Pivotal connecting device for pivotally connecting an off-shore articulated column structure to a sea bottom

A universal Cardan joint coupling device for pivotally connecting an off-shore oil-field working articulated column to a base member resting or anchored on the sea bed, wherein the improvement consists in that at least one of the pivot axes of said joint is connected to two supports rigidly connected to said base member and provided on either side of said joint, by means of two lock-bolt means aligned and displaceable along said axis and adapted to cooperate with bolt-clasps or keepers provided in said supports.

The present invention relates to pivotal connection devices or systems in 
particular of the universal joint type forming a so-called mechanical 
Cardan coupling or Hooke's joint, removably connecting the lower end of an 
off-shore oil-field working articulated or oscillating column, tower or 
like compliant platform construction to a base member resting on or 
secured to a sea bed or bottom or like marine floor in oil-field working 
or other plants. 
A main object of the invention is to make such connecting devices or 
systems less bulky or cumbersome, less heavy, less expensive as well as 
simpler and quicker to be mounted or installed. 
It mainly consists in directly securing the pivotal connection of such an 
arrangement to the base member by securing one of the axes ot that pivotal 
connection and in particular one of the two pivot axes of the Cardan 
spider if the pivotal connection is a universal Cardan joint coupling with 
its two opposite aligned end portions or pivot pins for instance, to two 
supports, respectively, rigidly connected to the base member and 
positioned on either side of said pivotal connection, by means of two 
locking means or lock-bolts displaceable along said axis. Said supports 
preferably consist of two posts or upstanding arms projecting upward 
substantially in spaced parallel symmetrical relationship from said 
substantially stationary base member to form with the latter the 
stationary one of the two yokes or forked components of said universal 
Cardan joint coupling. 
In order to facilitate the mounting operation of the pivotal connection 
onto both supports forming a kind of prongs provided for instance with 
pointed tops and secured in substantially vertically extending 
relationship onto the base member and according to another characterizing 
feature of the invention the pivotal connection is fitted with guide 
members adapted to provide for the horizontal positioning of the pivotal 
connection with respect to the base member by vertically sliding along the 
walls of said arm-like or post-shaped supports. 
With such a type of articulated column the fluid-conveying passage-ways 
between the column and the base members are provided by pipe-lines or 
ducts arranged outside of the pivotal connection. In view of the 
oscillatory motions of the column such ducts or pipe-lines should however 
be flexible or yielding in particular at the pivotal connection i.e. in 
their portions located substantially between the foot or bottom end of the 
column and the base member. 
In order to get at least partially rid of such a constraining flexibility 
requirement for the ducts or pipe-lines by reducing or wholly dispensing 
with the flexible connecting ducts or hoses and by substituting therefor a 
connecting device kinematically consistent with the relative notions of 
the column and according to a further characterizing feature of the 
invention at least one fluid-carrying passage-way through the Cardan joint 
is combined with the arrangement for locking the Cardan joint to the base 
member. 
For this purpose and according to still another characterizing feature of 
the pivotal connection between two structures consisting of a sea-floor 
exploitation column and of its base member placed onto the sea bottom, 
respectively, which pivotal connection comprises a universal Cardan joint 
coupling with a spider pivotally connected to the base member and to the 
column, respectively, along two axes of rotation at right angles to each 
other with suitable interconnection of the fluid-conveying ducts or 
pipe-lines provided on said base member and on said column, respectively, 
said spider is removably connected to one of said structures by connecting 
means made immovable or held against motion by means of two selectively 
retractable lock-bolts arranged to be aligned in substantially registering 
relationship with and to be movable along said pivot axis between said 
spider and said other structure which is formed to this end with the other 
two-arm yoke or forked member of the Cardan joint. 
According to still another characterizing feature of the invention said 
pipe connection comprises at least one pair of rotary or swivel fluid 
passage-way joints which are coaxial with both cross-pin pivot axes of the 
Cardan joint coupling, respectively, and mounted between the base member 
and the cross-spin spider of the Cardan joint and between the column and 
the cross-pin spider of the Cardan joint, respectively. 
