The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 17, 1997
Pieter G Wybro, Houston, TX (US);
Sea Engineering Associates, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Amclyde Engineered Products, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A passive riser tensioner apparatus for tensioning riser pipes on floating platforms and tension leg platforms utilizes one or more elongate elastic tensioning elements connected at top and bottom ends to the upper end of a riser pipe that are capable of being axially stretched. Each tensioning element has a threaded length adjustment rod and tension preload nut at its top end which adjusts the axial length to produce a predetermined preload tension force in the tensioning element between its connection to the riser pipe. A riser support collar slidably received on the length adjustment rod and riser pipe upper end is configured to be supported on the deck of the platform and allow axial movement of the riser pipe. A tension locking nut on the length adjustment rod releasably engages the length adjustment rod with the riser support collar when it is supported on the deck. The tension preload nut is rotated to stretch the tensioning element to produce the preload tension force prior to supporting the riser support collar on the deck. The tension locking nut is then rotated to engage the length adjustment rod with the riser support collar such that the predetermined preload tension force is transmitted between the bottom end of the tensioning element and the collar when supported on the deck. The riser is supported at its upper end by the deck and maintained in a tensioned condition by the tensioning elements while allowing a limited amount of relative movement between the deck and the riser pipe upper end.