Patents by Inventor Geir Olav Hovde

Geir Olav Hovde has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11866130
    Abstract: A system for restriction of hawser movement in a tandem mooring and loading system is provided comprising a first floating structure being spread moored, a second floating structure, and a tandem mooring arrangement between the first and second floating structure. The tandem mooring arrangement comprises at least one hawser connected in a first end to a hawser connection arrangement on the first floating structure, and in a second end connected to a hawser connection point on the second floating structure and a loading arrangement, wherein the system further comprises a hawser guide arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: APL Norway AS
    Inventors: Christian W. Mosgren, Geir Olav Hovde
  • Patent number: 11801915
    Abstract: A dual axes connection device for use with a mooring line, a line guide and pulling means for connecting a floating body and a fixed body is provided. The connecting device comprises a dual axes hinge unit, with orthogonal rotational axes x and y, comprising means for fastening the unit to the floating or fixed body, a connecting link fastened to the hinge unit comprising two parallel arms, a funnel connected to the two parallel arms enveloping the mooring line, and locking means for locking the mooring line to the funnel. The mooring line, the line guide and connection device are positioned in one plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: APL NORWAY AS
    Inventors: Geir Olav Hovde, Anders Vaalandsmyr
  • Patent number: 11801916
    Abstract: A mooring line length adjusting device and methods is disclosed. The connecting device is arranged for connecting a lower section and an upper section of a mooring line to respective ends of the device and for adjusting a total length of said mooring line from a previous mooring line length to a new mooring line length. The upper end of the mooring line is connected to a floating unit. At least said lower section comprises a chain segment at its top end connected to the device. The device comprises a locking arrangement to lock said chain segment to the connecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: APL NORWAY AS
    Inventors: Geir Olav Hovde, Sven Atle Svensen
  • Publication number: 20230219662
    Abstract: A system for preventing damage to a power cable for electric power transmission to and from and within a floating offshore wind power plant using non-redundant mooring, after failure of a main loadbearing mooring element is described, comprising at least one power cable safety line having the following properties: It is connected to the same two wind turbines as the power cable it is designed to protect. It has an effective length shorter than the power cable it is designed to protect. It has an effective length longer than what is needed to remain largely unstressed when the distance between the floating wind turbines with intact mooring systems is at its maximum. It has a breaking strength being a predetermined fraction of the strength, which the main loadbearing mooring elements are designed for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventor: Geir Olav HOVDE
  • Patent number: 11679843
    Abstract: An energy absorption arrangement for reducing peak mooring loads between a mooring structure with a turret rotatable around a vertical axis, and a floating structure is disclosed. The energy absorption arrangement comprises a rigid yoke horizontally rotatable in two axes and connected to the turret, a weighted pendulum member arranged on the end of the yoke and at least one mooring tether connected to the weighted pendulum member, and at least one energy absorption device for reducing peak mooring loads, comprising a fixed part connected to the floating structure, a movable rod and an absorption medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: APL NORWAY AS
    Inventors: Anders Lie Eide, Geir Olav Hovde
  • Patent number: 11220313
    Abstract: A mooring line length adjusting device and method is disclosed. The device is arranged for connecting lower and upper mooring line section to its respective ends and for adjusting the total length of the mooring line. The upper section of the mooring line includes a chain segment at its end connected to the device. The device includes a locking element to lock the chain segment to itself. A connecting structure for a temporary pulling mechanism to pull the device in a direction to transfer tension from the upper mooring line section to the temporary pulling mechanism is a part of the device. The method discloses steps and details how to use the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: APL NORWAY AS
    Inventor: Geir Olav Hovde
  • Publication number: 20210380204
    Abstract: A system for restriction of hawser movement in a tandem mooring and loading system is provided comprising a first floating structure being spread moored, a second floating structure, and a tandem mooring arrangement between the first and second floating structure. The tandem mooring arrangement comprises at least one hawser connected in a first end to a hawser connection arrangement on the first floating structure, and in a second end connected to a hawser connection point on the second floating structure and a loading arrangement, wherein the system further comprises a hawser guide arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Christian W. MOSGREN, Geir Olav HOVDE
  • Publication number: 20210380203
    Abstract: A mooring line length adjusting device and methods is disclosed. The connecting device is arranged for connecting a lower section and an upper section of a mooring line to respective ends of the device and for adjusting a total length of said mooring line from a previous mooring line length to a new mooring line length. The upper end of the mooring line is connected to a floating unit. At least said lower section comprises a chain segment at its top end connected to the device. The device comprises a locking arrangement to lock said chain segment to the connecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Geir Olav HOVDE, Sven Atle SVENSEN
