US-12617496-B2 - Mechanical connection device, designed for the removable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines

US12617496B2US 12617496 B2US12617496 B2US 12617496B2US-12617496-B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a mechanical connection device designed for the detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, advantageously a mooring line and a messenger line. The mechanical connection device includes two modules that are attached to a free end of the offshore lines. The mechanical connection device includes a locking unit that includes an operating member, to operate the locking unit from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. The operating member is movable between two positions with a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state, preferably in a downstream to upstream direction.

Inventors

Philippe Busson

Assignees

NOV-BLM

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230111
Priority Date: 20220112

Claims (19)

1 . A mechanical connection device for a detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, said mechanical connection device comprising: two modules including a first module, upstream, including a first attachment system configured to attach to a free end of a first offshore line, and a second module, downstream, including a second attachment system configured to attach to a free end of a second offshore line, said modules being configured for relative movement between two states including an assembled state, in which the modules are assembled and define a longitudinal axis, said first module defining an upstream end and said second module defining a downstream end, and a disassembled state, in which the modules are separated from each other; and a locking system that has two configurations including a locked configuration, in which the modules are locked in said assembled state, and an unlocked configuration, in which the modules are operable between said assembled state and said disassembled state, said locking system including an operating member, to operate the locking system from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, the operating member being movable between two positions according to a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state including an initial position, in which the locking system is in the locked configuration, and a final position, in which the locking system is in the unlocked configuration, wherein, in the assembled state, the modules are linked by a degradable link member that is configured to be broken upon passage from the assembled state to the disassembled state.
2 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second module comprises a tubular body including two cylindrical surfaces including an inner cylindrical surface defining a housing configured to receive the first module in the assembled state, and an outer cylindrical surface along which the operating member is guided with said translational degree of freedom.
3 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 2 , wherein the operating member consists of a ring having: an inner cylindrical surface, conforming the outer cylindrical surface of the tubular body for translation guiding, and a downstream annular surface.
4 . The mechanical connection device of claim 3 , wherein the downstream annular surface is configured to move from the initial position to the final position and to bear on a translation blocking system of a fairlead.
5 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 3 , wherein the locking system comprises: on the second module: at least one radial duct, running through the tubular body, and a locking member, added free in translation into said at least one radial duct to define the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration, said operating member including a recess to receive the locking member in the unlocked configuration, and on the first module, at least one recess to receive the locking member in the locked configuration.
6 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 2 , wherein the locking system comprises: on the second module: at least one radial duct, running through the tubular body, and a locking member, added free in translation into said at least one radial duct to define the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration, said operating member including a recess to receive the locking member in the unlocked configuration, and on the first module, at least one recess to receive the locking member in the locked configuration.
7 . The mechanical connection device of claim 6 , wherein the locking member is a ball.
8 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 2 , wherein the first module comprises a tubular body defining two surfaces including an inner cylindrical surface intended to receive the free end of the first offshore line, and an outer cylindrical surface conforming, with a clearance, the housing of the second module.
9 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 2 , wherein the operating member cooperates with a deformable holder configured to hold said operating member in the initial position and to be deformed to generate movement from the initial position to the final position.
10 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 9 , wherein the tubular body has a flange that is connected to the outer cylindrical surface, remote from the attachment system, said deformable holder being implanted between said flange and the operating member.
11 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connection device comprises a third module including a third attachment configured to attach to a free end of the first offshore line, and wherein the third module and the second module comprise an additional detachable securing system that are configured for a temporary mechanical connection for the third module and the second module after disassembly of the first module and the second module.
12 . A pair of offshore lines, having free ends assembled by the mechanical connection device according to claim 1 .
13 . A floating structure comprising: a fairlead provided with a translation blocking system configured to block a mooring line in translation in an upstream-to-downstream direction, said fairlead being associated with the pair of offshore lines according to claim 12 , the translation blocking system, in an active position, is configured to block the operating member in translation in the upstream-to-downstream direction and generate a translational operation of the operating member from the initial position to the final position.
14 . A method for anchoring the floating structure according to claim 13 by the pair of offshore lines, said method comprising: pulling on the first offshore line of the pair of offshore lines through a fairlead, in a downstream-to-upstream direction, until the mechanical connection device goes upstream from the translation blocking system; releasing said pair of offshore lines, in which the translation blocking system blocks the operating member and causes said operating member to move from the initial position to the final position, leading to an unlocked configuration of the locking system; and pulling on the first offshore line for the recovery thereof, the second module being held within the fairlead by said translation blocking system.
15 . The couple of offshore lines, according to claim 12 , wherein the offshore lines are chosen from a chain and a cable.
16 . The couple of offshore lines, according to claim 12 , wherein the first module is attached to a free end of a messenger line, and wherein the second module is attached to a free end of the mooring line.
17 . The mechanical connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating member is movable between two positions according to the translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state, from the downstream to the upstream, including the initial position, on the side of said downstream end, in which the locking system is in the locked configuration, and the final position, on the side of the upstream end, in which the locking system is in the unlocked configuration.
