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A floating offshore platform, of the type having a buoyancy can disposed within a support structure, includes a can guide assembly that has at least two compliant compression pads that are configured and arranged to provide a non-linear load-versus-deflection characteristic in response to impact loa

A floating offshore platform, of the type having a buoyancy can disposed within a support structure, includes a can guide assembly that has at least two compliant compression pads that are configured and arranged to provide a non-linear load-versus-deflection characteristic in response to impact loads generated by the impact of the can against the guide assembly. At least one of the compression pads is substantially stiffer (less compliant) than the other pad. The pads are arranged so that the relatively soft pad absorbs the impact load before the relatively stiff pad is engaged. In one embodiment, first, second, and third compression pads are arranged vertically, the upper and lower pads being softer (more compliant) than the middle pad. In another embodiment, a first, relatively soft, compression pad coaxially surrounds a second, relatively stiff compression pad.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A guide for a buoyancy can on a floating offshore platform, the platform including a support structure adjacent the buoyancy can, the guide comprising: first and second elastomeric compression pads secured to the support structure so as to be adjacent to exterior surface of t

What is claimed is: 1. A guide for a buoyancy can on a floating offshore platform, the platform including a support structure adjacent the buoyancy can, the guide comprising: first and second elastomeric compression pads secured to the support structure so as to be adjacent to exterior surface of the buoyancy can, wherein the first compression pad is relatively soft, and to second compression pad is relatively stiff, wherein the first compression pad defines a hollow core area in which the second compression pad is nested. 2. The guide of claim 1, further comprising a base plate attached to the support structure, wherein the first compression pad has an inner end surface attached to the base plate. 3. The guide of claim 2, wherein the first compression pad has an outer end surface attached to a contact plate. 4. The guide of claim 3, wherein the second compression pad is separated from the first compression pad by a peripheral channel, and from the contact plate by a gap that communicates with the channel. 5. The guide of claim 3, wherein at least a substantial portion of the contact plate is covered by a wear pad of a durable, low-friction material. 6. The guide of claim 5, wherein the wear pad is made of UHMW polyethylene. 7. The guide of claim 4, wherein the second compression pad includes an axial bore that communicates with the channel and the gap to form a water passage. 8. The guide of claim 4, wherein the base plate has an aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat against the support structure, and wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture. 9. The guide of claim 7, wherein the support structure includes an aperture, and wherein the guide is attachable to the support structure so as to place the support structure aperture in communication with the axial bore. 10. The guide of claim 5, wherein the wear pad has an exterior surface configured for contacting the exterior surface of the buoyancy can, wherein the exterior surface of the wear pad includes a longitudinal channel. 11. A guide for a buoyancy can on a floating offshore platform, the platform including a support structure adjacent the buoyancy can, the guide comprising: first and second elastomeric compression pads mounted coaxially on the support structure adjacent the exterior surface of the buoyancy can, the first compression pad being substantially softer than the second compression pad, wherein the first compression pad defines a hollow core area in which the second compression pad is located; and a contact plate attached to a first side of the first compression pad and spaced from a first side of the second compression pad by a gap. 12. The guide of claim 11, wherein the contact plate has a first side attached to the first compression pad and a second side to which is attached a wear pad. 13. The guide of claim 12, wherein the wear pad is made of UHMW polyethylene. 14. The guide of claim 11, further comprising a base plate that is removably attachable to the support structure, wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate round the second compression pad. 15. The guide of claim 14, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, and wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture. 16. The guide of claim 11, wherein the first and second compression pads are separated from each other by a peripheral channel that is in communication with the gap. 17. The guide of claim 16, wherein the second compression pad includes an axial bore that communicates with the gap to form a water passage with the gap and the peripheral channel. 18. The guide of claim 17, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate round the aperture, and wherein the support structure has an aperture located so that the support structure aperture is in communication with the axial bore when the guide is attached to the support structure. 19. A compliant guide assembly for reducing impact loads on a buoyancy can from a support structure in a floating offshore platform, the guide assembly comprising: a base plate removably attachable to the support structure; a first, relatively soft compression pad having an inner end attached to the base plate and an outer end, the first compression pad defining a hollow core area; a second, relatively stiff compression pad located within the hollow core area of the first compression pad and separated from the first compression pad by a peripheral channel; and a contact plate attached to the second end of the first compression pad and separated from the second compression pad by a gap that is in communication with the peripheral channel. 20. The compliant guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the first and second compression pads are made of elastomeric material. 21. The compliant guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the contact plate has a first side attached to the first compression pad and a second side to which is attached a wear pad. 22. The compliant guide assembly of claim 21, wherein the wear pad is made of UHMW polyethylene. 