According to a further characterizing feature of the invention said 
lock-bolt which forms a part of an aforesaid rotary joint consists of a 
tubular or hollow pin open at its two opposite ends and removably 
engageable in substantially sealing or fluid-tight relationship with said 
base member or said column, said cross-pin spider being connected to the 
column-borne or to the base member-bound pipe-line or duct. 
According to still another characterizing feature of the invention the 
rotatable of revolving connection between both aforesaid component parts 
of each rotary joint consists of a deformable packing or sealing member 
mounted between both component parts of the rotary joint. 
According to still another characterizing feature of the invention said 
packing or sealing member is fast with one of said two component parts of 
each rotary joint and is in sealing pressed sliding engagement with the 
other component part while preferably forming a torsion or twistable joint 
packing or sealing member. 
According to still a further characterizing feature of the invention said 
packing or sealing member consists of an annular sleeve element coaxially 
surrounding the lock-bolt forming one component part of each rotary joint 
while being fixedly secured for instance with one end thereof to said 
cross-pin spider structure and having its other end simply bearing in 
pressed relationship against a corresponding ring-like shoulder or flange 
of said lock-bolt which shoulder or flange is formed at the inner end 
thereof.

According to the invention in order to secure the lower end portion of a 
working platform or column 2 (FIG. 1) to a submarine base member 3 
anchored or fastened to the ground, through the agency of a pivotal 
connecting system 1 comprising a universal Cardan joint coupling, the 
following or a similar arrangement should be used. 
By way of examplary illustration if should be pointed out that in the known 
or prior art constructions the universal Cardan joint coupling or at least 
its lower half part or yoke component is carried by a foot member, 
pedestal or like holder which is secured and locked onto the base member 
proper. 
The machining, assembling and installing or mounting work steps are 
therefore carried out on both the Cardan joint and the pedestal or foot 
member and accordingly are rather time-consuming and expensive. 
Moreover the height of the pedestal or foot member would as much increase 
the level of the pivot axes or pins to the same extent or by the same 
amount with respect to the base member. 
With the view to simplify the construction and according to the invention, 
the cross-pin spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling is directly 
connected to both upright or vertical arm-like supports or posts secured 
to the base member 3 and horizontally aligned in substantially registering 
relationship along one XX' of the two orthogonal centre-line axes XX' and 
YY' of said spider (FIGS. 1 and 2), by means of two lock-bolts 15, 
respectively, displaceable along said axis XX'. 
Said supports are advantageously shaped as prongs 13 formed with pointed 
upper tips or top ends. 
The pivot pins 11 forming the gudgeons or trunnions of the spider which are 
arranged along the axis XX' and which carry and are journalled in the 
corresponding bearings 10 of the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint 
coupling along said axis XX', are hollow so as to contain the lock-bolts 
15 as well as power rams or like linear cylinder- and -piston actuators 
106 adapted to drive these lock-bolts according to axial displacements in 
order to cause them to engage corresponding bolt-clasps or keepers 16 
provided in mutually confronting relationship as recesses or holes within 
the side walls of said arm-like supports. 
There are moreover provided means enabling the spider to be readily 
positioned when being installed in front of the arm-like supports. For 
this purpose such means may consist for instance of guide frames such as 
diagrammatically shown at 14, which are adapted to be slipped over and 
onto the arm-like supports, each guide frame being fast with a trunnion or 
like hollow pivot pin 11. 
Thus once the base member 3 has been sunk down and positioned on the sea 
bed together with its arm-like supports 13 integral therewith, the column 
is lowered and the spider 5 of the Cardan joint is drawn near the base 
member so that its guide means 14 be located above the pointed top ends of 
the arm-like supports and then after the whole construction has been moved 
downwards in place, the lock-bolts 15 are operated by means of the 
actuators 106. The lock-bolts are then blocked axially in the mounting 
position by means of cotter pins 39 extending across and behind the free 
end of the piston rod of the actuator projecting inwards from the actuator 
cylinder. The spider of the universal Cardan joint coupling may then 
freely rotate or swing about its trunnions or pivot pins. 
