EP2596266A2 - Self-aligning socket for mooring cable - Google Patents

Self-aligning socket for mooring cable

Info

Publication number
EP2596266A2
EP2596266A2 EP11744036.2A EP11744036A EP2596266A2 EP 2596266 A2 EP2596266 A2 EP 2596266A2 EP 11744036 A EP11744036 A EP 11744036A EP 2596266 A2 EP2596266 A2 EP 2596266A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cable
sleeve
socket
self
bushing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP11744036.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pierre-François BARON
Benjamin Coutaz
Serge Bisceglie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ArcelorMittal Wire France SA
Original Assignee
ArcelorMittal Wire France SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ArcelorMittal Wire France SA filed Critical ArcelorMittal Wire France SA
Publication of EP2596266A2 publication Critical patent/EP2596266A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B63B21/04—Fastening or guiding equipment for chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G11/00—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G11/00—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
    • F16G11/02—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G11/00—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
    • F16G11/04—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps
    • F16G11/042—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps using solidifying liquid material forming a wedge
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G11/00—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
    • F16G11/04—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps
    • F16G11/044—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps friction clamps deforming the cable, wire, rope or cord
    • F16G11/048—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps friction clamps deforming the cable, wire, rope or cord by moving a surface into the cable

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of mooring cables, in particular those used in the maritime environment. More specifically, it relates to an end socket for mooring line cables, in particular of the catenary type of offshore mooring for anchoring floating bulk elements of offshore oil exploitation systems, without being limited thereto.
  • mooring cables also known as catenaries, are used as high-tensile linkages for the anchorage of the offshore.
  • floating solid elements such as offshore platforms, loading buoys, or immersed levels of surface riser systems (SPAR, Riser tower System).
  • the mooring cables are connected by their end sleeves, (associated or not with connecting pieces) on the one hand to a fixed device anchored on the seabed, and secondly, to the floating element to be anchored.
  • mooring lines with end sleeves, clevis type, handle, or eye are known.
  • a sleeve is essentially constituted by a hollow body of frustoconical general shape forming a cup and having, at its widest end, ears (or a plate) pierced with a bore for receiving a connecting pin or a Oval handle intended for the connection with the system to be anchored.
  • the culnage cell has a blocking function and receives for this purpose an end of the mooring cable whose strands were previously spread in sheaf, before being filled with a material casting which, after solidification, permanently solidifies the cable and the socket.
  • Anchorage systems and cable-based moorings should therefore be designed and constructed to take into account these conditions of use. In particular, it is necessary to avoid any concentration of repeated bending stresses at the level of the mooring cable portion just at the outlet of its end bushing.
  • the end sockets of the cables equipping the current anchoring systems comprise externally, on the side opposite the arrival of the cable, coupling members ensuring a pivoting attachment of the sleeve to the element to be anchored.
  • a pivoting coupling is thus produced which, under the action of the various stresses to which the anchoring system is subjected, allows movements of alternating rotation of the sleeve around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis thereof.
  • the cable exits freely from the socket, just or relatively short distance from the foot of the shower of development of the son engaged in the culn cavity.
  • the The weight of the bushing is largely sufficient to drive the latter in partial rotational movements about its pivot axis, thus print parasitic bending stresses to the portion of cable located out of the culnage cavity.
  • Such a stiffener intended to allow the socket to self-align with its cable, typically takes the form of a sleeve installed around the cable e socket outlet and whose stiffness and thickness are decreasing as and when as one moves away from it.
  • the stiffener thus sees its flexibility increase from its large base to its tip, thus reducing, ma to reduce only, the sometimes severe risks of parasite bending of the cable out of its end socket.
  • the present invention is specifically intended to provide a new type of self-aligning end sleeve for mooring line cables constituting anchoring systems may be subject to strong cyclic variations in geometry and constraints during of use.
  • the first object of the invention is a self-aligning bushing desl born to be mounted at the end of a mooring cable for an arage system of a movable solid element, the bushing comprising:
  • a socket body having an internal cavity comprising a guide rope of the mooring cable, an intermediate section and a veeole pellet for receiving and blocking the ends of the strands of the mooring cable, and
  • the implementation of the invention has the primary effect of forcing the permanent maintenance of the sleeve in line with the cable that carries it.
  • This result is mainly due to the presence of a cable guide chamber within the body of the sleeve, which plays, in fact, the role of an internal stiffener thanks to its inner wall that comes into contact with the cable like a holding envelope.
  • a shape-holding sleeve complementary to the guide chamber can be inserted to receive the mooring cable.
  • a shape-holding sleeve complementary to the guide chamber can be inserted to receive the mooring cable.
  • the center of gravity G of the bushing is at the intermediate section, and therefore in the vicinity of its pivot axis, or even on this pivot axis or between the pivot axis and the beginning of the guiding chamber.
  • the axis of pivoting of the sleeve relative to the elements to which it is connected is thus in the immediate vicinity of the point of application on the sleeve of the tensile forces transmitted by the cable during its use within the anchoring system. In this way, it avoids any effect of "lever arm" which would be exerted at the level of the sleeve itself by imparting a proper movement of rotation around its pivot.
  • the invention also has for its second object, an offshore mooring cable provided at at least one of its ends with a self-aligning bushing according to the invention, the cable being provided with a waterproof sheath enveloping an assembly of steel or synthetic materials or their combinations.
  • Such a self-aligning sleeve is of course suitable for the equipment of metal cable ends, generally used in various anchoring or mooring systems, including those usually implemented in the offshore oil field.
  • composite cables consisting of a steel strand and synthetic materials, or consist solely of a strand of synthetic materials, such cables having a bending stiffness much less than that a cable purely composed of a strand of steel wire.
  • the coupling members comprise a pair of journals extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.
  • Such pins allow a pivotal connection by engaging for example in housings of corresponding diameter provided on the movable member to be anchored or the fixed end point of the line, for example in the form of a bayonet stirrup.
  • the coupling members of the bushing may also take the form of eyelets or circular bores in which trunnions engage. provided on the mobile to be anchored or on the fixed point of end of line.
  • the culnage cell receiving the sheaf of son from the end of the cable prepared for its culottage can be of any form allowing the cable to feel in the socket and its jamming. It is preferred that it be of frustoconical shape.
