Removable chain wheel

Abstract

A system includes: a connector body, a chain wheel configured to receive a chain, an axle extending through the chain wheel, a first rotation plate disposed on the axle on a first side of the chain wheel, a second rotation plate disposed on the axle on a second side of the chain wheel, and first and second maintain plates affixed to the axle. The first and second rotation plates allow rotation of the chain wheel, and the first and second maintain plates are configured to maintain the first and second rotation plates, respectively, on the axle during an operation. The chain wheel is removably installed on the connector body via the first and second rotation plates.

Description

DOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCTREMOVABLE CHAIN WHEELCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 695,498, entitled “REMOVABLE CHAIN WHEEL,” 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. During the life cycle of the mooring system, the chain wheel remains fixed in place (even when not in use), which complicates on-site maintenance of the mooring system. Moreover, the fixed chain wheel must be designed with sufficient strength to withstand the reaction load of the chain during the life cycle of the mooring system, which can be expensive. Accordingly, there is a need for a removable chain wheel 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; a chain wheel configured to receive a chain; an axle extending through the chain wheel; a first rotation plate disposed on the axle on a first side of the chain wheel; a second rotation plate disposed on the axle on a second side of the chain wheel, wherein theDOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT first and second rotation plates allow rotation of the chain wheel; and first and second maintain plates affixed to the axle, the first and second maintain and plates being configured to maintain the first and second rotation plates, respectively, on the axle during an operation, wherein the chain wheel is removably installed on the connector body via the first and second rotation plates.

[0005] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a system includes: a connector body; and a chain wheel removably installed on the connector body.

[0006] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method includes: disposing a rotation plate on an axle of a chain wheel; and removably installing the chain wheel on a connector body via the rotation plate.

[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 wheel 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 wheel removably installed on a connector body, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;DOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section view of a chain wheel being removably installed on a horizontally positioned connector body, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section view of a chain wheel being removably installed on a vertically positioned connector body, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.DOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT

[0017] 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, 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.

[0018] 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. The tension assembly 14 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes a connector body and a chain wheel removably installed on the connector body, as further described below. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the chain wheel of the tension assembly 14 is used to guide and tension the mooring line 12 during operation of the mooring system 10.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of a chain wheel 22 removably installed on a connector body 24 is shown 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. The chain wheel 22 of the tension assembly 14 is configured to receive the chain of the mooring line 12, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Still referring to FIG. 2, a wheel axle 23 may extend through the chain wheel 22, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The wheel axle 23 is best shown in FIG. 3. The chain wheel 22 may be equipped with two rotation plates 26 and two maintain plates 28, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The two rotation plates 26 and the two maintain plates 28 may each include a through hole therethrough. To assemble the chain wheel 22 according to one or more embodiments of the presentDOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT disclosure, a first rotation plate 26 is disposed on the wheel axle 23 on a first side of the chain wheel 22 via the through hole of the first rotation plate 26, and a second rotation plate 26 is disposed on the wheel axle 23 on a second side of the chain wheel 22 via the through hole of the second rotation plate 26. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the two rotation plates 26 facilitate rotation of the chain wheel 22 to move a chain, such as the chain of the mooring line 12, received by the chain wheel 22. Then, a first maintain plate 28 is affixed to the wheel axle 23 on the first side of the chain wheel 22 next to the first rotation plate 26, and the second maintain plate 28 is affixed to the wheel axle 23 on the second side of the chain wheel 22 next to the second rotation plate 26. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first and second maintain plates 28 are configured to maintain the first and second rotation plates 26, respectively, on the wheel axle 23 during an operation, such as a lifting operation, for example. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the two maintain plates 28 may be removably fastened to the wheel axle 23 using screws, for example.

[0021] Still referring to FIG. 2, after the chain wheel 22 is assembled, the chain wheel 22 may be removably installed on the connector body 24, 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. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the chain wheel 22 may be removably installed on the connector body 24 via the rotation plates 26 of the chain wheel 22, as further described below.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, a partial cross-sectional view of a chain wheel 22 removably installed on a connector body 24 is shown, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 3 more clearly shows rotation plate 26 disposed on the wheel axle 23 of the chain wheel 22, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In the partial cross-sectional view, FIG. 3 also shows that the connector body 24 includes at least one feature 25 that interacts with the rotation plate 26 to facilitate installation of the chain wheel 22, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows that the connector body 24 includes two features 25DOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT having a particular shape and configuration and delineating a features path. However, the number, shape, and configuration of the features 25 of the connector body 24 are not limiting, and other numbers, shapes, and configurations of the features 25 of the connector body 24 are contemplated and are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, partial cross-section views of a chain wheel 22 being removably installed on a connector body 24 are shown, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows removable installation of the chain wheel 22 on a horizontally positioned connector body 24, and FIG. 5 shows removable installation of the chain wheel 22 on a vertically positioned connector body 24. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector body 24 includes two features 25 having a particular shape and configuration, which delineate a features path, for example. As also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector body 24 includes at least one hole 30, and the rotation plate 26 includes at least one hole 32 that is configured to align with the at least one hole 30 of the connector body 24.

