Mooring chain connecting link

A connecting link assembly for connecting two chain sizes together. The connecting link assembly includes a smaller connecting link assembly sized according to the smaller chain size, a larger connecting link assembly sized according to the larger chain size, and a connecting component. The connecting component is sized and shaped to be accepted by a dual chain wheel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to high strength chains of long lengths and more particularly relates to a connecting link for connecting together two lengths of chain.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

There are many situations in which long lengths of high strength chains are required. A common situation arises in marine applications, particularly in mooring or anchoring vessels in deep water, typically required in off-shore drilling and production of hydrocarbon. In off-shore drilling operations, floating production, drilling or construction platforms or spar buoys generally are moored in a desired location through the use of chains secured between the platform and anchors on the ocean floor. In a typical installation, the anchor lines are installed by passing a messenger chain or rope from the deck through a chain wheel and out to a pre-installed anchor or mooring on the ocean floor. A connecting link secures the messenger chain to the anchor chain. The messenger chain is then hauled back to the platform, thereby pulling the anchor chain back to the platform as well. Both the messenger chain and anchor chain pass through the same chain wheel.

Since the messenger chain has a lower capacity, it is usually smaller than the anchor chain. Prior art connecting links do not allow for two different sized chains to be interconnected and transitioned through a chain wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The connecting link of the present disclosure is generally applicable to many types of chain. In the preferred embodiment, the connecting link of the present disclosure is particularly applicable for connecting heavy-duty chains, such as ships' anchor chains or haulage chains, including chains used in conjunction with chain wheels for transmitting tensional drives.

Further, the connecting link of the present disclosure can generally be used with many types of chain wheels. In the preferred embodiment, the connecting link of the present disclosure is particularly applicable for use with the embodiments of a dual chain wheel disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application 61/555,350, filed on Nov. 3, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A.

Certain embodiments of the connecting link of the present disclosure allow two different sized chains to be connected with one another in a manner that allows both chains to properly move through a chain wheel, such as that disposed in a fairlead device. Further, certain embodiments of the connecting link of the present disclosure maintain the correct pitch to assure the transition between the smaller chain to the larger chain properly passes around a chain wheel designed for two link sizes. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the connecting link of the present disclosure allows for two different sized chains that are interconnected to transition through a single chain wheel that is configured to accommodate those two chain sizes. Certain embodiments provide a smooth and trouble free transition as the connecting link of the present disclosure is rolled around the chain wheel or fairlead wheel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the smaller chain is a 102 mm chain and the larger chain is a 178 mm chain. The proposed connecting link of this embodiment is designed to fit a 102 mm chain at one end and a 178 mm chain at the opposite end. The connecting link of this embodiment is dimensioned to maintain the proper dimensional length (pitch) so the first 178 mm chain will land in one of the chain wheel pockets for 178 mm chain.

The following paragraphs provide exemplary embodiments of the connecting link of the present disclosure. Referring toFIGS. 1-3J, there is provided a chain assembly engaged with chain wheel100. The chain assembly comprises smaller chain102, connecting link assembly104, and larger chain106. In the preferred embodiment, connecting link assembly104comprises smaller link connecting component108, dual link connecting component110, and larger link connecting component112.

Smaller link connecting component108connects smaller chain102with smaller end118of dual link connecting component110. Smaller link connecting component108preferably has a general shape and size substantially identical to the links of smaller chain102. In the preferred embodiment, smaller link connecting component108is a standard commercial connecting link known to those skilled in the art, which is configured for the particular size of smaller chain102. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, smaller link connecting component108further preferably includes release mechanism114that is configured to open to allow the end link of smaller chain102, as well as small end118of dual link connecting component110, to be inserted into the interior of smaller link connecting component108and close thereafter to retain the end link of smaller chain102. In the preferred embodiment, release mechanism114is provided by the commercially available standard smaller link connecting component. Typically, release mechanism114comprises two halves that can be removed from either side. As shown, release mechanism114is disposed on a side of smaller link connecting component. By the virtue of its shape, smaller link connecting component108is perpendicular to the end link of smaller chain102when coupled to smaller chain102.

Similarly, larger link connecting component112connects larger chain106with dual link connecting component110. Larger link connecting component112preferably has a general shape and size substantially identical to the links of larger chain106. In the preferred embodiment, larger link connecting component112is a standard commercial connecting link known to those skilled in the art, which is configured for the particular size of larger chain106. Referring toFIG. 2, larger link connecting component112further preferably includes release mechanism116that is configured to open to allow the end link of larger chain106, as well as large end120of dual link connecting component110, to be inserted into the interior of larger link connecting component112and close thereafter to retain the end link of larger chain106. Release mechanism116functions in a similar manner as release mechanism114. As shown, release mechanism116is disposed on a side of larger link connecting component112. By the virtue of its shape, larger link connecting component108is perpendicular to the end link of larger chain106when coupled to larger chain106. Accordingly, smaller link connecting component108, dual link connecting component110, and larger link connecting component112maintain the desired alternating perpendicular configuration of both smaller chain102and larger chain106when they are connected with one another.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3J, dual link connecting component110preferably has small end118, large end120, and body122disposed between the two ends. Small end118has a general shape and size substantially identical to the end of the links of smaller chain102so it can be coupled with smaller link connecting component108. Likewise, large end120has a general shape and size substantially identical to the end of the links of larger chain106so it can be coupled with larger link connecting component112. Smaller end118and larger end120lie in the same plane. Each of smaller end118and larger end120provides an opening through which smaller link connecting component108and larger link component112, respectively, passes, thereby connecting larger link connecting component112and the attached larger chain106, with smaller link connecting component108and the attached smaller chain102.

