Apparatus for launching battered leg jackets for offshore platforms

摘要

This apparatus is for use in the launching of battered leg jackets for offshore platforms. The jacket is transported on at least one barge resting on its lower battered legs and, during launching, the apparatus guides the jacket by its lower battered legs to maintain the center line of the jacket on the launching center line. The apparatus uses a pair of dollies on a beam, and at least two beams on a barge. The beams are mounted transverse to the launching center line. The dollies can move along the transverse beam and position coordinating means are used to control the relative positions of the dollies on each beam such that the two dollies are maintained essentially the same distance from the launching center line with one dolly on either side of the launching center line. When either dolly is moved, the other dolly on the same beam will move the same distance in the opposite direction. The dollies are adapted to maintain the battered legs on top of the dolly and the leg slides through the guide on top of the dolly (thus any movement of the dolly relative to the leg is along the length of the leg). As the legs stay on top of the dollies and as the dollies in a pair stay the same distance from the launching center line, the legs are maintained the same distance from the launching center line and the jacket is kept centered as the legs slide through the dollies during launching. For example, if the jacket is launched small end (top) first, the distance between the legs will increase as the legs slide through the dollies, and the dollies on each transverse beam will move apart.