The present invention relates to a method, a vessel and a crane system for use on a vessel, e.g. for handling an object such as a monopile for an offshore wind turbine. The crane system comprises a crane having a hoisting winch with an associated hoisting cable and a load connector for suspending the object, as well as a tugger assembly comprising a tugger winch with an associated tugger line which is connectable to the object or to the load connector. The crane system further comprises a damping cylinder supporting one or more sheaves over which the tugger line is guided. Movement of the object in the horizontal direction puts a load on the damping cylinder via the tugger line. The load on the damping cylinder moves the piston assembly of the damping cylinder, to thus dissipate kinetic energy of the object and damp motion of the object.
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
E02D 13/00 - Accessories for placing or removing piles or bulkheads
An offshore crane vessel (1) has a hull (2) mounted crane (20) with a foldable boom (30) with boom section (40) and a jib section (50). A variable length struts stay mechanism is provided between the pivotal boom strut and the pivotal jib strut. The jib stay (45) comprises a variable length jib stay mechanism (60). The variable length stay mechanisms each have an associated drive. The foldable boom is configured to assume at least a raised boom configuration, wherein the boom is extended as both the boom member and the jib member are in a raised position, and a folded and parked configuration, wherein the boom is folded as the jib member is folded along the boom member, and wherein the folded boom is parked on a boom rest (8).
B66C 23/42 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehiclesManually-movable jib cranes for use in workshopsFloating cranes with jibs of adjustable configuration, e.g. foldable
A crane with a tagline system, for example for use in the handling of one or more wind turbine components, e.g. handling of a rotor blade. The crane comprises a boom with a boom leg embodied as a latticed hollow box structure. At least one of the front main chords of the boom leg is formed from four steel planar plate members that are welded to one another in a rectangular or square cross-sectional arrangement. The front plate member extends from a corner joint with the outer plate member inward beyond the joint to the inner plate member to form an inwardly protruding guide rail portion. The outer plate member extends from the corner joint with the front plate member rearward beyond the joint to the rear plate member to form a rearwardly protruding guide rail portion. The tagline trolley is provided with rollers engaging the inwardly protruding guide rail portion and with roller engaging the rearwardly protruding guide rail portion.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
A vessel crane (1) and a method for raising and lowering a boom (3) of the vessel crane, in which a boom hoist (30) is provided for pivoting the boom about a boom pivot axis (03). The boom hoist (30) has a boom hoist winch (31) for hauling in and paying out a luffing wire (32) to and fro a boom suspension (6) being positioned between a gantry apex (43) of a gantry (4) and a head structure (302) of the boom. In the boom suspension (6), the luffing wire is configured in a multiple fall arrangement (60) in which a length of the luffing wire (32) is adjustable by displacing at least one detachable sheave block (63) from a hoist position (H) to carry out a hoisting operation to a gantry tilt position (GT) to carry out a raising or lowering of the gantry (4).
A crane subassembly (12) including a crane house (2) and a winch carrier (71) and an installation method for assembling the crane subassembly (12) to a substructure (10) of a crane The winch carrier has a carrier body (710) for supporting several winches (31, 70) on several winch seats (712). The crane house (2) comprises a plurality of carrier mounts (281) and the winch carrier (71) comprises an associated plurality of complementary carrier mounts (781) for mounting the winch carrier to the crane house. In the installation method, the crane house (2) is lowered relative to the winch carrier (71) to level the carrier mounts (281, 781) with each other. Preferably, the crane assembly (12) is remote assembled by mounting a pre-assembled lower skid (91), a winch skid (92) and the crane house (2) to each other before its placement onto the substructure (10).
Method for controlling a load (100) suspended by a hoisting wire (19) of a crane. The crane comprises a boom (20) with two front main chords. The crane further comprises a tagline system, wherein the tagline system comprises two tagline trolleys (31, 32) which travel along the boom (19). A tagline (33, 34) extends from each tagline trolley to a load and/or load connector. The tagline control system (200) determines a required (un)winding based on a hoist signal, the length of the tagline trolley cables, the length of the taglines, and the geometry of the boom.
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
A vessel for pile installation, wherein the stern of the vessel comprises a recess flanked laterally by two lateral hull portions. A pile holding system comprises a pile holding tool to hold the pile in an upright orientation and an X-Y motion support assembly for the pile holding tool. The X-Y motion support assembly comprises a load bearing body supporting the pile holding tool above the recess and an X-Y motion mechanism operative between the hull and the load bearing body. Each of the lateral hull portions is provided with a respective lateral mount and the X-Y motion support assembly is supported on the lateral mounts.
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66D 1/52 - Control devices automatic for varying rope or cable tension, e.g. when recovering craft from water
A slew bearing for rotatably supporting an object on a base about a slew axis. The slew bearing includes a stationary ring and a rotary ring part. The stationary ring part is provided with a stationary raceway member forming a stationary raceway surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the slew axis. The rotary ring part is provided with a rotary raceway member forming a rotary raceway surface. Rolling elements are provided between the stationary raceway surface and the rotary raceway surface. The slew bearing further includes an elastically compressible resilient insert sandwiched either between the rotary raceway member and the rotary ring part or between the stationary ring part and the stationary raceway member. The slew bearing further includes an axial load sensor for monitoring an axial load on the slew bearing by measuring a distance over the resilient insert.
The invention relates to a crane (100) with a luffable boom (105) and a boom restrainer (120) for restraining undue accelerated upward pivoting of the boom, e.g. in case of loss of load. A rigid element (121) extends between the boom and the crane structure (104) above the boom pivot axis. It is movable with the boom as it is pivoted upward, and engaged with the boom when upright. Passive countering means (130) provide clearance for movement of the element, and upon a release, use stored energy to engage the element to counteract upward boom pivoting. Active clearance means (140) initiate said release by upon detection of an anomalous situation - otherwise they keep the passive means in a state of stored energy thereof.
The invention provides a device and vessel for overboarding of a flexible article, e.g. a cable, wherein an upending device at a vessel edge for an overboarding quadrant is provided with a joint handling capability by means of a joint handling device. The joint handling device is configured for engaging the joint from above and guiding and supporting at least part of the weight of, the joint of the flexible article at least during overboarding and lowering of the flexible article into the sea via a guide at the edge of the vessel.
H02G 1/10 - Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing, or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle in or under water
The invention relates to a pile gripper positioning system for a pile gripper that is configured to be provided on a vessel to engage with a monopile during a monopile installation method, wherein the pile gripper positioning system comprises: —an actuator system for applying forces to the pile gripper to position the pile gripper relative to the vessel, —a measurement system for determining a position of the monopile in the pile gripper relative to the vessel, and—a pile gripper control unit for driving the actuator system in dependency of a desired position and an actual position of the monopile as measured by the measurement system, wherein the pile gripper control unit is configured to receive a signal representative for a position of the vessel, wherein, during at least a portion of the monopile installation method, the pile gripper control unit is configured to determine a drive signal for the actuator system to compensate at most a portion of a deviation of the position of the vessel from a desired position of the vessel, and wherein, during said at least a portion of the monopile installation method, the pile gripper control unit for driving the actuator system is configured to drive the actuator system in dependency of a desired position and an actual position of the monopile as measured by the measurement system, and the drive signal to compensate at most a portion of a deviation of the position of the vessel from a desired position of the vessel.
B66C 23/61 - Derricks with slewing force exerted at pivoted end
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B63H 25/42 - Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elementsSteering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor onlySteering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
12.
METHOD AND BLADE INSTALLATION DEVICE FOR INSTALLING A BLADE OF AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE
For installing a blade on a horizontal axis rotational hub of an offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade installation device that is temporarily installed on the offshore wind turbine. A mounting part is mounted on the foundation of the offshore wind turbine and/or on a lower portion of the wind turbine mast. A crane mast is erected vertically and is supported by the mounting part. The crane mast has a track. A blade manipulator assembly includes a trolley moving over the track and one or more blade root engagement members that engage a root end of the blade. The blade installation device includes a hoist system with a crane boom that is mounted to a top end of the crane mast, a winch, and a winch driven cable. In the method, the trolley is brought in a lower position thereof and the blade root engagement members engage on the root end of the blade that is in the lower receiving position thereof. The cable of the hoist system is attached to the blade at a distance remote from the root end, preferably at a center of gravity of the blade. The method includes the lifting of the blade to the blade installation position by operating the winch of the hoist system and simultaneously moving the trolley along the track by the trolley drive.
A tower crane (1) comprises a crane base (10), tower segments (20) which are configured to be stacked onto one another in order to erect a crane tower (30), and a slewable jib unit (50). The tower crane comprises an object manipulator system is configured to manipulate an object suspended from the load connector (71, 80) and comprises a manipulator arm device (100) with a manipulator trolley (110) engaging the first trolley track (22), a manipulator trolley drive (120), and an arm (130) having an inner end and an outer end. The inner end of the arm is connected to the manipulator trolley. The arm or the at least one mobile arm segment (146) is pivotal about a Z-axis hinge. The system further comprises a tagline device (150) wherein the tagline is configured to be extended between the tagline engagement point (160, 165) on the mobile arm segment of the arm on the one hand and the load connector or the object supported by the load connector on the other hand.
