Abstract: Fluid transferring apparatus, more commonly referred to as a marine loading arm, comprising rigid, pivotally-interconnected inboard and outboard arm members pivotally mounted on an upstanding riser, and a system for maintaining the outboard member in a substantially horizontal attitude during the fluid transfer process. A first hydraulic ram, connected between the riser and the inboard member, and a second hydraulic ram, connected between the inboard member and the outboard member, are functionally coupled to a hydraulic system with an outboard arm member attitude sensing means, so that if the outboard arm member pivots more than a pre-selected distance above a horizontal attitude the first hydraulic ram provides pressurized fluid to the second hydraulic ram to return the outboard member to its horizontal attitude.

Abstract: An offshore loading system especially suited for transferring petroleum from a floating storage and loading terminal to a marine tanker. The system comprises a support boom pivotally mounted on the deck of the terminal, a pair of fluid conduits extending generally horizontally along the boom from risers at the deck, a pair of vertical fluid conduits slidably connected to the outboard end of the boom and a pair of articulated manifold assemblies connected between the lower ends of the vertical conduits and the marine tanker. The outboard end of the horizontal conduits are articulated and are connected by swivel joints to the vertical conduits to facilitate raising and lowering the vertical conduits relative to the outboard end of the boom.

Abstract: This terminal comprises an upright buoyant structure connected to the water bottom through a flexible supply pipe. A flexible delivery pipe connected to the supply pipe is supported by a buoy on the water surface, this delivery pipe passing on return pulleys carried by the structure. At least one of these pulleys is moveable along the structure and associated with pull back apparatus for urging the delivery pipe towards a storage position on the buoyant structure.

Abstract: An improvement in a fluid delivery apparatus which comprises a fluid input tube communicating via a flow through swivel joint with a fluid output tube which extends orthogonally of the input tube. The improvement comprises a pair of spaced apart bearings, each comprising an inner cylindrical bearing structure and an outer cylindrical structure. The outer cylindrical bearing structures are supported by the output tube and the inner cylindrical bearing structures are supported by the input tube. The bearings serve for taking up substantially the entire radial load created by the weight of the output tube thus protecting the swivel joint from such radial load.

Abstract: A system for sensing the positon in space of the outer end of an articulated fluid loading arm while it is connected to a marine tanker or other transport vessel, and for sounding an alarm if the arm's operating envelope is exceeded. The sensing system includes means for determining various angles representative of the orientation of the booms or limbs of the arm, and a microprocessor for using these angles to compute the spatial position of the arm's outboard end. The boundaries between the safe and unsafe areas of operation of the arm are stored in a digital memory and compared with the actual position of the arm. The boundaries which define the safe areas can be any desired shape, and the shape can be readily changed by storing a new set of boundary values in the digital memory. If desired, the location of the boundaries can be made to depend upon the velocity of the arm as it is being maneuvered.

Abstract: An expandable and retractable fluid conduit is disclosed for conveying fluid between a fixed point and a movable point. A plurality of rigid pipe sections are pivotally connected in end-to-end relation by swivel joints to form an articulated fluid conveying pipe. A plurality of rigid support sections are pivotally connected in end-to-end relation to form an articulated support member. The articulated pipe member and the articulated support member criss-cross, and are pivotally connected at their intersections, to form a lazy tong configuration. Universal swivel joints are provided at each end of the conduit, and means is provided to render each pipe section and each support section buoyant in underwater installations. In another embodiment of the invention, two articulated fluid conveying pipes criss-cross for pivotal connection at their intersections.

