Abstract: A compensated elevator link is disclosed. In at least one aspect, the compensated elevator link comprises a plurality of cylinder housings and a rod having a plurality of ends, each end comprising a piston head adapted to be slideably received within one of the cylinder housings for defining first and second hydraulic cylinders. Each hydraulic cylinder has at least one annulus for receiving a non-compressible fluid. The rod comprises a passage for receiving a compressible fluid, wherein each piston head comprises at least one passage to allow selective displacement of the non-compressible fluid between the annulus of the cylinder housing and the passage within the rod during selective displacement of the hydraulic cylinders between a contracted condition to an extended condition for either compression or expansion of the compressible fluid by the non-compressible fluid.

Abstract: A compensated elevator link is disclosed. In at least one aspect, the compensated elevator link comprises a plurality of cylinder housings and a rod having a plurality of ends, each end comprising a piston head adapted to be slideably received within one of the cylinder housings for defining first and second hydraulic cylinders. Each hydraulic cylinder has at least one annulus for receiving a non-compressible fluid. The rod comprises a passage for receiving a compressible fluid, wherein each piston head comprises at least one passage to allow selective displacement of the non-compressible fluid between the annulus of the cylinder housing and the passage within the rod during selective displacement of the hydraulic cylinders between a contracted condition to an extended condition for either compression or expansion of the compressible fluid by the non-compressible fluid.

Abstract: In one preferred form of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a high tonnage winch system (10) for use in offshore construction, transport and docking operations. The winch system (10) includes a winch (14) and a first arrangement (12) supporting the winch (14). A second arrangement (18) is provided for being mounted to a foundation structure in the form of a deck (20). The first arrangement (12) advantageously comprises a first low profile arrangement (16). The second arrangement (18) advantageously comprises a second low profile arrangement (24). The winch system (10) advantageously includes a low profile roller element bearing (26) connecting the first and second arrangements (12), (18) and allowing rotation of the winch (14) about the second arrangement (12), when the winch (14) is connected to the first arrangement (12) and the second arrangement (18) is mounted to the deck (20). The second arrangement is mounted to the deck (20) using high tonnage winch grillage (22).