18 . A mechanical connection device for a detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, said mechanical connection device comprising: two modules including a first module, upstream, including a first attachment system configured to attach to a free end of a first offshore line, and a second module, downstream, including a second attachment system configured to attach to a free end of a second offshore line, said modules being configured for relative movement between two states including an assembled state, in which the modules are assembled and define a longitudinal axis, said first module defining an upstream end and said second module defining a downstream end, and a disassembled state, in which the modules are separated from each other; and a locking system that has two configurations including a locked configuration, in which the modules are locked in said assembled state, and an unlocked configuration, in which the modules are operable between said assembled state and said disassembled state, said locking system including an operating member, to operate the locking system from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, the operating member being movable between two positions according to a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state including an initial position, in which the locking system is in the locked configuration, and a final position, in which the locking system is in the unlocked configuration, wherein the second module comprises a tubular body including two cylindrical surfaces including an inner cylindrical surface defining a housing configured to receive the first module in the assembled state, and an outer cylindrical surface along which the operating member is guided with said translational degree of freedom, wherein the operating member consists of a ring having: an inner cylindrical surface, conforming the outer cylindrical surface of the tubular body for translation guiding, and a downstream annular surface, wherein the downstream annular surface is frustoconical and forms a bearing surface.
19 . A floating structure comprising: a fairlead provided with a blocking system configured to block a mooring line in translation in an upstream-to-downstream direction, said fairlead being associated with a mooring line including a second module of a mechanical connection device, in the disassembled state, wherein the mechanical connection device is configured for a detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, said mechanical connection device comprising: two modules including a first module, upstream, including a first attachment system configured to attach to a free end of a first offshore line, and a second module, downstream, including a second attachment system configured to attach to a free end of a second offshore line, said modules being configured for relative movement between two states including an assembled state, in which the modules are assembled and define a longitudinal axis, said first module defining an upstream end and said second module defining a downstream end, and a disassembled state, in which the modules are separated from each other, and a locking system that has two configurations including a locked configuration, in which the modules are locked in said assembled state, and an unlocked configuration, in which the modules are operable between said assembled state and said disassembled state, said locking system including an operating member, to operate the locking system from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, the operating member being movable between two positions according to a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state including an initial position, in which the locking system is in the locked configuration, and a final position, in which the locking system is in the unlocked configuration, and wherein the translation blocking system, in an active position, is configured to block the operating member in translation in the upstream-to-downstream direction and generate a translational operation of the operating member from the initial position to the final position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to FR 2200227 filed Jan. 12, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the technical field of offshore industry. In particular, it relates to mechanical connection devices that are designed for detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines implemented for example at the time of anchoring floating structures. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the offshore domain, floating structures are conventionally anchored to the ground by means of anchor lines, also called “mooring lines”, generally in the form of chains. For that purpose, the lower end of a mooring line is conventionally provided with means for its attachment to the ground, through a massif embedded in the seabed. The upper end of this same mooring line is advantageously connected to the floating structure through a device commonly called a “fairlead”, which is generally implanted below the waterline. The tension applied to the mooring line is locked by translation blocking means fitted on the fairlead, for example as a clamp formed of two jaws articulated about axes of rotation parallel to each other. Conventionally, to perform this tensioning, the free end of a line called the “messenger line” is temporarily connected to the free end of the mooring line. This messenger line can then be used to apply a traction to the mooring line, until obtaining the desired tension on this latter. The connection between the mooring line and the messenger line must hence be temporary, conventionally implemented by a dedicated mechanical connection device taking into account in particular the forces undergone during the traction. Such a mechanical connection device usually comprises two modules that are respectively secured to the free end of an offshore line and that are designed for relative movement between assembled and disassembled states. But, in practice, the current mechanical connection devices are not fully satisfying. Indeed, once the mooring line tensioned, the disconnection of the modules is often particularly complex due to the conditions of intervention (sometimes below the waterline). Moreover, this disconnection generally requires a “human” intervention on the mechanical connection device, for example by a diver or via an underwater vehicle (ROV). This disconnection problem is all the more important, especially in terms of cost and time, that the number of disconnections increases (for example, in the case of floating wind farms, with tens of modules to be disconnected). There thus exists a need for a mechanical connection device whose modules could be disconnected without external intervention, including below the waterline. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to remedy the above-mentioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a mechanical connection device, designed for detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, advantageously a mooring line and a messenger line. The mechanical connection device comprises two modules: a first module, upstream, provided with attachment means for attachment to a free end of a first offshore line, advantageously the messenger line, anda second module, downstream, provided with attachment means for attachment to a free end of a second offshore line, advantageously the mooring line. The modules are designed for relative movement between two states: an assembled state, in which the modules are assembled and define a longitudinal axis, with said first module defining an upstream end and said second module defining a downstream end, anda disassembled state, in which the modules are separated from each other. The mechanical connection device comprises locking means that have two configurations: a locked configuration, in which the modules are locked in said assembled state, andan unlocked configuration, in which the modules are operable between said assembled state and said disassembled state. The locking means include an operating member, to operate the locking means from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. And, according to the invention, the operating member is movable between two positions with a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state, preferably in a downstream to upstream direction, i.e. an initial position, preferably on the side of said downstream end, in which the locking means are in the locked configuration, anda final position, preferably on the side of said upstream end, in which the locking means are in the unlocked configuration. Such a technical solution makes it possible to envisage automatic disconnection of the modules, without requiring “human” intervention on the mechanical connection device. As mentioned hereinabove, the gain is significant (in particular in terms of cost, time