Disassembling of the Cardan joint coupling or disconnecting the column from 
its base member is performed in the same simple manner by operating the 
power rams or actuators 106 in the direction reverse from the foregoing 
one after disengagement of the cotter pins 39 whereby the lock-bolts 15 
are disengaged or retracted from their bolt-clasps 16. 
The reference numeral 90 designates additional parts provided on the 
trunnion or pivot pin 11 and on the spider 5, respectively, to prevent the 
trunnions or pivot pins from moving axially out of their housings or 
bearings as long as the whole assembly has not been mounted on the 
arm-like supports. 
It is thus possible by using any one of the embodiments disclosed herein to 
install off-shore plants having articulated columns in a simpler, more 
economical and faster way as hereintofore by means of less bulky or 
cumbersome and less heavy elements. 
It should be noted in particular that all the mechanical functions relative 
to the pivotal connection as well as to the locking are concentrated on 
one and a same component part, namely on the spider of the universal 
Cardan joint coupling in the examplary embodiment described hereinabove. 
Moreover owing to the omission of the foot member or pedestal provided in 
the prior art constructions the level of the pivot axes X and Y may be 
lowered with respect to the base member. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6 there is shown a second embodiment of the pivotal 
connecting system 1 according to the invention, connecting a column 2 in 
particular of an off-shore working plant for exploiting or developing a 
submarine oil-field to a base member 3 resting on or anchored to the sea 
bottom. 
The pivotal connecting system 1 comprises a universal Cardan joint coupling 
4 enabling the column 2 to be pivotally connected to the base member 3 for 
swinging motions about two axes of rotation XX', YY', respectively, 
extending at right angles to each other and carried by the column and by 
the base member, respectively. 
The universal Cardan joint coupling 4 comprises an annular spider of 
prismatic or polygonal or cylindrical configuration 5 consisting for 
instance of two ring-like plates arranged in substantially coaxial 
relationship, namely an upper or top plate 6 and a lower or bottom plate 7 
the confronting peripheral outer and inner edge portions of which are 
interconnected by outer side-wall plates 8 and inner side-wall plates 9, 
respectively. 
The preferably coplanar or intersecting pivot axes XX', YY' extend through 
the centre or middle point of the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint 
coupling and in parallel relation to the top plate 6 and to the bottom 
plate 7 of the spider. Two coaxially aligned bearings 10 extend through 
and are made fast with the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling 
along each pivot axis XX' or YY', respectively. With each bearing 10 is 
associated a set of elements enabling the universal Cardan joint coupling 
4 to perform the following functions: pivotal connection of the column to 
the base member, locking of the spider of the universal Cardan joint 
coupling to the base member and to the column, respectively, and 
connection between at least two fluid-conveying ducts or pipe-lines borne 
by the base member and by the column, respectively. 
In view of the symmetrical relationship of the construction with respect to 
the pivot axes XX', YY', only that set of elements which is associated 
with a bearing 10 coaxial with the pivot axis XX' will be described in 
greater detail hereinafter. 
Referring in particular to FIG. 5, a hollow gudgeon or trunnion 11 forming 
a pivot pin coaxial with said pivot axis is rotatably mounted or 
journalled within the corresponding bearing 10 by means of bushings 12. 
This gudgeon or trunnion 11 is connected to a substantially vertical 
arm-like support 13 forming a guiding and and holding element fast with 
the base member 3 and comparable with one arm or prong of the stationary 
or lower yoke for the Cardan coupling. For this purpose the trunnion 11 is 
rigidly connected with its outer end to a sleeve or collar 14 adapted to 
be slipped over the corresponding guiding and holding element 13. Such a 
connection of the trunnion 11 to its guiding and holding element 13 is 
held against motion by means of a retractable lock-bolt 15 consisting of a 
tubular or hollow locking pin open at its two opposite ends, axially 
movable along the corresponding pivot axis and insertable into an opening 
16 provided in the associated guiding and holding element 13. 
At the outer end of the locking bolt 15 is secured, for instance 
screw-threaded, a ring-like head 17 alined in coaxial relationship with 
the lock-bolt and the terminal front face at the free end of which carries 
an annular gasket or like packing or seal 18. This gasket or seal 18 is 
adapted to engage or contact in pressed sealing relationship the annular 
terminal end face of a duct or a pipe-line 19 carried by the base member 
3. 
