Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a system for receiving and delivering into a base the radial loads imposed on a crane where the crane has a center post operably connected to the base with a generally cylindrical outer bearing surface and the crane rotates in at least a partial circle around the axis of the center post. The system comprises three or more radial load rollers arranged in a linked sequence in an arc at the outer bearing surface of the center post. Each radial load roller includes an axle and an axis of rotation that is generally parallel to the axis of the center post. The system also comprises a means for anchoring a first radial load roller at one end of the arc and anchoring a second radial load roller at the other end of the arc. The system also comprises links connecting each roller between the first and the second radial rollers to its adjacent rollers to form a flexible chain of said rollers.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a system for receiving and delivering into a base the radial loads imposed on a crane where the crane has a center post operably connected to the base with a generally cylindrical outer bearing surface and the crane rotates in at least a partial circle around the axis of the center post. The system comprises three or more radial load rollers arranged in a linked sequence in an arc at the outer bearing surface of the center post. Each radial load roller includes an axle and an axis of rotation that is generally parallel to the axis of the center post. The system also comprises a means for anchoring a first radial load roller at one end of the arc and anchoring a second radial load roller at the other end of the arc. The system also comprises links connecting each roller between the first and the second radial rollers to its adjacent rollers to form a flexible chain of said rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a floating vessel such as a ship, around a cylindrical turret structure moored to the sea bottom. The vessel has a circumturret structure passing through the hull of the vessel and surrounding the turret structure. The apparatus comprises a hook roller assembly, a load roller assembly, a radial roller assembly, and a drive mechanism. The hook roller assembly prevents the turret structure from moving upward from the wave and current forces exerted on the floating vessel. The load roller assembly rotatably supports the turret structure on the circumturret structure. The plurality of radial roller assemblies mounted to the circumturret radially support the turret. The drive mechanism is used to rotate the vessel around the turret.

Abstract: A drum winch is replaced with a traction winch module. The traction winch module is mounted on and supported by the existing mooring winch frame of the drum winch. The traction winch module includes a traction frame, a front traction drum, and a rear traction drum. A portion of the drive system from the drum winch may be retained and used to drive the traction winch module. In one embodiment, the traction winch module is designed to mount between pillow blocks from the existing mooring winch frame. In addition, the power train and load-sensing systems from the existing drum winch may be used with the converted traction winch to drive the drive shaft and to provide the converted traction winch with tension information, respectively.

Abstract: A radial roller assembly for passively providing radial support to a cylindrical turret to resist horizontal forces. The turret is moored to the sea bottom for rotation of a vessel around the turret, where the vessel includes a circumturret passing through the vessel and surrounding the turret. The radial roller assembly comprises an outer housing, which is connected to the circumturret and an inner support carriage, which is located within the outer housing. The inner support carriage has a wheel support assembly for supporting a wheel which has its outer bearing surface in contact with a circular radial support rail attached to the turret. There is a bearing structure interposed between the outer housing and the inner support carriage for slidably connecting the inner support carriage and the outer housing. The radial roller assembly further comprises a guide shaft, which is connected to the circumturret so that the guide shaft can be tilted slightly.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the available hook raising and lowering distance is attached to a crane or other lifting structure having a boom and at least one lifting tackle utilizing at least one lifting line connected to a prime mover. The apparatus utilizes a support means attached to the crane boom substantially at the connection point of an existing upper tackle. A fixed, lower gripper platform is suspended from the support means and has at least one linear winch grip mounted thereon. A movable, upper gripper platform is connected to at least one lifting line associated with the lifting tackle. The upper gripper platform has at least one linear winch grip mounted thereon. The upper gripper platform is also adapted to reciprocate between the lower gripper platform and the upper tackle in response to the prime mover drawing in or paying out the lifting line. At least one extended load line for attachment to a load passes through the linear winch grips on the lower and upper gripper platforms.

Abstract: A self-erecting traveling crane having a machinery platform rotatably mounted with respect to a carbody utilizes a concentric support ring, a boom foot carrier pivotably mounted to the platform and rolling on the support ring, and a counterweight carrier with trailing counterweight pivotably mounted to the platform and rolling on the ring. A mast and boom are mounted near a forward end of the boom foot carrier. To change location for use, the crane can be rigged to move in forward or rearward direction carrying its support ring. A travel strut is pivotably mounted to an inner end of the boom foot carrier. A boom foot carrier tension pendant extends from the top of the travel strut to an outer end portion of the boom foot carrier. A live boom suspension linkage connects the points of the mast and the boom. Boom suspension pendants extend from the mast point to the trailing counterweight. A gantry is mounted on the machinery platform over a platform counterweight.

Abstract: In a crane having an upper works rotatably supported on a lower works by an anti-friction bearing, a quick removal assembly structure includes an upper mounting ring affixed to the lowermost portion of the upper works and having teeth extending radially outwardly from the axis of the ring, a lower mounting ring mounted to the uppermost portion of the lower works and having teeth extending axially outwardly along a circle concentric with the center of that ring. The teeth of the upper and lower mounting rings fit snugly together when the upper works is assembled to the lower works, and radially outwardly opening horizontal slots in each tooth combine to define a horizontal retaining ring groove which is concentric with the rings. A retaining ring constituted as four retaining ring segments is of configuration to fit into the retaining ring groove, and when so fitted, prevents relative movement between the upper and lower mounting rings.

Abstract: A heave motion compensation appartus is used to move a load from a supply ship in heavy seas to a platform on an oil rig. A main load line extending down from a point of a crane boom mounted on the oil rig is driven by a pair of hydraulic main hoist drum motors. One of the motors is a variable displacement swash-plate type motor. The motors are driven through a hydrostatic transmission by a pair of variable displacement hydraulic pumps. A signal line running over the boom point is attached to the supply vessel and maintained taut. Sensor and control means reading movement of the signal line with respect to the first platform is used to control the displacement of one of the main hoist pumps to cause an outer end of the main hoist line to move up and down with the supply vessel. The other pump is controlled to raise and lower the outer end of the main load line. The main load line is attached to the load.