23. The compliant guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the second compression pad. 24. The compliant guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the second compression pad includes an axial bore that communicates with the gap to form a water passage with the gap and the peripheral channel. 25. The compliant guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture, and wherein the support structure has an aperture located so that the support structure aperture is in communication with the axial bore when the guide is attached to the support structure. 26. A compliant guide assembly for reducing impact loads on a buoyancy can from a support structure in a floating offshore platform, the guide assembly comprising: first and second elastomeric compression pads mounted on the support structure adjacent the exterior surface of the buoyancy can, the positioning of the first and second compression pads and their relative stiffnesses being such as to provide non-linear load-versus-deflection performance in response to impact loads created by the impact of the buoyancy can against the guide assembly; wherein the first compression pad is substantially less stiff than the second compression pad; wherein the first and second compression pads are arranged so that the first compression pad undergoes an initial deflection in response to an impact load before the second compression pad is deflected in response to the impact load; and wherein the first and second compression pads are arranged coaxially, with the second compression pad contained within a central core area defined within the first compression pad. 27. The compliant guide assembly of claim 26, further comprising a base plate configured to be secured to the support structure, wherein the first compression pad has an inner end surface that is attached to the base plate. 28. The compliant guide assembly of claim 27, wherein the first compression pad has an outer end surface, and wherein the assembly further comprises a contact plate attached to the outer end surface of the first compression pad so as to be spaced from the second compression pad by a gap. 29. The compliant guide assembly of claim 28, further comprising a wear pad made of a durable, low-friction polymer attached to the contact plate. 30. The compliant guide assembly of claim 27, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, and wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture. 31. The compliant guide assembly of claim 28, wherein the first and second compression pads are separated from each other by a peripheral channel that is in communication with the gap. 32. The compliant guide assembly of claim 31, wherein the second compression pad includes an axial bore that communicates with the gap to form a water passage with the gap and the peripheral channel. 33. The compliant guide assembly of claim 32, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture, and wherein the support structure has an aperture located so that the support structure aperture is in communication with the axial bore when the guide is attached to the support structure. 34. A compliant guide assembly for reducing impact loads on a buoyancy can from a support structure in a floating offshore platform, the guide assembly comprising: first and second elastomeric compression pads mounted on the support structure adjacent the exterior surface of the buoyancy can, the positioning of the first and second compression pads and their relative stiffnesses being such as to provide non-linear load-versus-deflection performance in response to impact loads created by the impact of the buoyancy can against the guide assembly; wherein the first compression pad is substantially less stiff than the second compression pad; wherein the first and second compression pads are arranged so that the first compression pad undergoes an initial deflection in response to an impact load before the second compression pad is deflected in response to the impact load; and a third compression pad, wherein the first, second, and third compression pads are arranged vertically, wherein the first and third compression pads are softer than the second compression pad, and wherein the first, second, and third compression pads are arranged so that the first and third compression pads undergo an initial deflection in response to an impact load before the second compression pad is deflected in response to the impact load. 35. The compliant guide assembly of claim 34, wherein the first and second compression pads are arranged coaxially, with the second compression pad contained within a central core area defined within the first compression pad. 36. The compliant guide assembly of claim 35, further comprising a base plate configured to be secured to the support structure, wherein the first compression pad has an inner end surface that is attached to the base plate. 37. The compliant guide assembly of claim 36, wherein the first compression pad has an outer end surface, and wherein the assembly further comprises a contact plate attached to the outer end surface of the first compression pad so as to be spaced from the second compression pad by a gap. 38. The compliant guide assembly of claim 37, further comprising a wear pad made of a durable, low-friction polymer attached to the contact plate. 39. The compliant guide assembly of claim 36, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, and wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture. 40. The compliant guide assembly of claim 37, wherein the first and second compression pads are separated from each other by a peripheral channel that is in communication with the gap. 41. The compliant guide assembly of claim 40, wherein the second compression pad includes an axial bore that communicates with the gap to form a water passage with the gap and the peripheral channel. 42. The compliant guide assembly of claim 41, wherein the base plate has a central aperture that allows the second compression pad to seat directly against the support structure, wherein the first compression pad is attached to the base plate around the aperture, and wherein the support structure has an aperture located so that the support structure aperture is in communication with the axial bore when the guide is attached to the support structure.