The lock-bolt 15 is formed on its outer peripheral surface with a collar or 
shoulder 20 forming a double-acting or reversible drive piston which is in 
fluid-tight sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the 
corresponding trunnion or pivot pin 11. Two stop means 21, 22 are provided 
in axially spaced relationship on the inner wall surface of the trunnion 
11 with the view to limiting the stroke of the lock-bolt 15. The stop 
means 21 consists of a shoulder defined by a reduction in the inner 
diameter of the trunnion 11 whereas the stop means 22 consists of the 
terminal end face of an auxiliary sleeve 23 coaxially alined with the 
pivot axis XX' and partially mounted inside of the trunnion 11 about the 
lock-bolt 15. This sleeve 23 is in sealing engagement with the lock-bolt 
15 and the trunnion 11, respectively, through its radially inner and outer 
side-wall surfaces. This sleeve 23 is secured to the trunnion 11 by means 
of screws 24 for instance. From the radially inner wall surface of the 
auxiliary sleeve 23 is projecting at least one guide pin or like locating 
peg or dowel 25 which cooperates with an axially extending groove 26 
formed in the radially outer wall surface of the lock-bolt 15 for holding 
the latter against rotation. 
Two pressure fluid feed ducts 27, 28 provided in the trunnion 11 open 
adjacent to both opposite ends, respectively, of the annular chamber 
defined by the radially inner wall surface of the trunnion 11 and by the 
radially outer wall surface of the lock-bolt 15 as well as by both stop 
means 21, 22, this chamber being separated into two variable volume 
chambers by the collar 20 of the lock-bolt 15. These pressure fluid feed 
ducts communicate with a pressure fluid supply source (not shown). 
The inner end of the bearing 10 rigidly connected to the spider is extended 
by a sleeve member 29 the free end of which is closed by a cover plate 30. 
This cover plate is formed with a central boss portion 31 projecting 
outwards to the outside of the sleeve member 29. This sleeve member 29 is 
fastened to the bearing 10 by means of fastening bolts 32 for instance. 
At that inner end of the lock-bolt 15 which projects into the sleeve member 
29 is mounted an annular flange plate 33 coaxially aligned with the pivot 
axis XX' and the central aperture of which has substantially the same 
diameter as the inner diameter of the lock-bolt 15. A resiliently 
deformable sealing packing 34 such as a ring-like sleeve forming a torsion 
or twistable joint is mounted in coaxial relation to the lock-bolt 15 
within the space defined by the radially inner wall surface of the sleeve 
member 29 and by the radially outer wall surface of the auxiliary sleeve 
23 which projects into the sleeve member 29. That sealing torsion joint 34 
is for instance secured with one end thereof by means of a screw 35 
against an annular inner shoulder 36 provided towards the adjacent end of 
the bearing 10 whereas with its other or opposite end the torsion sealing 
joint 34 is in pressed simple bearing engagement with the adjacent side 
face of the annular plate 33 made fast with the lock-bolt 15 when the 
latter is in its outward extended locking position. 
Referring in particular to FIG. 6, the sleeve member 29 carries a pressure 
fluid operated power-ram or like linear cylinder- and -piston actuator 37 
the piston-rod 38 of which may extend into the sleeve member along a 
direction perpendicular to the pivot axis XX'. A blocking element 39 is 
secured at the end of the piston-rod 38 for keeping the lock-bolt 15 
immovable in its operative locking position. This blocking element 39 is 
adapted to contact with its two opposite side faces extending at right 
angles to the pivot axis XX' that central portion 40 of the cover 30 which 
surrounds the boss 31 and which projects slightly into the sleeve member 
29 and the terminal end face of an auxiliary pin 41, respectively, forming 
an extension of the lock-bolt 15 beyond the annular plate 33 made fast 
with said lock-bolt. This auxiliary pin 41 has a smaller diameter than the 
inner diameter of the lock-bolt and projects partially into said lock-bolt 
while being connected to the latter by means of gussets or like fins or 
wings 42. It should be pointed out that even when the lock-bolt 15 is in 
engagement with the blocking element 39 through the agency of the 
auxiliary pin 41 the lock-bolt 15 may turn about its longitudinal 
centre-line with respect to the associated blocking element. 
