Activation mechanism for the release of a guidepost

Abstract

An activation mechanism to release a guidepost from a seabed structure is described. The guidepost includes a tubular main body, an operating mechanism at the upper end of the main body, a locking mechanism at the lower end of the main body to enable attachment to the seabed structure, and an interconnecting device arranged inside the tubular main body, and connecting the operating mechanism to the locking mechanism in order to be able to activate the locking mechanism from the top of the guidepost. The operating mechanism includes a rotatable outer sleeve configured to transform a rotary motion to a lifting or lowering motion of the interconnecting device, which in turn elevates or lowers an activation mechanism that influences on at least one locking pawl to be pulled inwards beyond the diametrical dimension of the guidepost to release an engagement with a groove or ledge on the seabed structure.

1 . An activation mechanism to release a guidepost from a seabed structure, which guidepost includes a tubular main body, an operating mechanism at an upper end of the main body, a locking mechanism at a lower end of the main body to enable attachment to the seabed structure, and an interconnecting device, arranged inside the tubular main body, connecting the operating mechanism to the locking mechanism in order to be able to activate the locking mechanism from a top of the guidepost as required, wherein the operating mechanism includes a rotatable outer sleeve arranged to transform a rotary motion to either a lifting or lowering motion of the interconnecting device, which in turn either lifts or lowers an activation mechanism that actuates at least one locking pawl to be pulled inwards or pushed outwards beyond a diametrical dimension of the guidepost in order to release or make engagement with a groove or ledge on the seabed structure. 
     
     
         2 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable outer sleeve of the operating mechanism includes a substantially vertically extending slit that receives a pin in direct connection with an inner sleeve part that is connected to the interconnecting device, and the upper end part of the guidepost is located partly between the inner and outer sleeve, which end part is provided with a slanting groove therein through which the pin extends between the two sleeves and is thus able to transform said rotary motion to said lifting or lowering motion of said interconnecting device. 
     
     
         3 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting device includes a rod extending between the inner sleeve and the locking mechanism, said rod being supported at one or more locations against the inner wall of the guidepost. 
     
     
         4 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device is loosely connected to the inner sleeve such that a limited freedom of motion is present between the sleeve and the rod, said freedom of motion being determined by means of a nut and a back-off nut, and, the inner sleeve is rotatable about the rod. 
     
     
         5 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device in its lower end includes one or more actuating arms that are fixedly connected to the rod, which at least one actuating arm extends in a substantially radial direction relative to the tubular main body. 
     
     
         6 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein each individual locking pawl of the locking mechanism is directly actuatable by said respective actuating arm. 
     
     
         7 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein each individual locking pawl includes a slotted track that cooperates with corresponding pin on an activating arm, each locking pawl being pivotable supported on an axle pin which is such located that when the rod including the activating arms are lowered down, the locking pawls pivot outwards and beyond the diametric dimension of the guidepost for said engagement or abutment with a groove or ledge on the seabed structure. 
     
     
         8 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the guidepost includes a stop pin that each individual locking pawl rests against in its completely deployed position, each stop pin being a pin having rupture nicks in case an emergency situation should occur, in order to be able to retract the locking pawls. 
     
     
         9 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the guidepost includes a stainless steel contact tip for safe transfer of electric charges to offer anodes. 
     
     
         10 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is an automatic acting locking mechanism which is able to lock the lower end of the guidepost to the seabed structure, each pawl, when it is in deployed position, is forced inwards when the pawl hits a ledge, and the pawl then falls out again when passing the ledge, said freedom of motion between the rod and the inner sleeve part enables this. 
     
     
         11 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 10 , wherein the freedom of motion between the rod and the inner sleeve part is limited by a ledge on the rod and a nut threaded onto a pin end in the extension of the rod, which pin end fits through an aperture in the bottom of the inner sleeve part. 
     
     
         12 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the interconnecting device includes a rod extending between the inner sleeve and the locking mechanism, said rod being supported at one or more locations against the inner wall of the guidepost. 
     
     
         13 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device is loosely connected to the inner sleeve such that a limited freedom of motion is present between the sleeve and the rod, said freedom of motion being determined by means of a nut and a back-off nut, and in addition, the inner sleeve is rotatable about the rod. 
     
     
         14 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device is loosely connected to the inner sleeve such that a limited freedom of motion is present between the sleeve and the rod, said freedom of motion being determined by means of a nut and a back-off nut, and in addition, the inner sleeve is rotatable about the rod. 
     
     
         15 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device in its lower end includes one or more actuating arms that are fixedly connected to the rod, which at least one actuating arm extends in a substantially radial direction relative to the tubular main body. 
     
     
         16 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device in its lower end includes one or more actuating arms that are fixedly connected to the rod, which at least one actuating arm extends in a substantially radial direction relative to the tubular main body. 
     
     
         17 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the rod of the interconnecting device in its lower end includes one or more actuating arms that are fixedly connected to the rod, which at least one actuating arm extends in a substantially radial direction relative to the tubular main body. 
     
     
         18 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein each individual locking pawl of the locking mechanism is directly actuatable by said respective actuating arm. 
     
     
         19 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein each individual locking pawl of the locking mechanism is directly actuatable by said respective actuating arm. 
     
     
         20 . The activation mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein each individual locking pawl of the locking mechanism is directly actuatable by said respective actuating arm.