Patent ID: 6477974
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A radial bearing arrangement for rotatably supporting a turret within a moonpool of a vessel, said turret having a generally vertical turret axis, the arrangement comprising,a turret support ring secured to said moonpool, said turret support ring having a ring axis, an outward facing ring surface disposed on said turret, a bearing assembly mounted on said turret including a housing having an inward facing continuous cylindrical surface and a bushing retained between said outward facing ring surface of said turret and said inward facing cylindrical surface of said housing, by which said turret is free to rotate about said turret axis with respect to said housing, and a coupling arrangement including a continuous outer facing surface of said housing and a continuous inner facing surface of said turret support riser and a gap between said outer facing surface of said housing and said inner facing surface of said turret support ring between said housing and said turret support ring, whereby said housing is prevented from rotating about said turret axis with respect to said moonpool while enabling tilting of said turret axis with respect to said ring axis.