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
B66C 23/28 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes for use on building sitesCranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
Bridge crane (1) that comprises a left track (8) and a right track (10) mounted on top of the beam (2). The left track and the right track support a left trolley (9) and a right trolley (10), wherein the left trolley supports a hoisting wire (12) at the left side of the beam and the right trolley supports a hoisting wire (14) at the right side of the beam. Thus, a bridge crane according to the invention has a single beam that supports two trolleys that can operate independently from each other along the length of the beam. Furthermore, the tracks are provided with an inner support rail (27), located on top of the beam, the inner support rail having a downward facing contact surface for guiding at least one moment support wheel (23) of the respective trolley.
B66C 13/04 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 19/00 - Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries
E04H 12/34 - Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
15.
INSTALLATION OF A WIND TURBINE ON A FLOATING FOUNDATION
A vessel for use in installation of a wind turbine on a floating foundation is provided, where both the vessel and the floating foundation are in floating condition and subject to sea-state induced motions. The vessel includes a floating hull; a crane including a hoisting system to suspend the wind turbine; a mast alignment system provided to engage on the wind turbine mast of the suspended wind turbine, and bring and maintain the wind turbine mast in alignment with the mounting axis of the floating foundation in order to compensate for sea-state induced motions; and a restraining system arranged to restrain the floating foundation only in a horizontal plane relative to the floating hull of the vessel and to allow for both sea-state induced heave motion and sea-state induced tilt motions in one or more vertical planes of the mast mounting structure relative to the hull of the vessel.
An offshore wind turbine foundation monopile in a seabed, the monopile having a foot end, a top end, and a longitudinal axis, by revolving the monopile about the longitudinal axis, such that the monopile makes multiple revolutions while being driven into the seabed.
A pile driving method for driving a hollow tubular pile having a vertical centreline, a top end and an open foot end vertically into the soil, e.g. into the seabed, e.g. a large diameter pile having an outer diameter at the open foot end of at least 5 meters, e.g. a monopile of an offshore wind turbine, wherein use is made of a pile driving system, wherein the system includes at least one hammer device and a torsional vibration drive.
A self-climbing tower crane (1) which comprises tower segments (3, 4) which are configured to be stacked onto one another from below in order to erect a crane tower. The crane further has a crane tower lifting unit (10) which is configured to stepwise lift the crane tower from below. The crane is further provided with a slewable jib (100) unit which comprises a crane housing (110), a lifting jib (120), and a counter jib (130) comprising a counter ballast (132) or counter cable (1107), wherein the lifting jib and counter jib are both pivotable between a horizontal position and a substantially vertical position and pivotably connected to the crane housing.
B66C 23/28 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes for use on building sitesCranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
19.
A CLIMBING CRANE FOR ASSEMBLING A TALL STRUCTURE AND CORRESPONDING CLIMBING METHODS
The invention relates to a crane (1) for climbing a tall structure (2), comprising: - an elongate support structure (3) configured to extend parallel to the tall structure during a climbing operation, and - two trolleys (5, 6, 7, 8) that are moveable up and down along the elongate support structure and are configured to temporarily engage with the tall structure during the climbing operation, wherein the two trolleys are configured to pass each other.
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
The invention relates to a method and vessel for upending and/or installing of a foundation pile, often in the form of a monopile. Monopiles are often transported in a substantially horizontal orientation. At the installation location, the pile is upended, i.e. pivoted into an upright position. By upending a monopile a large variety of factors may cause swing motion of the suspended monopile. The present invention aims to improve the existing methods for installing of a monopile, e.g. in view of the upending process. The invention aims to reduce monopile swing motion and/or avoid excessive loads on the crane and/or other equipment involved in the upending of the monopile. The invention reduces monopile swing motion during upending by means of taglines, effectively providing for controlled motion of the lower and upper end portions of the monopile in a manner that has the overall effect of reducing the monopile swing motion.
E02D 35/00 - Straightening, lifting, or lowering of foundation structures or of constructions erected on foundations
B66C 17/00 - Overhead travelling cranes comprising one or more substantially-horizontal girders the ends of which are directly supported by wheels or rollers running on tracks carried by spaced supports
B66C 19/00 - Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
A mobile land rig is adapted to perform drilling and/or wellbore related activities. The mobile land rig includes a drilling tower, a loader and a top drive system including a pivotal top drive unit. The top drive system is provided with an actuator assembly adapted to cause the pivot motion of the top drive unit.
The invention relates to a foundation pile installation vessel comprising a pile gripper, a foundation pile installation crane and a pile hammer support structure. The pile hammer support structure is mounted to a back section of the crane housing of the installation crane and comprises a pile hammer hoisting device for supporting the foundation pile hammer and for lowering the pile hammer onto a top of a foundation pile supported in the installation position by the pile gripper.
Method for performing an offshore pile driving operation, wherein the vessel comprises a hull, a crane mounted to the hull, a counter ballast device comprising a mobile counter ballast member, and a control unit, wherein the counter ballast device is configured and operated such that – upon detection of a pile run event – the mobile counter ballast member is made to move so as to counter at least in part heel of the hull of the vessel induced by the weight of the pile or the pile hammer device, as it suddenly becomes suspended from the crane.
B66C 23/53 - Floating cranes including counterweight or means to compensate for list, trim, or skew of the vessel or platform
B66C 23/76 - Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples separate from jib and movable to take account of variations of load or of variations of length of jib
A crane, in particular an offshore leg encircling crane for use on a jack up-vessel, includes a revolving superstructure with a crane housing to which a boom is connected. The crane includes a hoisting system and a luffing device for pivoting a boom up to an upright position and down. The luffing device includes first left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets provided at opposite sides at a top of a luffing frame structure, and second left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets provided at opposite sides of a head structure of the boom. A variable length luffing system extends from the luffing winch via the first left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets to extend in a luffing direction to the second left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
A self-climbing tower crane includes a crane base configured to be placed on a support at a hoisting site, tower segments to erect a crane tower, a crane tower lifting unit mounted on the crane base, and a slewable jib unit. The tower crane is configured to, with the slewable jib unit connected to an upper tower segment, erect the crane tower by stacking tower segments onto one another from below to lengthen the crane tower under the slewable jib unit. The crane tower includes an upper section to be composed of a series of multiple upper tower segments and a lower section to be composed of a series of multiple lower tower segments. Each upper tower segment is embodied as a tubular girder type tower segment. Each lower tower segment is embodied as a latticed structure type tower segment. The tower crane further includes an upper stabilizer device and a lower stabilizer device, each configured to horizontally connect the upper section of the crane tower to an external tall structure, e.g. a wind turbine mast.
B66C 23/28 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes for use on building sitesCranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
B66C 23/34 - Self-erecting cranes, i.e. with hoisting gear adapted for crane erection purposes
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
A pile driving system for driving a pile into the soil comprises a drive head member on a top end of the pile to engage the pile, a lift system between the drive head member and the drop tank for bringing the drop tank into an initial height position relative to the drive head member, and a quick release system for quick release of the lift system so that the drop tank falls down from said initial height position. It further comprises a liquid fillable drop tank, that has a capacity to hold more than 500m3 of a liquid therein and that is vertically mobile above and relative to the drive head member, and an energy transfer assembly configured for transfer of energy from the falling drop tank to the drive head member.
E02B 17/08 - Equipment specially adapted for raising, lowering, or immobilising the working platform relative to the supporting construction for raising or lowering
E02D 13/00 - Accessories for placing or removing piles or bulkheads
Ship to shore container crane (1) comprising a rigid frame structure with a bridge frame (2) which has a left side beam (30), a right side beam (40), and a common center beam (50), parallel to each other and extending between a seaside end (15) and a land side end (16) of the bridge frame. The crane has a left transfer system (60) and a right transfer system (70), each for moving shipping containers between a ship (19) and a shore (20), wherein the left transfer system and the right transfer system are both supported by the bridge frame and are positioned so close together that they are able to work on adjacent container bays of a container vessel. The left transfer system and the right transfer system each comprise a seaside hoisting assembly (61, 71) for lifting and lowering a container above a vessel, and a shoreside hoisting assembly (62, 72) for lifting and lowering a container above the shore, e.g. a quay, wherein each hoisting assembly comprises a trolley track (63a, 63b, 73a, 73b), and a trolley (74, 75) supporting a hoisting winch (68, 78) and an associated hoisting wire (69, 79), and a spreader (102) supported by the hoisting wire; and a shuttle assembly (80, 90) for moving a container between the seaside hoisting assembly and the shoreside hoisting assembly.