An opening 43 is formed in the sleeve member 29 so as to provide 
communication between the inner space of the sleeve member with the 
adjacent end of a stiff outer pipe 44 secured to the sleeve member by a 
flange 45. This pipe 44 is for instance secured with its other end to one 
of the sleeve members 29 associated with the other pivot axis YY' (FIG. 
4). 
All of the elements which have just been described with respect to the 
pivotal connection of the universal Cardan joint coupling along its pivot 
axis XX' associated with the base member are also provided at the pivotal 
connection of the universal Cardan joint coupling along its other pivot 
axis YY' associated with the column. Along the pivot axis YY' however each 
trunnion 11 is rigidly connected with its outer end to a channel-like 
guide element 50 having a U-shaped cross-section. Both guide elements 50 
do not cooperate with guiding and holding arm-like supports 13 rigidly 
connected to the base member as previously stated but with two arms 51, 
51a, respectively, forming the prongs of a yoke, clevis or like fork which 
are provided in extension of the lower end of the column in spaced 
relationship on either side of the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint 
coupling. Each arm 51 or 51a is for instance formed with a bore extending 
therethrough in coaxial relation to the pivot axis YY' to provide 
communication between the associated lock-bolt 15 and a rigid outer pipe 
52 or 52a borne by the column (FIG. 3). 
With such an arrangement it is possible to interconnect at least two pipes 
19, 19a carried by the base member with two pipes 52, 52a, respectively, 
carried by the column. The pipe 19 carried by the base member is connected 
to the pipe 52 carried by the column through the agency of two rotary 
joints, respectively, mounted in coaxial relation to both pivot axes XX', 
YY', respectively. Each rotary joint comprises one part made fast with the 
spider structure (bearing 10, sleeve member 29) and another part 
consisting of a lock-bolt 15 with a sealing torsion joint interposed 
between these two parts. Both rotary joints associated with the pipe 19 
and with the pipe 52, respectively, communicate with each other through 
the medium of a stiff connecting pipe 44. The pipe 19a and the pipe 52a 
are likewise interconnected by the two other rotary joints associated with 
the two pivot axes XX', YY', respectively. 
FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment which is a modification 
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. 
This alternative embodiment differs essentially from the second embodiment 
by the means which connect that part of each rotary joint which is fast 
with the base member or with the column to that part thereof which is fast 
with the universal Cardan joint coupling. 
As previously in view of the existing symmetrical relationship only one of 
the rotary joints associated with the pivot axis XX' will be described 
hereinafter. 
Each bearing 10 is extended at its inner end by both legs 60 of a 
clevis-like bracket 61 the transverse wall 62 of which extends at right 
angles to the pivot axis XX'. Between both legs 60 of the clevis-like 
brackets 61 is provided a casing 63 movable in a direction at right angles 
to the pivot axis XX' along guide rails 64 mounted on the confronting 
opposite side faces of the two plates forming the legs 60 of the 
clevis-like bracket 61. These guide rails 64 are extended towards one side 
of the clevis-like bracket 61 to the spider 5 of the universal Cardan 
joint coupling and are secured to the spider at the inner side-wall plates 
9 interconnecting both annular end plates 6, 7 of the spider. 
A sealing annular torsion joint packing 34 is mounted in coaxial relation 
to the pivot axis XX' within that casing or box 63 which is of 
substantially parallelepipedic shape and consists of two half-shells 
assembled together. On either side of this torsion joint 34 and in coaxial 
relation thereto are mounted two axially movable sleeve elements 66, 67. 
