A DEVICE FOR COUPLING TOGETHER TWO BODIES IN ANY POSITION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER,WHICH BODIES ARE MOUNTED FOR A LINEAR MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER

Abstract: A device for coupling together two bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear displacement with respect to each other, in particular in a self-raising platform structure for coupling together the platform and a leg of said structure, said device comprising at least one set of first pawl means (3), each pawl of which is connected to one of said bodies for a pivotal movement and the contact parts thereof are shaped so that upon a pivotal movement of the pawl means towards each other in the direction of the one direction of relative linear displacement corresponding points of the contact parts approach each other, so that the relative movement between the bodies will be inhibited in this direction while being admitted in the other direction, at least one set of second pawl means (4) having the same construction as said set of first pawl means, and spaced apart from said set of first pawl means being provided, which are mounted for a pivotal movement in such a manner that upon a pivotal movement thereof towards each other in the direction of the other direction of relative linear displacement corresponding points of the contact parts of the pawl means will approach each other.

Description: A device for coupling together two bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear movement with respect to each other. The invention relates to a device for coupling together two bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear movement with respect to each other, in particular, in a self-raising platform structure, for coupling to each other the plat- form and a leg thereof. In case of two bodies mounted for a linear displacement with respect to each other, like for instance a dredging vessel and a spud pole, it is often desired that said bodies can be coupled in any position with respect to each other. In case of two bodies mounted for a linear movement with respect of each other by means of a stepwise operating, for instance hydraulic system, there is furthermore the problem that upon disengaging the system followed by a movement of the bodies re-engaging the system will only be possible at certain points of the path of movement. This problem is particularly acute in self-raising platform struc¬ tures, wherein it will consequently not be well feasible to lower the legs of the platform freely into engagement with the aqueous bottom and then to re-engage the displacement system for raising the deck of the platform structure. In such a platform structure up til now the legs are therefore lowered by means of a stepwise operated displacement system in which, however, the problem arises that in passing from the floating condition to the supported condition of the platform the legs can come free from the bottom due to the action of the waves, whereupon the legs will again engage the bottom accompanied by an impact. The object of the invention is to provide a device for coupling to¬ gether bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear displacement with respect to each other, said device being particularly suited for use in a self-raising platform structure so that it will be possible to lower the legs freely to the aqueous bottom and to engage the displacement system without the occurrence of impacts. This object is attained in that the device according to the inven- tion comprises at least one set of pawl means, each pawl of which is pivotely connected to one of said bodies and is provided with a part capable of contacting the other one of said bodies, which pawl means are arranged at least on both sides of said other body and the pivot points of said pawl means are disposed in a plane extending transverse to the direction of displacement, while said pawl means are mounted for a pivotal movement and the contact parts thereof are shaped in suc a manner that upon a pivotal movement of the pawl means towards each other in the direction of said one direction of relative linear dis- placement, corresponding points of the contact parts approach each oth so that the relative movement between the bodies in this direction wil be inhibited, while being allowed in the other direction, means being provided for making said pawl means to pivot towards and/or apart from each other as well as clamping means on the one body, said clamping me being operable to be brought into clamping engagement with said other body so that the relative displacement of the bodies with respect to each other is inhibited in at least the other direction. Preferably said clamping means are formed by at least a second se of pawl means having the same construction as said first set of pawl means, and being spaced apart from sais first set of pawl means but which are mounted for a pivotal movement in such a manner that upon a pivotal movement thereof towards each other in the direction of the ot direction of relative linear displacement, corresponding points of the contact parts of the pawl means will approach each other. When applying the device according to the invention in a self- raising platform structure in which the one body is formed by the plat form and the other body by a leg and when the clamping means or said second set of pawl means are brought into engagement with said leg, th displacement system can be disengaged from this leg, whereupon by re- leasing said clamping means or said set of pawl means from engagement with the leg this leg can be freely lowered to for instance the sea bottom, whereupon by bringing said first set of pawl means into engage ment the platform is permitted to move freely upward though not downwa along the leg resting on the bottom due to the wave-action. Advantageously the contact part of each pawl means is formed by a circumferential part of said pawl means varying in accordance with a change in the angular position of said pawl means, while upon a pivota /., movement of said pawl means in the direction o the relative displacement