Removable chain slider

Abstract

A system includes a connector body, and a chain slider having a U-shaped structure that is removably installed on the connector body. The chain slider may include an outer groove forming a translation path, and the outer groove may be configured to receive a chain that slides along the translation path.

Description

DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCTREMOVABLE CHAIN SLIDERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 695,479, entitled “REMOVABLE CHAIN SLIDER,” filed September 17, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Offshore floating structures, such as offshore rig equipment and offshore wind turbines, may be adversely affected by waves, currents, weather, and other conditions while at sea. Accordingly, mooring systems are used to secure offshore floating structures to the seabed.

[0003] Mooring systems may include fairleads and / or mooring connectors having a chain wheel fixed thereon. The chain wheel is used to guide and tension a chain during operation of the mooring system. Because the chain wheel facilitates chain movement by rotation, periodic maintenance of the chain wheel is required to ensure proper functionality of the chain wheel. Moreover, rotation of the chain wheel requires several additional components including bearings, bushes, and translation blocking devices, for example. The additional components increase the number of failure points of the chain wheel, and create an additional expense. Moreover, the fixed chain wheel must be designed with sufficient strength to withstand the reaction load of the chain during the lifecycle of the mooring system, which can also be expensive. Accordingly, there is a need for a removable chain slider that can be installed on fairleads and mooring connectors.SUMMARY

[0004] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a system includes: a connector body; and a chain slider removably installed on the connector body.DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT

[0005] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a connector body; and a U-shaped structure comprising an outer groove forming a translation path, wherein the outer groove is configured to receive a chain that slides along the translation path, and wherein the U-shaped structure is removably installed on the connector body.

[0006] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method includes: removably installing a U-shaped structure on a connector body via at least one locking device.

[0007] However, many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a mooring line hooked up to a floating structure;

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a chain slider removably installed on a connector body, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a chain sliding on a chain slider, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a chain slider being removably installed on a connector body, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONDOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT

[0013] In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the system and / or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

[0014] In the specification and appended claims, the terms “connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and “connecting,” are used to mean “in direct connection with,” in connection with via one or more elements.” The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “coupled with,” “coupled together,” and “coupling” are used to mean “directly coupled together,” or “coupled together via one or more elements.” The term “set” is used to mean setting “one element” or “more than one element.” As used herein, the terms “up” and “down,” “upper” and “lower,” “upwardly” and “downwardly,” “upstream” and “downstream,” “uphole” and “downhole,” “above” and “below,” “top” and “bottom,” and other like terms indicating relative positions above or below a given point or element are used in this description to more clearly describe some embodiments of the disclosure. Commonly, these terms relate to a reference point at the surface from which drilling operations are initiated as being the top point and the total depth being the lowest point, wherein the well (e.g., wellbore, borehole) is vertical, horizontal, or slanted relative to the surface.

[0015] In general, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to offshore floating structures. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to mooring systems for offshore floating structures.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a mooring line 12 hooked up to a floating structure 20 is shown. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a mooring system 10 including a mooring line 12 and a tension assembly 14. As shown in FIG. 1, a first end 12a of the mooring line 12 is secured to a seabed 16 via an anchor 18 located on the seabed 16, and a second end 12b of the mooring line 12 is connected to a floating structure 20 at sea level 21. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the mooring line 12 includes a chain made of a metal, such as steel, for example. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the mooring line 12 includes a wire, rope, polyester,DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT synthetic material, or any other material that is able to operate under tension in a subsea or offshore embodiment. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the floating structure 20 may include a rig, an offshore wind turbine, a platform, a vessel, a submersible buoy, or a subsea structure, for example.

