EP2909079A1

EP2909079A1 - Shock-absorbing assembly for an apparatus at least partially submerged in a body of water, and related apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: EP2909079A1
Application number: EP13783271.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Didier BONNEMAISON
Original assignee: Technip France SAS
Current assignee: Technip Energies France SAS
Priority date: 2012-10-16
Filing date: 2013-10-14
Publication date: 2015-08-26
Also published as: FR2996892B1; FR2996892A1; WO2014060363A1; MX2015004701A; BR112015008458A2; MY188663A; CN104797493B; US20150298769A1; KR20150073979A; SG11201502928VA; BR112015008458B1; CN104797493A; US9708033B2; KR102082535B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly that comprises a group (40A-40C) of hydraulic shock absorbers (42), each shock absorber (42) including a hydraulic ram including a cylinder to be carried by the first member (14), and a shock-absorbing member partially inserted into the cylinder. The shock-absorbing member has a head projecting from the cylinder, said head being brought in contact with the second member when mounting the second member on the first member (14). The shock-absorbing assembly (17) comprises, for each group (40A-40C) of shock absorbers (42), a fluid accumulator (44) connected to each cylinder of the group of shock absorbers (42) in order to enable the transfer of a hydraulic fluid between the different cylinders of the group of shock absorbers (42) upon contact of each head with the second member.

Description

Damping assembly for an installation at least partially immersed in a body of water, associated installation and method

The present invention relates to a damping assembly adapted to be interposed between a first element and a second element of an installation at least partially immersed in a body of water, comprising:

a damping assembly capable of being interposed between a first element and a second element of an installation at least partly immersed in a body of water, comprising:

at least one group of hydraulic dampers, each damper comprising a hydraulic jack comprising a cylinder intended to be carried by the first member, and a damping member partially received in the cylinder, the damping member having a head making protruding out of the cylinder, the head being intended to come into contact with the second element when mounting the second element on the first element.

The installation is for example for the exploitation of hydrocarbons present in the bottom of a body of water, such as a sea, an ocean, or a lake.

The installation is advantageously an oil exploitation platform fixed on the bottom of the body of water or floating in the body of water.

This installation comprises a first element formed by a lower shell partially immersed in the body of water and a second element formed by a bridge fixed on the shell and carrying all the elements necessary for the operation of the fluid, and / or the housing personnel operating the facility.

To simplify the manufacture and installation of such an installation, it is known to manufacture separately the hull and the bridge in a building site. Then, the hull is conveyed to the desired place of exploitation at sea, where it is immobilized.

The bridge is placed on a barge clean to be ballasted. To avoid the use of large capacity cranes, it is known to provide a hull comprising bridge support stacks delimiting between them an intermediate space that can receive the barge.

The lightly ballasted barge is then brought into the intermediate space to place the bridge above and next to the legs.

Then, ballast is introduced into the barge to lower it until the bridge comes in contact with the legs and is wedged on the hull. The barge is then removed and the deck is permanently attached to the hull.

Such a method of implementation is feasible when the body of water is slightly agitated. Indeed, the agitation of the body of water due to the swell, the current, and the wind locally modifies the position of the bridge with respect to each leg. This is likely to cause damage to the deck and / or leg if contact between the bridge and the leg is too violent.

To limit this problem, it is known to mount on the upper surface of each leg a group of damping elements of elastic material which interpose between the bridge and the leg to limit shocks between these elements.

These damping elements are not entirely satisfactory, since they then remain stuck permanently between each leg and the bridge, once the final assembly between each leg bridge. It is sometimes necessary to burn these elements to make them disappear.

FR 2 516 1 12 discloses a damping assembly interposed between a barge and a bridge. This damping assembly comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders mounted on the barge. The deployment of the cylinder rods is controlled by a controller which is connected to sensors determining the intensity of the wave at different points.

Such a set is particularly difficult to adjust and its practical implementation in hectic environments can be very tedious.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a damping assembly intended to be interposed between a first element and a second element of an installation at sea during assembly of the installation, which limits the risk of collision and / or damage between the first element is the second element and is simple to implement.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an assembly of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the damping assembly comprises, for each group of dampers, a fluid accumulator connected to each cylinder of the group of dampers, for allow a transfer of hydraulic fluid between the different cylinders of the group of dampers during the contact between each head and the second element.

