Lifting mechanism for offshore oil drilling platform - has elastic abutments to ensure equal share of load to each driving pinion

摘要

The platform of an oil drilling rig is supported on three vertical columns which rest on the sea bed. The platform can be raised above sea level by a system of pinions which engage a toothed rack fixed to the outer wall of each column. The pinions are driven from motors through a reduction gear which is mounted on a swinging arm. The torque reaction of the pinion drive is taken through the arm to an elastic abutment. These elastic abutments ensure that the load is shared equally between all the pinions.