[0017] Still referring to FIG. 1, the mooring line 12 may be connected to a tension assembly 14, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the tension assembly 14 includes a connector body and a chain slider removably installed on the connector body, as further described below. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the chain slider of the tension assembly 14 is used to guide and tension the mooring line 12 during operation of the mooring system 10.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of a chain slider 22 removably installed on a connector body 24 is shown according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The connector body 24 may be a component of the tension assembly 14, as previously described, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the connector body 24 may be part of a mooring connector, a fairlead connector, or a subsea connector, for example. The chain slider 22 has a U-shape, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The chain slider 22 may be partially or entirely made of steel, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As also shown in FIG. 2, the U-shaped structure of the chain slider 22 includes an outer groove 23 forming a translation path, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As previously described, at least a portion of the mooring line 12 of the mooring system 10 includes a chain 25, such as that shown in FIG. 3, for example. Referring back to FIG. 2, the chain slider 22 of the tension assembly 14 is configured to receive the chain 25 of the mooring line 12 that slides along the translation path of the outer groove 23, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] Still referring to FIG. 2, the chain slider 22 includes a first pin 26 and a second pin 27, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Each of the first pin 26 and the second pin 27 is welded or otherwise fixed to the chain slider 22, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As also shown in FIG. 2, the connector body 24 includes at least one feature 30 that is configured to maintain the chain slider 22 in a desiredDOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT position while the chain slider 22 is installed on the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, the connector body 24 also includes a third pin 32 that is welded or otherwise fixed to the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first pin 26, the second pin 27, and the third pin 32 includes a shank, a shank end, and a through hole proximal to the shank end, for example. The through hole of the first pin 26 is configured to accommodate a first locking pin 25, and the through hole of the second pin 27 is configured to accommodate a second locking pin 29, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As further described below, the first pin 26, the second pin 27, and the third pin 32 (and / or the corresponding locking pin 25, 29 extending therethrough) are configured to interact with at least one locking device 28 to secure the chain slider 22 to the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the second locking pin 29 allows the at least one locking device 28 to be maintained on the chain slider 22 when lifted, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3, a partial cross-sectional view of a chain 25 sliding on a chain slider 22 is shown, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows the chain 25 sliding along the translation path of the outer groove 23 of the chain slider 22, as previously described. Allowing the chain 25 to slide along the translation path of the outer groove 23 of the chain slider 22 in this way ensures tensioning and / or simple movement of the chain 25 during operation of the mooring system 10, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] Advantageously, the U-shape of the chain slider 22 allows a vertical link of the chain 25 to be received and guided along the translation path of the outer groove 23 of the chain slider 22, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Meanwhile, horizontal links of the chain 25 are able to slide on the outside shape of the U-shaped structure, thereby facilitating chain translation. Moreover, the specific U-shaped structure of the chain slider 22 ensures proper positioning of the chain 25 during translation of the chain 25 along the translation path, prevents transverse movement (i.e., twisting) of the chain 25 during translation, and prevents disengagement of the chain 25 from the translation path. As such, because of the U-shaped structure of the chain slider 22, a rotation device for the chain sliderDOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT22 is not needed to ensure translation and movement of the chain 25. In this way, the chain slider 22 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure exhibits a more simplistic design with less failure points than a conventional chain wheel, for example. Such a simplistic design of the chain slider 22 may be less expensive to manufacture, and require less maintenance over its operational life than a conventional chain wheel.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of a chain slider 22 being removably installed on a connector body 24 via at least one locking device 28 is shown, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the at least one locking device 28 includes a first hole that accommodates the first pin 26, and a second hole that is configured to accommodate the second pin 27. As also shown, the at least one locking device 28 includes a figure eight shape, but other shapes and configurations of the at least one locking device 28 are contemplated and are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] Still referring to FIG. 4, as previously described, the connector body 24 includes at least one feature 30 that is configured to maintain the chain slider 22 in a desired position while the chain slider 22 is installed on the connector body 24. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one feature 30 may be secured to the connector body 24 via welding, for example. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one feature 30 may be integral with the connector body 24, forming a monobloc, for example. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector body 24 may include two features 30, one on each arm of the connector body 24, for example, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Still referring to FIG. 4, steps for removably installing the chain slider 22 on the connector body 24 via the at least one locking device 28 are shown according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, in the first step, the chain slider 22 is put in contact with a face of the connector body 24. For example, if the connector body 24 is horizontally positioned, then the chain slider 22 may be pulled in a downward direction on the face of the connector body 24 in the first step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, if the connector body 24 is vertically positioned, then the chain slider 22 may be pulled to the right on the face of the connector body 24 in the first step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Also during the first step, the at least one locking device 28 is in a first position with respect to the first pin 26 of theDOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT chain slider 22, and the second hole of the at least one locking device 28 accommodates the second pin 27, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Still referring to FIG. 4, in the second step, the chain slider 22 is slid along the connector body 24 until the chain slider 22 abuts against the at least one feature 30 of the connector body 24. For example, if the connector body 24 is horizontally positioned, then the chain slider 22 may be slid in a backward direction until abutting against the at least one feature 30 of the connector body 24 in the second step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, if the connector body 24 is vertically positioned, then the chain slider 22 may be slid in a downward direction until abutting against the at least one feature 30 of the connector body 24 in the second step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Also during the second step, the at least one locking device 28 is in the first position with respect to the first pin 26 of the chain slider 22, and the second hole of the at least one locking device 28 accommodates the second pin 27, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] Also in the second step, the chain slider 22 is slid along the connector body 24 until a first recess 34 of the at least one locking device 28 accommodates the third pin 32 fixed to the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, if the connector body 24 is horizontally positioned, then the chain slider 22 may be slid in a backward direction along the connector body 24 until the first recess 34 of the at least one locking device 28 accommodates the third pin 32 fixed to the connector body 24 in the second step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, if the connector body 24 is vertically positioned, then the chain slider 22 may be slid in a downward direction until the first recess 34 of the at least one locking device 28 accommodates the third pin 32 fixed to the connector body 24 in the second step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Still referring to FIG. 4, in the third step, the second locking pin 29 is removed from the through hole of the second pin 27, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As also shown in FIG. 4, in the third step, the at least one locking device 28 is pulled back and rotated about 90° until the at least one locking device 28 is in a second position with respect to the first pin 26 that is perpendicular to the first position, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, if the connector body 24 isDOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT horizontally positioned, then the at least one locking device 28 is pulled back and down after removing the second pin 27 in the third step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, if the connector body 24 is vertically positioned, then the at least one locking device 28 is pulled back and up after removing the second pin 27 in the third step, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As further shown in FIG. 4, in the third step, the first locking pin 25 helps maintain the at least one locking device 28 in the second position with respect to the first pin 26, and prevents the at least one locking device 28 from falling off during installation.