The assembly according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

the fluid accumulator comprises a hollow body delimiting a balancing chamber and a balancing piston mounted movably in the balancing chamber, between a plurality of intermediate positions, in which the balancing piston is free to move. with respect to the hollow body in two opposite directions, and a downstream position in abutment, in which the balancing piston is immobilized in at least one direction relative to the hollow body;

in each intermediate position, the balancing piston sealingly defines in the balancing chamber an upstream region intended to receive the hydraulic fluid coming from each hydraulic cylinder, and a downstream region intended to accommodate contain a volume of clean gas to be expelled from the equilibration chamber, preferably by a valve opening out of the equilibration chamber in a volume of gas at constant pressure;

- Each damping member comprises a damping piston received in the cylinder, the head being pivotally mounted along at least one axis relative to the damping piston, the head being advantageously connected to the damping piston by a ball joint;

each damper comprises a base intended to be fixed on the first element, the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder being pivotally mounted about at least one axis with respect to the base, between a straight rest configuration and a plurality of inclined configurations by relation to the rest configuration;

- Each damper comprises at least one return member of the cylinder to its rest configuration;

each damper comprises a mechanical locking mechanism capable of mechanically immobilizing the damping member with respect to the cylinder; and

it comprises at least two groups of hydraulic dampers, advantageously at least three groups of hydraulic dampers, intended to be spaced from each other on the first element, the hydraulic dampers of each group being each connected to the same fluid accumulator , advantageously common among all the hydraulic dampers of all groups of hydraulic dampers.

The invention also relates to an installation intended to be at least partially immersed in a body of water, characterized in that it comprises:

- a first element;

a second element assembled on the first element;

a damping assembly as defined above interposed between the first element and the second element, each cylinder of each damper being carried by the first element, the head of at least a portion of the dampers being in contact with the second element; element.

The installation according to the invention can comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

the second element is placed on the first element;

the first element is a support floating on a body of water or fixed on the bottom of a body of water, the second element being a bridge placed above the surface of the body of water. the first element comprises a shell comprising a perforated base defining ballast boxes and stacks projecting from the perforated base, the stacks each delimiting a receiving surface, the installation comprising for each stack, a damping assembly; as defined above, fluidly independent of other damping assemblies, the damping assembly being interposed between the receiving surface of said stack and the second member;

- Each damping assembly is removable, relative to the first element and / or the second element, preferably at least after the establishment of a definitive fixing assembly between the second element and the first element.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting a plant at least partially immersed in a body of water, comprising the following steps:

- Providing a first element, and a damping assembly as defined above, the cylinder of each damper being carried by the first element, the head of each damping member protruding from the cylinder;

- contacting the second element with the heads of several dampers of the group of dampers;

- Free circulation of hydraulic fluid between the cylinders of the group of dampers and the accumulator.

The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any technically possible combination:

the fluid accumulator comprises a hollow body delimiting a balancing chamber and a balancing piston mounted movably in the balancing chamber, the free circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising a first phase in which the balancing piston moves. freely in the balancing chamber under the effect of the hydraulic fluid from the cylinders of the group of dampers and a second phase in which the balancing piston is immobilized in the balancing chamber, and in which the hydraulic fluid present in the the balancing chamber and in the cylinders is distributed freely between the balancing chamber and the cylinders;

each damping member comprises a damping piston received in the cylinder, the head being pivotally mounted along at least one axis with respect to the damping piston, the method comprising, after the second element is brought into contact with the head, at least one damping member, the pivoting of the head relative to the damping piston;

each damper comprises a base intended to be fixed on the first element, the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder being pivotally mounted around at least one axis; relative to the base, the method comprising, after contacting the second element on the head of at least one damping member, the pivoting of the cylinder relative to the base between a straight configuration of rest and a inclined configuration relative to the rest configuration.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a first fluid exploitation installation according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a view, taken in perspective of three-quarter face, a detail of the first element of the installation of Figure 1 which is mounted on a damping assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view from above of the damping assembly according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a side view illustrating different phases of use of the damping assembly according to the invention during the introduction of a second element on the first element;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view and partially in section of the fluid accumulator of the damping assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a first example of a shock absorber for a damping assembly according to the invention;

- Figure 7 to 10 are side views illustrating different phases of use of the damper of Figure 6, during the establishment of the second element on the first element;

- Figure 1 1 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a second example of a damper for a damping assembly according to the invention;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of three-quarter face of the damper of Figure 1 1;

- Figures 13 to 18 are side views illustrating different phases of use of the damper of Figure 1 1 when placing the second element on the first element;

- Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 1 1 of a third example of a damper for a damping assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 12 for the damper of FIG. 19 - Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 1 1 of a fourth example of a damper for a damping assembly according to the invention;

- Figure 22 is a view similar to Figure 12 of the damper of Figure 21;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a biasing member of the shock absorber of FIG. 22.

A first installation 10 according to the invention, at least partially immersed in a body of water 12 is illustrated schematically in FIG.

The installation 10 is advantageously intended for the exploitation of fluid through the body of water 12, in particular to collect fluid taken from the bottom of the body of water 12 and bring it back to the surface.

The withdrawn fluid preferably contains a hydrocarbon. It is for example formed by natural gas or oil.

