Connecting device for connecting mooring line and floating structure

Abstract

A connection device for connecting a mooring line to a floating structure comprises a female piece (7) attached to the floating structure (1) and a male piece (9) housed within the female piece (7). The male part (9) comprises an anchoring part (25) with an elongated hole (28), and the female part has a locking device with a locking pin (31) which can be inserted into the elongated hole (28). The device comprises an adjustment device having a shim (35) which can be stacked on the locking pin (31) in the elongated hole (28). The locking pin (31) and the gasket (35) move laterally and can be driven by a hydraulic cylinder (19). The device is equipped with a load sensor (33) for measuring the tension in the mooring line (10). The method of adjusting the tension comprises inserting the male piece (9) into the female piece (7), using the locking pin (31) and the shim (35) to achieve the desired load, and measuring the load to ensure it meets the required specifications.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the mooring of floating structures, such as, but not limited to, floating wind turbines. The invention also particularly relates to tension leg mooring of floating structures, but is not limited thereto. Background Technology

[0002] When installing floating devices at sea, a widely used method is to deploy anchors, such as suction anchors, on the seabed and attach the floating device to these anchors via mooring lines. These mooring lines may consist at least partially of anchor chains, but can also include steel wire, fiber rope, or other robust cables. For tension leg mooring, steel wire is typically used as the entire mooring line.

[0003] Because the floating structure and its mooring cable bear heavy loads, especially under adverse weather conditions, the connection between the mooring cable and the floating structure must be extremely secure. Furthermore, after the mooring cable is connected to the floating structure, it should be able to be tensioned to the required tension.

[0004] When mooring cables are used on moored floating structures such as drilling ships, FPSOs (Floating Production and Storage Offloading systems), floating wind turbines, and fish farms, it is important to ensure that the pre-tension of the mooring cable is maintained during installation and that the mooring cable is not subjected to tension exceeding the design limits of the component.

[0005] The following example illustrates a tension leg mooring of a wind turbine with three pontoons. Each pontoon has connectors for three tension legs. All connectors, especially those on the same pontoon, should be tensioned to the same tension. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The primary objective of this invention is to enable safe and convenient adjustment of the tension of the mooring cable, particularly the tension leg. This is achieved through the features described in the appended independent claims. The dependent claims define specific preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a connecting device is provided for connecting a mooring cable and a floating structure. The connecting device includes a female component attached to the floating structure, a male component housed within the female component, and a locking device disposed within the female component. The male component includes an anchor having an elongated hole therein, and the locking device includes a locking pin capable of being inserted into the elongated hole.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, the invention also provides a method for adjusting the tension in a mooring cable of a floating structure, wherein a male component of a connecting device is pulled into a female component of the connecting device, the male component including an anchor having an elongated hole therein. The method includes: pushing a locking pin in or causing the locking pin to fall into the elongated hole; bringing the anchor against the locking pin; measuring the load on the locking pin; comparing the measured load with a desired load; if the measured load is lower than the desired load, pulling the anchor away from the locking pin, inserting at least one shim through the elongated hole and positioned next to the locking pin; bringing the anchor against the shim; and repeating the above steps by inserting a new shim into the elongated hole until the desired load is reached. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the non-limiting embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 A portion of the floating wind turbine structure is shown.

[0011] Figure 2 One of the pontoons of this structure is shown in more detail. Figure 2 (The orientation or centering needs to be modified)

[0012] Figure 3 A portion of the connector and the ROV that operates the locking device of the connector are shown.

[0013] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 Another perspective on the connector and ROV in the picture.

[0014] Figure 5 This shows another perspective of the connector and the ROV.

[0015] Figure 6 The connector is shown in perspective view from below.

[0016] Figure 7 A portion of the pontoon with a connector is shown.

[0017] Figure 8 It shows along Figure 9 Line AA passes through the cross-section of the connector.

[0018] Figure 9 An elevation view shows a connector.

[0019] Figure 10 It shows the relationship with Figure 8 The cross-section of the connector is perpendicular to the cross-section of the connector.