A jack-up vessel has a buoyant hull, a plurality of jack-up legs including leg chords having racks, and jacking assemblies to relatively move the associated leg chord relatively to the buoyant hull vertically. The jacking assemblies include actuators and a pinion group, including a plurality of pinions arranged vertically above each other. Jacking assemblies include a sensor system for sensing the load distribution associated with a pinion group. The jack-up vessel includes a control system configured for receiving information about an intended use and/or future environmental conditions and determining a pre-operation load distribution over the pinions in the pinion group, in which pre-operation load distribution the loads within this pinion group are unequally distributed, such that during the intended use and/or during the future environmental conditions the loads within this pinion group are equally distributed.
E02B 17/08 - Equipment specially adapted for raising, lowering, or immobilising the working platform relative to the supporting construction for raising or lowering
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
29.
METHOD FOR INSTALLATION OF A MONOPILE AND INSTALLATION VESSEL
Installation vessel for installation of a monopile to support an offshore wind turbine. The vessel has a pile holding device with a pile holder and a support assembly which is configured to move the pile holder in a horizontal plane relative to the hull. A monitoring system is configured to, in a gripping phase wherein the monopile is suspended from a crane and is to be gripped by the pile holder, monitor the suspended monopile in the horizontal plane relative to the pile holder. The system provides signals representative of the position and movement of the monopile relative to the pile holder to the motion control unit of the support assembly.
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
A heave tolerant pile guiding device for guiding a pile including a cylindrical section and above said cylindrical section a tapered section that narrows in upward direction. The device includes a frame to be mounted to a vessel having a hull subject to sea-state induced motion during installation of a pile. At least one pair of first and second pile engaging devices is arranged on the frame diametrically opposed relative to a center axis. Each pile engaging device comprises a pile engaging member and a hydraulic cylinder to move the member radially relative to the center axis. A hydraulic system includes a position control circuit and a sphincter control circuit. The sphincter control circuit is configured to operate the pair of first and second hydraulic cylinders in particular when the pile engaging members engage on the tapered section of the pile. The sphincter control circuit is a rotary flow divider.
In a first aspect, a cradle of a device for upending of a pile is provided with movable fender pads at respective lateral sides of the cradle. The fender pads form, together with a base support against which the pile rests backwardly during upending, inward surfaces of the cradle defining an internal space inside the cradle for the pile to which radial movement of the supported pile is limited. Each fender pad is controllably movable by one or more fender actuators into slanted fending positions, in which the fender pad slants towards the base support at sharp angles relative to the middle plane. In a second aspect, a pile end support structure has left and right connector beams hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle and a pile support beam hinged at both ends to the lower ends of the connector beams. The connector hinge axes and the support hinge axes are horizontal when the pivotal structure together with the pile are in the vertical position.
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
An offshore crane and a heave compensator (10) suspended in-line from a lower block, and to a method for hoisting an object. The heave compensator comprises a frame (11a, 11b) to be suspended in-line from the lower block, a vertical passive heave compensation system and a vertical active heave compensation system. The passive heave compensation system comprises a vertical passive cylinder (20) having a downward extending piston rod (21), medium-separators (25) and multiple pressurized gas tanks (26a-t). The vertical active heave compensation system comprises a vertical column (31) connected to the downward extending piston rod and extending vertically parallel to the passive cylinder, wherein the vertical column is vertically guided by the frame, and wherein a vertical rack (33) is mounted to the vertical column and one or more pinions (34) and associated electric motors (35) are supported by the frame.
Installation of a wind turbine on a floating, wherein use is made of a vessel with a crane and a motion suppressor device mounted to the hull of the vessel. Engagement with the motion suppressor device counters the rise of the floating foundation caused by the step of increase of buoyancy, thereby the motion suppressor device suppressing at least Z-axis motion of the floating foundation relative to the hull of the vessel. Use is made of an installation tool comprising a lower coupler configured to couple to the mast mounting structure, an upper coupler configured to couple to the mast foot, and a multi-degrees of freedom, preferably six-degrees of freedom, connector assembly having a controllable stiffness, which connector assembly interconnects the lower coupler and the upper coupler, wherein the connector assembly is configured to controllable vary the stiffness of the interconnection.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
B63B 77/10 - Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms specially adapted for electric power plants, e.g. wind turbines or tidal turbine generators
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B63B 17/00 - Vessels parts, details, or accessories, not otherwise provided for
A system for holding a pile and being mounted on a vessel includes a support assembly and a pile holder. The support assembly provides compensation for wave-induced motion of the vessel to maintain a predetermined X-Y location of the pile holder. The pile holder has a center axis and is mounted on the support assembly so as to be tiltable about a substantially horizontal tilt axis relative to the support assembly. The pile holder has at least one ring which includes a ring structure and multiple pile engaging devices connected to the ring structure of the ring, distributed about the circumference of the ring. The substantially horizontal tilt axis of the system is located, with the pile extending substantially vertically through the at least one ring, further forward from the location at which the support assembly is mounted to the vessel than the center axis of the pile holder.
The present invention relates to a crane. The crane (9) comprises a base (3), a slewing unit (6) and a boom (4). The slewing unit comprising a support structure (7) and a luffing winch (15), wherein a luffing cable (14) is guided by a sheave (7a) of the support structure, and wherein a luffing sheave block (18) is connected to the luffing cable. The boom (4) is hingeably connected to the slewing unit (6) and is configured to carry out a luffing motion, wherein the boom comprises a luffing stay (12) having an inner end (12a) and an outer end (12b), which outer end is connected to a distal portion of the boom. The crane is further provided with a transfer device (16) comprising: - a movable frame (5) of which a part is connected to either the slewing unit (6) or to the boom (4), - a coupling device (17) on the movable frame (5) and configured to engage the luffing sheave block (18), - a transfer drive assembly (20, 22) which is configured to move the movable frame(5), wherein the transfer device is configured to engage the luffing sheave block (18) in a resting position thereof, wherein the luffing sheave block is supported by the slewing unit, e.g. by the support structure (7) thereof, and to then move the movable frame (5) by means of the transfer drive assembly (20,22) so as to transfer the luffing sheave block (18) to a position at the inner end (12a) of the luffing stay (12), wherein the coupling device (17) is configured to enable coupling of the luffing sheave block (18) and the inner end (12a) of the luffing stay to one another in order to allow for luffing motion of the boom (4), and wherein the coupling device (17) is configured to uncouple the transfer device (16) from the interconnected luffing sheave block (18) and the inner end (12a) of the luffing stay prior to luffing of the boom by means of the luffing winch (15).
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 23/34 - Self-erecting cranes, i.e. with hoisting gear adapted for crane erection purposes
B66C 23/36 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehiclesManually-movable jib cranes for use in workshopsFloating cranes
A pile holding system configured to hold a pile vertically during installation thereof in the seabed has a support assembly with a forked support member having a base and two arms projecting from the base. A pile holder has a pile holder ring which is at each of diametrically opposite locations thereof tiltable mounted to a respective arm via a tilt bearing connection so that the pile holder ring is tiltable about a horizontal tilt axis. Each of the arms is provided with a first load transfer member and the ring base of the pile holder ring is provided with second load transfer members. Each pair of a first and a second load transfer member is, at least in the operative orientation of the pile holder ring, in mechanical contact with one another so as to provide an additional load path between the ring base and the arm of the forked support member in addition to the tilt bearing connection.
F03D 13/40 - Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
E02B 17/04 - Equipment specially adapted for raising, lowering, or immobilising the working platform relative to the supporting construction
The invention relates to a telescopic crane boom (1). The boom comprises a main boom (10) and an extendable boom (20), and is provided with a stay mechanism (25) comprising a strut (30), a lower stay (40) and an upper stay (49). The upper stay comprises a first upper member (50) and a second upper member (60), that are each able to hinge between a passive position, for when the extendible boom is retracted, and an active position, for when the extendable boom is extended. In the passive position, the first upper stay member is positioned along the strut and the second upper stay member is positioned along the extendible boom. In the active position, the first and second upper stay members are connected to each other via connectors (61), and the upper stay forms a connection between the strut and the extendible boom structure.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
A radiation facility including a radiation assembly, preferably for irradiating a patient is provided. The radiation assembly includes a radiation device and a moveable radiation device gantry whereupon the radiation device is mounted. The radiation device includes an accelerator and a projector for irradiating patients. The radiation assembly is movable relative to multiple patient preparation rooms.
A system comprising a sleeve device for the coupling of tubulars, preferably for use in a geothermal wellbore or carbon capture storage methods. The sleeve device comprises a sleeve body which has a tubular shaped sleeve body, having a central section and two end sections enabled to threadingly engage two tubulars. Said sleeve body comprising an annular recess for receiving a carrier ring, which carrier ring further comprising two annular recesses for receiving two sealing rings. Said sealing rings form an annular fluid tight seal with the tubulars to prevent the leakage of substances flowing through the tubulars.
F16L 47/24 - Connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics based principally on specific properties of plastics for joints between metal and plastics pipes
40.