Abstract: A subsea flowline connector for connecting a flowline through a port in a subsea atmospheric chamber vessel to a subsea christmas tree within the chamber including an actuator assembly within the chamber with at least one arm extending through the vessel adjacent the port, a carriage supported on the end of a flowline, a piston secured to the flowline and supported on the carriage, a receptacle on the piston to engage the arm, a flowline passage through the piston, actuation of said actuator moving said arm into engagement with said receptacle and pulling said piston into engagement with the port, a valve controlled bleed line to bleed pressure from said port as the piston has moved therein and a lock for retaining the piston within the port.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a petroleum-oil supply line mounted on a marine column to a receiver conduit mounted on an oil-tanker, said column a head being mounted pivotally about the axis of said column at its upper end and including a rotary turret with a boom extending radially therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises a single-turn rotary pulley mounted on the head of the column and adapted to receive the upstream length of a hose-pipe, apparatus for permanently connecting the upstream end of said hose-pipe to the downstream end of the oil-supply line of said column, and apparatus for supporting and guiding the downstream length of the hose-pipe from the pulley to the end of said boom in such a manner that a connecting member provided at the downstream end of the downstream length has its outlet opening constantly directed downwards at the end of the said boom.

Abstract: An articulated fluid loading arm for delivery of gasoline or other liquids through a drop pipe into a tank truck or railway tank car. The arm is equipped with a control system comprising a hydraulic jack for regulating the angle defined by the inboard and outboard arm sections, a sensor system that senses a change in the attitude of these two arm sections and actuates the hydraulic jack to maintain the drop pipe in an established azimuthal position as it is lowered into and raised out of the tank truck or tank car hatch, and means for adjusting the sensor system to make it functional for various locations of the drop pipe.

Abstract: A system for mooring a ship or like floating vessel to an offshore structure and for transferring a fluid between duct means provided on said ship and structure, respectively, comprising at least one hawser and at least one fluid transferring hose pipe connected with one end thereof to duct means on one of the ship and the structure and with its opposite free end to one end of said hawser, wherein the improvement consists in that said hose pipe end is provided with connecting means which, in the stowage position, is normally connected to one of the ship and the structure, said means being adapted to be detached from said one of the ship and the structure, in order to be attached to the other one of said ship and structure whereas a tow-line is provided for at the same time drawings along the hawser towards its operative position, said hose pipe end being provided with pipe fittings for removable connection to duct means on the other one of said ship and structure.

Abstract: A vapor recovery system especially useful for collecting the evolved vapors from crude oil or other volatile liquids being transferred between floating tankers and a storage container. A generally U-shaped frame is pivotably mounted to a support at each end of the frame. The frame carries a pair of conduit members having a plurality of openings distributed along the length thereof. Flexible hoses are connected between each of the openings in the conduit members and a corresponding vent in the tankers. A winch and cable arrangement is used to lower the frame into operating position and to raise the frame into a stowed position at the end of a loading period. The ends of the conduit members are each connected to a vapor storage container through a swivel joint.

Abstract: An off-shore berth for a ship, particularly a tanker, is described in which roll, pitch and yaw are neutralized. The ship is tautly attached to barges, one on either side, and a beam under the ship's keel is coupled to the barges. The beam is tethered to a permanent anchor in the sea floor.

Abstract: A loading arm for transferring petroleum products at sea between two floating vessels. The loading arm structure includes a rotatably supported column having a boom hingedly supported at the upper end of the column for rotation about a first horizontal axis. An outer arm is hingedly connected at one end to the outer end of the boom for rotation about a second horizontal axis. A hydraulic/pneumatic spring includes a hydraulic cylinder connected between the column and the boom, the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder being pressurized from a large volume of gas for counterbalancing the weight of the boom and the arm. A second hydraulic/pneumatic spring is coupled between the column and a lever arm rotatable about the first horizontal axis. Linkage means couples the lever arm to the outer arm for maintaining the lever arm and outer arm in fixed angular relationship relative to each other as they rotate. The gas pressure in the hydraulic/pneumatic springs is adjustable to accommodate changes in load.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying materials having first and second support members movable longitudinally with respect to each other, a third support member positioned between the first and second support members and movable along a line extending therebetween, first and second rigid conduit sections having one end supported respectively by the first and second support members and a third rigid conduit section having its ends swivelly connected to the other ends of the first and second conduit sections and supported by the third support member, whereby as the first and second support members move longitudinally with respect to each other, the first, second and third conduit sections expand and retract accordingly.