  • the guiding chamber which precedes the guiding cavity, comprises a flared section in opposition to the flare that can constitute the culnage cell.
  • This arrangement which gives the internal cavity of the socket body a general diabolo shape (that is to say a shape of two inverted cones joined at their apex by a cylindrical zone), makes it possible to facilitate the installation and removal in the guiding chamber of a holding sleeve, preferably rigid, which cooperates with its inner profile to hold the cable.
  • the intermediate section separating the cup and the guiding chamber then has a section narrowed in diameter relative to these two parts.
  • a simple assembly ring mounted at the outlet of the guide chamber makes it possible to immobilize this sleeve in its functional position.
  • this sleeve protects the cable from contact with the metal body of the socket. It is also intended to absorb the slight residual deviations of the cable which would still remain at the end of its end socket.
  • the sleeve has a stiffness and a thickness which decreases as one moves away from the intermediate section.
  • the sleeve thus has a flexibility that increases as you approach the outlet of the sleeve.
  • the invention also relates to a mooring cable at least one end of which is provided with a bushing as defined according to the invention, the cable being preferably sheathed and made of metal wires, made of synthetic material, or a combination of these materials.
  • the bushing 10, shown mounted at the end of a mooring cable 22, essentially comprises a hollow bushing body 12, preferably made of metal, for example of forged, molded, or machined steel.
  • This body 12 of axial symmetry, is of elongate shape along its longitudinal axis 16. In this embodiment, it has an internal cavity 14, open at its ends, generally "diabolo" comprising three successive parts aligned on the longitudinal axis 16 and which are, in order:
  • a culnage cell 20 receiving the end of the cable 22.
  • the culetting cell 20 is here of frustoconical shape, made so as to flare away from the narrowed intermediate section 18 along the axis 16.
  • the narrowed intermediate section 18 is here a median section in which the center of gravity G of the sleeve 10 is located. It is therefore particularly advantageous to provide that the socket body 12 is provided in this zone with coupling members. of the sleeve 10, here journals 30 and 30 ', with the element to be anchored.
  • the guiding chamber 34 extends upstream the sump 20 on the other side of the intermediate section 18.
  • This guide chamber 34, provided with the sleeve 36 closely matches the end of the cable 22 that it receives, in order to fulfill its function of cable stiffener.
  • the mooring cable 22 may be conventionally formed of a helically twisted assembly of strands consisting of individual son, or strands 26 wrapped in a sheath 24. These individual threads, or those strands, are themselves formed of steel son, or synthetic material, or mixed (steel and synthetic materials).
  • the intermediate section 18, whose diameter is the smallest of the internal cavity 14, is of a diameter compatible with the outside diameter of the cable 22 coated with its protective sheath 24.
  • Fixing the bushing 10 to the end of the cable 22 is carried out in the following manner: the bushing 10 is placed on the sheaf formed from the end expansion of the strands 26 of the cable 22, once the naked at the end. It is then poured through the top of the cavity 14 into the chamber 20, forming a cup, a molten metal or a synthetic material 28 which, after solidification and / or hardening, renders the cable and the sleeve definitively secured, by means of obtaining a jamming cone by undercutting effect.
  • the sleeve 10 comprises coupling members adapted to cooperate with corresponding coupling means provided on the element to be anchored.
  • These coupling members are generally designed to provide a pivotal connection, preferably without play or optimized clearance, which will, depending on the different forces to which the anchoring system is subjected, permanent self-alignment of the sleeve with the cable on which she is cheeky.
  • these coupling members are constituted by two opposite journals 30 and 30 'so that their common axis of rotation 32 is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 16 of the sleeve 10 and defines the axis of pivoting. of it.
  • the mobile to be anchored will then include female type coupling means, for example, bayonet brackets in which will engage the pins.
  • the coupling members 30, 30 'of the sleeve 10 are arranged on the socket body 12 so that their axis of rotation 32 passes close to the base of the pellet chamber 20, at the intermediate section 18.
  • the sleeve 10 will be designed so that its center of gravity G, is in this region R, so close to the pivot axis 32, in order to obtain an indifferent balance, or almost indifferent to that- ci during its rotation around the pivot 32.
  • the sleeve 36 is inserted into the flared chamber 34, and its shape is complementary to the latter. After the bushing 10 has been potted on its cable 22, this sleeve 36, made of plastic material, preferably rigid, becomes a holding sleeve arranged around the cable. It then makes it possible to absorb the deviations of the latter which could still be present at the outlet of the bushing and avoids, or very strongly limits, its folding directly at the intermediate zone 18. Suitable materials for the sleeve 36 may be, among others, polyurethanes of various grades.
  • the sleeve 36 is held in the guide chamber 34 by means, here, of a retaining ring 38 fixed to the body 12 by a screw crown 39.
  • sheath 24 of the cable 22 can be locked in place in the socket 10 by means of, for example, circular clips or retaining rings engaging in an annular groove formed in the sheath 24 of the cable.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
  • Ropes Or Cables (AREA)
  • Control And Safety Of Cranes (AREA)
  • Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Piles And Underground Anchors (AREA)

Abstract

Intended primarily to be mounted at the end of a mooring cable of a system for anchoring a mobile solid element, this socket comprises a socket body 12 that has an internal cavity 14 comprising a guide chamber 34 for guiding the mooring cable 22, an intermediate section 18 and a socketing space 20 intended to accept and immobilize the ends of the strands of the mooring cable 22, and coupling members 30, 30' for coupling to the mobile solid element that is to be anchored, these members being positioned on the socket body 12 so as to define an axis of pivoting 32 of the socket body 12 that passes through the intermediate section 18. Use of the socket in anchoring systems, notably in an offshore environment, ensures natural self alignment of the socket with the cable to which it is fitted during the various movements to which the anchoring system is subjected.

Description

DOUILLE AUTO-ALIGNANTE POUR CABLE D'AMARRAGE.  SELF-ALIGNING SOCKET FOR MOORING CABLE.