CRANE HAVING A CRANE BOOM WITH A TAGLINE SYSTEM HAVING A TRANSVERSE BEAM
A crane for hoisting a load comprises a tagline system. Guide rails (60, 61) are secured to the crane boom member and travelling members (80, 81) are mounted on the guide rails. A transverse beam (90) is supported by the travelling members so as to extend in a direction transverse to a central plane of the crane boom member. Each of the travelling members is provided with a sliding support (120) for the transverse beam (90) between the axial ends thereof allowing for variation of the spacing between the first and second travelling members. First and second tagline assemblies are each configured so that the first (95) and second (96) taglines extend from axially spaced apart positions on the transverse beam (90) to the load when in use.
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 9/06 - Travelling gear incorporated in, or fitted to, trolleys or cranes for more than one rail gauge
41.
ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING COMPOSITE PIPES
Moulding a composite pipe of fibre reinforcement material and a thermosetting resin that shrinks upon curing includes wrapping fibre reinforcement material about the tubular resilient sleeve of a mandrel in a non-expanded state of the sleeve. The mandrel includes an internal support structure for the sleeve which is reversibly expandable in diameter between the non-expanded state. The sleeve is internally supported by the internal support structure and an expanded state by application of an internal pressure to the sleeve. The mandrel with the fibre reinforcement material wrapped about the sleeve is accommodated in a bore of a mould. Seal members provide a closed annulus that can be evacuated. A thermosetting resin that shrinks upon curing is introduced into the closed annulus. A pressurizing fluid is supplied to the mandrel to internally pressurize the sleeve to cause diametrical expansion into the expanded state thereof whilst curing of the thermosetting resin.
B29C 70/44 - Shaping or impregnating by compression for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding
B29C 70/46 - Shaping or impregnating by compression for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
B29C 70/48 - Shaping or impregnating by compression for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs and impregnating the reinforcements in the closed mould, e.g. resin transfer moulding [RTM]
B29K 105/08 - Condition, form or state of moulded material containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns
In the installation of a rotor blade in horizontal orientation to the hub of a horizontal axis offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade motion synchronization and positioning device, which comprises a wind turbine coupler, a blade coupler, a motion arm between the wind turbine coupler and the blade coupler, and a controllable motion arm actuator assembly. The method includes bringing and maintaining the blade coupler in a motion compensated receiving position, wherein the arm is operated to compensate for sea state and/or wind induced tower top motion. In receiving position, the coupler is coupled to the blade that is suspended from a crane. The actuator assembly is then operated to gradually bring, and then maintain, the coupled blade in a horizontal motion that is synchronized with tower top motion, and to displace the coupled blade root into a pre-mounting position. Then a mounting motion is performed wherein the blade root is moved into a mounting position and the blade root is fastened to mounting structure by fasteners.
A vessel has a heave motion compensated carrier to support an object that is to be offloaded by an offloading device of another vessel or offshore structure. The carrier is supported on the hull of the vessel by a heave motion compensating support system. The system includes a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic-power unit connected to the rod-side chamber, a medium separator having a hydraulic-side chamber connected to the piston-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, and a bank of pressurized gas tanks. The bank includes a high-pressure tank and low-pressure tanks each selectively connectable via a respective gas tank valve to the gas-side chamber of the medium-separator.
The invention relates to a crane for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, to a vessel for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, and to a method for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location. According to the invention the crane is provided with a base section and a top section, wherein the top section is rotatable supported by a bearing, and can be rotated with the wind turbine hoisting device relative to the base section about a vertical axis, wherein a first trolley guide is mounted to a top section of the installation crane for guiding a vertically mobile wind turbine supporting trolley. According to the invention the vessel is provided with one or more assembly stations on different sides of the installation crane.
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
B63B 35/44 - Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
B63B 75/00 - Building or assembling floating offshore structures, e.g. semi-submersible platforms, SPAR platforms or wind turbine platforms
B63B 77/10 - Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms specially adapted for electric power plants, e.g. wind turbines or tidal turbine generators
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
A dual hoist crane is provided with a heave compensation system that can be used for both the main and for the auxiliary hoisting assembly. The heave compensation system includes a first set of sheaves for guiding the main hoisting cable and a second set of sheaves for guiding the auxiliary hoisting cable. The heave compensation system is configured to individually lock the first set of sheaves and the second set of sheaves to a heave compensation cylinder, for respectively providing the main hoisting assembly and the auxiliary hoisting assembly with heave compensation.
A marine slewing pedestal crane includes a boom provided with a jib having a jib-arm. The jib includes a jib base pivotally connected to a jib-axle to allow a pivotal movement of the jib with respect to the boom. The crane includes a jib positioning assembly adapted to position the jib arm and to actuate the movement of the jib arm. The jib arm positioning assembly includes a jib arm control system, including one or more sensors for monitoring a load connected to a load suspension device of a hoisting assembly of the crane, and/or a potential load, and/or a supply vessel supporting a potential load, and/or crane information. Based on the information, the jib arm control system actuates one or more cylinders to pivot the jib arm relative to the jib base.
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
47.
VESSEL COMPRISING A CRANE AND EXCHANGEABLE TOOLS AND METHODS WHEREIN USE IS MADE OF SUCH A VESSEL WITH EXCHANGEABLE TOOLS
The present invention relates to a vessel (5) comprising a crane (1) and exchangeable tools, each comprising a connector, and to methods wherein use is made of such a vessel with a tool. The crane comprises a hoist cable (6) and a hoist block (70) suspended from the hoist cable. The hoist block comprises an operable mechanism configured to engage the connector in a vertical engagement motion and to releasably lock the tool to the hoist block so as to suspend the tool from the hoist block. The vessel further comprises a support platform (152) adapted to support an exchangeable tool to be suspended from the hoist block, and a motion subsystem (150) provided between the vessel and the support platform enabling X-Y movements of the support platform.
B66C 3/00 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith and intended primarily for transmitting lifting forces to loose materialsGrabs
A riser section includes two filament-reinforced tubulars and a coupling sleeve for connecting the two filament-reinforced tubulars. The coupling sleeve includes a screw thread at opposite ends for cooperating with a screw thread provided on sections of the filament-reinforced tubulars. The riser section includes two torque locks, wherein the torque locks are each mounted on one of the filament-reinforced tubulars, and are on opposite ends of the coupling sleeve. The torque locks are provided with coupling teeth extending in an axial direction. The coupling sleeve is at opposite ends provided with coupling teeth extending in the axial direction. When the tubulars are screwed into the coupling sleeve and the torque locks have been mounted to secure the rotational movement of the tubulars relative to the coupling sleeve, the coupling teeth of each of the torque locks engages the coupling teeth of the coupling sleeve such that they block rotation of the torque lock relative to the coupling sleeve and allow for movement of the torque lock relative to the coupling sleeve in the axial direction, and thus allow for elongation of the sections of the tubulars including the screw thread. The pitch of the screw thread of the tubulars increases in a direction away from the end of the tubular, and the pitch of the screw threads of the coupling sleeve increases in a direction towards the end of the coupling sleeve.
B29C 70/34 - Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or coreShaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core and shaping or impregnating by compression
B29C 70/54 - Component parts, details or accessoriesAuxiliary operations
B29C 70/86 - Incorporating in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers
E21B 17/043 - CouplingsJoints between rod and bit, or between rod and rod threaded with locking means
The present invention relates to a method, a vessel (1) and a crane system for use on a vessel, e.g. for handling an object such as a monopile for an offshore wind turbine. The crane system comprises a crane (10) having a hoisting winch (11) with an associated hoisting cable (12) and a load connector (13) for suspending the object, as well as a tugger assembly comprising a tugger winch (31) with an associated tugger line (33a, b) which is connectable to the object or to the load connector. The crane system further comprises a damping cylinder (40) supporting one or more sheaves (41) over which the tugger line is guided. Movement of the object in the horizontal direction puts a load on the damping cylinder via the tugger line. The load on the damping cylinder moves the piston assembly of the damping cylinder, to thus dissipate kinetic energy of the object and damp motion of the object.
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 23/53 - Floating cranes including counterweight or means to compensate for list, trim, or skew of the vessel or platform
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
E21B 19/08 - Apparatus for feeding the rods or cablesApparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling toolApparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
50.
Method and blade installation device for installing a blade of an offshore wind turbine
In a method for installing a blade on a horizontal axis rotational hub of an offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade installation device that is temporarily installed on the offshore wind turbine. The device includes a mounting part that is mounted on the foundation of the offshore wind turbine and/or on a lower portion of the wind turbine mast. A guide mast having a track is supported by the mounting part and extends parallel and adjacent to the wind turbine mast. A support bracket laterally supports the guide mast. The blade installation device further includes a blade manipulator assembly with a trolley that is movable along the track and a blade manipulator including blade engagement members. The blade manipulator is supported by the trolley via an actuating assembly including actuators. A positioning system controls the actuators.
