Rigid, Demountable Buoy Support

The present invention relates to a locking device permitting an articulated system, comprising universal and/or ball joints, to be converted into a rigid system. More particularly, the present invention permits an oscillating system consisting of a buoy provided with legs articulated by universal and/or ball joints to be converted into a rigid system, fixed to the sea bed; to this embodiment reference is made in the following disclosure for a better understanding of the invention, which must not be construed as being restricted thereto, since the extension to other like systems is readily inferred and easily understandable by those skilled in the art.

According to the current art, for the locking of buoys having articulated legs comprising universal and/or ball joints, use is made of external means, such as depot ships, or platforms or repair pontoons, which, by directly acting on the oscillating structure of the buoy, permit it to be made entirely rigid.

By this technique, these means are not leading to a ready and economical use, either for assembling and/or for dismounting operations, or for servicing or possibly urgent repair.

I have been found that it is possible to construct a device permitting the articulated structure to be made completely rigid, thus allowing the afore-mentioned operations to be carried out in a ready and economical manner.

Such a device consists of a special frame, which is stiffened by beams having various cross-sections and strength, and is easily removable after the use. This frame is attached to the legs of the buoy (according to their number), by means of a quick coupling system, e.g. jaws formed by split sleeves, and permits the oscillating articulated system to be converted into a rigid system, which is stationary with respect to the marine bed. Such a device allows the articulated legs of the buoy to be easily assembled and/or dismounted, as well as the joints or their parts, even during the normal servicing. The frame, moreover, is provided with datum devices permitting imarine bed. Such a device allows the articulated legs of the buoy to be easily assembled and/or dismounted, as well as the joints or their parts, even during the normal servicing. The frame, moreover, is provided with datum devices permitting it to be mounted to every type of basement and/or to the body of the buoy, the assembling and/or the dismounting of the several parts being permitted according to their right position and orientation.

More particularly, in the following disclosure reference is made to the device as being applied to a three legged buoy, the legs being articulated by means of universal and/or ball joints, this disclosure being, as already stated, explanatory but not limitative of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a buoy support equipped with a pair of the locking devices of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the locking devices shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base of the buoy support illustrated in FIG. 1 .

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, the device is illustrated as comprising a frame stiffened by beams 1, having several cross-sections and strength; this frame is attached to the legs of the buoy by means of the coupling system comprising split sleeves 2, with bolts 2 a and datum and locking struts 3; the latter, to permit a complete stiffening of the structure, are restrained by suitable locators 4, provided both on the body of the buoy and on the marine bed.