The body of water 12 is a sea, an ocean, or a lake. The depth of the water extent 12, to the right of the installation 10, is for example greater than 20 m, and especially between 20 m and at least 3000 m.

The installation 10 is advantageously a platform fixed on the bottom of the body of water 12 or preferably floating on the expanse of water 12. This platform is in particular of the semi-submersible type, type to floating column ("SPAR"), or tensioned cable type ("Tension Leg Platform" or "TLP"). Alternatively, the installation is a fixed platform such as a "jack up platform".

The installation 10 comprises a first element 14 partially immersed in the expanse of water 12 and a second element 16, disposed above the surface of the expanse of water 12, bearing on the first element 14.

The installation 10 further comprises a damping assembly 17 according to the invention, interposed between the first element 14 and the second element 16, at least during assembly of the second element 16 on the first element 14 and an assembly (not shown ) of definitive fixing of the second element 16 on the first element 14.

The first element 14 is fixed on the bottom of the body of water 12 or floats above the bottom of the body of water 12.

It comprises a partially immersed shell 18 having at least one upper surface 20 for receiving the second element 16, and ballast boxes (not visible).

The upper surface 20 is disposed above the surface of the body of water

12. In the example shown in Figure 1, the shell 18 comprises a perforated base 22 defining ballast boxes and stacks 24 protruding from the perforated base 22. The stacks 24 each define a receiving surface 20.

The second element 16 is placed on the first element 14 and is fixed on the element 14 via the final fixing assembly (not shown). In this example, the second element comprises a bridge 26 disposed above the surface of the body of water 12.

The bridge 26 carries equipment and / or utilities necessary for the exploitation of the fluid recovered on the platform such as wellheads, fluid collectors, separators, treatment units, etc. It advantageously comprises equipment necessary for the housing and transport of the personnel operating the installation 10.

With reference to FIG. 1, the second element 16 delimits a lower bearing surface 28 on the first element 14.

The fixing assembly (not shown) comprises a plurality of mechanical links welded between the first element 14 and the second element 16, such as plates connecting the first element 14 to the second element 16.

The fixing assembly is put in place after placing the second element 16 in contact with the damping assembly 17.

With reference to FIG. 2, the damping assembly 17 comprises at least one group 40A to 40C of dampers 42, carried by the first element 14 and at least one common fluid accumulator 44 to the dampers 42 of a group 40A at 40C.

In this example, the damping assembly 17 also advantageously comprises at least one indexing member 46 for the position of the second element 16 with respect to the first element 14 when the second element 16 comes into contact with the assembly of depreciation 17.

In the example shown in the figures, the damping assembly 17 comprises at least two groups, advantageously three groups 40A to 40C of dampers 42 distributed on each upper surface 20.

The groups 40A to 40C are advantageously arranged in the vicinity of the periphery of the upper surface 20. They are spaced apart from one another.

Each group 40A to 40C comprises a plurality of dampers 42 connected to a common fluid accumulator 44 between the dampers 42.

Referring to Figures 2, 4 and 6, each damper 42 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 50 and a set 52 for mounting the hydraulic cylinder 50 on the first element 14, adapted to allow at least one degree of freedom in rotation between the first element 14 and the hydraulic cylinder 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hydraulic jack 50 comprises a cylinder 54 defining a chamber 56 and a damping member 58. The member 58 is mounted to move in the chamber 56 of the cylinder 54 between a retracted position and a partially deployed position. protruding out of cylinder 54.

The jack 50 also advantageously comprises a releasable mechanism 60 for mechanically locking the position of the damping member 58 with respect to the cylinder 54. This mechanism is visible in FIGS. 1 to 20 and applies to the assembly. of damping 17 of FIG.

The cylinder 54 is carried by the mounting assembly 52. It extends substantially perpendicular or inclined with respect to the receiving surface 20, above it.

It contains a hydraulic fluid actuating the damping member 58 received in an inner region 59 of the chamber 56 located below the damping member 58.

The actuating fluid is substantially incompressible. It is formed for example by a liquid, such as hydraulic oil.

Referring to Figure 6, the damping member 58 comprises a piston 62 slidably mounted in the chamber 56 along an axis AA 'of the cylinder 54 between the retracted position of the member 58 and the extended position of the 58. The damping member 58 further comprises a head 64 protruding from the cylinder 54 to come into contact with the second member 16.

Advantageously, the damping member 58 further comprises an intermediate member 66 for articulating the head 64 with respect to the piston 62, able to allow at least one degree of freedom in rotation between the head 64 and the piston 62 following a axis perpendicular to the axis A-A '.

The piston 62 seals the inner region 59 containing the actuating fluid.

In this example, it delimits an upper bowl 68 into which the intermediate member 66 is inserted.