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
B66C 19/00 - Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
In an upend crane and an installation vessel including such an upend crane, the upend crane is provided with a boom configured for upending wind turbine components, e.g. monopiles and masts. The boom of the crane can be pivoted in an upend position for upending the wind turbine component with the bottom end of the wind turbine component being guided by a cart and a track along an upend deck and with the top end of the wind turbine component being guided along the boom by a trolley and the trolley guide.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B63B 75/00 - Building or assembling floating offshore structures, e.g. semi-submersible platforms, SPAR platforms or wind turbine platforms
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
A vessel for installation of a pile for supporting a wind turbine includes a hull, a lifting device, and a pile gripper. The lifting device includes a base, an elongate, upright superstructure, and a lifting assembly and the pile gripper includes a gripper base and a gripper device. The pile engagement device and the gripper device are, by respective movabilities thereof in an X-Y plane relative to the vessel, whilst both engaging a pile, and whilst supporting the pile, simultaneously movable relative to the hull from an inboard retaining position in which the pile engagement device is in the upper position and the pile is above the hull, to an outboard installation position of the pile in which the pile is outside the contour of the vessel.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
Method for constructing an elongated lattice truss structure of polygonal cross section with tubular steel main chords (1) interconnected by tubular steel braces (2), including diagonal braces (2), wherein use is made of a welding robot. Aspects of the method comprise preparing a main chord (1) for later welding of a diagonal brace (2) thereto by operating the welding robot to form a brace connecting structure (3) on the outer surface of the main chord (1) by depositing a plurality of weld beads thereon. The brace connecting structure (3) has an annular brace weld surface (4) spaced from the outer surface of the main chord (1) for later welding of the diagonal brace (2) to the brace connecting structure (3). In a later stage, the brace (2) is welded to the brace connecting structure (3), e.g. by manual welding.
Pile driving a large diameter steel pile (1) vertically into the ground. Use is made of a pile driving device (10) on a top end of the pile. The pile driving device comprises a drive head assembly (20) having an annular contact face (21) resting on the top end of the pile, and an annular anvil face above the annular contact face. A steel impact weight (30) has a mass of at least 100 tonnes. The impact weight (30) is lifted by means of the lift system (60) into a desired initial height position. A quick release mechanism (70) is operated to effect quick release of the lift system so that the impact weight falls down from said initial height position onto the anvil face (22) of the drive head assembly (20). The impact weight comprises, preferably is embodied as, a tubular impact weight which is made of steel.
A system comprising a crane and an exchangeable tool. The crane and the tool respectively comprise an upper tool connector with tool retainers and a lower tool connector which can be interconnected, e.g. a male and female connector, e.g. the lower tool connector of the tool being embodied as a shank provided with a shoulder and the upper tool connector as a tool clamp with a female, open-centered body. A tool suspension device comprises the upper tool connector. a travelling block member. The tool clamp has multiple mobile tool retainers adapted to—in a non-operative position—allow introduction of the shank of the tool from below into the shank receiving passage and—in an operative position—engage below the shoulder of the shank that has been introduced into the passage so as to suspend the tool. The upper tool connector may comprise a bearing allowing for swivelling of the open-centered body, and e.g. a rotational drive operative between the clamp housing and the female, open-centered body to actively drive said swivelling.
F16B 2/06 - Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening external, i.e. with contracting action
A method for pile installation wherein use is made of a vessel for pile installation. A pile holding system is mounted to the hull of a vessel, e.g. on deck (2) of a vessel, which pile holding system is configured to hold the pile in an upright orientation at a pile installation location at least whilst suspended from a crane by means of one or more winch driven cables, e.g. for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine, the pile holding system comprises a pile holding tool (40). The pile holding tool (40) further comprises a damping system including at least one damping device (45) that is mounted to the base structure (42) and is configured to, in use, engage on the pile suspended from the crane at a location that is vertically spaced from the circumferential zone that is engaged by the plurality of pile engaging positioning devices (43) of the pile holding tool, and wherein the at least one damping device (45) is configured to dampen pendulum motion of the pile suspended from the crane.
In an offshore crane vessel with a crane, for example for use in the handling of one or more offshore wind turbine components, the crane includes a superstructure that is rotatable with respect to a pedestal, and a boom having a length of 60-200 meters. A boom luffing assembly is provided for pivoting the boom about a horizontal boom pivot axis. The crane further includes a main hoisting device for hoisting a load, including a main hoist block assembly supported by a head structure, wherein the head structure is a travelling head structure which is slidable along a part of the boom from the tip end to a second position on the boom.
In the installation of a wind turbine use is made of an integrated device configured for nacelle lifting as well as for blade positioning, the integrated device having a nacelle lifting structure and a blade positioning assembly. The method comprises connecting the integrated device to a nacelle and then lifting the nacelle to the top of the tower, followed by fastening of the nacelle to the top of the tower. After fastening of the nacelle the load connector of the crane is disconnected from the integrated device which then remains connected to the nacelle in a stable position. The blade positioning assembly is used in positioning of the blade root relative to the blade mounting structure of the hub for the securing of the blade root to the blade mounting structure.
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
F03D 13/40 - Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
59.
CRANE HAVING A CRANE BOOM PROVIDED WITH A TAGLINE SYSTEM
A crane with a tagline system, for example for use in the handling of one or more wind turbine components, e.g. handling of a rotor blade. The crane comprises a boom with a boom leg embodied as a latticed hollow box structure. At least one of the front main chords of the boom leg is formed from four steel planar plate members that are welded to one another in a rectangular or square cross-sectional arrangement. The front plate member extends from a corner joint with the outer plate member inward beyond the joint to the inner plate member to form an inwardly protruding guide rail portion. The outer plate member extends from the corner joint with the front plate member rearward beyond the joint to the rear plate member to form a rearwardly protruding guide rail portion. The tagline trolley is provided with rollers engaging the inwardly protruding guide rail portion and with roller engaging the rearwardly protruding guide rail portion.
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
Offshore vessel, preferably an offshore wind turbine installation vessel, a crane for providing such a vessel, and a method for using such a crane, preferably for upending a monopile
An offshore wind turbine installation vessel includes a crane provided with a computerized crane control system. The computerized crane control system is linked to the slew drive, the luffing drive, and the hoisting winch of the crane, and is programmed to perform a foundation pile installation routine providing a coordinated pattern of slew motion of the superstructure and of luffing motion of the boom structure, as well as operation of the hoisting winch so that the load connector of the crane moves from a foundation pile pick up position thereof, where the load connector is connected to the top end of a horizontally oriented foundation pile stored on a storage deck, to a foundation pile overboarding position thereof, wherein the foundation pile is in vertical suspended from the load connector, outside of the hull.
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
61.
OFFSHORE DRILLING VESSEL AND INSTALLATION FOR PERFORMING SUBSEA WELLBORE RELATED ACTIVITIES
An offshore drilling vessel comprises a floating hull, a moonpool, and a drilling tower. A main hoisting device comprises a travelling top drive carrier, a top sheave assembly with carrier suspension cable sheaves, and vertically oriented hydraulic piston-and-cylinder type lift devices. Carrier suspension cables have one end secured to the carrier and extend over a respective sheave to another end connected to one of an anchor or to a winch fixed in relation to the hull. A vertically mobile working deck is provided with a slip device that is configured to suspend a tubulars string in the firing line.
E21B 19/09 - Apparatus for feeding the rods or cablesApparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling toolApparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods specially adapted for drilling underwater formations from a floating support using heave compensators supporting the drill string
62.
DRILL ASSEMBLY FOR EXCAVATING VERTICAL ANNULAR CAVITIES IN THE SEAFLOOR
The invention relates to a drill assembly for excavating into a seafloor an annular cavity about a vertically orientated central core and having a predetermined depth. The drill assembly comprises a drill device with an annular drill body and an annular drill head, an inner tubular and an outer tubular. The drill head is mounted to the drill body via a bearing that enables the drill head to rotate relative to the drill body for excavating the annular cavity. The drill device is removably mounted in the outer tubular with part of the drill head extending out of the outer tubular and can be retracted from the annular cavity via the outer tubular. The inner tubular and the outer tubular preferably each have a length larger than the predetermined depth of the annular cavity to be excavated.
E21B 7/00 - Special methods or apparatus for drilling
E21B 10/64 - Drill bits characterised by the whole or part thereof being insertable into or removable from the borehole without withdrawing the drilling pipe
E02D 27/42 - Foundations for poles, masts, or chimneys
63.
Recirculating cylindrical rollers assembly for supporting an object on a rail, e.g. in a pile holding system
An assembly for supporting an object on a rail comprises a load bearing housing and an endless chain of steel cylindrical rollers arranged for recirculating along a closed path. The assembly comprises an elastically compressible resilient insert which is sandwiched between a steel central body and a steel raceway member above a work portion of the path, so that the central body is resiliently supported on an operative set of the cylindrical rollers via the insert and the steel raceway member.
