Jacking mechanism for marine platform - has double rack and pinion with offset gear teeth

摘要

The jacking mechanism has a central rack (1) with gear teeth on two sides. The rack is in mesh with pinions (3) arranged two on either side of the rack and each driven by a motor/gearbox (4). The gear teeth on one side of the rack are offset by one half pitch in relation to the teeth on the opposite side. The pinions are offset in the same manner. This arrangement maintains the engagement of the rack and pinions due to the relative offsetting of the point loads.