The head 64 is intended to come into contact with the second element 16, advantageously via a guide member 70 fixed under the bearing surface 28 of the second element 16. The head 64 defines the free end of the damper 62. In this example, the head 64 is of convergent shape, for example frustoconical, along the axis AA 'moving away from the cylinder 54. L guiding member 70 is of complementary shape.

The head 64 delimits here a lower bowl 72 housing the intermediate member 66.

The intermediate member 66 is interposed between the head 64 and the piston 62. In this example, it is received in each of the bowls 68, 72. It is here formed by a ball joint.

Thus, the head 64 is pivotable relative to the piston 68 around a plurality of axes perpendicular to the axis AA 'of the cylinder 54, between an aligned configuration along the axis AA' (see FIG. 10) and a plurality of configurations inclined with respect to the axis AA '(see Figure 7 to Figure 9).

This limits the stresses on the damping member 58, in particular as a function of the relative inclination between the receiving surface 20 and the bearing surface 28, and the stresses due to misalignment after the contact between the head 64 and the guide member 70.

The cylinder 50 of each damper 42 is hydraulically connected to a battery 44 common to several dampers 42 of a group 40A to 40C. For this purpose, the inner region 59 of the chamber 56 defined in the cylinder 54 is connected hydraulically to the accumulator 44 by a hydraulic circuit 74 visible in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to Figure 6, the mounting assembly 52 comprises a base 80 fixed to the receiving surface 20, a cylinder support 82 mounted to move relative to the base 80, and a hinge member 84 of the support of cylinder 82 relative to the base 80, interposed between the support 82 and the base 80.

The assembly assembly 52 thus allows the cylinder 50 to pass between a straight rest configuration, substantially perpendicular to the surface 20, visible in FIG. 10, and a plurality of inclined configurations, one of which is represented in FIG. 9.

It further comprises at least one actuator 86 for returning to its straight configuration, disposed between the support 82 and the base 80.

The base 80 is formed by a plate fixed on the receiving surface 20. It defines an upper housing 88 for receiving the articulation member 84.

In this example, the support 82 comprises a plate carrying the cylinder 54. It is movable together with the cylinder 54 of the cylinder 50. The support 82 defines a lower housing 90 for receiving the articulation member 84. The hinge member 84 is formed by a ball joint resting on the base 80 in the housing 88 and received in the lower housing 90.

Each return member 86 is interposed in the gap between the cylinder support 82 and the base 80. In this example, each return member 86 is formed by a block of elastic material, such as an elastomer block.

In this example, the return member 86 is attached under the cylinder support 82. In a variant, the return member 86 is fixed on the base 80.

In each inclined configuration of the cylinder 50, at least one return member 86 is adapted to be compressed between the cylinder support 82 and the base 80 to generate a resilient biasing force of the cylinder 50 to its rest configuration.

The presence of at least one degree of freedom in rotation between the jack 50 and the upper surface 20 also limits the stresses that apply to the damper 42, in particular as a function of the relative inclination between the upper reception surface 20 and the lower bearing surface 28, and the stresses due to misalignment after contact of the head 64 with the guide member 70.

The locking mechanism 60 comprises a blocking stop 150 (visible in the embodiment of FIG. 12) mounted around the piston 62 of the damping member 58 outside the cylinder 54. This abutment 150 is advantageously screwed onto a thread present outside the piston 62. Alternatively (not shown), a reversible fastener is inserted through the stopper 150 to secure the stopper 150 to the piston 62.

In this example, the locking abutment 150 is of revolution about the axis of the piston 62. It is adapted to cooperate with an upper surface 152 of the cylinder 54 to prevent the displacement of the damping member 58 towards its retracted position. .

As stated above, the accumulator 44 is connected to each damper 42 of a group of dampers 40A to 40C by the hydraulic circuit 74.

Advantageously, the damping assembly 17 according to the invention comprises a single accumulator 44 common to all the dampers 42 of all groups of dampers 40A to 40C.

The accumulator 44 is carried by the first element 14. With reference to FIG. 5, it comprises a hollow body 100 defining a balancing chamber 102, a balancing piston 104 movably mounted in the chamber 102, and an upstream nozzle. 106 for injecting hydraulic fluid into the chamber 102.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the accumulator further comprises a downstream shutter 108 advantageously defining an exhaust valve 1 10 of gas. The upstream nozzle 106 is hydraulically connected to the circuit 74 to allow bidirectional circulation of hydraulic fluid between each cylinder 50 connected to the accumulator 44 and the chamber 102 of the accumulator 44.

The piston 104 is freely movable in the chamber 102 between a plurality of intermediate positions, one of which is shown in Figure 5 and a downstream abutment position visible in Figure 4, in step (d).