La présente invention a trait au domaine des câbles d'amarrage, en particulier ceux utilisés en milieu maritime. Elle concerne plus spécifiquement une douille d'extrémité pour câbles de lignes d'amarrage, notamment du type caténaire d'amarrage offshore pour l'ancrage d'éléments massifs flottants de systèmes d'exploitation pétrolière en mer, sans pour autant y être limitée. The present invention relates to the field of mooring cables, in particular those used in the maritime environment. More specifically, it relates to an end socket for mooring line cables, in particular of the catenary type of offshore mooring for anchoring floating bulk elements of offshore oil exploitation systems, without being limited thereto.
Dans le domaine, dit "offshore", de l'exploitation pétrolière en milieu marin au large des côtes, on utilise des câbles d'amarrage, encore appelés caténai- res, servant de liaison de très forte capacité en traction pour l'ancrage d'éléments massifs flottants tels que des plates-formes offshore, des bouées de chargement, ou encore des étages immergés de systèmes à colonnes montantes en surface (SPAR, Riser tower System). In the so-called "offshore" field of offshore oil exploitation, mooring cables, also known as catenaries, are used as high-tensile linkages for the anchorage of the offshore. floating solid elements such as offshore platforms, loading buoys, or immersed levels of surface riser systems (SPAR, Riser tower System).
Souvent agencés en systèmes d'ancrage convergeant au niveau de l'élément massif mobile flottant à ancrer, les câbles d'amarrage sont reliés par leurs douilles d'extrémité, (associées ou non à des pièces de liaison) d'une part à un dispositif fixe ancré sur le fond marin, et d'autre part, à l'élément flottant à ancrer.  Often arranged in anchoring systems converging at the mobile floating solid element to be anchored, the mooring cables are connected by their end sleeves, (associated or not with connecting pieces) on the one hand to a fixed device anchored on the seabed, and secondly, to the floating element to be anchored.
On rappelle que de telles lignes d'amarrage peuvent avoir des longueurs excédant le kilomètre. Cette longueur de référence sera d'ailleurs sans doute amenée à augmenter dans les prochaines années, la prospection sous-marine s'orientant vers des eaux de plus en plus profondes.  It is recalled that such mooring lines may have lengths exceeding one kilometer. This reference length will also probably increase in the coming years, underwater prospecting moving towards deeper and deeper waters.
Les diverses connexions et composants du système d'ancrage à chaque extrémité de telles lignes d'amarrage doivent en conséquence pouvoir résister à des sollicitations et des efforts répétitifs considérables générés par la houle, les courants marins, les vents, ou encore par les différentes contraintes d'exploitation de l'installation offshore elle-même. Une ligne caténaire d'amarrage offshore participe de fait aux mouvements de la houle, de sorte que la résistance à la fatigue notamment devient une exigence essentielle, en traction, mais aussi en flexion, tout particulièrement au niveau de la sortie du câble de sa douille d'extrémité. The various connections and components of the anchoring system at each end of such mooring lines must therefore be able to withstand the considerable stress and repetitive forces generated by the swell, the sea currents, the winds or the various constraints. operation of the offshore installation itself. A catenary line offshore mooring actually participates in the movements of the swell, so that the fatigue resistance in particular becomes an essential requirement, in traction, but also in bending, especially at the exit of the cable. its end socket.
On connaît des lignes d'amarrage classiques dotées de douilles d'extrémité, du type à chape, à anse, ou encore à œil. Une telle douille est essentiellement constituée par un corps creux de forme générale tronconique formant une alvéole de culottage et portant, à son extrémité la plus large, des oreilles (ou un plat) percées d'un alésage destiné à recevoir un axe de connexion ou une anse ovale destinée à la liaison avec le système à ancrer. Par sa forme en contre- dépouille, l'alvéole de culottage a une fonction de blocage et reçoit à cet effet une extrémité du câble d'amarrage dont les brins ont été préalablement épa- nouis en gerbe, avant d'être remplie par une matière coulée qui, après solidification, rend définitivement solidaires le câble et la douille.  Conventional mooring lines with end sleeves, clevis type, handle, or eye are known. Such a sleeve is essentially constituted by a hollow body of frustoconical general shape forming a cup and having, at its widest end, ears (or a plate) pierced with a bore for receiving a connecting pin or a Oval handle intended for the connection with the system to be anchored. By its undercut shape, the culnage cell has a blocking function and receives for this purpose an end of the mooring cable whose strands were previously spread in sheaf, before being filled with a material casting which, after solidification, permanently solidifies the cable and the socket.
Au sein des différents systèmes d'ancrage, aériens mais plus particulièrement sous marins, les lignes d'amarrage sont soumises à des cycles de tractions alternées ou de flexions répétées dues aux contraintes subies par le mobile à ancrer et aux mouvements qui en résultent. Les systèmes d'ancrage et les lignes d'amarrage à base de câbles qui les constituent doivent donc être conçus et réalisés afin de tenir compte de ces conditions d'utilisation. Il est nécessaire, en particulier, d'éviter toute concentration de contraintes de flexions répétées au niveau de la portion de câble d'amarrage située juste à la sortie de sa douille d'extrémité.  Within the various anchoring systems, aerial but more particularly underwater, the mooring lines are subjected to alternating traction cycles or repeated bending due to the stresses on the mobile to anchor and the resulting movements. Anchorage systems and cable-based moorings should therefore be designed and constructed to take into account these conditions of use. In particular, it is necessary to avoid any concentration of repeated bending stresses at the level of the mooring cable portion just at the outlet of its end bushing.