  • Publication number: 20210354789
    Abstract: An energy absorption arrangement for reducing peak mooring loads between a mooring structure with a turret rotatable around a vertical axis, and a floating structure is disclosed. The energy absorption arrangement comprises a rigid yoke horizontally rotatable in two axes and connected to the turret, a weighted pendulum member arranged on the end of the yoke and at least one mooring tether connected to the weighted pendulum member, and at least one energy absorption device for reducing peak mooring loads, comprising a fixed part connected to the floating structure, a movable rod and an absorption medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Anders LIE EIDE, Geir Olav HOVDE
  • Publication number: 20210188401
    Abstract: A dual axes connection device for use with a mooring line, a line guide and pulling means for connecting a floating body and a fixed body is provided. The connecting device comprises a dual axes hinge unit, with orthogonal rotational axes x and y, comprising means for fastening the unit to the floating or fixed body, a connecting link fastened to the hinge unit comprising two parallel arms, a funnel connected to the two parallel arms enveloping the mooring line, and locking means for locking the mooring line to the funnel. The mooring line, the line guide and connection device are positioned in one plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Geir Olav HOVDE, Anders VAALANDSMYR
  • Patent number: 10982644
    Abstract: A power harvesting device comprising at least one rotor mounted rotatably on a corresponding fixture on a base structure is disclosed. The device is at least partially submerged in a moving fluid and arranged to convert tangential components of fluid dynamic forces of the moving fluid into a first torque component onto the rotor through rotor vanes. In addition, rotor blades are arranged on or between the first rotor vanes to deflect axially moving fluid into a tangential direction to create a second torque component onto the rotor in the same direction as said first torque component. A system comprising a plurality of power harvesting devices with common power transfer means is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: APL Technology AS
    Inventor: Geir Olav Hovde
  • Publication number: 20200269957
    Abstract: A mooring line length adjusting device and method is disclosed. The device is arranged for connecting lower and upper mooring line section to its respective ends and for adjusting the total length of the mooring line. The upper section of the mooring line includes a chain segment at its end connected to the device. The device includes a locking element to lock the chain segment to itself. A connecting structure for a temporary pulling mechanism to pull the device in a direction to transfer tension from the upper mooring line section to the temporary pulling mechanism is a part of the device. The method discloses steps and details how to use the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: APL TECHNOLOGY AS
    Inventor: Geir Olav HOVDE
  • Publication number: 20200208602
    Abstract: A power harvesting device comprising at least one rotor mounted rotatably on a corresponding fixture on a base structure is disclosed. The device is at least partially submerged in a moving fluid and arranged to convert tangential components of fluid dynamic forces of the moving fluid into a first torque component onto the rotor through rotor vanes. In addition, rotor blades are arranged on or between the first rotor vanes to deflect axially moving fluid into a tangential direction to create a second torque component onto the rotor in the same direction as said first torque component. A system comprising a plurality of power harvesting devices with common power transfer means is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Geir Olav HOVDE
  • Publication number: 20160176480
    Abstract: A mooring line tension adjusting system comprises a connecting device, connecting and locking two adjacent chain sections of a mooring line, and an operating device, moving one of the chain sections inside the connecting device to change the tension of the mooring line. The system has the inventive feature that the operating device is remotely attachable to the connecting device before a tensioning operation and detachable from the connecting device after the tensioning operation. The invention discloses also a method how to use the tensioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Geir Olav Hovde
  • Patent number: 8985906
    Abstract: An assembly for connecting a flexible line (20) to an underwater installation (18). The line is extended between the underwater installation (18) and a surface installation (16). The line (20) includes (i) a surface end (22), a bottom end (28) (ii) a contact portion (26) near the bottom end and a floating portion (24) which extends between the contact portion (26) and the surface end (22). The contact portion (26) includes an angled part (40) that divides the contact portion (26) into a first part (36) and a second part. Then angled part (40) is moored to the bottom (10) at an anchoring point (42) located in the opposite direction from both the bottom end (28) and the floating portion (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Technip France, Advanced Production and Loading AS
    Inventor: Geir Olav Hovde
  • Publication number: 20120263542
    Abstract: An assembly for connecting a flexible line (20) to an underwater installation (18). The line is extended between the underwater installation (18) and a surface installation (16). The line (20) includes (i) a surface end (22), a bottom end (28) (ii) a contact portion (26) near the bottom end and a floating portion (24) which extends between the contact portion (26) and the surface end (22). The contact portion (26) includes an angled part (40) that divides the contact portion (26) into a first part (36) and a second part. Then angled part (40) is moored to the bottom (10) at an anchoring point (42) located in the opposite direction from both the bottom end (28) and the floating portion (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Geir Olav Hovde