In each intermediate position, the piston 104 defines in the chamber an upstream region 1 12 located between the fluid injection nozzle 106 and the piston 104, and a downstream region 1 14 located between the piston 104 and the downstream shutter 108.

The upstream region 1 12 contains hydraulic fluid from each cylinder 50 connected to the accumulator 44. The downstream region 1 14 contains a clean gas to be discharged out of this region 1 14 through the exhaust valve 1 10 connected to a constant pressure gas network, for example a chamber of volume greater than the volume of each cylinder 50.

The piston 104 is free to move to the downstream position.

In the downstream stop position, the piston 104 is immobilized in the chamber 102, advantageously bearing against the downstream shutter 108. The upstream region 1 12 has a maximum volume. The downstream region 1 14 has a minimum or zero volume.

The exhaust valve 1 10 is formed by a calibrated passage 1 16 formed through the downstream shutter 108. The passage 1 16 opens upstream in the downstream region 1 14 and downstream outside the accumulator 44.

As will be seen below, each damping member 58 is adapted to be displaced by the second member 16 from its extended position to its retracted position, to retract into the cylinder 54 and thus to reduce the volume of the inner region 59. This causes the ejection of hydraulic fluid to the circuit 74 and the filling of the upstream region 1 12.

The filling of the upstream region 1 12 in turn causes the displacement of the balancing piston 104 to increase the volume of the upstream region 1 12, until the piston 104 reaches its downstream position in abutment.

As will be seen below, a distribution of hydraulic fluid then occurs between the upstream region 1 12, the circuit 74, and each inner region 59 of cylinder 54.

In this example, the indexing member 46 is formed by a stud 120 (visible in Figure 2) mounted substantially parallel to each damper 42. The pad 120 is intended to be received in a corresponding housing (not shown) on the second element 16. The operation of the damping assembly 17 according to the invention, during assembly of the first installation 10 will now be described.

Initially, the first element 14 and the second element 16 are manufactured separately.

The first element 14 is partially immersed in the body of water 12 and is conveyed to the assembly point of the installation 10.

The first element 14 is then partially ballasted to lower each receiving surface 20.

As illustrated in step (a) of Figure 4, the damping members 58 of each damper 42 then occupy their deployed position. The volume of each inner region 59 located under the damping member 58 in the chamber 54 of each cylinder 50 is then maximal.

The balancing piston 104 occupies an intermediate position close to the nozzle 106. The volume of the upstream region 1 12 is then minimal. The downstream region 1 14 is filled with gas and its volume is maximum.

The second element 16 is then conveyed on the body of water 12 to the assembly point, for example, on a barge. It is placed above and away from the first element 14.

Each lower bearing surface 28 of the second element 16 is then placed facing an upper receiving surface 20 of the first element 14.

Then, the second element 16 is moved vertically relative to the first element 14 to bring it closer to the first element 14.

As illustrated by the step (b) of Figure 4, the bearing surface 28 defined by the second member 16 may be non-parallel to the receiving surface 26 carrying the dampers 42, or non-plane due to the deformation due to his own weight. In particular, it may exist for a moment at the extremities.

The bearing surface 28 then comes into contact with at least one head 64 of a damping member 58. The bearing surface 28 then pushes the head 64 into contact downwards.

This causes the damping member 58 to move to a retracted position in the cylinder 54. The piston 62 then moves downwardly into the cylinder 54 causing the volume of the inner region 59 to decrease.

During this contact, the head 64 is pivotable relative to the piston 62 to correct any misalignment between the guide member 70 and the support 80, minimizing the shearing and tearing stresses, because the all of the cylinder 50 can rotate. As the surface 28 is lowered, one or more damping members 58 of each group 40A to 40C of the dampers 42 come into contact with the surface 28 and are pushed downwards. Conversely, some damping members 58 can remain in their deployed position (see steps (c) to (d) of Figure 4).

The reduction of the volume of the inner region 59 of certain dampers 42 causes the expulsion of hydraulic fluid out of their jack 50 and the progressive filling of the upstream region 1 12 of the accumulator 44.

The balancing piston 104 then moves to the downstream shutter 108 by expelling a calibrated amount of gas out of the downstream region 1 through the valve 1 connected to the constant pressure gas network.

During this phase, the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the upstream region 1 12 remains moderate, for example less than 20 bar.

Then, the balancing piston 104 reaches its downstream abutment position, visible in step (e) of FIG. 4. The pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the upstream region 1 12 then increases significantly, to reach an intermediate service pressure. for example, greater than 100 bar, advantageously greater than 300 bar or 400 bar, in particular of the order of 700 bar. This hydraulic pressure generates a reaction force on the damping members 58 via the circuit 74.

The transfer of the weight of the second element 16 to the first element 14 then starts with the pressure increase in the system. During this transfer, the curvature of the second element 16 and the bearing surface 28 changes.

