Bend Stiffener

Abstract

A bend stiffener for resisting excessive-bending of an elongate underwater member in a region where it meets a rigid structure, comprises: a sleeve (1) for receiving said elongate underwater member, said sleeve being capable of some degree of flexure; and a rigid interface mount (3) secured to said sleeve, said rigid interface mount being suitable for attachment to said rigid structure; wherein said rigid interface mount comprises one or more slots (4) or holes which are alignable with corresponding slots, holes or recesses on said rigid structure such that the rigid interface mount may be locked to the rigid structure by locking means (2), said locking means comprising projection(s) through the slots or holes of the rigid interface mount into the slots, holes or recesses of the rigid structure. The bend stiffener is particular suited to mid-line applications, amongst other applications.

Claims

1. A bend stiffener for resisting excessive bending of an elongate underwater member in a region where it meets a rigid structure, the bend stiffener comprising: a sleeve for receiving said elongate underwater member, said sleeve being capable of some degree of flexure, and a rigid interface mount secured to said sleeve, said rigid interface mount being suitable for attachment to said rigid structure, wherein said rigid interface mount comprises one or more slots or holes which are alignable with corresponding slots, holes or recesses on said rigid structure such that the rigid interface mount may be locked to the rigid structure by locking means, said locking means comprising projection(s) through the slots or holes of the rigid interface mount into the slots, holes or recesses of the rigid structure.

2. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1 which is a mid-line bend stiffener.

3. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is an elastomeric material having, at least in part, a frusto-conical shape.

4. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rigid interface mount has, at least in part, a metallic tubular structure.

5. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is moulded and the rigid interface mount is at least partially embedded within the sleeve.

6. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1 further comprising locking means for securing the bend stiffener, via its rigid interface mount, to a rigid structure wherein said locking means comprise projection(s) for extending through lateral slots or holes of the rigid interface mount and into slots, holes or recesses of the rigid structure.

7. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locking means comprise a split ring which may be clamped around the rigid interface mount.

8. Apparatus comprising a pair of bend stiffeners and a central unit, wherein each bend stiffener is suitable for resisting excessive bending of an elongate underwater member in a region where it meets said central unit, each bend stiffener comprising: a sleeve for receiving an elongate underwater member, said sleeve being capable of some degree of flexure, and a tubular rigid interface mount secured to said sleeve, said tubular rigid interface mount being suitable for mating attachment to a tubular rigid part of the central unit.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the rigid interface mount of each bend stiffener comprises one or more slots or holes which are alignable with corresponding slots, holes or recesses on a tubular rigid part of the central unit such that both bend stiffeners may be locked to the central unit by radial locking means.

Description

[0032] The present invention will now be described in further non-limiting detail, and by way of example only, with reference to the following figures in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a bend stiffener in accordance with the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bend stiffener of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows one possible embodiment of a split ring for use as the locking means referred to herein;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a rigid interface mount which can form part of a bend stiffener in accordance with the present invention; and

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a bend stiffener in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, rigid interface mount 3 in the form of a tubular metal structure (the tubular shape is shown most clearly in FIG. 4) is partially embedded within sleeve 1 which is a frustoconical structure (shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2) formed of elastomeric moulded material. The elastomeric moulded material is moulded around, and through, holes 6 (shown in FIG. 4) in rigid interface mount 3.

[0039] Rigid interface mount 3 also has slots 4 into which projections 5 on locking means 2 may extend. These projections 5 extend further through slots 4 than the inner surface of tubular member 3 such that they can also engage recesses in a rigid structure (not shown) to thereby attach the bend stiffener to the rigid structure.

[0040] It will be seen from the figures that whilst the elastomeric sleeve 1 may partly have a frusto-conical shape, it may also comprise a cylindrical portion particularly in the vicinity of where the rigid interface mount is embedded.

[0041] It should also be noted that the figures show merely certain embodiments and only in a schematic manner. Other embodiments and arrangements are possible and fall within the scope of the present claims.