Abstract: An aerial refueling boom utilized in the transfer of fuel from a tanker airplane to a receiver airplane and more particularly, to the boom geometry or gimballing which comprises an axis fixed with respect to structure of the tanker airplane about which the boom rotates in elevation and an inclinable axis about which the boom rotates for lateral movement. The angle of inclination of the boom lateral motion pivot axis or azimuth axis varies with respect to the longitudinal axis of the airplane axis as the boom is changed in elevation angle. A pair of aerodynamic surfaces formed into a Vee and known as ruddevators are mounted towards the trailing end of the boom for flying the boom about these axes. The ruddevators are part of a control system which includes a pantographing cable system for automatically changing the angle-of-attack of the aerodynamic surfaces and for alleviating the air loads imposed by the receiver airplane when it is imparting the movement of the boom during the refueling engagement.

Abstract: An array of an assembly of spouts for translating comminuted dry material from a bin having a number of output openings to various railway cars, respective ones of which have hatch openings of different relative dispositions and of different heights while inhibiting pollution of the ambient atmosphere by the material, in which each assembly comprises an upper section pivotally connected to the bin outlet for movement around a vertical axis, a lower section comprising vertically telescoping members, one of which carries a shroud adapted to make a seal with the car hatch, and an intermediate section pivoted to each of the upper and lower sections, together with means for driving the upper section to pivot the entire assembly over a limited arc around a vertical axis, means for swinging the intermediate section around a horizontal axis, while positively maintaining the lower sections substantially vertical, and means for moving the lower telescopic sections relative to each other, all of these movements being de

Abstract: An articulated fluid loading arm especially suited for transferring petroleum from a floating storage and loading terminal to a marine tanker. The arm comprises a support boom pivotally mounted on the deck of the terminal, a pair of fluid conduits extending along the boom from risers at the deck, and a dual-flow passage drop-pipe assembly suspended from a carriage that rides in a track on the boom. The drop-pipe assembly comprises four rigid pipe sections interconnected by swivel joints into a parallelogram-like structure, one corner thereof pivotally connected to the carriage and the opposite corner connected to a pull-in type pipe connector for releasably securing the arm to a tanker manifold.

Abstract: An articulated arm is described which comprises an articulated product tube permittedly connected in use to a fixed product conduit. A product tube support is connected to and pivotal about substantially the same axes of the product tube and one or more counterweights is mounted on and movable with the product tube support so as to balance the weight of the product tube and the support. In order to allow for thermal expansion of the product tube, the product tube support member is connected adjacent its outboard end to the product tube by connection which allows for relative movement between the support and the tube. The tube may be connected to a plate slidably received in a recess in a member mounted on the product tube support.

Abstract: A torsionally controlled swivel joint having at least one axis of rotation is provided with a torque element, either in the form of a helical torsion spring or one or more torsion bars, completely enclosed within the flow passage of the joint to counteract torsional forces applied to one section of the joint relative to another section. One end of the torque element is rigidly connected to one section of the joint while the other end is rigidly connected to a cylindrical adjustment disc rotatable with and sealed in fluid tight engagement to the other section of the swivel joint. In the preferred embodiment, torsional preloading of the torque element is achieved by a plurality of locking balls in a ball race formed in the mating surfaces of the adjustment disc and swivel joint section.

Abstract: A loading arm having an inner conduit section, an outer conduit section, and a manually operable arm extension, is disclosed. The entire arm assembly is rotatable about a vertical axis, and a motor is provided to raise and lower the inner conduit section about a horizontal axis. Two parallel rods are connected at one end to a fixed link at said horizontal axis and connected at the opposite end to the outer conduit section to maintain the outer conduit section in a fixed attitude at any position of the inner conduit section.

Abstract: A system for filling containers such as for example, bottle molds intended for slush molding, with liquid such as slip. The containers are arranged along a line which is parallel with a track that guides the movement of a carriage. The carriage carries an arm that swings between two positions, one of which is raised above the line of the containers to permit movement of the carriage without interfering with the containers when desired, and the other of which is below the carriage and bringing the arm to a filling position relative to a container. The arm carries a filling nozzle which is intended to enter the mouth of the container, the nozzle having a probe which dips down into the container. Electrical circuitry is provided which for the most part is carried in the carriage, such circuitry cooperating with the probe of the nozzle and sensing elements on the track and carriage.

