Tensioner cylinder connections with multiaxial degrees of freedom

摘要

A coupler having two degrees of axial freedom couples a hydro-pneumatic cylinder to a tensioner ring of a riser tensioner mounted to a platform. A post extends along an axis of the cylinder and an intermediate sleeve is disposed around the post to form a post annulus. An outer sleeve is secured to the tensioner ring and defines a cavity into which the post and intermediate sleeve are inserted so that an annulus is formed between the sleeve and the outer sleeve. The Outer sleeve is coupled to the intermediate sleeve so that the outer sleeve may pivot on the coupling between the outer sleeve and the intermediate sleeve relative to the intermediate sleeve. The intermediate sleeve is coupled to the post so that the intermediate sleeve may pivot on the coupling between the intermediate sleeve and the post relative to the post.

主权项

1. A tensioner for maintaining a tensile force in a riser having an axis and extending from a subsea wellhead assembly through an opening in a floating platform deck, the tensioner comprising:
a tensioner ring adapted to be coupled to the riser; a plurality of hydro-pneumatic cylinder assemblies, each having a flexible coupler on each end for coupling each of the cylinder assemblies between the deck and the tensioner ring; wherein the flexible coupler on at least one of the ends of each of the cylinder assemblies comprises
a cylinder end member coupled to one of the ends of one of the cylinder assemblies;an intermediate member pivotally coupled to the cylinder end member by a first pin; andan adapter selectively mountable to the deck or to the tensioner ring and pivotally coupled to the intermediate member by a second pin, the first pin and the second pin spaced apart and perpendicular to each other so that the adapter may pivot on the second pin relative to the intermediate member and the cylinder end member may pivot on the first pin relative to the intermediate member.