Abstract: Press platens are maintained parallel in critical central regions proximate to a mold between the platens. Leveling cylinders acting between the platens to resist downward action of a central ram on a movable platen. Data identifying expected local platen deflection in response to various operating pressures of the leveling cylinders are recorded. For each leveling cylinder, the current operating pressure is determined and the relative spacing of the platens proximate to the leveling cylinder is sensed. The operating pressures of the cylinders are controlled in response to the sensed relative spacing of the platens and in response to the expected local platen deflection for each leveling cylinder at its current operating pressure to maintain a substantially parallel relationship between the platens proximate to the mold.

Abstract: In an anchoring system for a floating vessel which includes an anchor line comprising chain cable, a chain locker and a windlass having a chain wheel that conveys the chain cable during paying out from the chain locker, a mechanism is positioned between the chain locker and chain wheel to back-tension the chain during paying out. The mechanism has an axis along which the chain is passed with every second links oriented in a given plane. Paired brake shoes are positioned to either side of the plane and define braking surfaces of sufficient extent along the axis of chain movement that a given chain link and an immediately succeeding link of similar orientation can be simultaneously engaged during their movement to provide a continuous retarding effect. One pair of braking shoes is pivotally mounted on an appropriate support structure and urged with hydraulic cylinders towards the other pair thereby causing the brake shoes to engage the opposing faces chain link.

Abstract: An anchoring system for a floating structure is described. The anchoring system is of the type which employs a combination anchor line consisting of a lower length of chain cable connected to an anchor and an upper length of wire rope and which involves disconnection of the wire rope from the chain cable during paying out and retrieval of the anchor line. A winch and windlass mounted on the floating structure serve to separately haul in and pay out the wire rope and chain cable, respectively. The windlass has a length of lead chain which can be used to lead the chain cable over a chain wheel to the chain locker. An overwide chain link terminates the chain cable, and together with a pair of detachable links permits the load of the chain cable to be transferred directly from the winch to the windlass, during paying out and retrieval, without the requirement for an intermediate chain hanger.

Abstract: An anchoring system for semisubmersible drill rigs is described which includes a wire rope-chain cable anchor line and in which system components co-operate to convey the junction of the wire rope and chain cable smoothly over a fairlead sheave. The connector joining the anchor line has a narrow end in which the rope is rigidly retained, a large end at which a chain end link is pivotally retained, and a radially symmetric, generally concave surface extending between the two connector ends. The outer surface of the connector is shaped to seat against the central hub of the fairlead sheave in a predetermined orientation in which a limited fixed bend angle is formed between the connector and the wire rope. The geometry of the connector naturally biases the connector to seat against the central hub of the fairlead sheave in the predeterminted orientation during hauling in of the anchor line.

Abstract: A press has upper and lower platens which can be moved towards and away from one another. Four hydraulic leveling cylinders are mounted in a vertical orientation on the lower platen for purposes of platen parallelism control. In preferred form, each cylinder has a piston rod which engages an associated post on the upper platen as the platens approach one another. The piston rod and associated piston are formed with a longitudinal bore open at the upper piston rod end, and a rigid shaft is mounted in the bore with a lower end extending through the bottom of the cylinder housing. A coil spring in the interior of the piston rod urges the rigid shaft upwardly until a collar formed on the shaft engages a stop surface, the upper shaft end then being flush with the upper piston rod end. The associated post is fixed to the upper press platen in-line with the piston rod and has an internal passage in which is located a stud-like shaft that engages the rigid shaft mounted in the piston rod.

Abstract: A hydraulic press is adapted to permit adjustment of the clearance between upper and lower platens and to permit the press to be divided into distinct upper and lower sections for purposes of transport. The press has four vertical posts which extend upwardly from the lower platen. Each post has a lower section which slides in the lower platen, an upper section is fitted into and slides relative to the upper platen, and a releasable joining structure which connects the post sections to define a unitary post structure. Light-duty hydraulic cylinders permit gross positioning of the upper platen on the posts. The upper platen is then locked to the upper post sections in a predetermined relative position, and heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders acting on the posts serve to draw the upper platen towards the lower platen to compress a work piece.

Abstract: An integrated winch and windlass for hauling in and paying out a mooring line which consists of wire rope serially connected to chain cable is described. The integrated system has a pair of traction winch drums for conveying the wire rope, and a chain wheel for conveying the chain cable. The chain wheel is coaxially mounted with one traction winch drum, and has a wire rope groove with a groove diameter substantially the same as that of the traction winch drums. A sheave directs wire rope between one of the drums and the chain wheel, and is so positioned that a wrap of wire rope is formed about the chain wheel whenever the system is operating on wire rope exclusively. A drive mechanism is provided for rotating the traction winch drums and chain wheel, including a common drive shaft, and a clutch mechanism which permits the traction winch drums and the chain wheel to be located simultaneously or separately.