Hydroelastic suspension device for mobile self-lift drilling platforms

Claim 1

A suspension device for a mobile self-lift drilling platform, comprising: a water-tight chamber filled with a pressurized liquid and having a side wall comprising at least a tubular elastomeric element, with substantially vertical axis, for providing the deformability of this chamber under the effect of the load supported by legs of the platform; means to which said tubular elastomeric element is secured for translationally and rotationally guiding its axial, lateral and angular deformations, respectively, under the effect of said load as well as that of possible accidental shocks; stop means for limiting the axial deformation of said tubular elastomeric element; said means for guiding the deformation of said tubular elastomeric element comprised of: substantially horizontal upper and lower metal bases; an inner tubular metal guide frame secured to said substantially horizontal upper metal base, and an outer tubular metal guide frame having an annular collar and secured to said substantially horizontal lower metal base through said annular collar; metal fins reinforcing said outer guide frame supported by said annular collar, said inner and outer guide frames being coaxial with said tubular elastomeric element, which separates them and to which they are secured; said upper and lower bases being intended to transmit said loads and said accidental shocks respectively to the inner and outer guide frames, while defining said water-tight chamber in cooperation with these guide frames and said tubular elastomeric element; said stop means consisting of a laminated elastomer structure, so deformable, formed by a stack of elastomer layers of predetermined thickness alternating with metal plates to which they are adhered, said laminated structure housed inside said deformable water-tight chamber and secured to said lower base thereof and having an end with an upper metal plate comprising ribs, in the form of concentric rings, intended to abut against said upper base of said deformable chamber and provided with orifices allowing communication between a volume of said chamber situated inside these ribs and a volume of said same chamber situated outside thereof.