Electrohydraulic device, method, and marine vessel or platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11453464-B2
Application number	US-201816644463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 8, 2017
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

An electrohydraulic device includes an extender which is arranged to be actuated by hydraulic fluid, and a rotor of an electric motor, the rotor being arranged to rotate about a part of the extender. The rotor may have an annular body which encircles or surrounds part of the extender. There is also described a related method of use and a marine vessel or platform where the device may be applied.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrohydraulic device comprising:
an extender comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is arranged to be axially translated relative to the second section by hydraulic fluid;
an electric motor arranged on an outside of the extender, the electric motor including a rotor comprising an annular body which encircles the extender and is arranged to rotate about said extender; and
a pump comprising a drive shaft, wherein the rotor is arranged to drive the pump for pumping and supplying the hydraulic fluid for operating the extender;
wherein the rotor is coupled to the drive shaft through a gear arrangement comprising gears which have a gear ratio therebetween.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the extender comprises a hydraulic cylinder and a rod, and the rotor is arranged to rotate about a part of either the hydraulic cylinder or the rod.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the rod is movable with respect to the hydraulic cylinder to extend or retract to vary or obtain a desired amount of extension or elongation of the extender.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a stator of the electric motor, disposed on the extender, the stator and rotator being arranged to cooperate upon operation of the motor to generate torque to rotate the rotor.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the stator is arranged around an outside of the rotor.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the stator and the rotor are mounted inside a casing attached to the extender, the stator being mounted so as to be attached fixedly with respect to the extender.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a tank provided on or incorporated in a part of the extender, the tank being configured for storing hydraulic fluid.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the tank has an annular or part-annular storage space for hydraulic fluid, where the storage space is disposed around a part of the extender.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 , operable for manoeuvring or supporting a structure that subjects the device to a load, wherein the structure is any of a boom, or an arm of a crane, or a leg of an A-frame.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the extender is operable to extend to a desired extension so as to tilt the structure.

11. A marine vessel or platform comprising:
a structure supported on a deck of the vessel or platform; and
an electrohydraulic device as claimed in claim 1 , connected to the structure, and operable to actuate the extender to manoeuvre or support the structure in position relative to the vessel or platform.

12. A method of using the electrohydraulic device as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising at least the step of operating the extender, using the electric motor so as to rotate the rotor about a part of the extender.

Assignees

• Nat Oilwell Varco Norway As
• Nat Oilwell Vareo Norway As

Inventors

• Borøy Yngvar
• Strand Thor
• Bergstøl Geir Odd

Classifications

• H02K7/116

  with gears · CPC title

• F15B1/26

  Supply reservoir or sump assemblies · CPC title

• B63B27/36 Primary

  Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment} for floating cargo {(deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16) · CPC title

• B66C23/52

  Floating cranes (floating dredgers E02F) · CPC title

• F15B15/18 Primary

  Combined units comprising both motor and pump · CPC title