A system (10) comprises a crane (1) and multiple exchangeable tools (100) having at an upper side thereof, a lower tool connector. The crane comprises an elongated hoist block (70), both ends thereof being suspended from hoist cables (62) and an upper tool connector (8) supported by the hoist block and configured to releasably engage on the lower tool connector. At least one of the exchangeable tools is embodied as a yoke for supporting a wind turbine blade (101) and the hoist block or the yoke is provided with one or more actuators (50), which are configured to press a surface against the yoke or the hoist block so as to dampen and/or control pivot motion of the yoke about the horizontal pivot axis (A).
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
A crane housing for a leg encircling crane to be mounted onto a slew bearing includes an annular base component, two support components, and a frontal component, each having bulkheads. The support components are connected to the annular base component at respective lateral sides of a front segment thereof. The frontal component is connected to the front segment of the annular base component, between the two support components such as to interconnect these. The two support components and the frontal component together form a front torsion box, which provides torsional rigidity. The load of the boom, as applied on the support components, subjects the base component via the torsion box to a torsion that is distributed over the front segment of the base component.
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
66.
INSTALLING A HEAVY LIFT CRANE SYSTEM AT A HOISTING SITE
Method for installing a heavy lift crane system at a hoisting site. The crane system comprises a circular slew track assembly (1) extending over at least a slew arc about a slew center (2) and a crane (20) with a crane carriage configured to travel over the track arrangement, a main boom (40), a back mast (50), an adjustable length arrangement (60) between the back mast (50) and the main boom (40). The method comprises arranging a connector strut (80) underneath the horizontal back mast (50), pivotally connecting an upper end of the connector strut (80), pivoting the back mast (50) into an inclined raised position, arranging a counterweight (70) at the slew center (2), bringing the connector strut (80) into a substantially vertical orientation above the counterweight (70), connecting a lower end of the connector strut (80) to the counterweight (70), and raising the main boom (40).
B66C 23/74 - Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples separate from jib
B66C 23/36 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehiclesManually-movable jib cranes for use in workshopsFloating cranes
67.
ELECTROLYSER AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING ELECTROLYSIS
An electrolyser comprises a vessel and at least three horizontal manifold plates which are vertically spaced from one another within the vessel. At least two arrays of a multitude of electrode assemblies and of a multitude of electrolyte feed tube members are present, each array being confined between two of the manifold plates. Each electrode assembly comprises a core body having at least three electrode support portions distributed about the main axis. An electrode structure extends about the core body, so that straight sections thereof define at least three vertically extending planar electrode faces of an outer contour of the electrode assembly. The planar electrode faces of adjacent electrode assemblies are parallel to and spaced from one another by an inter-electrode gap thereby forming an electrolyte flow channel between them. At each junction of electrolyte flow channels in the array an electrolyte feed tube member is present.
A slew bearing (1) for rotatably supporting an object on a base about a slew axis. The slew bearing comprises a stationary ring (2) and a rotary ring (3) part. The stationary ring part is provided with a stationary raceway member forming a stationary raceway surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the slew axis. The rotary ring part is provided with a rotary raceway member (7) forming a rotary raceway surface. Rolling elements (9) are provided between the stationary raceway surface and the rotary raceway surface. The slew bearing further comprises an elastically compressible resilient insert (8) sandwiched either between the rotary raceway member and the rotary ring part or between the stationary ring part and the stationary raceway member. The slew bearing further comprises an axial load sensor (10) for monitoring an axial load on the slew bearing by measuring a distance over the resilient insert.
F16C 17/10 - Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement for both radial and axial load
F16C 21/00 - Combinations of sliding-contact bearings with ball or roller bearings, for exclusively rotary movement
G01B 7/14 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures
A monopiles transportation and installation vessel has a monopiles deck storage for storage of a first group of multiple monopiles above a main deck level of the hull, wherein the monopiles of the first group are in horizontal orientation and parallel to one another and to the central axis of the hull. The vessel comprises at least one crane configured for handling of a monopile to be installed. The vessel comprises a monopile gripper device. The hull of the vessel comprises at least one monopile storage hold below the main deck level, which at least one monopile storage hold is configured for storage therein of a second group of one or more monopiles, e.g. of two monopiles parallel to one another, wherein the one or more monopiles of the second group are in horizontal orientation and parallel to the central axis of the hull, which at least one monopile storage hold is accessible from the main deck level for loading and unloading of the one or more monopiles.
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B63B 75/00 - Building or assembling floating offshore structures, e.g. semi-submersible platforms, SPAR platforms or wind turbine platforms
B63B 77/10 - Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms specially adapted for electric power plants, e.g. wind turbines or tidal turbine generators
70.
Motion compensating crane for use on an offshore vessel
A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component. The crane is provided with one or more nacelle position detectors that are configured and operated to sense at least one of actual position and actual motion of the nacelle or of one or more components in or on the nacelle, and the one or more nacelle position detectors are linked to the motion compensating support device controller.
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
B66C 13/02 - Devices for facilitating retrieval of floating objects, e.g. for recovering craft from water
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
Installation follower (10) for installing plate anchors (30) for floating wind turbines of a wind farm, wherein each of the plate anchors comprises a plate (31) and a shank (33) for attaching a mooring line. The installation follower (10) has a hollow elongate body with a top end for driving the installation follower into the seabed, a bottom end for holding multiple plate anchors, and a central axis extending between the top end and the bottom end. The follower is at the bottom end provided with three or more docking stations (14, 15) arranged for holding the plate anchors parallel to the central axis and preferably uniformly distributed along a circumference of the installation follower.
The invention relates to a pile gripper positioning system for a pile gripper that is configured to be provided on a vessel to engage with a monopile during a monopile installation method, wherein the pile gripper positioning system comprises: - an actuator system for applying forces to the pile gripper to position the pile gripper relative to the vessel, - a measurement system for determining a position of the monopile in the pile gripper relative to the vessel, and - a pile gripper control unit for driving the actuator system in dependency of a desired position and an actual position of the monopile as measured by the measurement system, wherein the pile gripper control unit is configured to receive a signal representative for a position of the vessel, wherein, during at least a portion of the monopile installation method, the pile gripper control unit is configured to determine a drive signal for the actuator system to compensate at most a portion of a deviation of the position of the vessel from a desired position of the vessel, and wherein, during said at least a portion of the monopile installation method, the pile gripper control unit for driving the actuator system is configured to drive the actuator system in dependency of a desired position and an actual position of the monopile as measured by the measurement system, and the drive signal to compensate at most a portion of a deviation of the position of the vessel from a desired position of the vessel.
B63B 27/00 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B63B 39/00 - Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movementsApparatus for indicating vessel attitude
B63H 25/42 - Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elementsSteering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor onlySteering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
B66C 13/46 - Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 23/53 - Floating cranes including counterweight or means to compensate for list, trim, or skew of the vessel or platform
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
B63B 79/10 - Monitoring properties or operating parameters of vessels in operation using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
B66C 1/44 - Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surface of the articles and applying frictional forces
The invention relates to a crane (1) that can be used for both assembling and installing large wind turbines. Furthermore, the crane allows for assembly of large size wind turbines at the installation location. Therefore, the wind turbine does not need to be transported in an assembled and/or upright position, which facilitates transport. A crane according to the invention can be switched between a assembly configuration and an installation configuration. In the assembly configuration, the boom (9) is in a retracted position and the jib (29) is in the hoisting position for hoisting a nacelle on top of a wind turbine mast. In the clearance position the boom is in a hoisting position and the jib is moved backward to enable a mast to be supported by the boom of the crane.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
Installing a blade on a horizontal axis rotational hub of an offshore wind turbine. Use is made of a blade installation device that is temporarily installed on the offshore wind turbine. A mounting part is mounted on the foundation of the offshore wind turbine and/or on a lower portion of the wind turbine mast. A crane mast is erected vertically and is supported by the mounting part. The crane mast has a track. A blade manipulator assembly comprises a trolley moving over the track and one or more blade root engagement members that engage a root end of the blade. The blade installation device further comprises a hoist system with a crane boom that is mounted to a top end of the crane mast, a winch, and a winch driven cable. In the method, the trolley is brought in a lower position thereof and the blade root engagement members engage on the root end of the blade that is in the lower receiving position thereof. The cable of the hoist system is attached to the blade at a distance remote from the root end, preferably at a center of gravity of the blade. The method comprises the lifting of the blade f to the blade installation position by operating the winch of the hoist system and simultaneously moving the trolley along the track by the trolley drive.
The invention relates to a crane for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, to a vessel for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, and to a method for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location. According to the invention the crane is provided with a base section and a top section, wherein the top section is rotatable supported by a bearing, and can be rotated with the wind turbine hoisting device relative to the base section about a vertical axis, wherein a first trolley guide is mounted to a top section of the installation crane for giding a vertically mobile wind turbine supporting trolley. According to the invention the vessel is provided with one or more assembly stations on different sides of the installation crane.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B63B 77/10 - Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms specially adapted for electric power plants, e.g. wind turbines or tidal turbine generators
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
76.
