Rotating fairlead device
A rotating fairlead device is provided, comprising a base frame having a bearing support member, a slew bearing mounted to the bearing support member; and an exit sheave assembly mounted to the slew bearing, combined to form a single head fairlead. The single head fairlead may further include a plurality of guide rollers mounted to the base frame adjacent to the slew bearing. A dual head fairlead is also provided, wherein both entry and exit sheave assemblies are mounted on their respective slew bearings on opposite sides of the base frame. Optionally, a load sending device is disposed within the base frame between the opposing slew bearings to detect the load on a cable residing within the dual head fairlead.
1. A rotating fairlead device, comprising:
a base frame having a first bearing support member;
a first single slew bearing having an inner race and an outer race, wherein the outer race is mounted to the first bearing support member by a plurality of bearing bolts; and
a first sheave assembly mounted to the inner race of the first single slew bearing by a plurality of sheave support bolts.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cable guide rollers operatively mounted to the base frame adjacent to the single slew bearing.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the cable guide rollers include a pair of vertical cable guide rollers and a horizontal cable guide roller.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first sheave assembly includes a first sheave, and wherein the first sheave includes a cable resting portion in alignment with a central axis of the first single slew bearing.
5. The device of claim 1 , further including:
a second bearing support member extending from the base frame;
a second single slew bearing having an inner race and an outer race, wherein the outer race is mounted to the second bearing support member by a plurality of bearing bolts; and
a second sheave assembly mounted to the inner race of the second single slew bearing by a plurality of sheave support bolts.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the second sheave assembly includes a second sheave, and wherein the second sheave includes a cable resting portion in alignment with a central axis of the second single slew bearing.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first sheave assembly is adapted to receive entry of a cable into the fairlead device, and wherein the second sheave assembly is adapted to allow exit of a cable from the fairlead device.
8. The device of claim 5 , wherein the central axis of the first single slew bearing and the central axis of the second single slew bearing are collinear.
9. The device of claim 5 , further including a load sensing device mounted to the base frame and operatively disposed between the first single slew bearing and the second single slew bearing.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the load sensing device is operatively attached to a load deflection sheave.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the load sensing device is a strain gauge pin.