The balancing piston 104 of the accumulator 44 is then stationary. The damping members 58 of the dampers 42 connected to the same accumulator 44 nevertheless remain mobile in their respective cylinders 54.

As a result, as illustrated by steps (e) and (f) of FIG. 4, a pressure rebalancing occurs between the cylinders of the same group 40A to 40C, which spontaneously adjusts the position of the various damping members. 58 depending on the bearing force of the second element 16 applying locally on the head 64 of each damping member 58.

Thus, some damping members 58 go up in their respective cylinders 54, while some damping members 58 descend into their respective cylinders 54.

This displacement is carried out spontaneously, without it being necessary to individually control the pressure in each cylinder 54. The damping assembly 17 according to the invention is therefore self-adjusting, depending on the conformation of the surface. 28 relative to the receiving surface 20, during the transfer of load, and once the transfer of charges made.

The load applied by the second element 16 is therefore distributed substantially uniformly between the damping members 58, completely autonomously by a pressure equalization.

The structure of the damping assembly 17 is therefore simple and does not require complicated regulations to be implemented during the load transfer. No human intervention is necessary a priori during this phase.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9, each jack 50 can pivot spontaneously with respect to the receiving surface 26 between its straight configuration and an inclined configuration in order to minimize the shear stresses that apply to the jack 50 when balancing, until the indexing member 46 indexes the position of the second member 16 relative to the first member 14.

This pivoting occurs by compression of at least a portion of the return members 86 between the cylinder support 82 and the base 80.

Once equilibrium is reached, each damping member 58 is immobilized mechanically in its cylinder 54 by the mechanical locking mechanism 60.

In particular, the stopper 150 is screwed down to bring it into contact with the upper surface 152 and lock the piston.

The final fixing assembly (not shown) is then assembled between the first element 14 and the second element 16, for example by welding plates between the receiving surface 20 and the bearing surface 28.

This being done, the damping assembly 17 is advantageously disassembled, evacuating at least a portion of the fluid present in each chamber 56, thereby causing the damping member 58 to retract.

This disassembly is simple. It makes it possible to reduce the weight present on the installation 10 and to reuse the damping assembly 17 if this is necessary.

In a variant diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3, a selectively isolating valve 130 for each damper 42 is interposed on the circuit 74 between each damper 42 and the accumulator 44. In this case, each jack 50 is able to be isolated from the circuit 74 during assembly of the second element 16 on the first element 14.

In another variant (not shown), pressure sensors are arranged in each cylinder 50 to measure the pressure of the hydraulic fluid present in the cylinder 50 during assembly. A second example of a damper 42 for a damping assembly 17 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 18.

Unlike the damper 42 shown in FIG. 6, the return members 86 are able to keep the jack 50 in a substantially vertical configuration during the initial phase of displacement of the damping member 58, after the contact between the head 64 and the bearing surface 28.

Each return member 86 thus comprises a first resilient biasing member 140 located between the jack support 82 and the base 80, and a second elastic biasing member 142 located above the jack support 82, between the jack support. 82 and a stop 144 integral in translation with the base 80.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 1 and 12, the elastic biasing members 140, 142 are formed by stacks of spring washers mounted coaxially around a central rod 146.

The central rod 146 is fixed on the base 80. It passes through the cylinder support 82 and defines at its free end the stop 144.

The first elastic biasing member 140 is located above the second elastic biasing member 142. Thus, the risk of tearing of the articulation member 84 is minimized.

Thus, each return member 86 is active regardless of the local displacement of the cylinder support 82, during the inclination of the cylinder 50. Thus, if the cylinder support 82 moves locally away from the base 80 at the point of contact with the return member 86, the second elastic biasing member 142 exerts a restoring force of the support 82 towards its rest configuration.

On the contrary, if the cylinder support 82 moves locally towards the base 80 at the point of contact with the return member 86, the first elastic biasing member 140 exerts a restoring force of the support 82 towards its configuration. rest.

In operation, with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15, the jack 50 of each damping member 58 retains its right rest configuration at the contact between the head 64 and the bearing surface 28 of the second member 16.

This configuration is maintained during the initial retraction of the damping member 58 in the chamber 56, as long as the balancing piston 104 present in the accumulator 44 is free to move in the balancing chamber 102.

Referring to Figures 16 to 18, when the indexing member 46 on the first member 14 cooperates with the second member 16, the charge transfer of the second member 16 on the first member 14 occurs. At this point, and as shown in FIGS. 16 to 17, the jack 50 adopts an inclined configuration making it possible to limit the shear stresses.

When the balancing piston 104 reaches its downstream position in abutment, a pressure rebalancing occurs between the chambers 56 of the various cylinders 54 and the position of the damping members 58 automatically adjusts to adapt to the configuration of the bearing surface 28 (see Figure 17).

Once balancing has been achieved, an operator moves blocking stop 150 downwards to bring it into contact with upper surface 152. This displacement is effected for example by screwing.

The hydraulic fluid present in the chamber 56 can then be at least partially purged to reduce the pressure in the cylinder 50.

A third example of a damper 42 for a damping assembly 17 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20.

Unlike the first damper 42 described in FIG. 6, the return members 86 are formed by Belleville washers stacked between the jack support 82 and the base 80.

The operation of the damper 42 described in FIGS. 19 and 20 is moreover analogous to the operation of the damper 42 described in FIG.

A fourth example of damper 42 according to the invention is described in FIGS. 21 and 22.

Unlike the second damper 42 according to the invention, the mounting assembly 52 of the fourth damper 42 comprises an upper stop ring 162 disposed around the cylinder 50. The ring 162 is connected to the base 80 via vertical bars 164.

The upper ring 162 is thus fixed in translation relative to the base 80. The cylinder support 82 is interposed between the base 80 and the upper ring 162.

Like the second damper 42 described in FIG. 1 1, each return member 86 of the fourth damper 42 comprises at least one elastic biasing member 140 formed by a stack of washers mounted coaxially around a rod 146.

As illustrated in Figure 23, the rod 146 nevertheless has a first portion 163A and a second portion 163B sliding relative to the first portion 163A, to allow an increase in its length. A second resilient biasing member 163C is interposed between the portions 163A, 163B of the rod 146. Unlike the second damper 42 described in Figure 1 1, each return member 86 is wedged between the cylinder support 50 and the upper ring 162, around the cylinder 54.

When the cylinder support 50 is locally closer to the upper ring 162, the return member 86 is compressed, and the elastic biasing member 140 exerts a restoring force.

On the contrary, when the jack support 50 moves away from the upper ring locally, the first portion 163A of the rod 146 slides relative to the second portion 163B of the rod 146, and the resilient biasing member 163C maintains contact between each end 164A, 164B of the return member 86 and respectively the cylinder support 50 and the upper ring gear 162.

In another variant, each second damper 42 described in FIGS. 1 1 to 18, 19 to 20 and 21 to 23 is associated with a guide member 70 fixed under the bearing surface 28 of the second element 16.

In a variant, at least one group 40A to 40C of dampers 42 is carried by the bridge 26 which then constitutes a first element. Each damper 42 protrudes towards the shell 18 which then constitutes a second element.

As indicated above, it is advantageous for each damper 42 of each group 40A to 40C of the dampers 42 of the damping assembly 17 to be connected to a single and common fluid accumulator 44, and not to a plurality of accumulators. 44.

Indeed, the accumulator 44 is then sized to receive the fluid from all the dampers 42 simultaneously, or on the contrary, only some dampers 42, for example when at least one other damper is blocked or is inactive. The accumulator 44 is therefore suitable for all the operating modes of the damping assembly 17.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, it clearly appears that each cell 24 is associated with a damping assembly 17 as defined above, fluidly independent of the other damping assemblies 17 present on the other cells 24. L damping assembly 17 is interposed between the receiving surface 20 of said stack 24 and the second element 16.

Thus, each damping assembly 17 mounted on a battery 24 comprises a single accumulator 44 common to all the groups 40A to 40C of dampers 42 present on the battery 24.

Each damper 42 present on a battery 24 is fluidly connected to a single accumulator 44, common to all accumulators 42 of groups 40A to 40C of dampers 42 present on the battery 24, without being connected fluidically to a battery 44 common to the groups 40A to 40C of dampers 42 of a damping assembly 17 associated with another battery 24.

In addition, as indicated above, the accumulator 44 and the dampers 42 of each damping assembly 17 are removable with respect to the first element 14 and relative to the second element 16, once the final fasteners between the first element 14 and the second element 16 are installed.

This makes it possible to reuse the damping assembly 17 if necessary.

Claims

1. - Damping assembly (17) adapted to be interposed between a first element (14) and a second element (16) of an installation (10) at least partially immersed in a body of water (12), comprising:

at least one group (40A to 40C) of hydraulic dampers (42), each damper (42) comprising a hydraulic cylinder (50) comprising a cylinder (54) intended to be carried by the first element (14), and a damping member (58) partially received in the cylinder (54), the damping member (58) having a head (64) projecting from the cylinder (54), the head (64) being adapted to engage contacting the second member (16) when mounting the second member (16) to the first member (14);

characterized in that the damping assembly (17) comprises, for each group (40A to 40C) of dampers (42), a fluid accumulator (44) connected to each cylinder (54) of the group of dampers ( 42), to allow a transfer of hydraulic fluid between the different cylinders (54) of the group of dampers (42) during the contact between each head (64) and the second element (16).

