Semi-submersible support platform and positioning method thereof

Abstract

A semi-submersible support platform and a positioning method thereof are disclosed. The semi-submersible support platform, used for operations at sea after sailed to a certain position of a sea surface, includes an upper deck and a lower pontoon. The upper deck and the lower pontoon are connected by a plurality of upright columns. Each upright column is provided with a support leg that is longitudinally inserted through the upright column. The lower pontoon has a plurality of chambers for receiving water therein. The support leg has a compartment for receiving water therein. Each upright column includes a leveling mechanism therein. When the support leg sinks to reach the seabed, the leveling mechanism in each upright column is combined with the support leg to support the support leg. The leveling mechanism can drive the upper deck to move up or down along the support leg.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A semi-submersible support platform, used for operations at sea after sailed to a certain position of a sea surface, comprising an upper deck and a lower pontoon, the upper deck and the lower pontoon being connected by a plurality of upright columns, each upright column being provided with a support leg that is longitudinally inserted through the upright column, the lower pontoon having a plurality of chambers therein, the chambers being configured to receive water therein so that the lower pontoon can sink downwardly when the water is introduced into the chambers or float upwardly when the water is drained out, the support leg having a compartment, the compartment being configured to receive water therein so that the support leg can sink downwardly when the water is introduced into the compartment or float upwardly when the water is drained out; each upright column including a leveling mechanism therein, wherein when the support leg sinks to reach the seabed, the leveling mechanism in each upright column is combined with the support leg to support the support leg, the leveling mechanism can drive the upper deck to move up or down along the support leg. 
     
     
         2 . The semi-submersible support platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each upright column is provided with a wave-dissipating channel, the wave-dissipating channel has through holes on a plurality of sides of the upright column, the plurality of through holes communicate with each other through a pipe in the upright column, when a wave meets the upright column, seawater flows in through one of through holes and flows out through the other through holes via the pipe to eliminate the force of the wave against the upright column. 
     
     
         3 . The semi-submersible support platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the leveling mechanism located in each upright column has a plurality of upper positioning cylinders disposed in an upper seat and a plurality of lower positioning cylinders disposed in a lower seat, the upper seat and the lower seat are connected by a plurality of jacking cylinders, each of the upper positioning cylinders and the lower positioning cylinders has a positioning rod that can be extended and retracted horizontally, the support leg supported by the leveling mechanism has positioning holes for receiving the positioning rods of the upper positioning cylinders and the lower positioning cylinders, the positioning rods of the plurality of upper positioning cylinders or the positioning rods of the plurality of lower positioning cylinders can be respectively extended into the positioning holes of the support leg, the lower seat can be driven close to or away from the upper seat by the plurality of jacking cylinders to drive the upper deck to move up or down. 
     
     
         4 . A positioning method of the semi-submersible support platform as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein after the semi-submersible support platform is sailed to the certain location of the sea surface, the compartment of the support leg is filled with water and then sinks to reach the seabed, the leveling mechanism in each upright column is combined with the support leg to support the support leg, after the plurality of chambers inside the lower pontoon are filled with water, the support leg inserted through each upright column sinks further, the leveling mechanism can drive the upper deck to move up or down along the support leg until the upper deck is horizontal; for the upper deck to move up, the positioning rods of the lower positioning cylinders respectively extend into the positioning holes of the support leg, and the positioning rods of the upper positioning cylinders are removed out of the positioning the holes, and the plurality of jacking cylinders drive the upper seat away from the lower seat for driving the upper deck to move up, after the upper deck is positioned, the positioning rods of the upper positioning cylinders extend into the positioning holes to be positioned; for the upper deck to move down, the positioning rods of the lower positioning cylinders respectively extend into the positioning holes of the support leg, and the positioning rods of the upper positioning cylinders are removed out of the positioning holes, and the jacking cylinders drives the upper seat close to the lower seat for driving the upper deck to move down, after the upper deck is positioned, the positioning rods of the upper positioning cylinders extend into the positioning holes to be positioned. 
     
     
         5 . A positioning method of the semi-submersible support platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein after the semi-submersible support platform is sailed to the certain location of the sea surface, the compartment of the support leg is filled with water and then sinks to reach the seabed, the leveling mechanism in each upright column is combined with the support leg to support the support leg, after the plurality of chambers inside the lower pontoon are filled with water, the support leg inserted through each upright column sinks further, the leveling mechanism can drive the upper deck to move up or down along the support leg until the upper deck is horizontal.