to be inhibited, the distance between said circumferential part and the pivot point of said means increase. In a simple embodiment each one of said sets of pawl means may comprise two pawl means mounted on opposite sides of a strip shaped element fastened to said other body. In that case the means for moving towards and/or apart from each other may be formed of a piston-cylinder assembly the cylinder of which being connected to the one and the piston of which being connected to the other pawl means at points near said contact parts. The invention will now be elucidated further with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a device according to the in¬ vention as applied in a self-raising platform structure. Fig. 2 shows the device according to Fig. 1 in side elevation, and Fig. 3 shows said device in plan view. As shown in the figures there is fastened a strip 1 to a leg 2 of a self-raising platform structure, said strip being parallel to the direction of relative displacement. A first set of pawl means and a second set of pawl means 3 are mounted for a pivotal movement to a yoke, said yoke 5 being mounted on the platform 6 of the structure. In the shown embodiment the pawl means 3, 4- are in the shape of an ellipse of which a circumferential part close to the one focus is capable to engage the strip 1 so that when the pawl means 3 pivot towards each other in the direction of the one direction of relative displacement and when the pawl means A- pivot to¬ wards each other in the other direction of relative displacement cor¬ responding points of the contact parts of said pawl means approach each other. The pawl means 3 are connected to each other by means of a piston- cylinder assembly 7, while the pawl means - are connected to each other by means of a piston-cylinder-assembly 8. The self-raising platform structure is moved to its destination in floating condition in which the legs 2 are kept in the retracted condi- tion by means of the hydraulic displacement system. When arrived at its destination the legs may optionally first be lowered over a predetermined distance by means of the displacement system whereupon the pawl means 3 O.irl /., VIPO are brought into engagement with the strip 1 so that the displacement system can be disengaged from said leg. By means of the piston-cylinde assembly 7 the pawl means 3 can be disengaged from the strip 1 where¬ upon the leg 2 drops freely to for instance the sea bottom so that the platform 6 remains in floating condition. Thereupon the pawl means 4- are brought Into engagement with the strip 1 by means of the piston- cylinder-assembly 8 so that the platform 6 due to the action of the waves may move freely upward along the leg 2 while it is prevented fro moving downwardly when the platform 6 has reached its highest level in due course, said level being dependent on the highest wave movement, t displacement piston may be re-engaged for raising the platform to a still higher level. In this way it is excluded that there will occur any impact between the legs of the platform structure and the bottom due to the wave-action.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A device for coupling together two bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear displace¬ ment with respect to each other, in particular in a self-raising plat¬ form structure for coupling together the platform and a leg of said structure, said device comprising at least one set of pawl means, each pawl of which is pivotally connected to one of said bodies, which pawl means are arranged at least on both sides of said other body and the pivot points of which pawl means are disposed in a plane extending transversely to the direction of displacement, while said pawls means are mounted for a pivotal movement and the contact parts thereof are shaped in such a manner that upon a pivotal movement of the pawl means towards each other in the direction of said one direction of relative linear displacement corresponding points of the contact parts approach each other, so that the relative movement between the bodies will be inhibited in this direction while being admitted in the other direction, means being provided for making said pawl means to pivot towards and/or apart from each other as well as clamping means on the one body, said clamping means being operable to be brought into clamping engagement with said other body, so that the relative displacement of the bodies with respect to each other is inhibed in at least the other direction, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said clamping means are formed by at least a second set of pawl means having the same construction as said first set of pawl means, and being spaced apart from said first set of pawl means but which are mounted for a pivotal movement in such a manner that upon a pivotal movement thereof towards each other in the direction of the other direction of relative linear displacement corresponding points of the contact-parts of the pawl means will approach each other. 2. A device according to claim, c h a r a c t e r i z ed in that the contact part of each pawl means is formed by a circumferential part of said pawl means varying with a change in the angular position of said means while upon a pivotal movement of the pawl means in the direc¬ tion of the relative displacement to be inhibited the distance between said circumferential part and the pivot point of said means increases. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, c a r a c t e r i z e d in that each set of pawl means comprises two pawl means located at 'ϋR£A£T O PI ΪPO opposite sides of a strip-shaped element connected to said other body. A-. The device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said means for pivoting the pawl means towards and apart from eac other are formed by a piston-cylinder-assembly, the cylinder of which is connected to the first pawl means and the piston of which is con¬ nected to said other pawl means at locations near to said contact part

Inventors: BOON B
Applicants: BOON B, RSV GUSTO ENG BV
Application year: 1980
Main classification: E02B17
IPC codes: E02B17