Flexible Design Tool for Gimbal Assemblies
Real Time Analysis with New Design Options
Our flexible tool incorporates information from customers in real time to create tailored gimbal assembly designs for offshore rigs and intervention vessels. Design updates can now be completed in minutes. The tool accommodates design changes dynamically, allowing for multiple design versions as project parameters change. LORD gimbal pads and assemblies are designed under strict process and quality controls to ensure each part performs consistently. With this tool our engineers can accurately and dynamically model the stiffness of any gimbal system in any plane of rotation – in real time.
Universal Joint Gimbal Assembly
- Rotational stiffness up to 99% lower than a traditional gimbal even at higher loads, greatly reducing riser fatigue
- Projected 8x fatigue life improvement over a traditional gimbal assembly
- Option to have high or low lateral stiffness
- Accommodates angles up to 15 degrees
- Simple alternative to hydraulic gimbal assemblies
Traditional Gimbal Pads
- Advanced materials and bonding technology lead to longer fatigue life and improved reliability
- Can provide custom solutions or aftermarket replacements for existing gimbals
- Visual condition monitoring of pad through use of LORD High Performance Coating
Proprietary Natural Rubber Formulations
There are four main areas that influence the fatigue life of a traditional gimbal pad; elastomer choice, part configuration, bonding technology and inherent design of the traditional gimbal bearing system. LORD gimbal pads address the first three areas to provide longer service life and decreased maintenance, serving as a drop-in replacement in most applications. Our universal joint style gimbal bearing overcomes the inherent high strain design issues of the traditional gimbal array to significantly improve fatigue life. The universal joint style gimbal bearing is designed for extreme applications where deck space is limited. LORD gimbal pads utilize a proprietary natural rubber formulation that provides greater fatigue life than the nitrile traditionally used. Environmental protection is achieved through another LORD proprietary material called HPC, which stands for “High Performance Coating.” In addition to visual condition monitoring, LORD® HPC coating provides superior resistance to ozone, fluids and sunlight without impacting part function. After prolonged exposure to petroleum fluid, HPC-coated natural rubber retains all mechanical properties while exhibiting less swell than uncoated nitrile.
Extreme Tensile Load Test
In a traditional gimbal assembly, the rotational motion of the spider causes massive strains in the elastomer at the bonded surfaces which results in local elastomer separation. With each cycle of rotation, the separation continues to propagate until the pad is only functioning through the frictional interfaces of the separated surfaces under the compressive load of the riser. LORD gimbal pads are designed to reduce strains, minimizing elastomer degradation. In the test pictured, LORD material and bond strength can achieve over 300% tensile strain without fracture, enabling less frequent replacement of the pads.
Bearing at Rest
Bearing Under Extreme Tensile Load (>300%)
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Blogs
Resources
Flexibility in Design Process Brings Better Solutions for Gimbal Assemblies
To best meet customer needs, you must be a solution provider, not just a product provider. We collaborate with customers to find an approach that meets their needs quickly and easily. We’ve proven this mindset by finding a better process for working with customers on gimbal assembly design.
Gimbal Bearings: Understand Your System to Select the Best Bearing
A look at gimbal bearing problems faced by a customer who was using a competitor’s pads—and the range of solutions provided by Parker Lord. Read the case study: Choosing from Options to Solve an Existing Problem
Predicting Fatigue Life and Monitoring Performance of Gimbal Bearings
Gimbal bearings are subjected to enormous stress. Gimbal bearing elastomer degrades over time due to fatigue, and can exhibit indicators replacement is due long before loss of performance. The following methods help ensure longer pad life.