the upper end of each; said dogs, template recess, and first recess being sized such that in the lower latch carrier position said dog head must engage both the upwardly facing shoulder of said first recess and the downwardly facing shoulder of said template recess on upward movement of said flexible joint; and said dogs and said second recess being sized such that in the upper latch carrier position said dog head fits within said second recess sufficiently for said dogs to clear said downwardly facing shoulder of said template recess on upward movement of said flexible joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: having also means for camming said dogs outwardly on downward movement of said latch carrier with respect to said fixed member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for camming said dogs outwardly comprises a downwardly and outwardly extending surface at the lower end of said second recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: wherein said latch dogs have the center of gravity thereof outboard of the pivotal connection of said latch carrier and said dogs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: having also means for camming said latch dogs inwardly on upward movement of said latch dogs with respect to said flexible joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said means for camming inwardly comprises a cap at the upper edge of said second recess having a downwardly facing surface extending upwardly toward the inboard portion of said connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: having means for restraining outward movement of said latch dogs from outward movement at a location just beyond that required to engage said first recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as in claim 7: said fixed member having a stop with relation to said latch carrier at a position slightly below said lower position, said stop being located such that said latch dog heads are not fully disengaged from said first recess when said latch carrier bottoms against said stop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 3: wherein said latch dogs have the center of gravity thereof outboard of the pivotal connection of said latch carrier and said dogs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as in claim 9: having a cap at the upper edge of said second recess having a downwardly facing surface extending upwardly toward the inboard portion of said connector, for camming said latch dogs inwardly on upward movement of said latch dogs with respect to said flexible joint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: having means for restraining outward movement of said latch dogs from outward movement at a location just beyond that required to engage said first recess; said fixed member having a stop with relation to said latch carrier at a position slightly below said lower position, said stop being located such that said latch dog heads are not fully disengaged from said first recess when said latch carrier bottoms against said stop.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus as in any one of claims 1-11: wherein said fixed member has a circumferential outside bearing surface at a lower elevation for interaction with said template receptacle, said latch dogs being pivotally connected to said latch carrier inboard of said bearing surface, said fixed member having a solid ring adjacent said first recess and being slotted for passage of said latch dogs at an elevation between said first recess and said bearing surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-27 | 1987-09-26 | 1988-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-27 | 1991-09-26 | 1992-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-27 | 1995-09-26 | 1996-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |