NL2017660B1 - Clamping joint for an anchoring rope - Google Patents
Clamping joint for an anchoring rope Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2017660B1 NL2017660B1 NL2017660A NL2017660A NL2017660B1 NL 2017660 B1 NL2017660 B1 NL 2017660B1 NL 2017660 A NL2017660 A NL 2017660A NL 2017660 A NL2017660 A NL 2017660A NL 2017660 B1 NL2017660 B1 NL 2017660B1
- Authority
- NL
- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- anchor line
- line
- insert
- assembly according
- rope
- Prior art date
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
- B63B21/20—Adaptations of chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like, or of parts thereof
-
- 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
- B63B21/50—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Clamps And Clips (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to an assembly of an anchoring rope and a clamping joint that engages onto the anchoring rope to attach a ramification line thereto, wherein the clamping joint comprises multiple complementary rope clamps that are connected with each other to define an inner passage through which the anchoring rope extends, an insert inside the inner passage that engages the anchoring rope, and a tensioner that engages the insert, wherein the inner passage comprises a conical inner surface that slideably guides the insert in the axial direction of the anchoring rope, and wherein the tensioner is spring-biased with respect to the rope clamps towards the inner passage.
Description
Clamping joint for an anchoring rope BACKGROUND
The invention relates to provisions to attach a ramification line to an anchoring rope.
Floating off-shore units are anchored by steel anchoring wires wherein clamping joints are used to lift the anchoring wires above hinder on the sea bottom for example, such as a pipeline or submarine constructions. Known clamping joints comprise two wire clamps that are bolted against each other around the stiff anchoring wire to fixate its position with respect to the anchoring wire. Off-shore units are typically anchored by using eight or twelve steel anchoring wires, having a diameter from about 64 millimeters to 90 millimeters, and the length is typically about 2000 to 2300 meters.
For mooring purposes in general, the traditional steel wires are replaced by synthetic ropes, such as polymer ropes, as these ropes outperform on strength, weight, water and chemical resistance. There is a need to apply synthetic ropes for anchoring floating off-shore units in the manner as described here before. However, synthetic ropes tend to reduce their diameter when subjected to high loads, whereby the traditional clamping joints lose their grip on it. Instead, the ramification lines comprise a sling around the synthetic rope, which sometimes becomes entangled with it when the load changes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamping joint that can be used on synthetic anchoring ropes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an assembly of an anchoring rope and a clamping joint that engages onto the anchoring rope to attach a ramification line thereto, wherein the clamping joint comprises multiple complementary rope clamps that are connected with each other to define an inner passage through which the anchoring rope extends, an insert inside the inner passage that engages the anchoring rope, and a tensioner that engages the insert, wherein the inner passage comprises a tapering or conical inner surface that slideably guides the insert in the axial direction of the anchoring rope, and wherein the tensioner is spring-biased with respect to the rope clamps towards the inner passage.
The assembly according to the invention comprises an anchoring rope that is engaged by a clamping joint to attach a ramification line thereto, wherein the insert wedges between the rope clamps and the anchoring rope. The spring-biased tensioner durably maintains the wedging effect, even when the diameter of the anchoring rope reduces due to the applied load. When the diameter reduces, the insert is further pushed along the conical inner surface to maintain the grip of the clamping joint onto the anchoring rope. This makes the clamping joint suitable for any kind of synthetic anchoring rope.
In an embodiment the insert extends around the anchoring rope to obtain the wedging effect around the perimeter of the anchoring rope.
In an embodiment the insert comprises a cylindrical inner surface that is in abutment with the anchoring rope to spread the radial pressure around a synthetic anchoring rope with a smooth outer surface.
In an embodiment the insert comprises a conical outer surface that is in abutment with the conical inner surface of the inner passage.
In an embodiment the insert comprises multiple wedging bodies that are distributed around the anchoring rope. The wedging bodies will follow a reduction of the diameter of the anchoring rope by moving closer to each other.
In an embodiment thereof the wedging bodies are resiliently connected with each other to form one unity that can be inserted in the inner passage by sliding it along the anchoring rope.
In an embodiment the tensioner is separate from and in abutment with the insert, whereby it can be installed separately from the insert.
In an embodiment the tensioner comprises multiple tensioning holes through which tensioning bolts extends that are bolted into the rope clamps, wherein the tensioner is spring biased by one or more springs between the tensioner and the tensioning bolts. The biased springs can be easily installed and allow a relative long stroke of the tensioner and the insert with respect to the rope clamps. The springs can be spring washers for example.
In an embodiment thereof the tensioner comprises a tensioning body inside the inner channel that is in abutment with the insert, and a flange with the tensioning holes outside the inner channel that is spring biased towards the rope clamps. The tensioning body can be inserted into the inner channel to position the flange with respect to rope clamps before is mounted by means of the tensioning bolts.
In an embodiment the clamping joint comprises two opposite inserts inside the inner channel and two opposite tensioners that engage the respective inserts, wherein the inner passage comprises two opposite tapering or conical inner surfaces that slideably guide the respective inserts in the axial direction of the anchoring rope, and wherein the tensioners are spring-biased with respect to the rope clamps towards the inner passage.
In an embodiment thereof the opposite conical inner surfaces taper towards each other.
In an embodiment the rope clamps comprise an outer circumferential channel that extends around the anchoring rope and in which a girder ring with a shackle for the ramification line is slideably confined for rotation of the anchoring rope with respect to the ramification line. The slidable confinement allows the clamped anchoring rope to twist around its longitudinal axis while the shackle maintains its position with respect to the ramification line. Thereby it is prevented that the ramification line is wound around the anchoring rope when it twists under a high load.
In an embodiment the anchoring rope is a synthetic anchoring rope.
In an embodiment the anchoring rope is a polymer anchoring rope.
In an embodiment thereof the anchoring rope is made of thermoplastic polyethylene, such as Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE or UHMW), High-Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) or High-Performance Polyethylene (HPPE).
For the off-shore purposes the anchoring rope may have a diameter of 30-300 millimeters.
The invention further provides a clamping joint for use in an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims .
The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a typical anchoring configuration in which an anchoring rope is connected to a ramification line by means of a clamping joint according to the invention;
Figures 2A-2C show the clamping joint as shown in figure 1 and its exploded views with and without the anchoring rope; and
Figures 3A-3C show subsequent steps when installing the clamping joint onto the anchoring rope.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 shows a typical offshore anchoring configuration in which an offshore marine platform 1 floating in the sea water 2 is anchored to an anchoring ground 3. The offshore platform 1 is connected to a set of outspread anchoring ropes 7 and a set of shorter anchoring ropes 6 all having an anchor 8 at the end that is embedded in the anchoring ground 3.
The anchoring ropes 6, 7 are synthetic anchoring ropes, that are in this example made of polymers, in particular thermoplastic polyethylene, such as Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE or UHMW), also known as High-Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) or High-Performance Polyethylene (HPPE), and sold for example under the trademark Dyneema ropes. These synthetic or polymer based anchoring ropes 6, 7 outperform traditional steel anchoring wires on strength, weight, water and chemical resistance. When compared with traditional steel anchoring wires, the synthetic anchoring ropes 6, 7 tend to reduce their diameter when subjected to high loads, and sometimes to locally twist when this load changes. The anchoring ropes 6, 7 typically have a diameter of 30-300 millimeters.
The outspread anchoring ropes 7 are at least during their installation uphold at the middle by means of an buoy 9 of which only one is shown. The buoy 9 is connected to the anchoring rope 7 by means of a vertically extending ramification line 10. The lower end of the ramification line 10 is connected to the anchoring rope 7 by means of a clamping joint 20 according to the invention. The clamping joint 20 is shown in detail in figures 2A-2C.
As best shown in figure 2C, the clamping joint 20 comprises two symmetrically designed, stiff rope clamps 21, 22 that are in this example made of steel. The rope clamps 21, 22 that are the two halves of a cylindrical body with an internal passage 23 for the anchoring rope 7. The rope clamps 21, 22 each comprise a middle section 24 and two wider end sections 25 forming one single unity. The end sections 25 each comprise two flanges 26 on the opposite sides of the internal passage 23. The flanges 26 are each provided with a mounting hole 27. As shown in figures 2A-2C, the rope clamps 21, 22 are mounted to each other by means of four mounting bolts 2 9 that extend through the clamping holes 27 and into tightened mounting nuts 84.
As shown in figures 2A-2C, the middle sections 24 of the rope clamps 21 are each provided with an outer circumferential channel 28 in which a steel girder ring 40 is loosely confined. The girder ring 40 comprises two ring halves 41 that at one side are connected to each other by means of a hinge 43, and that at the other side merge into ears 42 with eyes 44 through which a shackle bolt 45 extend that hingealby connects a steel shackle 46 to the girder ring 40. The loose confinement by the girder ring 40 allows rotation of the shackle in direction A around the connected rope clamps 21, 22.
As best shown in figure 2C, the rope clamps 21, 22 comprise semi-cylindrical inner surfaces 30 inside the end sections 25 that via circumferential reductions 31 merge into a slightly conical inner surfaces 32 that meet each other halfway the middle sections 24 to define the inner passage 23. The clamping joint 20 comprises two sets of conical inserts 50, each comprising multiple identical stiff wedging bodies 51, in this example made of steel, that are kept in circumferential interrelationship with a spring, wire or elastic band 52. The wedging bodies 51 together define a straight cylindrical inner surface 55, a front surface 54 and a conical outer surface 53 having in this example the same tapering as the conical inner surfaces 30 of the rope clamps 21, 22.