Comme déjà indiqué précédemment, en vue de leur raccordement au mobile à ancrer ou aux ancres de bouts de ligne, les douilles d'extrémité des câbles équipant les systèmes d'ancrage actuels comprennent extérieurement, du côté opposé à l'arrivée du câble, des organes d'accouplement assurant une fixation pivotante de la douille sur l'élément à ancrer. On réalise ainsi un accouplement pivotant qui, sous l'action des différentes contraintes auxquelles est soumis le système d'ancrage, autorise des mouvements de rotation alternée de la douille autour d'un axe orthogonal à l'axe longitudinal de celle-ci. On notera cependant qu'avec ce type de douille, le câble sort librement de la douille, juste ou à relativement courte distance du pied de la gerbe d'épanouissement des fils en prise dans l'alvéole de culottage. Or, par effet de couple, le poids de la douille est largement suffisant pour entraîner celle-ci dans de mouvements de rotation partielle autour de son axe de pivotement, imprimar ainsi des contraintes de flexion parasites à la portion de câble située en sorti de l'alvéole de culottage. As already indicated above, with a view to their connection to the mobile to be anchored or to the anchors of the ends of the line, the end sockets of the cables equipping the current anchoring systems comprise externally, on the side opposite the arrival of the cable, coupling members ensuring a pivoting attachment of the sleeve to the element to be anchored. A pivoting coupling is thus produced which, under the action of the various stresses to which the anchoring system is subjected, allows movements of alternating rotation of the sleeve around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis thereof. Note however that with this type of socket, the cable exits freely from the socket, just or relatively short distance from the foot of the shower of development of the son engaged in the culn cavity. However, by the effect of a couple, the The weight of the bushing is largely sufficient to drive the latter in partial rotational movements about its pivot axis, thus print parasitic bending stresses to the portion of cable located out of the culnage cavity.
Pour pallier cet inconvénient, il est connu de limiter les contraintes d flexions parasites induites dans le câble en sortie de douille en protégeant celu ci par un raidisseur.  To overcome this drawback, it is known to limit stresses induced parasitic bending in the bushing output cable protecting it by a stiffener.
La mise en place d'un tel équipement est d'autant plus importante que I rigidité en flexion du câble sera plus faible, ou les matériaux qui le constituer plus performants, comme dans le cas de câbles d'acier modernes à haut résistance, ou encore de câbles mixtes confectionnés à partir de fils d'acier ( de matériaux synthétiques, ou bien encore de matériaux purement synthét ques.  The installation of such a piece of equipment is all the more important if the bending rigidity of the cable will be lower, or the materials which constitute it more efficient, as in the case of modern high strength steel cables, or still mixed cables made from steel son (synthetic materials, or even purely synthetic materials.
Un tel raidisseur, destiné à permettre à la douille de s'auto-aligner avec so câble, prend typiquement la forme d'un manchon installé autour du câble e sortie de douille et dont la rigidité et l'épaisseur vont en décroissant au fur et mesure que l'on s'éloigne de celle-ci. Généralement réalisé en matière plast que de rigidité et de consistance adaptées, le raidisseur voit ainsi sa flexibilit augmenter de sa grande base vers sa pointe, permettant ainsi de réduire, ma de réduire seulement, les risques parfois sévères de flexion parasite du câbl en sortie de sa douille d'extrémité.  Such a stiffener, intended to allow the socket to self-align with its cable, typically takes the form of a sleeve installed around the cable e socket outlet and whose stiffness and thickness are decreasing as and when as one moves away from it. Generally made of plast material of adequate rigidity and consistency, the stiffener thus sees its flexibility increase from its large base to its tip, thus reducing, ma to reduce only, the sometimes severe risks of parasite bending of the cable out of its end socket.
La présente invention a précisément pour but principal de proposer u type nouveau de douille d'extrémité auto-alignante pour câbles de ligne d'amarrage constitutives de systèmes d'ancrage susceptibles d'être soumis de fortes variations cycliques de géométrie et de contraintes au cours de lei utilisation.  The present invention is specifically intended to provide a new type of self-aligning end sleeve for mooring line cables constituting anchoring systems may be subject to strong cyclic variations in geometry and constraints during of use.
A cet effet, l'invention a pour premier objet une douille auto-alignante desl née à être montée à l'extrémité d'un câble d'amarrage pour un système d'ar crage d'un élément massif mobile, la douille comprenant :  For this purpose, the first object of the invention is a self-aligning bushing desl born to be mounted at the end of a mooring cable for an arage system of a movable solid element, the bushing comprising:
- un corps de douille présentant une cavité interne comprenant une chan bre de guidage du câble d'amarrage, une section intermédiaire et une a véole de culottage destinée à recevoir et bloquer les extrémités des brins du câble d'amarrage, et a socket body having an internal cavity comprising a guide rope of the mooring cable, an intermediate section and a veeole pellet for receiving and blocking the ends of the strands of the mooring cable, and
- des organes d'accouplement avec l'élément massif mobile à ancrer, positionnés sur le corps de douille de manière à définir un axe de pivote- ment du corps de douille, lequel passe par la section intermédiaire de la douille.  coupling members with the mobile solid element to be anchored, positioned on the socket body so as to define a pivot axis of the socket body, which passes through the intermediate section of the socket.
Ainsi, on comprend que la mise en œuvre de l'invention a pour effet premier de forcer le maintien permanent de la douille en ligne avec le câble qui la porte. Ce résultat est dû principalement à la présence d'une chambre de guidage du câble au sein même du corps de la douille, chambre qui joue, de fait, le rôle d'un raidisseur interne grâce à sa paroi interne qui vient au contact du câble comme une enveloppe de maintien. Thus, it is understood that the implementation of the invention has the primary effect of forcing the permanent maintenance of the sleeve in line with the cable that carries it. This result is mainly due to the presence of a cable guide chamber within the body of the sleeve, which plays, in fact, the role of an internal stiffener thanks to its inner wall that comes into contact with the cable like a holding envelope.
En outre, un manchon de maintien de forme complémentaire à la chambre de guidage peut y être inséré pour recevoir le câble d'amarrage. Pour des raisons pratiques d'adaptabilité de la douille aux différents diamètres possibles du câble, on comprend que l'on aura avantage à prévoir une chambre de guidage plus large que le câble à guider de manière à pouvoir y insérer un tel manchon de maintien calibré, de forme adaptable selon les besoins.  In addition, a shape-holding sleeve complementary to the guide chamber can be inserted to receive the mooring cable. For practical reasons of adaptability of the socket to the various possible diameters of the cable, it is understood that it will be advantageous to provide a guiding chamber wider than the cable to be guided so as to insert such a calibrated holding sleeve , of form adaptable according to the needs.
Dans un mode de réalisation préféré, le centre de gravité G de la douille se trouve au niveau de la section intermédiaire, et donc au voisinage de son axe de pivotement, voire sur cet axe de pivotement ou bien encore entre l'axe de pivotement et le début de la chambre de guidage. L'axe de pivotement de la douille par rapport aux éléments auxquels elle est connectée se trouve ainsi à proximité immédiate du point d'application sur la douille des forces de traction transmises par le câble lors de son utilisation au sein du système d'ancrage. De la sorte, on évite tout effet de "bras de levier" qui s'exercerait au niveau de la douille elle-même en lui imprimant un mouvement propre de rotation autour de son pivot.  In a preferred embodiment, the center of gravity G of the bushing is at the intermediate section, and therefore in the vicinity of its pivot axis, or even on this pivot axis or between the pivot axis and the beginning of the guiding chamber. The axis of pivoting of the sleeve relative to the elements to which it is connected is thus in the immediate vicinity of the point of application on the sleeve of the tensile forces transmitted by the cable during its use within the anchoring system. In this way, it avoids any effect of "lever arm" which would be exerted at the level of the sleeve itself by imparting a proper movement of rotation around its pivot.
Cet alignement forcé de la douille sur son câble lui permet donc de suivre aisément les mouvements induits sur le câble lors de son utilisation au sein de systèmes d'ancrage auquel il participe et ainsi de réduire fortement, voire de supprimer, les phénomènes de flexions parasites de celui-ci en sortie de douille bien davantage que ne pourrait le faire au mieux un raidisseur seul équipant extérieurement une douille d'extrémité construite selon l'état de l'art antérieur. This forced alignment of the socket on its cable allows it to easily follow the movements induced on the cable during its use within anchoring systems in which it participates and thus greatly reduce, or even eliminate, parasitic bending phenomena thereof at the socket outlet much more than could best do a stiffener alone outwardly equipped a built-end socket according to the state of the prior art.
L'invention a également pour deuxième objet, un câble d'amarrage offshore doté à au moins une de ses extrémités d'une douille auto-alignante selon l'invention, le câble étant pourvu d'une gaine étanche enveloppant un assemblage de fils à base d'acier ou de matières synthétiques ou de leurs combinai- sons. The invention also has for its second object, an offshore mooring cable provided at at least one of its ends with a self-aligning bushing according to the invention, the cable being provided with a waterproof sheath enveloping an assembly of steel or synthetic materials or their combinations.
La mise en œuvre de l'invention dans ce domaine permet une grande réduction, voire une suppression des contraintes de flexions parasites des câbles d'amarrage en sortie de leurs douilles d'extrémité, qu'ils soient constitués de fils d'acier, d'assemblages mixtes d'acier et de matériaux synthétiques, ou encore de matériaux synthétiques uniquement.  The implementation of the invention in this field allows a great reduction, or even a suppression of parasitic bending stresses of the mooring cables at the end of their end sleeves, whether they consist of steel wires, d mixed assemblies of steel and synthetic materials, or synthetic materials only.
Une telle douille auto-alignante convient bien entendu à l'équipement des extrémités de câbles métalliques, généralement employés au sein de divers systèmes d'ancrage ou d'amarrage, dont ceux habituellement mis en œuvre dans le cadre de l'exploitation pétrolière offshore. Elle se révèle cependant plus avantageuse encore dans le cas de câbles mixtes constitués d'un toron d'acier et de matériaux synthétiques, ou encore constitués uniquement d'un toron de matériaux synthétiques, de tels câbles présentant une rigidité en flexion bien moindre que celle d'un câble purement composé d'un toron de fils d'acier.  Such a self-aligning sleeve is of course suitable for the equipment of metal cable ends, generally used in various anchoring or mooring systems, including those usually implemented in the offshore oil field. However, it is more advantageous in the case of composite cables consisting of a steel strand and synthetic materials, or consist solely of a strand of synthetic materials, such cables having a bending stiffness much less than that a cable purely composed of a strand of steel wire.
De préférence, les organes d'accouplement comprennent une paire de tourillons s'étendant perpendiculairement à l'axe longitudinal de la douille. De tels tourillons permettent une liaison pivotante en s'engageant par exemple dans des logements de diamètre correspondant prévus sur l'élément mobile à ancrer ou sur le point fixe de bout de ligne, par exemple sous la forme d'un étrier à baïonnette.  Preferably, the coupling members comprise a pair of journals extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. Such pins allow a pivotal connection by engaging for example in housings of corresponding diameter provided on the movable member to be anchored or the fixed end point of the line, for example in the form of a bayonet stirrup.
Les organes d'accouplement de la douille peuvent aussi prendre la forme d'œillets ou d'alésages circulaires, dans lesquels s'engagent des tourillons prévus sur le mobile à ancrer ou sur le point fixe de bout de ligne. The coupling members of the bushing may also take the form of eyelets or circular bores in which trunnions engage. provided on the mobile to be anchored or on the fixed point of end of line.
L'alvéole de culottage qui reçoit la gerbe de fils issus de l'extrémité du câble préparée en vue de son culottage peut être de toute forme permettant le culottage du câble dans la douille et son coincement. On préfère qu'elle soit de forme tronconique.  The culnage cell receiving the sheaf of son from the end of the cable prepared for its culottage can be of any form allowing the cable to feel in the socket and its jamming. It is preferred that it be of frustoconical shape.
Selon une variante préférée de réalisation, la chambre de guidage, qui précède l'alvéole de culottage, comprend une section évasée en opposition à l'évasement pouvant constituer l'alvéole de culottage. Cette disposition, qui donne à la cavité interne du corps de douille une forme générale en diabolo (c'est à dire une forme de deux cônes inversés rassemblés en leur sommet par une zone cylindrique), permet de faciliter la pose et la dépose dans la chambre de guidage d'un manchon de maintien, de préférence rigide, qui coopère avec son profil intérieur pour maintenir le câble. La section intermédiaire séparant l'alvéole de culottage et la chambre de guidage présente alors une section rétrécie en diamètre par rapport à ces deux parties.  According to a preferred embodiment, the guiding chamber, which precedes the guiding cavity, comprises a flared section in opposition to the flare that can constitute the culnage cell. This arrangement, which gives the internal cavity of the socket body a general diabolo shape (that is to say a shape of two inverted cones joined at their apex by a cylindrical zone), makes it possible to facilitate the installation and removal in the guiding chamber of a holding sleeve, preferably rigid, which cooperates with its inner profile to hold the cable. The intermediate section separating the cup and the guiding chamber then has a section narrowed in diameter relative to these two parts.