[0028] Still referring to FIG. 4, in the fourth step, the at least one locking device 28 is pushed back until the at least one locking device 28 is in a third position with respect to the first pin 26 that is perpendicular to the first position, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In the third position, the at least one locking device 28 makes contact with the connector body 24, and the second hole of the at least one locking device 28 accommodates the third pin 32, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, in the fourth step, the second locking pin 29 that was removed from the second pin 27 in the third step is inserted into the through hole of the third pin 32 to maintain the at least one locking device 28 in the third position, and to secure the chain slider 22 to the connector body 24. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one locking device 28 also includes a second recess 35 that accommodates the second pin 27 to maintain the at least one locking device 28 in the third position. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the aforementioned steps may be reversed to easily disassemble the chain slider 22 from the connector body 24. In this way, the chain slider 22 may be removably installed on the connector body 24 via at least one locking device 28, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first pin 26 fixed to the chain slider 22 is longer than one or both of the second pin 27 fixed to the chain slider 22 and the third pin fixed to the connector body 24. Because the first pin 26 has a longer length, the first pin 26 and corresponding first locking pin 25 are configured to prevent the at least one locking device 28 from falling away from the chain slider 22 when the at least one locking device 28 is pulled into the second position before being pushed back into the third position with respect to the first pin 26, as previously described.DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT

[0030] As previously described, the chain slider 22 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be directly installed on the connector body 24. Because of the design configuration of the at least one locking device 28, the first pin 26 fixed to the chain slider 22 and having a corresponding first locking pin 25, the second pin 27 fixed to the chain slider 22 and having a corresponding second locking pin 29, and the third pin 32 fixed to the connector body 24 and having a through hole configured to accommodate the second locking pin 29, the chain slider 22 may be easily assembled onto and disassembled from the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As also previously described, because the chain slider 22 includes a U-shaped structure having an outer groove 23 forming a translation path, a chain 25 may directly slide on the chain slider 22 through the translation path without the need for any rotating components that may require maintenance and replacement during the life of the chain slider 22.