Abstract: A marine loading arm jumper assembly especially suitable for use on a buoy or other offshore fluid transferring facility where tanker movements are large and space is limited. The assembly comprises a pair of articulated loading arms extending from a coaxial pipe swivel joint mounted on the buoy, and a terminal pipe swivel joint assembly including another coaxial swivel joint for connecting this dual arm system to a tanker manifold. A guide arm assembly also is provided to maintain the loading arm in proper alignment with the terminal swivel joint assembly while the arm is disconnected therefrom as during periods of very bad weather.

Abstract: An offshore product loading terminal has a support which is secured an an anchor and which carries a pipe swivel. A product pipe from a product source is intended to be connected to the pipe swivel, the input and output of which are capable of relative rotation about a vertical axis. The turntable also permits relative rotation about the vertical axis and carries a buoy through a universal coupling. The buoy carries a mooring point for a ship and is divided into a plurality of compartments individually sealed.

Abstract: A system for loading and/or unloading at sea a transportation vessel conveying incoherent products comprising ship mooring means, an arrangement for transferring or handling incoherent goods comprising a loading and/or unloading tower supported by the bottom of the sea and partially submerged as well as a movable loading boom associated with said tower, said mooring means being separated from or independent of said cargo transfer or handling arrangement.

Abstract: A spar having fluid flow lines or material conveyors extending along the same is anchored by a ball joint, U-joint, elastic joint or the like to a base on the bottom of a body of water, such as a sea bottom. The spar has a buoyancy chamber near its upper end for applying an upward tension thereto at all times. When a vessel is adjacent to the upper end of the spar, tension means extends between the spar and structures on the vessel bow to couple the two together. The tension means provides a lateral force exerted on the spar to bias the spar toward the vessel even as the latter changes position relative to the spar due to current, wave and wind action. Several embodiments of the tension means are disclosed. The fluid flow lines carried by the spar connect a base manifold on the bottom of a body of water with delivery hoses or other conductors which can provide flexibility and are connected to the vessel for the transfer of crude oil and other fluids thereto.

Abstract: A system for sensing the position in space of the outer end of an articulated fluid loading arm while it is connected to a marine tanker or other transport vessel, and sounding an alarm if the arm's operating envelope is exceeded. The sensing system includes means for determining various angles representative of the orientation of the booms or limbs of the arm, and means for deriving from these angles an indication of the spatial location of the arm's outer end.

Abstract: A single anchor leg mooring and tanker cargo transfer system has a base with an anchor leg pipe shaft having a horizontally swiveling housing thereon to which are attached vertically pivoting cargo hose arms. The arms have widely spaced, parallel portions extending a substantial distance beyond the base portion for augmenting the torque applied to the swivels by the cargo hoses. The hose arms are stabilized and limited in their vertical pivoting by a balanced lever structure pivotally mounted on the base and carrying buoyancy tanks. Bumpers limit the vertical pivoting of the lever structure flexing of the hose arms secured thereto.

Abstract: A flying refueling boom for an aerial tanker airplane, with a mechanism for moving the boom about different axes. The boom having a pair of aerodynamic surfaces formed into a Vee and known as ruddevators, for moving the boom about the following axes: a tiltable vertical axis for boom movement in a sideways direction or in azimuth; a lateral axis for boom movement in an up-and-down direction or in elevation; and a longitudinal axis for movement of the boom about a roll axis. The ruddevator control system includes a pantographing cable system for automatically changing the angle-of-attack of the aerodynamic surfaces and for alleviating air loads imposed by the receiver airplane, when it is imparting the movement of the boom during refueling engagement. The boom support system includes an articulation mechanism for combining a certain amount of boom roll motion as a function of azimuth movement of the boom; and a device for varying the ratio between the degree of roll motion change vs.