The sleeve element 66 is formed at its end adjacent to the torsion joint 
34 with a flange 68 engageable in simple pressed fluid-tight relationship 
by one end of said sealing joint or packing. At its other end which 
projects outside of the box 63 through an opening 69 coaxial with the 
pivot axis XX', the sleeve member 66 is formed with a flange 70 adapted to 
engage in simple pressed bearing fluid-tight relationship a coaxial 
annular plate 71 mounted at the adjacent end of the associated 
locking-bolt 15. The sleeve member 67 is formed, at one end thereof, with 
a flange 72 engageable in simple bearing pressed fluid-tight relationship 
by the other end of the sealing torsion joint packing 34. That other end 
of the sleeve element 67 which projects outward from the casing 63 through 
an opening 69 which is coaxial with the pivot axis XX' terminates in a 
flange 63 adapted to engage in simple pressed bearing relationship the 
transverse wall portion 62 of the clevis-like bracket 61. 
A sleeve 74 is coaxially mounted about the sealing torsion joint packing 34 
between both sleeve elements 66 and 67. That sleeve 74 is of a shorter 
length than that of the sealing torsion joint packing 34 and its two ends 
form two stops or abutments, respectively, for the two axially movable 
sleeve elements 66 and 67 in order to avoid any crushing or excessive 
compression of the sealing torsion joint packing 34. 
Both sleeve elements 66 and 67 may be moved towards each other with an 
attendant compression or squeezing of the sealing torsion joint packing 34 
by means of several pressure fluid-operated power-rams or like linear 
cylinder- and -piston actuators 75 mounted within the casing 63. The 
piston-rods of these actuators 75 which extend in parallel relation to the 
pivot axis XX' are secured for instance to the flange 68 of the sleeve 
element 66. Such an axial motion of both sleeve elements 66 and 67 towards 
each other enables each box-like casing 63 to be passed through and to be 
inserted into its clevis-like bracket 61 between the transverse wall 
portion 62 of the latter and the plate 71 mounted at the end of the 
corresponding lock-bolt 15 when the latter is in its outward extended 
operative locking position as set forth hereinafter. 
A guide sleeve 76 coaxially aligned with the pivot axis XX' is connected 
with one end to the peripheral surface of the annular plate 71 secured to 
the associated lock-bolt 15. This sleeve 76 extends into the associated 
bearing 10 between the latter and the auxiliary sleeve 23 rigidly secured 
to the bearing. With its outer peripheral surface this guide sleeve 76 is 
in sliding engagement with a ring member 77 mounted on the radially inner 
wall surface of the bearing 10 and towards the end thereof. 
Each box-like casing or housing 63 is rigidly connected to the piston-rod 
80 of a pressure fluid-operated power-ram or like linear cylinder- and 
-piston actuator 81 mounted to extend at right angles to the pivot axis 
XX' and the cylinder of which is for instance rigidly connected to the 
spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling (FIGS. 7, 9 and 10). The 
transverse wall portion 62 of each clevis-like bracket 61 is formed with a 
central aperture 82 which communicates with the adjacent end of a rigid 
connecting pipe 83 the other end of which communicates with the opening 82 
provided in one of the two clevis-like brackets associated with the pivot 
axis YY' (FIG. 8). 
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 it should be noted that the guide rail 
associated with one of the legs 60 of each clevis-like bracket 61 consists 
of two parts or sections 64a, 64b. The section 64a located at the 
clevis-like bracket 62 is extended up to the spider 5 of the universal 
Cardan joint coupling by the section 64b which is pivotally mounted to 
swing about a pivot 84 carried by the spider 5 of the universal Cardan 
joint coupling thereby enabling the associated box or housing 63 to be 
mounted. 
As previously it is possible to provide the connection between at least two 
pipes 19, 19a borne by the base member and two pipes 52, 52a borne by the 
column, respectively. The pipe 19 is connected to the pipe 52 through two 
rotary joints respectively associated with both pivot axes and by a 
connecting pipe 83 interconnecting both rotary joints. Each rotary joint 
consists of a first part made fast with the spider of the universal Cardan 
joint coupling (bearing 10, clevis-like bracket 61, sleeve element 67 of 
the box 63) and of another part made fast with the base member or with the 
column (sleeve element 66 of box 63 and associated lock-bolt 15) with the 
interposition of a sealing torsion joint 34. The pipes 19a and 52a 
communicate with each other likewise through the agency of two other 
rotary joints interconnected by a connecting pipe 83. 
It should be noted that the free cross-sectional area of fluid passage-way 
between the pipes is substantially constant thereby enabling a scraping 
tool such as a piston-like scraper to be driven therethrough. 