Une simple bague d'assemblage montée à la sortie de la chambre de guidage permet d'immobiliser ce manchon dans sa position fonctionnelle.  A simple assembly ring mounted at the outlet of the guide chamber makes it possible to immobilize this sleeve in its functional position.
Outre sa fonction première de raidisseur, ce manchon protège le câble du contact avec le corps métallique de la douille. Il est également destiné à absorber les légères déviations résiduelles du câble qui subsisteraient encore au sortir de sa douille d'extrémité.  In addition to its primary stiffener function, this sleeve protects the cable from contact with the metal body of the socket. It is also intended to absorb the slight residual deviations of the cable which would still remain at the end of its end socket.
Dans un mode de réalisation préféré, le manchon présente une rigidité et une épaisseur qui vont en décroissant au fur et à mesure que l'on s'éloigne de la section intermédiaire. Le manchon présente ainsi une flexibilité qui augmente au fur et à mesure que l'on s'approche de la sortie de la douille.  In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve has a stiffness and a thickness which decreases as one moves away from the intermediate section. The sleeve thus has a flexibility that increases as you approach the outlet of the sleeve.
L'invention a également pour objet un câble d'amarrage dont une extrémité au moins est munie d'une douille telle que définie selon l'invention, le câble étant de préférence gainé et constitué de fils en métal, en matière synthétique, ou d'une combinaison de ces matériaux.  The invention also relates to a mooring cable at least one end of which is provided with a bushing as defined according to the invention, the cable being preferably sheathed and made of metal wires, made of synthetic material, or a combination of these materials.
D'autres aspects, caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront plus clairement au vu de la description qui suit d'un mode de réalisation donné en référence à la figure unique annexée montrant une douille auto-alignante selon l'invention vue en coupe longitudinale selon son plan de symétrie axial. Other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly in view of the following description of an embodiment given with reference to the single appended figure showing a self-aligning sleeve according to the invention seen in longitudinal section along its axial plane of symmetry.
La douille 10, montrée montée à l'extrémité d'un câble d'amarrage 22, comprend essentiellement un corps de douille creux 12, de préférence en métal, par exemple en acier forgé, moulé, ou usiné. Ce corps 12, de symétrie axiale, est de forme allongée selon son axe longitudinal 16. Dans ce mode de réalisation, il présente une cavité interne 14, ouverte à ses extrémités, de forme générale en "diabolo" comprenant trois parties successives alignées sur l'axe longitudinal 16 et qui sont, dans l'ordre:  The bushing 10, shown mounted at the end of a mooring cable 22, essentially comprises a hollow bushing body 12, preferably made of metal, for example of forged, molded, or machined steel. This body 12, of axial symmetry, is of elongate shape along its longitudinal axis 16. In this embodiment, it has an internal cavity 14, open at its ends, generally "diabolo" comprising three successive parts aligned on the longitudinal axis 16 and which are, in order:
- une chambre 34 de guidage du câble 22 dans laquelle est inséré un manchon de maintien 36,  a chamber 34 for guiding the cable 22 into which is inserted a holding sleeve 36,
- une section intermédiaire 18 et  an intermediate section 18 and
- une alvéole de culottage 20 recevant l'extrémité du câble 22.  a culnage cell 20 receiving the end of the cable 22.
L'alvéole de culottage 20 est ici de forme tronconique, réalisée de sorte à s'évaser en s'éloignant de la section intermédiaire rétrécie 18 le long de l'axe 16.  The culetting cell 20 is here of frustoconical shape, made so as to flare away from the narrowed intermediate section 18 along the axis 16.
La section intermédiaire rétrécie 18 est ici une section médiane dans laquelle est située le centre de gravité G de la douille 10. Il est donc particulière- ment avantageux de prévoir que le corps de douille 12 soit pourvu dans cette zone d'organes d'accouplement de la douille 10, ici des tourillons 30 et 30', avec l'élément à ancrer.  The narrowed intermediate section 18 is here a median section in which the center of gravity G of the sleeve 10 is located. It is therefore particularly advantageous to provide that the socket body 12 is provided in this zone with coupling members. of the sleeve 10, here journals 30 and 30 ', with the element to be anchored.
La chambre de guidage 34 prolonge vers l'amont l'alvéole de culottage 20 de l'autre coté de la section intermédiaire 18. Cette chambre de guidage 34, pourvue du manchon 36 épouse étroitement l'extrémité du câble 22 qu'elle reçoit, afin de remplir sa fonction de raidisseur du câble.  The guiding chamber 34 extends upstream the sump 20 on the other side of the intermediate section 18. This guide chamber 34, provided with the sleeve 36 closely matches the end of the cable 22 that it receives, in order to fulfill its function of cable stiffener.
En fonction des diverses applications d'ancrage, notamment en milieu marin (ou offshore), le câble d'amarrage 22 peut être classiquement formé d'un assemblage torsadé en hélice de brins constitués de fils individuels, ou de torons 26 enveloppés dans une gaine étanche 24. Ces fils individuels, ou ces torons, sont eux même formés de fils en acier, ou en matériau synthétique, ou mixtes (acier et matériaux synthétiques). Depending on the various anchoring applications, especially in marine (or offshore), the mooring cable 22 may be conventionally formed of a helically twisted assembly of strands consisting of individual son, or strands 26 wrapped in a sheath 24. These individual threads, or those strands, are themselves formed of steel son, or synthetic material, or mixed (steel and synthetic materials).
On notera que la section intermédiaire 18, dont le diamètre est le plus réduit de la cavité interne 14, est d'un diamètre compatible avec le diamètre extérieur du câble 22 revêtu de sa gaine protectrice 24.  It will be noted that the intermediate section 18, whose diameter is the smallest of the internal cavity 14, is of a diameter compatible with the outside diameter of the cable 22 coated with its protective sheath 24.