Installation of a wind turbine on a floating foundation
In an installation of a wind turbine on a floating foundation in floating condition and subject to sea-state induced motions, e.g. at the site of an offshore windfarm, use is made of a vessel with a crane arranged on the hull and provided with a hoisting system adapted to support the weight of the wind turbine and suspend the wind turbine from the crane. A heave compensation device compensates for sea-state induced heave motion of the wind turbine mast relative to the mast mounting structure of the floating foundation. Use is made of a mast alignment system configured to engage on the suspended wind turbine, e.g. on the mast of the suspended wind turbine, and to bring and maintain the mast of the wind turbine in alignment with the mounting axis of the floating foundation in order to compensate for sea-state induced motions, at least including tilt motions in one or more vertical planes, of the wind turbine mast relative to the mounting axis of the floating foundation.
A semi-submersible crane vessel for use in assembling a wind turbine and for installation by means of a crane of the vessel of the assembled wind turbine on a foundation. At an assembly station, the hull of the vessel is provided with a mast-receiving well that is sunk into, or through, the hull, preferably a well that extends into, or through a support column of the hull, which well is configured to receive therein at least a portion of the mast of the wind turbine during an assembly step of the wind turbine. For example, the mast-receiving well has a depth of at least 15 meters, e.g. at least 30 meters, measured from the deck of the deckbox structure.
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
B63B 1/10 - Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B63B 77/10 - Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms specially adapted for electric power plants, e.g. wind turbines or tidal turbine generators
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
F03D 13/40 - Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
78.
A DRILL STRING DRIVE TO IMPART ROTATIONAL POWER TO A TOP END OF DRILL STRING FOR DRILLING OF A WELLBORE
A drill string drive, e.g. a top drive, configured to impart rotational power to an upper end of drill string for drilling of a wellbore. The drive comprises one or more main drive motors and a torsional vibrations reducing auxiliary hydraulic drive motor. A transmission couples the drive motors to a rotary torque output member of the drill string drive that is configured to be coupled to the drill string. The auxiliary hydraulic drive motor is a swash plate hydraulic motor. A controller assembly for the swash plate angle is configured to receive data related to the occurrence of torsional vibrations in the drill string and to control the swash plate hydraulic motor so as to counter the torsional vibrations.
A drill string drive, e.g. a top drive, configured to impart rotational power to an upper end of drill string for drilling of a wellbore. The drive comprises one or more main drive motors and a torsional vibrations reducing auxiliary hydraulic drive motor. A transmission couples the drive motors to a rotary torque output member of the drill string drive that is configured to be coupled to the drill string. The auxiliary hydraulic drive motor is a swash plate hydraulic motor. A controller assembly for the swash plate angle is configured to receive data related to the occurrence of torsional vibrations in the drill string and to control the swash plate hydraulic motor so as to counter the torsional vibrations.
A tool and method for hoisting an longitudinal end of an offshore wind turbine component which is in a horizontal orientation. The tool is after being attached to a lifting block to be moved into a proximate position in which gripping members of the tool are longitudinally spaced from the longitudinal end but the radial contour of the tool at least overlaps with the radial contour of the longitudinal end. While the gripping members are in a retracted position guiding actuators can move the tool from the proximate position into a gripping position longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal end in which the gripping members are movable to engage said surface of the longitudinal end, thereby connecting the longitudinal end to the tool and suspending the longitudinal end from the lifting block so that the longitudinal end can consequently be hoisted.
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
B66C 1/56 - Internally-expanding grippers for handling hollow articles for handling tubes
81.
Crane, vessel comprising such a crane, and a method for up-ending an elongate structure
A crane with a pivotal boom. The crane has a first and a second main hoisting system, which main hoisting system are configured for independent operation. Each system comprises a hoisting cable, an upper sheave block, a hoisting block assembly suspended from the upper sheave block by the hoisting cable in a multiple fall configuration, and a hoisting winch. The upper sheave blocks of the first and second main hoisting systems are each independently pivotable about a common pivot axis relative to the boom. Each hoisting block assembly comprises a hoisting block body, multiple fixed sheaves that are fixed on the hoisting block body, and multiple disconnectable sheave members, each disconnectable sheave member comprising a frame and at least one sheave rotatably supported by the frame.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 13/08 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions
E02B 17/08 - Equipment specially adapted for raising, lowering, or immobilising the working platform relative to the supporting construction for raising or lowering
A crane for use on an offshore vessel is provided with a boom restrainer, wherein the boom restrainer is a hydro-pneumatic boom restrainer, for reducing upward pivoting of the boom, when the boom is in the top zone, wherein the boom restrainer includes: multiple hydraulic cylinders, each having a hydraulic circuit and a cylinder rod with a cylinder head, wherein the cylinders are mounted on the crane structure with the cylinder heads directed towards the boom of the crane, preferably are mounted on a stay of the crane structure, a catcher for each hydraulic cylinder, wherein each catcher is mounted on the boom and is configured for receiving the cylinder head of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder, and to lock the cylinder head, preferably pivotable locks the cylinder head, relative to the boom, when the boom pivots upwards in the top zone; a gas buffer for each hydraulic cylinder, wherein each gas buffer is mounted to the corresponding hydraulic cylinder, and is connected to the hydraulic circuit of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder via a medium separator, wherein the gas buffer forces the hydraulic cylinder in an extended position, and wherein the volume ratio between the hydraulic cylinder and the gas buffer is such that the hydraulic cylinder acts as a progressive spring, e.g. the gas buffers each have a size in the range of 1000-1400 litre, for example 1200 litre and the hydraulic cylinders each have a size in the range of 800-1000 litre, for example 900 litre, and preferably the ratio between the volume of the gas buffer and the volume of the associated hydraulic cylinder is 4:3.
B66C 23/58 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes arranged to carry-out a desired sequence of operations automatically, e.g. hoisting followed by luffing and slewing
B66C 23/90 - Devices for indicating or limiting lifting movement
B66C 23/92 - Snubbers or dash-pots for preventing backwards-swinging of jibs, e.g. in the event of cable or tackle breakage
83.
METHOD FOR INSTALLATION OF AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE FOUNDATION MONOPILE
An offshore wind turbine foundation monopile in a seabed, the monopile having a foot end, a top end, and a longitudinal axis, by revolving the monopile about the longitudinal axis, such that the monopile makes multiple revolutions while being driven into the seabed.
Pile driving method for driving a hollow tubular pile having a vertical centreline, a top end and an open foot end vertically into the soil, e.g. into the seabed, e.g. a large diameter pile having an outer diameter at the open foot end of at least 5 meters, e.g. a monopile of an offshore wind turbine, wherein use is made of a pile driving system, wherein the system comprises at least one hammer device and a torsional vibration drive.
A crane vessel for hoisting of an offshore wind turbine or a component thereof, includes a hull having a deck. A crane configured for hoisting of an offshore wind turbine or a component thereof includes a vertical crane structure having a crane structure base fixed to the hull, the crane structure extending from the hull over a height thereof to a top along a vertical axis of the crane structure, a boom, and a slew bearing allowing to revolve the boom, about a slew axis. A main hoisting system includes at least one main hoisting winch, an associated main hoisting cable and a load connector, the main hoisting cable extending from the main hoisting winch to a main hoist cable guide on the boom and then to the load connector. The crane further includes a dynamic behaviour adjustment system that is configured to adjust the dynamic behaviour of the vessel by moving and/or arranging an adjustment mass that is distinct from the offshore wind turbine or component thereof into or in at least one dynamic behaviour adjustment position along the height of the vertical crane structure.
B66C 23/53 - Floating cranes including counterweight or means to compensate for list, trim, or skew of the vessel or platform
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
B63B 75/00 - Building or assembling floating offshore structures, e.g. semi-submersible platforms, SPAR platforms or wind turbine platforms
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
Crane (10), in particular an offshore leg encircling crane for use on a jack up-vessel (1). The crane comprises a revolving superstructure (11) with a crane housing (13) to which a boom (20) is connected. The crane further comprises a hoisting system and a luffing device for pivoting a boom up to an upright position and down. The luffing device comprises first left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets (45; 46) provided at opposite sides at a top of a luffing frame structure (18c), and second left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets provided at opposite sides of a head structure of the boom. A variable length luffing system (41) extends from the luffing winch (40) via the first left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets to extend in a luffing direction to the second left-hand and right-hand luffing cable sheave sets.
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
An offshore vessel for performing offshore subsea wellbore related activities, for example for drilling a subsea wellbore includes a drilling tower. A method for drilling a subsea wellbore includes using an offshore vessel and a method for tripping a tubulars string is disclosed. The offshore vessel is provided with a hoisting system which has a first configuration, wherein a hoisting cable is connected to a working deck and a second configuration wherein said hoisting cable is connected to a traveling block. The system allows for efficient tripping in and tripping out.