[0020] Figure 11 A cross-section of a connector according to another embodiment is shown, wherein the male connector enters the female connector.

[0021] Figure 12 It shows Figure 11 In one embodiment, the male connector has been partially pulled into the female connector.

[0022] Figure 13 It shows Figure 11 In one embodiment, the locking pin is about to enter the elongate hole.

[0023] Figure 14 It shows Figure 11 In one embodiment, the locking pin extends through the elongated hole, and

[0024] Figure 15 It shows Figure 11 In one embodiment, the anchor piece rests against the locking pin. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1 A portion of the floating structure 1 of a wind turbine is shown. The structure includes three pontoons, two of which, pontoons 2 and 3, are visible. The pontoons 2 and 3 are fixedly attached to and interconnected with a central column 4 via multiple struts 5. Such structures are well known in the art.

[0026] At each buoy 2, 3, there are multiple accessories for tensioning legs. These accessories include a bracket 6, which is fixedly attached to the buoy 2, 3, for example, by welding. The bracket 6 carries the female part 7 of the connector. The male part 9 of the connector is not clearly visible here, but in, for example... Figure 8 As shown in the diagram. The parent component 7 receives the parent component 9.

[0027] Tension rope 10 is connected to the lower end of member 9. Pull rope 11 is connected to the upper end of member 9. The pull rope extends via guide pulley 12 to pull winch or pull jack 13 (other guide pulleys may also exist between the connector and the pull winch or pull jack 13). The pull winch or pull jack 13 is used to tension the tension leg rope 10, as will be described in detail below.

[0028] Figure 2 A float 2 is shown in more detail. The female part 7 of the connector is connected to the bracket 6 via a hinged joint 14, allowing the connector to move to different angular positions in two vertical planes, thereby enabling the floating structure to move without applying angular momentum to the tension leg. Such a joint 14 is well known in the art. At the lower end of the female part 7, there is an outwardly flared portion 17 that facilitates the entry of the male part 9.

[0029] The mother component 7 is also equipped with a locking and adjusting device 15, which will be described in detail below.

[0030] The figure also shows a fixed handle 16 that can be used as an anchor point for an ROV.

[0031] Figure 3 A portion of the female component 7 of the connector and the ROV 18 operating the locking and adjusting device 15 are shown. The ROV 18 carries a hydraulic cylinder 19, which is attached to the connector to drive the locking and adjusting device 15. The cylinder 19 has a hydraulic line 21 connected to the hydraulic system of the ROV 18. This will be explained below. The ROV gripper arm 20 grips one of the fixed handles 16 to keep the ROV 18 stationary relative to the connector.

[0032] Figure 3 The operating end 22 of the locking pin device and the operating end 23 of the adjusting device are also shown. The hydraulic cylinder 19 is equipped with a pin 24 that can enter a hole 40 at the operating ends 22 and 23 of the locking and adjusting device. This will be described in detail below.

[0033] The connector female 7 also has a fixed connection point for the hydraulic cylinder 19 to keep the cylinder stationary during the operation of the locking and adjusting device 15. This connection point is not shown, but those skilled in the art will know how to achieve this.

[0034] Figure 4 and Figure 5 The connector and ROV are shown from different perspectives.

[0035] Figure 6 The connector is shown below. This is an embodiment without the hinge. The female part 7 forms part of the fixing bracket 6. In other respects, this embodiment is similar to... Figure 1-5 The implementation examples are similar.

[0036] Figure 6The male component 9 of the connector is shown more clearly. The male component 9 includes an anchor 25 and a hinge joint 26. The anchor 25 is to be anchored in the female component 7, and the hinge joint 26 connects the tension rope 10 to the anchor 25. The hinge joint 26 will be used in conjunction with… Figure 1-5 In the embodiment, the hinge joint 14 of the female component 7 undertakes the relative angular movement between the floating structure 1 and the tension leg rope 10 in the same manner. Therefore, the female component 7 can be fixedly attached to the floating structure 1.

