Radial elastomeric spring arrangement to compensate for hull deflection at main bearing of a mooring turret

摘要

Elastomeric pads are arranged radially around the main bearing which rotatably supports a mooring turret with respect to a vessel. The elastomeric pads act as radial springs to react the radial turret loads in the vessel and to compensate for ovaling of the vessel in response to sea environmental forces on the vessel. A radial spring assembly is provided which applies compressive load to the elastomeric pads when the vessel and turret move radially toward each other, but prevent tension from being applied to the pads when the vessel and turret move radially away from each other.