Abstract: An articulated branch assembly comprising pipe member and appropriately arranged combinations of fluid carrying swivels, ball joints, or rubber hose is fixed to the outboard end of a conventional marine cargo loading arm. The branch assembly is used for bunkering vessels while the arm is supported off the cargo manifold adjacent to the bunker manifold. Fitting marine cargo arms with the bunkering assembly and supporting the arm off the cargo manifold permits, for a large percentage of vessels, simultaneous bunkering and cargo transfer through the other cargo arms in the bank. The branch assembly also: eliminates in many cases the need for a separate bunker arm(s), avoids overstressing of the smaller, weaker bunker manifolds, and makes the bunker manifolds more accessible without resorting to long lengths of hose or auxiliary bunkering saddles.

Abstract: A device for unloading grain from a grain storage complex to railroad cars positioned on a railroad siding extending thereby. An overhead track structure is positioned above the railroad car and has a crane longitudinally and laterally movably mounted thereon. A vertically movable loading spout is secured to the crane and extends downwardly therefrom for delivering grain to the hatch openings of the railroad cars. The upper end of the vertically movable tube is universally connected to the lower end of a telescopic delivery tube which has its upper end universally connected to a spout extending from the grain storage facility. The operator may move the crane longitudinally and laterally with respect to the railroad car so that the grain may be loaded into various parts of the car without moving the same.

Abstract: A loading arm for transferring petroleum products at sea between two floating vessels. The loading arm structure includes a rotatably supported column having a boom hingedly supported at the upper end of the column for rotation about a first horizontal axis. An outer arm is hingedly connected at one end to the outer end of the boom for rotation about a second horizontal axis. A hydraulic/pneumatic spring includes a hydraulic cylinder connected between the column and the boom, the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder being pressurized from a large volume of gas for counterbalancing the weight of the boom and the arm. A second hydraulic/pneumatic spring is coupled between the column and a lever arm rotatable about the first horizontal axis. Linkage means couples the lever arm to the outer arm for maintaining the lever arm and outer arm in fixed angular relationship relative to each other as they rotate. The gas pressure in the hydraulic/pneumatic springs is adjustable to accommodate changes in load.

Abstract: An arm driving device for a fluid loading apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a V link comprised of a first link arm and a second link arm connected together rotatably at one end thereof and a hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder rod the top of which is rotatably connected to a suitable portion of either of the link arms, the other end of the first link arm being connected rotatably to a suitable portion of an extension member of an inboard arm of the fluid loading apparatus and the other end of the second link arm being connected rotatable to a suitable member fixedly connected to a stand pipe installed on land. The arm driving device may be applied to operate the outboard arm of the fluid loading apparatus with respect to the inboard arm.

Abstract: A marine loading arm equipped with an improved pipe swivel joint at the outer end of the arm's triple-swivel coupling assembly that functions to connect the outer end of the arm to the manifold flange of a marine tanker. The weight and axial dimension of this improved swivel joint are less than that of conventional swivel joints of the same pipe diameter, so that the coupling flange at the distal end of the triple-swivel assembly rests in a more vertical attitude, thereby easing the task of coupling the arm to the tanker's manifold flange and reducing the moment load imposed on that flange. The improved swivel joint also includes an arrangement for gaining quick and easy access to its packing chamber when replacing the packing between the joint's relatively rotatable elements becomes necessary.

Abstract: A mooring terminal for deep water mooring is provided having a mooring head to which ships can be attached while either receiving or unloading liquid products. The mooring head is constructed so that it can accommodate all motions of the ship and includes a pair of yoke arms carrying hoses external from the mooring head to the ship. The yoke arms are attached to the mooring head in a manner to be able to pivot about a horizontal axis. The mooring head is supported above a deck which can rotate about a vertical axis in a manner to be rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the axis about which the yoke arms rotate. A pipe extends through the tower and at the top is coupled to the hoses by means which are pivotable about the same axes as the mooring head.