Referring toFIGS. 3A-3J, body122is generally rectangular and has a width that is generally the same as the width of the links of smaller chain102. Referring toFIGS. 1-2, body122of dual link connecting component110preferably includes raised portions124on both sides. Referring toFIG. 2, the thickness of body122as measured from one raised portion124to the other raised portion124is preferably also about the same or slightly larger than the width of a link of smaller chain102. Raised portion124is generally T-shaped with the top of the T toward large end120and the body of the T toward small end18. Corners134on either the side of the T connecting the body of the T to the top of the T are preferably curved. As described in further detail below, corners134allow smaller link driving wheel126of chain wheel100to engage dual link connecting component110.

In the preferred embodiment, body122has a length or pitch, i.e., the distance between small end118and large end120, that is configured to allow smaller link driving wheel126to engage with corners134of dual link connecting component110. The pitch is also dimensioned to maintain the engagement between a chain wheel pocket or wheel ledge (e.g.128) of smaller link driving wheel126with the links of smaller chain102and deliver the links of larger chain106to the chain wheel pockets or wheel ledges (e.g.,136) for a proper engagement between the two. It is understood that the dimensions of the components of connecting link assembly104will vary accordingly depending on the size of the chains and corresponding chain wheels used.

FIGS. 3A-3Jillustrate the sequential movement of a chain assembly of connecting link assembly104connected to smaller chain102and larger chain106moving through chain wheel100where dual link connecting component110is parallel to the plane of wheel100. Smaller link driving wheel126preferably includes a plurality of wheel ledges128that grip the links of smaller chain102as it moves through chain wheel100in the direction indicated by arrow130. Referring toFIG. 3A, wheel ledge128aengages smaller link connecting component108. Referring toFIG. 3B, as smaller chain102moves through wheel100, smaller link driving wheel126continues to rotate, thereby moving the subsequent wheel ledge, wheel ledge128b, toward connecting link assembly104. Referring toFIG. 3C, as smaller chain102continues to through wheel100, wheel ledge128bengages dual link connecting component104, specifically at the T-body portion of raised portions124of body122.

Referring toFIG. 3D-3E, as smaller link driving wheel126continues to rotate, wheel ledge128bmoves into corners134of raised portions124. At the same time, larger link connecting component112is placed in a position to engage wheel ledge136aof larger link driving wheel132. Referring toFIG. 3E, wheel ledge128bslips into corners134of raised portions124as smaller link driving wheel126continues to rotate. Referring toFIG. 3F, wheel ledges136aand136bengage both ends of larger link connecting component112as the chain assembly moves through wheel100. Wheel ledge128bof smaller link driving wheel126still remains engaged with corners134. Referring toFIG. 3G, as wheel ledge136bbegin to move toward the links of larger chain106to grip the next aligned link, wheel ledge128bbegins to slip away from corners134of connecting link assembly104. Referring toFIGS. 3H-3J, larger link driving wheel132begins to fully engage and grip the links of larger chain106to move it through wheel100as smaller chain102and connecting link assembly104moves out of wheel100.

Referring toFIGS. 4-6L, the elements and components of the chain assembly engaged with chain wheel100are substantially the same as described above, except dual link connecting component110is now perpendicular to the plane of wheel100.

FIGS. 6A-6Lillustrate the sequential movement of a chain assembly of connecting link assembly104connected to smaller chain102and larger chain106moving through chain wheel100where dual link connecting component110is perpendicular to the plane of wheel100. Smaller link driving wheel126preferably includes a plurality of wheel ledge128that grips the links of smaller chain102as it moves through chain wheel100in the direction indicated by arrow130. Referring toFIG. 6A, wheel ledge128cengages smaller chain102. Wheel ledge128dis in position to engage smaller link connecting component108. Referring toFIG. 6B, as smaller chain102moves through wheel100, smaller link driving wheel126continues to rotate, thereby moving the subsequent wheel ledge, wheel ledge128d, to fully engage smaller end118of connecting link assembly104. Dual link connecting component110, particularly larger end120, is positioned to be trapped or engaged by larger link driving wheel132. Referring toFIG. 6C, as smaller chain102continues to move through wheel100, wheel ledge136bof larger link driving wheel132engages dual link connecting component110at larger end120.

Referring toFIG. 6D, as smaller link driving wheel126continue to rotate, wheel ledge136bfully engages and grips larger end120. At this point there are two points of contact between wheel100and connecting link assembly104: the first is between smaller end118and wheel ledge128dof smaller link driving wheel126and the second is between larger end120and wheel ledge136bof larger link driving wheel132. Referring toFIGS. 6E-6F, as the chain assembly continues to move through wheel100the two points of contact continues to be maintained. Referring toFIG. 6G, larger link106is in position to be trapped or engaged with wheel ledges136of larger link driving wheel132as wheel100continues to rotate. Referring toFIGS. 6H-6I, wheel100begins to transition from engagement between smaller link driving wheel126with the chain assembly to engagement between larger link driving wheel132and the chain assembly as smaller chain102moves out of wheel100and larger link106enters wheel100. As shown, dual link connecting1047begins to slip from wheel100and the link of larger chain106is positioned to be trapped or gripped by larger link driving wheel132.

Referring toFIG. 6J, as wheel100continues to rotate, wheel edge136bfully engages with the end link of larger chain106.FIGS. 6K-6Lshow smaller chain102and connecting link assembly104moving out of wheel100and larger link driving wheel132taking over to move larger chain106through wheel100.