Patent ID: 6263822
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A radial support arrangement (50) for a turret (22) which is rotatably supported within a moonpool (14) of a vessel (12) comprising,a mounting plate (72) positioned substantially vertically and radially outwardly of said turret (22) and rotatably coupled to said turret (22);a surface (55) of said vessel (12) which is positioned substantially vertically and is spaced a radial distance from said mounting plate (72);a radial elastomeric spring assembly (50) includingan elastomeric pad (66) sandwiched between inner (68) and outer (64) plates, with said inner plate (68) fixed to said mounting plate (72),an inner telescoping cylinder (62) having an inner end secured to said outer plate (64), and having an outer end (63),an outer telescoping cylinder (58) disposed in telescoping sliding relation about the outside of said inner telescoping cylinder (62), said outer telescoping cylinder (58) having an end plate (52) secured at its outer end, with said end plate (52) being secured to said surface (55) of said vessel (12),said inner (62) and outer (58) telescoping cylinders being arranged, dimensioned and designed such that when said outer end (63) of said inner cylinder (62) abuts said end plate (52) of said outer cylinder (58) said elastomeric pad (66) reacts in compression to relative radial movements of said turret and said hull toward each other, but no tension is placed on said elastomeric pad (66) with relative radial movements of said turret and said hull away from each other.