Locking arrangement for tubular support structure

• Main Authors: PETER LEONARD FRAENKEL, ANGELA SOPHIA ROBOTHAM
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.10.2006
• Subjects: BLASTING; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FOUNDATIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HAULING; HEATING; HOISTING; HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCEDIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD; HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; LIFTING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; SOIL SHIFTING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WIND MOTORS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

A tubular support structure 2 for supporting an article/load 3 is disclosed, including means for releasably locking it against lengthways displacement relative to a concentric upstanding elongate support 1. The releasable locking means may comprise a plurality of gripper devices 13. Each gripper device may be in the form of a rigid containment 21 housing an inflatable container 24 comprising a friction member 25, such that inflation of the inflatable member presses the friction member against the elongate support (Fig. 9B). Alternatively, each gripper device may be in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic ram (18, Fig. 8A), or a mechanical screw-jack arrangement (not shown). The extent of downwards displacement of the tubular support structure may be limited by an arrangement comprising a tapered lug (6, Fig. 5B) and tapered recess (7, Fig. 5B). A second tubular support structure may be provided which is interconnected with and moveable relative to the first. The two tubular support structures (2A, 2B, Figs 15-17) may be operated alternatively to displace the article/load relative to the upstanding elongate support. The article/load may be a turbine installation.