E21B 19/09 - Apparatus for feeding the rods or cablesApparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling toolApparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods specially adapted for drilling underwater formations from a floating support using heave compensators supporting the drill string
A self-climbing tower crane (600) comprises a crane base (610, 612) configured to be placed on a support (2) at a hoisting site, tower segments (700) to erect a crane tower (600), a crane tower lifting unit (50, 650) mounted on the crane base (610, 612), and a slewable jib unit (670, 70). The tower crane (600) is configured to, with the slewable jib unit (670, 70) connected to an upper tower segment (750, 90), erect the crane tower (600) by stacking tower segments (700) onto one another from below to lengthen the crane tower (600) under the slewable jib unit (670, 70). The crane tower (600) comprises an upper section (700, 800) to be composed of a series of multiple upper tower segments (750) and a lower section (800) to be composed of a series of multiple lower tower segments (850). Each upper tower segment (750, 90) is embodied as a tubular girder type tower segment (90, 91). Each lower tower segment (850) is embodied as a latticed structure (671, 673) type tower segment (90, 91). The tower crane (600) further comprises an upper stabilizer device and a lower stabilizer device, each configured to horizontally connect the upper section (700, 800) of the crane tower (600) to an external tall structure (671, 673), e.g. a wind turbine mast (201).
B66C 23/18 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes
B66C 23/28 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes for use on building sitesCranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
B66C 23/34 - Self-erecting cranes, i.e. with hoisting gear adapted for crane erection purposes
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
89.
HEAVE TOLERANT PILE GUIDING DEVICE FOR GUIDING A PILE DURING INSTALLATION THEREOF
A heave tolerant pile guiding device for guiding a pile comprising a cylindrical section and above said cylindrical section a tapered section that narrows in upward direction. The device comprises a frame to be mounted to a vessel having a hull subject to sea-state induced motion during installation of a pile. At least one pair of first and second pile engaging devices is arranged on the frame diametrically opposed relative to a center axis. Each pile engaging device comprises a pile engaging member and a hydraulic cylinder to move the member radially relative to the center axis. A hydraulic system comprises a position control circuit and a sphincter control circuit. The sphincter control circuit is configured to operate the pair of first and second hydraulic cylinders in particular when the pile engaging members engage on the tapered section of the pile. The sphincter control circuit a rotary flow divider.
Jack-up vessel for comprising a buoyant hull, a plurality of jack-up legs comprising leg chords having racks, and jacking assemblies to relatively move the associated leg chord the buoyant hull vertically. Jacking assemblies comprise actuators and a pinion group, comprising a plurality of pinions arranged vertically above each other. Jacking assemblies further comprise a sensor system for sensing the load distribution associated with a pinion group. The jack-up vessel further comprises a control system configured for receiving information about an intended use and/or future environmental conditions and determining a pre-operation load distribution over the pinions in the pinion group, in which pre-operation load distribution the loads within this pinion group are unequally distributed, such that during the intended use and/or during the future environmental conditions the loads within this pinion group are equally distributed.
E02B 17/02 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
B63B 79/00 - Monitoring properties or operating parameters of vessels in operation
E02B 17/08 - Equipment specially adapted for raising, lowering, or immobilising the working platform relative to the supporting construction for raising or lowering
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
A marine knuckle boom crane includes a pedestal and a crane housing rotational relative to the pedestal. A knuckle boom assembly is attached to the crane housing and includes a main boom and a spreader type jib. A hoisting system includes a first departure sheave and a second departure sheave on the jib, and a third departure sheave mounted to the main boom or to the crane housing. One or more winches drive a first, second, and third cable which are each connected to an object suspension device and each pass via the first, second, and third departure sheave, respectively, to the respective winch. The first, the second, and the third cable together define an inverted pyramid which diverges upwards from the object suspension device when handling the object.
Installation vessel for installation of a monopile to support an offshore wind turbine. The vessel has a pile holding device with a pile holder and a support assembly which is configured to move the pile holder in a horizontal plane relative to the hull. A monitoring system is configured to, in a gripping phase wherein the monopile is suspended from a crane and is to be gripped by the pile holder, monitor the suspended monopile in the horizontal plane relative to the pile holder. The system provides signals representative of the position and movement of the monopile relative to the pile holder to the motion control unit of the support assembly.
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
To upend and lift an object, e.g. a foundation member of an offshore wind turbine, e.g. a monopole, use is made of an upending and lifting tool, wherein, with the tool suspended from one or more hoisting cables, e.g. from a crane hook of a crane, and with the frame of the tool initially in vertical orientation, a routine is performed which includes operating one or more shifting actuators, thereby moving a cable shifting member and engaging a cable engagement surface with the one or more hoisting cables at a height above a pivot axis. Further continuing this motion of the cable shifting member and thereby applying a cable shifting force on the one or more hoisting cables results, in reaction, in a pivoting of the frame into the horizontal orientation thereof.
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
E02B 17/00 - Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legsConstruction methods therefor
B63B 75/00 - Building or assembling floating offshore structures, e.g. semi-submersible platforms, SPAR platforms or wind turbine platforms
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
94.
INSTALLATION OF A MONOPILE THAT IS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE
Installation of a monopile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine is done using a vessel comprising a hull, a crane mounted on the hull, and a motion compensating integrated pile upending and holding device. The device comprises a motion compensating support assembly mounted to the hull of the vessel and a pile holder that is supported by the support assembly and is tiltable about horizontal tilt axis relative to the support assembly between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. The device allows for upending of the monopile by means of the crane of the vessel whilst the lower end portion remains received and supported by the pile holder. During at least a phase of the upending of the monopile, one or more of the controllable motion actuators of the motion compensating support assembly are operated to provide controlled motion of the lower end portion of the monopile so as to reduce swing motion of the monopile.
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
B66C 13/06 - Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or for preventing cable slack for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
A mobile land rig is adapted to perform drilling and/or wellbore related activities. The mobile land rig comprises a drilling tower, a loader and a top drive system comprising a pivotal top drive unit. The top drive system is provided with an actuator assembly adapted to cause said pivot motion of the top drive unit.
For the installation and/or removal of a wind turbine component on or from an offshore wind turbine that has a tower erected on a floating foundation and in floating condition, e.g. at the site of an offshore windfarm, use is made of a transferrable crane. The transferrable crane comprises a revolving superstructure, a boom mounted or to be mounted to the revolving superstructure, a hoisting winch and associated hoisting cable departing from the boom to lift and/or lower a wind turbine component, e.g. a wind turbine blade.The method comprises - with the floating foundation in floating condition – the steps of:- arranging the transferable crane on the floating foundation,- using the transferable crane arranged on the floating foundation to lift and/or lower a wind turbine component, e.g. a wind turbine blade, e.g. for installing, removing, or replacing a wind turbine component of the offshore wind turbine, e.g. for performing maintenance,- removing the transferable crane from the floating foundation.
F03D 13/10 - Assembly of wind motorsArrangements for erecting wind motors
B63B 35/44 - Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
F03D 13/25 - Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motorsMasts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
A stabbing guide for tubulars, including a body; a plurality of guide members moveably supported by the body to receive a tubular and to move relative to the body between an open position and a closed position; and an actuation mechanism configured to be operated to move the plurality of guide members between the open and closed positions, wherein the body is configured to be held by a tubular connection tool.
The invention relates to a method of handling an object by a crane, comprising prior to suspension of the object, tensioning the hoist cable to a first tension in an unwound stretch thereof that extends between the drums of the winches and one or more spooling and unwinding steps. In the latter the cable is simultaneously spooled onto one of the winches and unwound from the other, whilst the first tension is maintained in the unwound stretch, until at least one layer wound onto the drum of the one of the winches is tensioned to the first tension.
B66D 3/04 - Pulley blocks or like devices in which force is applied to a rope, cable or chain, which passes over one or more pulleys, e.g. to obtain mechanical advantage
99.
Drilling rig with a top drive system operable in a drilling mode and a tripping mode
In combination a drilling mast and a top drive system for a drilling rig having a drill floor with a well center. The drilling mast has a U-shaped horizontal cross section with a left-hand mast wall, a rear mast wall, and a right-hand mast wall, and with an open front side. Each of the mast walls is provided with one or more vertical rails that are, in use of the drilling rig, parallel to a vertical firing line that extends through the well center. The top drive system comprises a traveling carriage and a top drive unit supported by said carriage. A left-hand fingerboard device is mounted to the left-hand mast wall and a right-hand side fingerboard device is mounted to the right-hand mast wall.
A feeder vessel for the onshore-to-offshore transport of elongate wind turbine objects with a motion compensating carrier assembly having a motion compensated platform for receiving and retaining the elongate object, and a motion compensation mechanism. The motion compensation mechanism includes extendable actuators which passively compensate motions of the platform out of a neutral position, and winches driving carrier cables such that traction by the respective carrier winch counteracts an extension of at least one of the carrier actuators. The winches are embodied as active motion compensation winches to compensate movements of the platform.
B63B 27/10 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of cranes
B63B 27/30 - Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures
B66C 1/10 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
