After years of proven operational experience and industry demands, Levingston in collaboration with EBI and Hagglunds has developed the most advanced high speed, high capacity Jacking System for the self-elevating, mobile offshore vessel industry. The EBI 430 Electro-Hydraulic Jacking System (EHJD-GB430) is designed specifically for the new era of self-elevating, mobile offshore vessels used in the offshore oil and gas industry, wind farm industry and other worldwide offshore markets.

The offshore industry demands more from the vessel: more jacking capacity, more speed, and more operational life. The EHJD-GB430 satisfies these demands where no other can, by merging the proven features of the EBI’s 12 tooth pinion/gearbox design and Hagglunds’ electro-hydraulic drives. Coupled with EBI’s “Rolling Chock®” system provides the state-of-the-art jacking system.

For example on the Levingston 400LE, the jacking system consist of (36) jacking pinions and (18) Rolling Chocks® (which provide additional storm holding brake capacity). The configuration is four jacking pinions and two Rolling Chocks® per chord.


EBI jacking systems provide these key features:

12 tooth pinions (others use 7 or 9 tooth pinions)

  • Smooth operation – tooth engagement and transition is smoother than alternatives
  • Load sharing – the load is shared between 2 teeth per pinion, thus, higher tooth-to-rack contact

Longer, hollow pinion shafts (others use solid designs)

  • Flexibility – this proven design allows the pinion to rotate slightly under heavy loads

Hägglunds hydraulic drive (others use alternative hydraulic or electrical motors)

  • High power density motors – permits speed changes and fewer pinions
  • Low inertia – they can respond to sudden reversals with less effect on the drive
  • Speed can be gently varied from a creep to full speed or any intermediate speed
  • Accurate leg loads
  • Jacking System monitoring
  • Hägglunds worldwide support
  • Hagglunds origin was the marine industry
  • Network extends to numerous countries worldwide

Hagglunds plus EBI equals a new standard in offshore jacking systems.

High Speed Jacking System

Jacking speeds up to 3.6 mpm (12 fpm)

  • Hägglunds high power motors make it possible to reach these speeds
  • EBI’s 12 tooth pinion smooth operation is crucial to exploiting these higher speeds

Operating capabilities are expanded

  • Mobilizations are faster – operations can be performed in shorter windows
  • High mobility is more tolerant of changing operational considerations

Instant pinion re-torquing with the EHJD-GB430 Jacking System

  • Electro-hydraulic drives automatically load pinions equally when suspended
  • Re-torquing involves the starting the drive, releasing and setting the brakes, and stopping the drive

Robustness

The effect of seafloor impact on the drivetrain is reduced

  • Pinion shaft flexibility allows give, reducing the maximum load
  • Hägglunds low inertia stops / reverses easily, reducing the maximum load
  • Faster jacking reduces the number of seabed impacts while lowering legs

Load sharing reduces the loads on all components

  • 12 tooth pinions share loads equally over two teeth
  • Electro-hydraulic drives share loads equally among all pinions

Gentle starts and stops attenuate loads

  • Electro-hydraulics provide smooth changes and fine speed control

Greater tolerance of marine conditions

Oil filled, sealed marine duty brakes resist corrosion and seizing

Electrical power stops at the power unit

Standard electric motors and components are used

  • No VFD interference – no special equipment needed



Specifications

Performance

  • Jacking 195 metric ton (430 kip)
    Holding 295 metric ton (650 kip)
    Storm holding 409 metric ton (900 kip)
  • Travel – full barge load 0 to 1.2 mpm (4 fpm)
    Travel – light barge load 0 to 1.8 mpm (6 fpm)
    Travel – leg running under no load 0 to 3.6 mpm (12 fpm)
  • Operating temperature -10 to + 45 C
    Reduction ratio 82.5:1

Dimensions

Overall dimensions of GB 430

  • Length 2.6 m (102”)
    Diameter (maximum) 1.32 m (52”)
    Weight (approximate) 8,181 kg (18,000 lbs)

Pinion

  • Number teeth 12
    Module 63.5 mm / tooth (pitch 0.4 tooth / inch)
    Pitch diameter 762 mm (30 in)
    Face width 152 mm (6 in)