Abstract: This invention relates to a method, system and apparatus for cladding a surface of an articles subject to corrosive, erosive or abrasive wear, such as impact or grinding tools. The method includes providing a supply of stock material and feeding the stock material towards a portion of the surface of the article via a dedicated feed source. A dedicated heat source heats the fed stock material and the portion of the surface of the article such that the heated stock material and the portion of the surface at least partially melt. Upon removal of the heat, the molten feedstock and the surface portion form a bonded coating layer on at least a portion of the surface of the article, thereby protecting that part of the assembly against wear.

Abstract: This invention relates to a workpiece positioning system for holding and manipulating a workpiece. The system includes a rail, a headstock assembly, and a tailstock assembly. The tailstock assembly is mountable to the rail in spaced relation to the headstock assembly to enable the workpiece to be supported between the headstock assembly and the tailstock assembly. The tailstock assembly includes a locking mechanism operable between a locking position in which the tailstock assembly is lockable against the rail in a desired position relative to the headstock, and an unlocked position in which the tailstock assembly is adapted to traverse the rail. The invention also provides a powder injection nozzle having a body and aa tube releasably connected to the body. The tube defines a through passage having at least one inlet for receiving a cladding material and an outlet for delivering the cladding material from the tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method, system and apparatus for cladding a surface of an articles subject to corrosive, erosive or abrasive wear, such as impact or grinding tools. The method includes providing a supply of stock material and feeding the stock material towards a portion of the surface of the article via a dedicated feed source. A dedicated heat source heats the fed stock material and the portion of the surface of the article such that the heated stock material and the portion of the surface at least partially melt. Upon removal of the heat, the molten feedstock and the surface portion form a bonded coating layer on at least a portion of the surface of the article, thereby protecting that part of the assembly against wear.

Abstract: A method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel, a chain stopper assembly for a vessel, and a vessel. The method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel may comprise the steps of connecting a swivel element to the support structure on the vessel such that the swivel element is pivotable around a first axis perpendicular to a substantially horizontal axis; and coupling a chain stopper element to the swivel element such that the chain stopper element is pivotable relative to the swivel element around the substantially horizontal axis.

Abstract: A method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel, a chain stopper assembly for a vessel, and a vessel. The method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel may comprise the steps of connecting a swivel element to the support structure on the vessel such that the swivel element is pivotable around a first axis perpendicular to a substantially horizontal axis; and coupling a chain stopper element to the swivel element such that the chain stopper element is pivotable relative to the swivel element around the substantially horizontal axis.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a turret, a turret bearing system for a turret, and a method of manufacture of a roller assembly for a turret. The roller assembly comprises a first and a second roller; an axle on which the first and the second rollers are rotatably mounted; and a biasing mechanism located between the first and the second rollers and supporting the axle.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a turret, a turret bearing system for a turret, and a method of manufacture of a roller assembly for a turret. The roller assembly comprises a first and a second roller; an axle on which the first and the second rollers are rotatably mounted; and a biasing mechanism located between the first and the second rollers and supporting the axle.

Abstract: A riser system for use in transporting fluid cargo to a floating vessel from a submerged pipe employs a tensioning mechanism that prevents excess slack in a flexible riser that could potentially damage the riser. The tensioning mechanism includes a tensioning arm or element that is pivotally attached at a first end to a submerged base and at its second end to the flexible riser. The arm is free to rotate about the pivot point in a pendulum manner, but is urged toward an equilibrium position by one or more tension-applying elements disposed on the arm, such as a buoyancy element, a weight or both.

Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.

Abstract: A riser system for use in transporting fluid cargo to a floating vessel from a submerged pipe employs a tensioning mechanism that prevents excess slack in a flexible riser that could potentially damage the riser. The tensioning mechanism includes a tensioning arm or element that is pivotally attached at a first end to a submerged base and at its second end to the flexible riser. The arm is free to rotate about the pivot point in a pendulum manner, but is urged toward an equilibrium position by one or more tension-applying elements disposed on the arm, such as a buoyancy element, a weight or both.

Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.

Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.

Abstract: A mooring system employs a vessel mounted turret in combination with a submerged chain table that also acts as a clump weight. The chain table is submerged fairly close to the sea surface at approximately the keel depth of the vessel, or a few meters below that depth. Three or more chains connect the vessel mounted turret and chain table to one another, preferably though corresponding U-joints. Several mooring lines are attached at first ends to the bottom of the chain table, and are secured at second ends to anchors or piles in the seabed. The weight of the chain table is chosen so that it helps reduce the stresses imparted by the vessel to the mooring lines, thereby reducing the maximum load requirement, and thus cost, of the mooring lines.