초록 ▼

A connector is provided for removably attaching a space frame to the hull of a floating offshore platform. The connector comprises a socket attached to the hull of the platform. The socket has an open bore therein. A stabbing member is attached to the space frame. The stabbing member has a lower end

A connector is provided for removably attaching a space frame to the hull of a floating offshore platform. The connector comprises a socket attached to the hull of the platform. The socket has an open bore therein. A stabbing member is attached to the space frame. The stabbing member has a lower end insertable into the socket. An expandable locking ring is carried by the lower end of the stabbing member. The locking ring comprises a plurality of ring segments for removably seating within the socket bore. A backup ring is slidable along the stabbing member. The backup ring removably mates to the locking ring.

대표청구항 ▼

A connector is provided for removably attaching a space frame to the hull of a floating offshore platform. The connector comprises a socket attached to the hull of the platform. The socket has an open bore therein. A stabbing member is attached to the space frame. The stabbing member has a lower end

A connector is provided for removably attaching a space frame to the hull of a floating offshore platform. The connector comprises a socket attached to the hull of the platform. The socket has an open bore therein. A stabbing member is attached to the space frame. The stabbing member has a lower end insertable into the socket. An expandable locking ring is carried by the lower end of the stabbing member. The locking ring comprises a plurality of ring segments for removably seating within the socket bore. A backup ring is slidable along the stabbing member. The backup ring removably mates to the locking ring. ommunicating with an exhaust pump provided outside said spindle assembly. 10. A spindle assembly with a bearing portion, said spindle assembly comprising a housing, a rotary shaft rotatably mounted in said housing through a bearing gap, said rotary shaft being supported in a non-contact manner by compressed gas supplied into said bearing gap, and an exhaust gas suction device provided in said housing for sucking gas discharged from said bearing gap, wherein said bearing portion is provided with a journal bearing at a position nearest to its exhaust end, wherein a non-contact seal gap is provided between said rotary shaft and a stationary portion provided around said rotary shaft, wherein an exhaust groove is formed between said gas discharge end and said non-contact seal gap, wherein said exhaust groove and said seal gap are aligned with each other in an axial direction, and wherein circumferential surfaces forming said seal gap have an inner diameter equal to, or smaller than, that of said journal bearing. 11. A spindle assembly with a bearing portion, said spindle assembly comprising a housing, a rotary shaft rotatably mounted in said housing through a bearing gap, said rotary shaft being supported in a non-contact manner by compressed gas supplied into said bearing gap, and an exhaust gas suction device provided in said housing for sucking gas discharged from said bearing gap, wherein a thrust bearing is provided at an exhaust end of a bearing portion, and a seal gap is provided at an extension of a bearing gap of said thrust bearing. 12. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thrust bearing includes rotary and stationary side bearing surfaces with a bearing gap therebetween, wherein said seal gap is provided radially inwardly of said thrust bearing, and wherein at least one of said bearing surfaces is formed of a lubricious material. 13. A spindle assembly with a bearing portion, said spindle assembly comprising a housing, a rotary shaft rotatably mounted in said housing through a bearing gap, said rotary shaft being supported in a non-contact manner by compressed gas supplied into said bearing gap, and an exhaust gas suction device provided in said rotary shaft for sucking gas discharged from said bearing gap. 14. The spindle assembly of claim 13 wherein said exhaust gas suction device comprises a negative pressure generator which produces a negative pressure by the flow of compressed gas. 15. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein a passage for introducing compressed gas to said bearing gap communicates with a passage for supplying compressed gas into said negative pressure generator. 16. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a first non-contact seal gap and a second non-contact seal gap provided between said rotary shaft and a stationary portion provided around said rotary shaft along the flow of gas discharged from a gas discharge end of said bearing gap, a first exhaust groove formed between said gas discharge end and said first non-contact seal gap, and a second exhaust groove formed between said first and second non-contact seal gaps to form a labyrinth seal, said first exhaust groove communicating with an outside of said spindle assembly, said second exhaust groove communicating with said exhaust gas suction device. 17. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 16 further comprising at least one additional non-contact seal gap at an exhaust end of said second non-contact seal gap, and a third exhaust groove formed between said second and additional seal gaps, said third exhaust groove communicating with a discharge pump provided outside said spindle assembly. 18. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a first non-contact seal gap and a second non-contact seal gap provided between said rotary shaft and a stationary portion provided around said rotary shaft along the flow of gas discharged from a gas discharge end of said bearing gap, a f irst exhaust groove formed between said gas discharge end and said first non-contact seal gap, and a second exhaust groove formed between said first and second non-contact seal gaps to form a labyrinth seal, said first exhaust groove communicating with said exhaust gas suction device, said second exhaust groove communicating with an exhaust pump provided outside said spindle assembly. 19. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said bearing portion is provided with a journal bearing at a position nearest to its exhaust end, wherein a non-contact seal gap is provided between said rotary shaft and a stationary portion provided around said rotary shaft, wherein an exhaust groove is formed between said gas discharge end and said non-contact seal gap, wherein said exhaust groove and said seal gap are aligned with each other in an axial direction, and wherein circumferential surfaces forming said seal gap have an inner diameter equal to, or smaller than, that of said journal bearing. 20. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein a thrust bearing is provided at an exhaust end of said bearing portion and a seal gap is provided at an extension of a bearing gap of said thrust bearing. 21. The spindle assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said thrust bearing includes rotary and stationary side bearing surfaces with a bearing gap therebetween, wherein said seal gap is provided radially inwardly of said thrust bearing, and wherein at least one of said bearing surfaces is formed of a lubricious material. surface, said thrust plate having a first annular surface substantially perpendicular to said circumferential surface; a housing arranged around said shaft and said thrust plate, said housing having a first surface opposing said circumferential surface and forming a first gap therebetween, said housing also having a second surface opposing said annular surface and forming a second gap therebetween, said first gap and second gap being in fluid communication; a fluid or a combination of fluids located within said first and second gaps for lubricating purposes; a first set of grooves on at least one of said circumferential surface and said first surface; a second set of grooves on at least one of said annular surface and said second surface, wherein each of said grooves is shaped so as to have at least one pair of legs, said legs converging to form at least one apex, wherein one of said legs is longer than the other and forms an asymmetry, whereby said pumping action is created by said asymmetry, and said first and second sets of grooves are oriented to create competing first and second pumping actions, respectively, on said fluid when said bearing housing rotates around said shaft, said first pumping action tending to pump said fluid out of said second gap, and said second pumping action counteracting said first pumping action. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first set of grooves are on said first opposing surface and said second sea of grooves are on said annular surface. 3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third set of grooves on at least one of said circumferential surface and said first opposing surface, said third set of grooves oriented to create a third pumping action on said fluid when said bearing housing rotates around said shaft, said fluid tending to leak out of said first gap, but for the third pumping action. 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said thrust plate has a second annular surface substantially perpendicular to said circumferential surface, said second annular surface spaced apart from said first annular surface by a rim surface, wherein said housing has a third surface opposing said second annular surface, said third surface spaced apart from said second annular surface and forming a third gap therebetween, said third gap in fluid communication with said second gap, and wherein there is a fourth set of grooves on at least one of said second annular surface and said third surface, said fourth set of grooves creating a fourth pumping action on said fluid when said bearing housing rotates around said shaft, said fluid tending to leak out of said third gap, but for said fourth pumping action. 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said shaft includes at least one vent adapted to allow unwanted gases to pass out of said first gap. 6. The assembly of claim 1, herein said thrust plate includes at least one vent adapted to allow unwanted gases to pass out of said second gap. 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said fluid or combination of fluids comprises an oil chosen from the group consisting of: animal oil, vegetable oil, mineral oil, synthetic oil, petroleum oil, and mixtures thereof. 8. A bearing assembly for a disk drive motor including: a shaft, said shaft having a circumferential surface; a thrust plate projecting annularly outward from said circumferential surface, said thrust plate having a first annular surface substantially perpendicular to said circumferential surface; a housing arranged around said shaft and said thrust plate, said housing having a first surface opposing said circumferential surface and forming a first gap therebetween, said housing also having a second surface opposing said annular surface and forming a second gap therebetween, said first gap and second gap being in fluid communication; a fluid or a combination of fluids located within said first and second gaps for lubricating purposes; a first set of grooves on at least one of said circumferential