2. - assembly (17) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid accumulator (44) comprises a hollow body (100) defining a balancing chamber (102) and a balancing piston (104) mounted displaceable in the balancing chamber (102) between a plurality of intermediate positions, wherein the balancing piston (104) is free to move relative to the hollow body (100) in two opposite directions, and a downstream position in abutment, in which the balancing piston (104) is immobilized in at least one direction relative to the hollow body (100).

3. - assembly (17) according to claim 2, characterized in that, in each intermediate position, the balancing piston (104) sealingly defines in the balancing chamber (102) an upstream region (1 12). for receiving the hydraulic fluid from each hydraulic cylinder (50), and a downstream region (1 14) for containing a volume of clean gas to be expelled from the equilibration chamber (102), preferably by a valve ( 1 10) opening out of the equilibration chamber (32) into a volume of gas at constant pressure.

4. - assembly (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each damping member (58) comprises a damping piston (62) received in the cylinder (54), the head (64) being pivotally mounted along at least one axis relative to the damping piston (62), the head (64) being advantageously connected to the damping piston (62) by a ball joint.

5. - assembly (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each damper (42) comprises a base (80) intended to be fixed on the first element (14), the cylinder (54) of the cylinder hydraulic valve (50) being pivotally mounted about at least one axis relative to the base (80), between a straight rest configuration and a plurality of inclined configurations with respect to the rest configuration.

6. - assembly (17) according to claim 5, characterized in that each damper (42) comprises at least one return member (86) of the cylinder (50) to its rest configuration.

7. - assembly (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each damper (42) comprises a mechanical locking mechanism (60), able to mechanically immobilize the damping member (58) relative to the cylinder (54).

8. - assembly (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two groups (40A to 40C) of hydraulic dampers (42), preferably at least three groups (40A to 40C) hydraulic dampers (42) for spacing from one another on the first member (14),

9. - assembly (17) according to claim 8, characterized in that the hydraulic dampers (42) of each group (40A to 40C) are each connected to one and the same fluid accumulator (44), common between all the dampers hydraulic units (42) of all the groups (40A to 40C) of hydraulic dampers (42).

10. - Installation (10) intended to be at least partially immersed in a body of water (12), characterized in that it comprises:

a first element (14);

a second element (16) assembled on the first element (14);

- A damping assembly (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, interposed between the first element (14) and the second element (16), each cylinder (54) of each damper (42) being carried by the first element (14), the head (64) of at least a portion of the dampers (42) being in contact with the second element (16).

1 1. - Installation (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the second element (16) is placed on the first element (14).

12. - Installation (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the first element (14) is a floating support on a body of water (12) or fixed on the bottom of a body of water (12), the second element (16) being a bridge (26) placed above the surface of the body of water (12).

13. - Installation (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the damping assembly (17) is removable with respect to the first element (14) and / or the second element (16) .

14. - Method for mounting an installation (10) at least partially immersed in a body of water (12), comprising the following steps:

- Providing a first element (14), and a damping assembly (17) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the cylinder (50) of each damper (42) being carried by the first element (14), the head (64) of each damping member (58) projecting from the cylinder (50);

contacting the second element (16) with the heads (64) of several dampers (42) of the group (40A to 40C) of dampers (42);

- Free circulation of hydraulic fluid between the cylinders (50) of the group (40A to 40C) dampers (42) and the accumulator (44).

15. - Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the fluid accumulator (44) comprises a hollow body (100) defining a balancing chamber (102) and a balancing piston (104) movably mounted in the balancing chamber (102), the free flow of hydraulic fluid having a first phase in which the balancing piston (104) moves freely in the balancing chamber (102) under the effect of hydraulic fluid from the cylinders (54) of the group (40A to 40C) of dampers (42) and a second phase in which the balancing piston (104) is immobilized in the balancing chamber (104), and in which the hydraulic fluid present in the the balancing chamber (104) and the cylinders (54) are distributed freely between the balancing chamber (104) and the cylinders (54).

16. - Method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that each damping member (58) comprises a damping piston (62) received in the cylinder (54), the head (64) being pivotally mounted along at least one axis relative to the damping piston (62), the method comprising, after the second element (16) is brought into contact with the head (64), at least one damping member (58) ), the pivoting of the head (64) relative to the damping piston (62).

17. - Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that each damper (42) comprises a base (80) intended to be fixed on the first element (14), the cylinder (54) of the hydraulic cylinder (50) being pivotally mounted about at least one axis relative to the base (80), the method comprising, after contacting the second member (16) on the head (64) of at least one damping member (58), pivoting the cylinder (54) relative to the base (80) between a straight rest configuration and an inclined configuration with respect to the rest configuration.