[0031] Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and / or within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” or “generally perpendicular” and “substantially perpendicular” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel or perpendicular, respectively, by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

[0032] Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.

Claims

DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCTCLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising: a connector body; and a chain slider removably installed on the connector body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the chain slider comprises a groove that is configured to receive a chain.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the chain slider comprises steel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the chain slider is made entirely of steel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the chain slider has a U-shape.

6. A system, comprising: a connector body; and a U-shaped structure comprising an outer groove forming a translation path, wherein the outer groove is configured to receive a chain that slides along the translation path, and wherein the U-shaped structure is removably installed on the connector body.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises steel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped structure is made entirely of steel.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the U-shaped structure is removably installed on the connector body via at least one locking device.DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the connector body and the U-shaped structure comprises a pin that is configured to interact with the at least one locking device to secure the U-shaped structure to the connector body.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the connector body further comprises at least one feature that is configured to maintain the U-shaped structure in a desired position on the connector body.

12. A method, comprising: removably installing a U-shaped structure on a connector body via at least one locking device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises: a first pin and a second pin fixed thereto; wherein the connector body comprises: at least one feature; and a third pin fixed thereto, wherein each of the first pin, the second pin, and the third pin comprises: a shank; a shank end; and a through hole proximal to the shank end, wherein the through hole of the first pin is configured to accommodate a first locking pin, and wherein the through hole of the second pin is configured to accommodate a second locking pin, wherein the at least one locking device comprises: a first hole that accommodates the first pin; and a second hole that is configured to accommodate the second pin, wherein the step of removably installing further comprises: contacting the U-shaped structure with a face of the connector body; sliding the U-shaped structure along the connector body until the U- shaped structure abuts against the at least one feature, wherein during the contacting step and the sliding step, the at least one locking device is in a first position with respect to the first pin, andDOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT the second hole of the at least one locking device accommodates the second pin; removing the second locking pin from the through hole of the second pin; pulling back and rotating the at least one locking device until the at least one locking device is in a second position with respect to the first pin that is perpendicular to the first position; pushing back the at least one locking device until the at least one locking device is in a third position with respect to the first pin that is perpendicular to the first position, wherein, in the third position, the at least one locking device makes contact with the connector body, and the second hole of the at least one locking device accommodates the third pin; and inserting the second locking pin into the through hole of the third pin to maintain the at least one locking device in the third position, and secure the U-shaped structure to the connector body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first pin is longer than at least one of the second pin and the third pin.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein during the contacting step and the sliding step, the second locking pin within the through hole of the second pin maintains the at least one locking device in the first position with respect to the first pin.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one locking device further comprises a first recess, and wherein the sliding step further comprises sliding the U-shaped structure along the connector body until the first recess accommodates the third pin.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one locking device further comprises a second recess that accommodates the second pin when the at least one locking device is in the third position.DOCKET NO.: IS24.1037-WO-PCT18. The method of claim 12, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises an outer groove forming a translation path, and wherein the outer groove is configured to receive a chain that slides along the translation path.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises an outer groove forming a translation path, and wherein the outer groove is configured to receive a chain that slides along the translation path.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: connecting an end of a mooring line comprising the chain to an anchor secured to a seabed; sliding the chain along the translation path of the U-shaped structure installed on the connector body; and hooking up the mooring line to a floating structure at sea level.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising: connecting an end of a mooring line comprising the chain to an anchor secured to a seabed; sliding the chain along the translation path of the U-shaped structure installed on the connector body; and hooking up the mooring line to a floating structure at sea level.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the U-shaped structure comprises steel.

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