La fixation de la douille 10 à l'extrémité du câble 22 se réalise de la manière suivante: la douille 10 est mise en place sur la gerbe façonnée à partir de l'épanouissement d'extrémité des brins 26 du câble 22, une fois celui-ci dénudé à son extrémité. On coule alors par le haut de la cavité 14 dans la chambre 20, formant alvéole de culottage, un métal fondu ou une matière synthétique 28 qui, après solidification et/ou durcissement, rend définitivement solidaires le câble et la douille, par le biais de l'obtention d'un cône de coincement par effet de contre-dépouille.  Fixing the bushing 10 to the end of the cable 22 is carried out in the following manner: the bushing 10 is placed on the sheaf formed from the end expansion of the strands 26 of the cable 22, once the naked at the end. It is then poured through the top of the cavity 14 into the chamber 20, forming a cup, a molten metal or a synthetic material 28 which, after solidification and / or hardening, renders the cable and the sleeve definitively secured, by means of obtaining a jamming cone by undercutting effect.
Pour permettre sa fixation à un élément à ancrer, lequel est généralement un mobile flottant, comme une plate-forme pétrolière offshore ou une bouée de chargement, mais qui peut aussi être, à l'autre extrémité du câble, une ancre de fond de mer, etc la douille 10 comprend des organes d'accouplement aptes à coopérer avec des moyens d'accouplement correspondants prévus sur l'élément à ancrer.  To allow attachment to an anchoring element, which is generally a floating mobile, such as an offshore oil platform or a loading buoy, but which can also be, at the other end of the cable, a seabed anchor , etc. the sleeve 10 comprises coupling members adapted to cooperate with corresponding coupling means provided on the element to be anchored.
Ces organes d'accouplement sont généralement conçus pour assurer une connexion pivotante, de préférence sans jeu ou à jeu optimisé, qui permettra, en fonction des différents efforts auxquels est soumis le système d'ancrage, l'auto-alignement permanent de la douille avec le câble sur lequel elle est culottée.  These coupling members are generally designed to provide a pivotal connection, preferably without play or optimized clearance, which will, depending on the different forces to which the anchoring system is subjected, permanent self-alignment of the sleeve with the cable on which she is cheeky.
Dans la variante de réalisation décrite ici, ces organes d'accouplement sont constitués par deux tourillons 30 et 30' opposés afin que leur axe commun de rotation 32 soit orthogonal à l'axe longitudinal 16 de la douille 10 et définisse l'axe de pivotement de celle-ci. Le mobile à ancrer comportera alors des moyens d'accouplement de type femelle, par exemple, des étriers à baïonnette dans lequel s'engageront les tourillons.  In the variant embodiment described here, these coupling members are constituted by two opposite journals 30 and 30 'so that their common axis of rotation 32 is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 16 of the sleeve 10 and defines the axis of pivoting. of it. The mobile to be anchored will then include female type coupling means, for example, bayonet brackets in which will engage the pins.
On préfère que les organes d'accouplement 30, 30' de la douille 10 soient agencés sur le corps de douille 12 de sorte que leur axe de rotation 32 passe à proximité de la base de l'alvéole de culottage 20, au niveau de la section intermédiaire 18. It is preferred that the coupling members 30, 30 'of the sleeve 10 are arranged on the socket body 12 so that their axis of rotation 32 passes close to the base of the pellet chamber 20, at the intermediate section 18.
Dans la pratique, et en référence à la présente variante, on notera qu'un effet sensible du positionnement des organes d'accouplement 30,30' est obtenu lorsque l'axe de pivotement 32 traverse la section intermédiaire de la douille indiquée R sur la figure, c'est à dire une zone s'étendant entre la base de l'alvéole de culottage 20 et le début de la chambre de guidage 34.  In practice, and with reference to the present variant, it will be noted that a substantial effect of the positioning of the coupling members 30, 30 'is obtained when the pivot axis 32 passes through the intermediate section of the sleeve indicated R on the FIG. 1, ie an area extending between the base of the sump 20 and the beginning of the guiding chamber 34.
De préférence, la douille 10 sera conçue afin que son centre de gravité G, se trouve dans cette région R, donc à proximité immédiate de l'axe de pivotement 32, ce afin d'obtenir un équilibre indifférent, ou quasi indifférent de celle-ci lors de sa rotation autour du pivot 32.  Preferably, the sleeve 10 will be designed so that its center of gravity G, is in this region R, so close to the pivot axis 32, in order to obtain an indifferent balance, or almost indifferent to that- ci during its rotation around the pivot 32.
On souligne à nouveau le caractère avantageux d'une forme évasée pour la chambre de guidage 34, située dans le prolongement de la section intermé- diaire 18, du côté opposé à l'alvéole de culottage 20. La section intermédiaire 18 s'ouvre donc sur cette chambre 34 de forme évasée, ici tronconique, mais pouvant toutefois prendre d'autres formes, qui permet le maintien guidé et la protection du câble sur une certaine distance après la zone intermédiaire 18, avantageusement grâce à la présence d'un manchon 36 en matière plastique rapportée.  It is again emphasized the advantageous nature of a flared shape for the guide chamber 34, located in the extension of the intermediate section 18, on the opposite side to the cup compartment 20. The intermediate section 18 therefore opens on this chamber 34 of flared shape, here frustoconical, but may however take other forms, which allows guided retention and protection of the cable for a distance after the intermediate zone 18, preferably due to the presence of a sleeve 36 made of plastic material reported.
Le manchon 36 est inséré dans la chambre évasée 34, et sa forme est complémentaire de cette dernière. Après culottage de la douille 10 sur son câble 22, ce manchon 36, en matériau plastique, rigide de préférence, devient un manchon de maintien agencé autour du câble. Il permet alors d'absorber les déviations de ce dernier qui pourraient encore se présenter en sortie de la douille et évite, ou limite très fortement, son pliage directement au niveau de la zone intermédiaire 18. Des matériaux appropriés pour le manchon 36 peuvent être, entre autres, des polyuréthanes de divers grades.  The sleeve 36 is inserted into the flared chamber 34, and its shape is complementary to the latter. After the bushing 10 has been potted on its cable 22, this sleeve 36, made of plastic material, preferably rigid, becomes a holding sleeve arranged around the cable. It then makes it possible to absorb the deviations of the latter which could still be present at the outlet of the bushing and avoids, or very strongly limits, its folding directly at the intermediate zone 18. Suitable materials for the sleeve 36 may be, among others, polyurethanes of various grades.