The method of mounting the pivotal connecting system according to the first 
embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is the following. 
The spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling, for instance already 
secured and locked to the column 2 along the pivot axis YY' is brought to 
the vertical of the base member 3 with the locking bolts 15 associated 
with the pivot axis XX' being in their inoperative unlocked positions i.e. 
these lock-bolts 15 do not project outwards from the outer ends of the 
corresponding trunnions 11 (but are in their retracted position shown in 
chain dotted lines in FIG. 5). In that position the annular plate 33 of 
each lock-bolt 15 is not bearing in pressed fluid-tight relationship 
against the associated annular sealing torsion joint packing 34 and the 
free end of the rod 41 which is in extension of each lock-bolt 15 projects 
into the boss 31 of the cover 30 associated with the sleeve 29. Each 
blocking element 39 is then in the upper position (with the piston-rod 38 
being retracted) to enable rod 41 to extend into the boss 31. 
The positioning of the spider 5 on the base member 3 is carried out by 
slipping the collars or frame means 14 of the trunnions 11 over the 
corresponding guiding and holding elements 13 which are fast with the base 
member 3. 
Then each lock-bolt 15 is moved by being driven through the pressure fluid 
fed into the duct 28 of the associated trunnion 11. This pressure fluid 
then exerts a drive force upon the adjacent face of the collar 20 thereby 
moving the lock-bolt 15 along to extend or project outwards with the view 
to locking the spider 5. During that travel the free end or head 17 of 
each lock-bolt moves through the opening 16 of the associated guiding and 
holding support 13 so as to come into pressed fluid-tight engagement 
through the sealing joint 18 with the terminal end face of the rigid pipe 
or duct 19 fitting the base member 3. In that position the collar 20 of 
each lock-bolt 15 is substantially abutting against the stop means 21 of 
the associated trunnion 11 whereas the annular plate 33 of each lock-bolt 
15 is caused to engage in fluid-tight bearing relationship the adjacent 
terminal end face of the sealing torsion joint packing 34 while partially 
compressing or squeezing the latter. 
With the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling being now locked 
in position on the guiding and holding elements of the base member 3 the 
power-rams 37 are energized with pressure fluid so as to bring each 
blocking element 39 in engagement with the free end of the rod 41 rigidly 
connected with the corresponding lock-bolt 15 and with the central portion 
40 of the cover 30, respectively, mounted at the end of the associated 
sleeve 29. Thus it is no longer necessary to keep supplying pressure fluid 
to the ducts 28 of the trunnions 11 because each lock-bolt is retained in 
its operative outward extended locking position by the blocking element 39 
associated therewith. 
When the column 2 is oscillating about the pivot axis XX' associated with 
the base member 3 the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling 
swings about both trunnions or pivot-pins coaxially aligned with said 
pivot axis. Each sealing torsion joint packing 34 tightly cooperating 
through one end thereof with the associated bearing 10 forming part of the 
spider then is effective to prevent its other end which is bearing against 
the plate 33 fast with the corresponding lock-bolt 15 from rotating the 
latter with respect to the base member 3. 
With the column 2 swinging about the pivot axis YY' associated with the 
column the lock-bolt 15 coaxially aligned with this pivot axis will turn 
in the corresponding bearings 10 whereas the spider 5 remains stationary 
owing to the provision of the sealing torsion joint packings 34 coaxially 
aligned with the pivot axis YY'. 
To unlock the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling along the 
pivot axis XX' or YY' the same operating steps are carried out but in the 
reverse order or sequence by causing the associated lock-bolts 15 to be 
retracted through pressure fluid injection into the ducts 27 of the 
associated trunnions or pivot pins 11 instead of feeding pressure fluid 
into the ducts 28 as in the previous case. 
The process of mounting the pivotal connecting system according to the 
alternative embodiment forming a modification of the second embodiment of 
the invention is the following with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. 