[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 also show a sequence of steps for removably installing the chain wheel 22 on the connector body 24 via the rotation plate 26, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In a first step, the rotation plate 26 is positioned facing down due to gravity such that a radius of the rotation plate 26 contacts one of the two features 25 of the connector body 24. In a second step, the rotation plate 26 begins to slide along the features path delineated by the two features 25, until in a third step, the at least one hole 32 on the rotation plate 26 aligns with the at least one hole 30 on the connector body 24. Once the at least one hole 32 on the rotation plate 26 is aligned with the at least one hole 30 on the connector body 24, a removable fastener, such as a screw, may be disposed through the aligned at least one holes 30, 32 on the rotation plate 26 and the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Once the chain wheel 22 is removably installed on the connector body 24 via the rotation plate 26, as previously described, an operator may guide a chain along the chain wheel 22 so that the chain may move as the chain wheel 22 rotates during operations of the mooring system 10.

[0025] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the design and configuration of the rotation plate 26 and the two features 25 on the connector body 24 allow the rotation plates 26 to be aligned in the correct position once assembled to the connectorDOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT body 24. Specifically, the two features 25 on the connector body 24 facilitate (i) installation of the rotation plate 26 within a slotted hole 34 of the connector body 24, and (ii) alignment of the at least one holes 30, 32 on the rotation plate 26 and the connector body 24. Due to the design and configuration of the rotation plate 26 and the two features 25 on the connector body 24, the chain wheel 22 may be quickly assembled to (and disassembled from) the connector body 24, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, assembling the chain wheel 22 to the connector body 24, as previously described, supports the chain wheel 22 during operations of the mooring system 10 (i.e., prevents the chain wheel 22 from going out), and ensures classic movement of the chain of the mooring line 12 as the chain wheel 22 rotates.

[0026] Because the chain wheel 22 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be quickly assembled to (and disassembled from) the connector body 24, the chain wheel 22 may be easily removed from the connector body 24 for maintenance during the life cycle of the mooring system 10, and then either quickly reinstalled or replaced so that operations of the mooring system 10 may resume. Also, because the chain wheel 22 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is configured to be removable from the connector body 24, the chain wheel 22 achieves a less expensive and more simplistic design than a chain wheel that is fixed to the connector body.

[0027] 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 perfomis 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.

[0028] 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 possibleDOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT 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.: IS24.1038-WO-PCTCLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising: a connector body; a chain wheel configured to receive a chain; an axle extending through the chain wheel; a first rotation plate disposed on the axle on a first side of the chain wheel; a second rotation plate disposed on the axle on a second side of the chain wheel, wherein the first and second rotation plates allow rotation of the chain wheel; and first and second maintain plates affixed to the axle, the first and second maintain and plates being configured to maintain the first and second rotation plates, respectively, on the axle during an operation, wherein the chain wheel is removably installed on the connector body via the first and second rotation plates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second maintain plates are screwed to the axle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotation plates are installed on the connector body via one or more removable fasteners.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector body comprises at least one feature that interacts with the first and second rotation plates to facilitate installation of the chain wheel.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the connector body comprises at least one feature that interacts with the first and second rotation plates to facilitate installation of the chain wheel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector body is horizontally positioned.DOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT7. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector body is vertically positioned.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation is a lifting operation.

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

10. A method, comprising: disposing a rotation plate on an axle of a chain wheel; and removably installing the chain wheel on a connector body via the rotation plate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the connector body comprises: two features delineating a features path; and at least one hole, wherein the rotation plate comprises at least one hole that is configured to align with the at least one hole on the connector body; and wherein the step of removably installing further comprises: positioning the rotation plate such that the rotation plate contacts one of the two features of the connector body; sliding the rotation plate along the features path until the at least one hole on the rotation plate aligns with the at least one hole on the connector body; and disposing a removable fastener through the aligned at least one holes on the rotation plate and the connector body.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: affixing a maintain plate to the axle of the chain wheel to maintain the rotation plate on the axle during an operation.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: connecting an end of a mooring line comprising a chain to an anchor secured to a seabed;DOCKET NO.: IS24.1038-WO-PCT guiding the chain along the chain wheel installed on the connector body; and hooking up the mooring line to a floating structure at sea level.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the connector body is horizontally positioned.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the connector body is vertically positioned.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the connector body is horizontally positioned.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the connector body is vertically positioned.

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