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:
Apr. 07, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2007
David M. Seaman, Waller, TX (US);
Gordon E. Nettles, Jr., Houston, TX (US);
David M. Seaman, Waller, TX (US);
Gordon E. Nettles, Jr., Houston, TX (US);
SOFEC, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A buoy recovery system for a disconnectable mooring arrangement that permits turret-buoy connection at any compass heading while preventing damage to the pull-in line and the turret assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the mooring tensioning assembly is positioned on the vessel at a location other than on the rotatable turret assembly. This permits the size of the turret assembly to be significantly reduced and the fluid swivel stack to be positioned within the vessel between its deck and keel. The improved buoy recovery system employs a hollow bore hydraulic cylinder assembly that is attached to the turret assembly and configured as a chain tensioning system. The hollow bore hydraulic cylinder assembly is arranged and designed to support the weight of the buoy and permit the turret assembly to be rotated relative to both the vessel and the buoy during mooring operations.