To position the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling on the base 
member 3 the same operating steps as those described for the second 
embodiment are carried out. In that instance the casings 63 enclosing the 
sealing torsion joint packings 34 are located outside of the corresponding 
clevis-like brackets 61 (FIG. 10) since the associated lock-bolts 15 are 
then in their inwards retracted inoperative or unlocking positions and 
thus partly project into the clevis-like brackets 61. 
Then each lock-bolt is actuated to move as previously with the view on one 
hand to making a fluid passage-way connection with the pipe bound to the 
base member and on the other hand to locking the spider 5 of the universal 
Cardan joint coupling to the base member. Once this operating step has 
been completed the lock-bolts 15 and in particular the plates 71 fast with 
these lock-bolts are disengaged from the corresponding clevis-like 
brackets 61. 
Prior to positioning each casing 63 within its associated clevis-like 
bracket 61 the power-rams 75 of each casing are actuated through remote 
control in order to move both sleeve elements 66 and 67 to each casing 
axially towards each other while compressing or squeezing the sealing 
torsion joint packing 34 mounted therebetween. This operating step causes 
the distance separating both end flanges 70 and 72 from each other to be 
decreased to a spacing smaller than that separating the plate 71 of the 
corresponding lock-bolt 15 from the transverse wall portion 72 of the 
clevis-like bracket 61 associated with this lock-bolt. Therefore each 
casing 63 under the action of its drive power-ram 80 may be moved into 
position within its associated clevis-like bracket 61. Then the power-rams 
75 of each casing 63 are no longer fed with pressure fluid thereby causing 
the sealing torsion joint packings 34 to automatically expand in the 
radial direction. Such an expansion of the sealing torsion joint packings 
provide for a fluid-tight pressed engagement on the one hand between the 
flange 70 of the sleeve member 66 and the plate 71 of the corresponding 
lock-bolt 15 and on the other hand between the flange 73 of the sleeve 
member 67 and the transverse wall portion 62 of the associated clevis-like 
bracket 61. 
During the swinging motions of the column about the pivot axis XX' 
associated with the base member 3 the lock-bolts 15 and the sleeve members 
66 of the casings 63 associated with this pivot axis remain stationary 
whereas the spider 5 of the universal Cardan joint coupling, the sleeve 
members 67 of said casings 63 and the clevis-like brackets 61 associated 
with that pivot axis are swinging about the latter. The sealing torsion 
joint packings 34 associated with the pivot axis XX' prevent the sleeve 
elements 66 and accordingly the associated lock-bolts 15 from being 
rotated by the sleeve elements 67. 
During the oscillations of the column 2 about the pivot axis YY', the 
spider 5, the clevis-like brackets 61 and the sleeve elements of the 
casings 63 associated with this pivot axis remain stationary whereas the 
lock-bolts 15 and the sleeve elements 66 of the casings 63 associated with 
this pivot axis are following the motions of the column. In such a case 
the sealing torsion joint packings 34 associated with the pivot axis YY' 
prevent the sleeve elements 67 from being rotated by the sleeve elements 
66. 
It should be pointed out that this alternative embodiment of the invention 
offers advantages with respect to the second embodiment in particular with 
respect to the operating steps for changing or replacing a damaged sealing 
torsion joint packing. 
It is indeed only necessary to remove or withdraw the casing 63 enclosing 
the damaged sealing torsion joint packing from its associated clevis-like 
bracket in order to have access to the sealing joint packing. Moreover 
such a removal or withdrawal requires no disconnection since the casing in 
its normal working position is only bearing against the associated 
clevis-like bracket and lock-bolt, these bearing contacts being removed by 
the actions of the power-rams 75 housed within the casing during the 
operating step for removing or withdrawing the casing. On the contrary 
according to the second embodiment the replacement of a sealing torsion 
joint packing requires in particular an operating step to perform the 
disconnection between the bearing 10 and the sleeve 29 inside of which is 
housed the sealing torsion joint packing. 
It should be pointed out that the sealing torsion joint packings used and 
previously described are for instance made from neoprene or like rubber or 
elastomeric material hooped with steel rings. 
It is to be understood that the invention should not be construed as being 
limited to the embodiments described and shown which have been given by 
way of illustrative examples only but comprises all the technical 
equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if same 
are carried out and used within the scope of the appended claims.