[0037] Figure 8 The component 9 is shown in more detail. The anchor 25 is connected to the cable 11, for example, via a loop and bolt connection 27. An elongated hole 28 is present in the middle portion of the anchor 25. This hole has arcuate ends to avoid excessive internal stress within the anchor 25. Above the hole 28 is a load-bearing element 29, forming a transition between the circular surface of the anchor 25 and the flat lower surface 30 of the load-bearing element 29.

[0038] Figure 9 The connector is shown in the elevation view.

[0039] Figure 10 The cross-section of the connector is shown, which is in relation to... Figure 8 The cross-section of the anchor 25 is a plane perpendicular to the ground. This indicates that the anchor is a flat component with a uniform thickness. The locking and adjusting device 15 extends at a right angle relative to the plane of the anchor 25 and is aligned with the elongated hole 28. The locking and adjusting device 15 includes a locking pin 31 with a push rod 32 attached to its outer end. At the outer end of the push rod 32 is the operating end 22, which has a hole 40 (not shown) for the pin 24 of the hydraulic cylinder 19.

[0040] Figure 10 The location of the locking pin 31 passing through the elongated hole 28 is shown. The inner end of the locking pin rests against the load cell 33, while the outer end rests against the ledge 34 of the female connector. When the anchor 25 descends to rest against the locking pin 31 and the pull cord 11 slackens, the load cell 33, along with the ledge 34, will be subjected to tension from the tension leg. Therefore, the load cell 33 will measure the load corresponding to the tension of the tension leg. However, it should be noted that this tension can be measured at other locations in the device, such as in the hinge joint of the male or female connector. However, this location of the load cell 33 is very convenient because it is easier to replace in case of failure.

[0041] The adjusting device includes multiple shims 35. The shims are flat steel sheets, for example, 10 cm thick, arranged in a stack with one on top of the other, and each shim is equipped with a push rod 36 (similar to the push rod of the locking pin 31), the push rod 36 having a hole 40 (not shown) at its external operating end 23 for inserting the pin 24 of the hydraulic cylinder 19.

[0042] A selected number of shims 35 can be pushed through the elongated hole 28 to increase the height, thereby raising the position of the anchor when the tension rope 11 is slack. This increased height of the anchor 25 will increase the tension of the tension leg. It should be noted that these shims 35 will be inserted such that there are no gaps between the shims and between the shims and the locking pin 31, but they will be arranged in a continuously stacked manner within the elongated hole 28.

[0043] Figure 11-15 Another embodiment of the invention is shown. (Compared to...) Figure 8-10 The main difference between the embodiments is that one end of the locking pin or latch 31 is hinged at the hinge axis 37. By rotating the locking pin 31 about this axis, it can swing into or out of the elongated hole 28 in the anchor 25. Figure 11 and 12 This shows that the locking pin 31 has disengaged from the elongated hole 28. Figure 13 This shows that the locking pin is about to enter the elongated hole 28, and Figure 14 and 15 The pin 31 is shown extending through the elongated hole 28.

[0044] The locking pin 31 can be a fall latch that swings downwards by gravity alone. When the male connector 9 is pulled into the female connector 7, it will be pushed upwards, and once the elongated hole 28 is aligned with the locking pin 31, it will fall and enter the hole 28. This provides a quick and fault-protected connection.

[0045] The locking pin 31 can also be configured to remain in place. Figure 11 and 12 The raised position shown is reached until, for example, the actuator of the hydraulic cylinder 19 engages with the pin 31, for example at the operating end 22, where a hole 40 for the pin 24 can be formed, and the actuator pushes the locking pin 31 down and through the elongated hole 28.

[0046] It can be obtained from Figure 13 The connection is released by further pulling the male connector upwards from the position shown until the locking pin 31 is completely outside the elongated hole 28. In this position, a retaining device (not shown but generally known in the art) can be used to hold the locking pin in this position while the male connector 9 descends away from the female connector 7.

[0047] The locking pin 31 drops to Figure 14 After reaching the indicated position, the pad 35 can be pushed into the elongated hole 28 to adjust the tension of the tension leg.

