Ball joints
Ball joints
ESM has developed spherical rubber joints which allow large oscillation angles. As sliding surfaces are avoided they are wear- and maintenance-free. Deformations of up to 20° during normal operation and up to 65° during extreme events can be achieved using spherical rubber joints.
Those joints can for example be applied as double cardanic arrangement to realize a pendulum tower damper.
In offshore installations with floating foundations ESM ball joints replace the typically used metal shackle connectors for mooring wire. As ESM’s elastic wire-rope-mounting for floating offshore installations they allow a wear-free and constraint-free connection between the holding wire ropes and the anchor on the sea floor.
The ball joints can be designed seawater-resistant with a lifetime of up to 30 years and can last up to 30 years. Compared to shackle connections, the joints remain wear- and maintenance-free for the entire lifetime of the installation.
Properties
- Large oscillation angles are allowed
- Deformations of up to 20° during normal operation and up to 65° during extreme events can be achieved
- Operating loads in direction of movement are implemented up to 1,000 kN and feasible up to 10,000 kN
- Wear- and maintenance-free
Applications
- Double cardanic arrangement to realize a pendulum tower damper
- Elastic wire-rope-mounting for floating offshore installations