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:
Mar. 25, 2003
Filed:
May. 16, 2001
Brian N. Munk, Houston, TX (US);
Rockford D. Lyle, Pinehurst, TX (US);
Joseph W. Pallini, Tomball, TX (US);
Glenn Wald, Spring, TX (US);
ABB Vetco Gray Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A connection between a riser and a receptacle of a floating platform may be preloaded to reduce fatigue. The platform has a receptacle with upper and lower grooved profiles. A hanger is connected to the upper end of the riser. The hanger has a latch that engages the lower grooved profile in the receptacle to resist downward pull of the riser. A tieback connection inserts from above into the receptacle. The tieback connection has an outer member that lands on the hanger. The outer member has a latch that engages the upper grooved profile. The tieback connection also has an inner member with a set of internal threads. Threads on the inner member engage threads on the latch, rotating the inner member relative to the outer member exerts an outward force on the tieback connection latch. As the latch is pushed into the tieback grooved profile, a downward preload force is created, which passes to the hanger latch. In another version, radial preload is provided by a deflectable lip that engages the receptacle below the hanger latch.