As best shown in figures 2B and 2C, the clamping joint 20 comprises two tensioners 60 that are in this example made of steel. Each tensioner 60 comprises two steel halves 61, 62 that are releasably connected to each other. The tensioners 50 have straight semi-cylindrical tensioning bodies 61 that merge into circumferential flanges 64 with multiple tensioning holes 64. The distal ends of the tensioning bodies 63 are in abutment with the front surfaces 54 of the conical inserts 50 while slideably confined within the semi-cylindrical inner surfaces 30 of the rope clamps 21, 22. The conical inserts 50 are biased into the rope clamps 21, 22 by means of bolts 70 that are screwed into the end sections 25 via the tensioning holes 64. In this example multiple spring washers 65 are provided between the flanges 64 and the head of the bolts 7 0 that can be spring loaded. Instead of spring washers 65 other spring solutions are possible. Also the bolts 70 themselves can act as a very stiff spring when tightened to maximum torque .
Figures 3A-3C show subsequent steps to install the clamping joint 20 onto the anchoring rope 7. Firstly, as shown in figure 3A, the rope clamps 21, 22 receive the anchoring rope 7 in the internal passage 23 and are mounted against each other by means of the mounting bolts 29. Subsequently, as shown in figure 2B, the conical inserts 50 are assembled around the anchoring rope 7 and inserted in direction B in the internal passage 23 until they lock between the conical inner surfaces 32 and the anchoring rope 7. In this initial position the surrounding wedging bodies 51 remain spaced apart from each other. The tensioners 60 are assembled and slid in abutment with the conical inserts 50. The distal ends of the tensioning bodies 63 remain spaced apart from the circumferential reductions 31 inside the rope clamps 21, 22. Subsequently, as shown in figure 3C, the bolts 70 are installed which bias the spring washers 65. This pushes the conical inserts 50 in direction B into the passage 23 to tightly engage around the anchoring rope 7. Due to this biased engagement, the clamping joint 20 cannot slide anymore along the anchoring rope 7. Finally, the girder ring 40 and the shackle 46 are installed.
When the anchoring rope 7 is commissioned and brought under high load, its diameter reduces. This reduced diameter is immediately compensated by the conical inserts 50 that are pressed deeper into passage 23 in direction B by the biased spring washers 65 without turning back, whereby clamping joint 20 remains its position with respect to the anchor rope 7. When the anchoring rope 7 twists at the clamping joint 20, the engaged rope clamps 21, 22 are allowed to rotate in direction A while the shackle 46 remains upright to the ramification line 10.
It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention.
Claims (18)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2017660A NL2017660B1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2016-10-21 | Clamping joint for an anchoring rope |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2017660A NL2017660B1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2016-10-21 | Clamping joint for an anchoring rope |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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NL2017660B1 true NL2017660B1 (en) | 2018-04-30 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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NL2017660A NL2017660B1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2016-10-21 | Clamping joint for an anchoring rope |
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NL (1) | NL2017660B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020153849A1 (en) * | 2019-01-22 | 2020-07-30 | Egersund Herøy As | Apparatus and method for connecting a buoy to a mooring line |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2003527A (en) * | 1977-09-02 | 1979-03-14 | Samson Ocean Systems | Rope fitting |
WO1999036309A1 (en) * | 1997-12-30 | 1999-07-22 | Palmquist Bjoern | Swivel connection |
WO2010129046A1 (en) * | 2009-05-05 | 2010-11-11 | Dcl Engineered Solutions L.L.C. | Detachable synthetic rope connector |
-
2016
- 2016-10-21 NL NL2017660A patent/NL2017660B1/en active
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2003527A (en) * | 1977-09-02 | 1979-03-14 | Samson Ocean Systems | Rope fitting |
WO1999036309A1 (en) * | 1997-12-30 | 1999-07-22 | Palmquist Bjoern | Swivel connection |
WO2010129046A1 (en) * | 2009-05-05 | 2010-11-11 | Dcl Engineered Solutions L.L.C. | Detachable synthetic rope connector |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020153849A1 (en) * | 2019-01-22 | 2020-07-30 | Egersund Herøy As | Apparatus and method for connecting a buoy to a mooring line |
GB2595149A (en) * | 2019-01-22 | 2021-11-17 | Egersund Heroy As | Apparatus and method for connecting a buoy to a mooring line |
GB2595149B (en) * | 2019-01-22 | 2022-09-28 | Egersund Heroy As | Apparatus and method for connecting a buoy to a mooring line |
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PD | Change of ownership |
Owner name: STEVLOS B.V.; NL Free format text: DETAILS ASSIGNMENT: CHANGE OF OWNER(S), ASSIGNMENT; FORMER OWNER NAME: MOORLINK SOLUTIONS AB Effective date: 20220404 |