[0048] In a further alternative, the connector can also be configured without the gasket and serve as a quick-connect where tension cannot be adjusted in the manner described herein.

[0049] The connection and adjustment of this tension will now be described. For the two embodiments with gaskets, the process is largely the same. For the embodiments without gaskets, the process will also be similar, but the step of inserting the gasket will, of course, be omitted.

[0050] During connection, the male part 9 with the anchor 25 is pulled into the female part 7 by the pull rope 11 until the elongated hole 28 is positioned from a height slightly below the bottom of the locking pin 31 to a height slightly above the uppermost washer 35. In embodiments with a drop latch as the locking pin 31 (which will swing down about the axis 37 by gravity), the locking pin 31 will be pushed away by the pull rope 11 and the anchor 25. Then, the hydraulic cylinder 19 pushes the locking pin 31 through the elongated hole 28, or the locking pin 31 swings downward by gravity to... Figure 14 The location shown.

[0051] As the locking pin extends through the elongated hole 28, the pull rope 11 is loosened, causing the anchor to be pulled down until the bearing element 29 is as described above. Figure 15 The load sensor 33 is then placed against the locking pin 31. The load on the load sensor 33 is then measured and compared to the expected load. At this stage, only the locking pin 31 extends through the elongated hole 28, and the load should be lower than the expected load.

[0052] The anchor 25 is then raised again until the upper part of the elongated hole 28 is above the uppermost shim 35. Based on the difference between the measured load and the desired load, a selected number of shims 35 are pushed into the elongated hole 28; this selected number of shims 35 corresponds to the estimated number of shims required to increase the load to the desired load. The anchor is then lowered again, and the load is measured. If the newly measured load is higher or lower than the desired load, the anchor 25 is raised again, and an appropriate number of shims 35 are pushed into or pulled out of the elongated hole 28. This operation is repeated until the measured load is as close as possible to the desired load.

[0053] The total height of these shims 35 can be between 0.5 meters and 1 meter, but can also be smaller or larger.

Claims

1. A connecting device for connecting a mooring cable and a floating structure, comprising a female component attached to the floating structure, a male component housed within the female component, and a locking device disposed within the female component, wherein, The component includes an anchor having an elongated hole therein, and the locking device includes a locking pin that can be inserted into the elongated hole.

2. The connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device includes an adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of shims that can be stacked on the locking pin within the elongated hole.

3. The connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking pin and the washer are capable of lateral movement between their positions outside the elongated hole and their positions extending through the elongated hole.

4. The connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking pin is a latch, which is mounted to swing about an axis from a position located outside the elongated hole to a position extending through the elongated hole.

5. The connecting device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The locking pin is a latch, configured to swing downwards by gravity and enter the elongated hole, and the locking pin is configured to be pushed upwards by the male component.

6. The connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The locking pin is connected to a corresponding push rod that can be driven by a hydraulic cylinder.

7. The connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The gasket is connected to a corresponding push rod that can be driven by a hydraulic cylinder.

8. The connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The connection device is equipped with a load sensor for measuring the load corresponding to the tension in the mooring cable.

9. The connecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The load sensor is positioned next to the locking pin.

10. The connecting device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The locking pin rests against the load sensor.

11. The connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The hole is formed with a circular end, and a support element is arranged in the elongated hole. The support element has a first surface portion corresponding to one of the circular ends and a second planar portion opposite to the first surface.

12. A method for adjusting the tension in a mooring cable of a floating structure, wherein, A male component of a connecting device is pulled into a female component of the connecting device, the male component including an anchor having an elongated hole therein; the method includes: pushing a locking pin in or causing a locking pin to fall into the elongated hole; bringing the anchor against the locking pin; measuring the load on the locking pin; comparing the measured load with a desired load; if the measured load is lower than the desired load, pulling the anchor away from the locking pin, inserting at least one shim through the elongated hole and positioned next to the locking pin; bringing the anchor against the shim; repeating the above steps by inserting a new shim into the elongated hole until the desired load is reached.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Multiple shims are inserted, the height of which corresponds to an estimated increment in the tension of the mooring cable.

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