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:
May. 16, 2017
Filed:
Oct. 27, 2015
Sofec, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Stephen P. Lindblade, Waller, TX (US);
SOFEC, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A disconnectable rigid mooring system for attaching a ship to a tower structure includes a yoke releasably connected to a yoke head. The yoke head is pivotally attached to the tower structure and the yoke is arranged and designed to attach to the ship. The yoke and the yoke head each have a mating connector portion arranged and designed to connect the yoke to the yoke head. When the connector portions are engaged and locked, the yoke is securely attached to the yoke head, allowing a rigid interconnection between the ship and the tower structure. During normal operations and in normal sea states, the yoke remains connected to the yoke head pivotally attached to the tower structure. In the event of predicted abnormally high sea states, the yoke may be disconnected from the yoke head by the ship and be secured to the ship and removed prior to the abnormally high sea state event. The yoke and yoke head are provided with alignment guides and mechanisms which permit the yoke and yoke head to be properly aligned during the connect and disconnect procedures.