Chicago Bridge & Iron Company

Cbi Offshore, Inc.

James A Orndorff, Jr

John S Andrepont

Robert S Wozniak

William A Owen

David R Hale

An offshore exploratory drilling floatable structure ballastable to rest on a sea floor but to extend above water level when so supported and adapted to withstand arctic ice loads, comprising a substantially vertical wall capable of withstanding arctic ice loads; a structural load bearing bottom rigidly connected to a lower portion of the wall; and a floatable vertically displaceable load bearing structural deck inside the wall.

Mobile offshore structure for arctic exploratory drilling

A quick-disconnect locking system for interconnecting sections of a rigid yoke structure comprises a female truncated cone adapted to be connected at its narrow end to one section of a two-piece yoke assembly, and a male truncated cone which is nestable within the female cone and is adapted to be connected at its larger end to the other section of the yoke. When locked, the male and female cones are closely nested and are locked together by a plurality of shear keys which project radially out of the larger end of the male cone into a continuous channel on the inner face of a locking ring attached to the larger end of the female cone. To unlock the assembly, the shear keys are withdrawn radially into the male cone, thus permitting the cone structures to be disengaged. For facilitating nesting of the cones, the smaller end of the male cone is provided with retractable means which engages the female cone and draws the two cones into a closely nested position. Separation of the cones is also aided by the same mechanism which is operated in a reverse direction to push the cones apart.

Rigid mooring arm quick disconnect

A 'quick-disconnect' rigid mooring system for attaching a ship to a buoyant tower comprises two rigid yoke structures, one of which is attached to the buoyant tower and the other of which is attached to the ship. Each yoke contains one element of a two-element 'quick-disconnect' system, which when locked, achieves a rigid interconnection between the vessel and the buoyant tower. The yoke structures are provided with means which permit the structures to be properly aigned during the connect and disconnect procedures. The locking element of one of the yokes comprises an arm which projects from the end thereof, and a pair of transversely extending pins situated below the outwardly projecting arm. The locking element of the other yoke comprises a pair of spaced, parallel outwardly projecting arms provided with longitudinal slots that accept the outwardly projecting pins on the other yoke and guide the two yokes into aligned proximity, permitting the lock to be effected.

Growing community of inventors

Glen Ellyn, IL, United States of America

James A Orndorff, Jr