Le manchon 36 est maintenu dans la chambre de guidage 34 au moyen, ici, d'une bague de retenue 38 fixée au corps 12 par une couronne de vis 39.  The sleeve 36 is held in the guide chamber 34 by means, here, of a retaining ring 38 fixed to the body 12 by a screw crown 39.
Bien que cela ne soit pas représenté, on pourra prévoir un joint d'étanchéité annulaire autour du câble 22 au niveau de la section intermédiaire 18. Although this is not shown, it will be possible to provide a seal annular sealing around the cable 22 at the intermediate section 18.
En outre, on peut bloquer en place la gaine 24 du câble 22 dans la douille 10 au moyen, par exemple de clips circulaires ou de bagues de retenue s'engageant dans une gorge annulaire pratiquée dans la gaine 24 du câble.  In addition, the sheath 24 of the cable 22 can be locked in place in the socket 10 by means of, for example, circular clips or retaining rings engaging in an annular groove formed in the sheath 24 of the cable.
Il va de soi que l'invention ne saurait se limiter à l'exemple de réalisation considéré, mais qu'elle s'étend à de multiples variantes et équivalents dans la mesure où sont respectées ses caractéristiques techniques essentielles.  It goes without saying that the invention can not be limited to the exemplary embodiment considered, but that it extends to multiple variants and equivalents to the extent that are respected its essential technical characteristics.
Son champ d'application s'étend à toute ligne d'amarrage, dans le cas où l'on souhaite assurer directement l'auto-alignement naturel du câble avec sa ou ses douilles d'extrémités de façon à minimiser les contraintes parasites de flexion subies par le câble en sortie de celles-ci et responsables bien souvent de sa mise au rebut prématurée.  Its field of application extends to any mooring line, in the case where it is desired to directly ensure the natural self-alignment of the cable with its end bush or sockets so as to minimize the parasitic bending stresses suffered by the cable out of them and often responsible for its premature scrapping.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
Douille auto-alignante (10) destinée à être montée à l'extrémité d'un câble d'amarrage (22) pour un système d'ancrage d'un élément massif mobile, ladite douille (10) comprenant : A self-aligning bushing (10) for mounting at the end of a mooring cable (22) for an anchoring system of a movable solid member, said bushing (10) comprising:
- un corps de douille (12) présentant une cavité interne (14) comprenant une chambre de guidage (34) du câble d'amarrage (22), une section intermédiaire (18) et une alvéole de culottage (20) destinée à recevoir et bloquer les extrémités des brins dudit câble d'amarrage (22), et  a sleeve body (12) having an internal cavity (14) comprising a guide chamber (34) of the mooring cable (22), an intermediate section (18) and a pellet pocket (20) for receiving and blocking the ends of the strands of said mooring cable (22), and
- des organes d'accouplement (30, 30') avec ledit élément massif mobile à ancrer, positionnés sur le corps de douille (12) de manière à définir un axe de pivotement (32) dudit corps de douille (12) passant par ladite section intermédiaire (18).  - coupling members (30, 30 ') with said mobile solid element to be anchored, positioned on the socket body (12) so as to define a pivot axis (32) of said socket body (12) passing through said intermediate section (18).
Douille auto-alignante (10) selon la revendication 1 , dont le centre de gravité G se trouve au niveau de ladite section intermédiaire (18). A self-aligning bushing (10) according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity G is at said intermediate section (18).
Douille auto-alignante (10) selon la revendication 2, dont l'axe de pivotement passe par le centre de gravité G de ladite douille (10). Self-aligning bushing (10) according to claim 2, the pivot axis of which passes through the center of gravity G of said bushing (10).
Douille auto-alignante (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, comportant en outre un manchon de maintien (36) inséré dans ladite chambre de guidage (34) et de forme complémentaire à celle-ci, ledit manchon (36) étant destiné à envelopper le câble d'amarrage (22). A self-aligning bushing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a retaining sleeve (36) inserted into and complementary to said guiding chamber (34), said sleeve (36) ) being intended to envelop the mooring cable (22).
5. Câble d'amarrage offshore (22) doté à au moins une de ses extrémités d'une douille auto-alignante (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendica- tions 1 à 4, ledit câble (22) étant pourvu d'une gaine étanche (24) enveloppant un assemblage de fils (26) à base d'acier ou de matières synthétiques ou de leurs combinaisons. 5. Offshore mooring cable (22) provided at at least one end thereof with a self-aligning bushing (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, said cable (22) being provided with a waterproof sheath (24) wrapping a wire assembly (26) based on steel or synthetic materials or combinations thereof.
EP11744036.2A 2010-07-22 2011-07-21 Self-aligning socket for mooring cable Withdrawn EP2596266A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1003085A FR2963074B1 (en) 2010-07-22 2010-07-22 SELF-ALIGNING SOCKET FOR MOORING CABLE
PCT/FR2011/000382 WO2012010746A2 (en) 2010-07-22 2011-07-21 Self-aligning socket for mooring cable

Publications (1)

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EP2596266A2 true EP2596266A2 (en) 2013-05-29

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EP (1) EP2596266A2 (en)
KR (1) KR101465914B1 (en)
CN (1) CN103154566B (en)
AU (1) AU2011281463B2 (en)
BR (1) BR112013001620B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2808960C (en)
FR (1) FR2963074B1 (en)
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KR101465914B1 (en) 2014-11-26
CA2808960A1 (en) 2012-01-26
UA109015C2 (en) 2015-07-10
WO2012010746A3 (en) 2013-03-28
US9132890B2 (en) 2015-09-15
BR112013001620A2 (en) 2016-05-24
WO2012010746A2 (en) 2012-01-26
RU2541615C2 (en) 2015-02-20
RU2013107781A (en) 2014-08-27
FR2963074B1 (en) 2014-01-31
CA2808960C (en) 2015-05-12
ZA201301252B (en) 2013-09-25
CN103154566A (en) 2013-06-12
MX2013000902A (en) 2013-06-05
FR2963074A1 (en) 2012-01-27
CN103154566B (en) 2015-03-18
AU2011281463B2 (en) 2014-10-23
US20140026797A1 (en) 2014-01-30
KR20130052616A (en) 2013-05-22
AU2011281463A1 (en) 2013-03-14
BR112013001620B1 (en) 2020-09-29

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