Soft Yoke Mooring with Segmented Ballast Weights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional soft yoke mooring systems face challenges during disconnection and reconnection, including heavy ballast weights that are difficult to reorient, leading to increased costs and risks of collision with earth fixed structures.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a soft yoke mooring system with two independent ballast weights and x, y, and z-axis bearings installed between the yoke and ballast weights or their link-arms, allowing for easier disconnection and reconnection, reduced wear on bearings, and lower costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional soft yoke mooring systems use heavy ballast weights, then the mooring system provides sufficient restoring force, but the ballast weights become difficult to reorient during disconnection and reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single heavy ballast weight into two separate ballast weights (first and second ballast weights). Each ballast weight is connected to the yoke through independent link arms and bearings, allowing them to be manipulated separately during disconnection and reconnection operations, thus reducing the difficulty of reorientation while maintaining the total restoring force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces x, y, and z-axis bearings between the yoke and the ballast weights, enabling dynamic rotation and adjustment of the ballast weights in multiple directions. This dynamic capability allows the ballast weights to be easily reoriented during disconnection and reconnection operations, solving the operational difficulty while preserving the restoring force function.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional soft yoke mooring systems use heavy ballast weights, then the mooring system maintains stability, but the bearings experience increased wear and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ballast weight system into two separate weights with independent link arms and bearings, the invention distributes the mechanical loads across multiple components. This segmentation reduces the wear on individual bearings while maintaining the overall stability provided by the combined ballast weights.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-axis bearings enable dynamic adjustment and rotation of the ballast weights, distributing wear more evenly across the bearing surfaces and reducing localized stress. This dynamic capability maintains mooring stability while reducing bearing wear and associated maintenance costs.
3Force
If conventional soft yoke mooring systems use heavy ballast weights, then the restoring force is sufficient, but the handling and reconnection operations become more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the ballast weight into two independent units, each with its own link arm and bearing assembly. This segmentation simplifies handling during disconnection and reconnection operations, as each unit can be manipulated independently rather than moving a single heavy mass, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining sufficient restoring force.
Solution Approach 2:
The x, y, and z-axis bearings provide dynamic rotation capabilities that simplify the reorientation process during disconnection and reconnection. This dynamic functionality reduces the complexity of handling operations by enabling easy adjustment of ballast weight positions and orientations without requiring complex external equipment or procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the load on bearings, decreases wear and costs, and facilitates easier handling and reorientation of the yoke during disconnection and reconnection, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The pendular tension members (10) are suspended from the floating structure fixed structure (11), such that this angle θ operates in concert with the vertical load exerted from weight (9), and in some prior art (15), to create a restoring force equal to the weight of (9) times the sine of the angle θ, as the weight (9) makes the pendular tension members (10) tend to remain vertical.
Implementation Method 2
create a restoring force equal to the weight of (9) times the sine of the angle θ, as the weight (9) makes the pendular tension members (10) tend to remain vertical
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to single point mooring systems and method used in relation to single point mooring systems wherein, the system divides the restoring weight for the mooring system in two and removes hinges and swivel joints from the gravitational load path suspending the restoring weight.