Abstract: An underwater articulated loading arm terminating in a hose or hoses, comprising a first or inboard arm connected to the base swivel of a single point mooring and a second or outboard arm pivotally connected to the free end of the inboard arm, a buoy supporting the arms at the pivotal joint, a buoy supporting the free end of the outboard arm, and a hose or hoses extending from the free end of the outboard arm for connection to the manifold of a tanker moored to the single point mooring. Cargo is transferred between the base swivel and the moored tanker through the inboard and outboard arms and the hoses.

Abstract: In the context of the handling of cryogenic materials, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), in marine loading systems, coaxial ducting links various plant sites of the system to provide in the one link both liquid transfer ducting and a return ducting for vapor of the liquid. Return of this vapor in the outer ducting helps thermally insulate the liquid in the inner ducting from the surrounding. The ducting is made up of rigid coaxial pipes swivellably connected together by swivel joints having no rolling bearing parts.Two particular arrangements of system are shown in one of which satellite loading buoys are linked to a main storage tank; in the other a main storage tank is fed with liquefied gas from a well head tower and has tanker-loading equipment itself. Loading equipment for a tanker may be comprised in the circuit which includes the coaxial ducting.

Abstract: A combined catenary and single anchor leg mooring system capable of transferring cargo from vessels moored thereto includes an anchor hub suspended by a single anchor leg from a mooring buoy floating on the surface of the sea. A plurality of catenary anchor legs connect to the anchor hub and extend outward and downward to anchors secured in the sea bottom. A cargo transfer swivel assembly is mounted on the anchor hub, and is rotatable about the lower connection point of the single anchor leg. Cargo hose extends from a pipeline manifold located on the sea floor to piping in the anchor hub, and additional cargo hose extends from the swivel assembly to the sea surface and then to the moored tanker.

Abstract: Device for loading and unloading cargo vessels conveying gaseous, liquid or solid materials, comprising a system of hinged on-shore conduits, selective means for connecting said conduits to stationary conduits of on-shore plants and to conduits of vessel tanks, means for cleaning said hinged on-shore conduits, the number of which is smaller than that of said stationary conduits of on-shore plants and that of conduits of vessel tanks.

Abstract: A mooring and cargo handling system for difficult-to-handle cargo such as liquified natural gas (LNG), is provided, which includes a swivel unit mounted on a mooring station and having rotatably connected sections respectfully coupled to a shore installation and to a ship that is moored to the mooring station. The swivel unit sections are connected by a rotary bearing and rotary outer seal, and the unit has a wall forming an auxiliary chamber extending along the bearing and seal, so that evaporating LNG must pass through the auxiliary chamber before it can escape through the bearing and outer seal. A gas pipe connects the auxiliary chamber to the ship or the shore installation where the evaporated gas can be flared or reliquified.

Abstract: A floating structure is anchored relative to the seabed by a rigid arm connected at one end to the structure and at the other end to a member, preferably in the form of an enclosure and including a watertight chamber for personnel, for pivotal movement about respective horizontal axes; the member is adapted to be releasably connected to an enclosure fixed in the seabed, defines with the enclosure a chamber to be placed at atmospheric pressure and is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the enclosure. The arm may include damper means, e.g. in the form of a jack or a horizontal articulation of upper and lower arm parts.

Abstract: A system is described for loading grain from an elevator into the multiple compartments of a railway grain tank car. It includes a substantially horizontally extending cylindrical auger tube with power driven auger positioned above the compartments of the car. The tube has a grain receiving opening at one end and grain discharge openings in a lower side above each compartment. A down spout extends downwardly from each discharge opening with the lower end of each spout extending a short distance into the associated compartment. With this arrangement, when the level of the grain in each compartment reaches the lower end of the spout, the spout is left in position so that it fills with grain up to the auger tube thereby automatically stopping any further flow of grain down the spout.

Abstract: A single anchor leg type single point mooring and cargo transfer buoy has a load-carrying central shaft pipe for anchoring on the sea bottom and having a plurality of structurally segregated transfer chambers about which rotatable housings are sealingly mounted. Cargo vessel piping connects with these rotatable housings which communicate with the sea floor piping through connections extending longitudinally through the central shaft pipe and through apertures in the central shaft pipe wall.