Powered balance system for a fluid transferring apparatus

Claim 2

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; f. power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with a fluid; g. control means for regulating said power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section, said control means including means for sensing the presence of fluid in said transferring apparatus, and means interconnecting said sensing means and said power means, whereby the presence of fluid in said apparatus actuates said sensing means to prevent operation of said power means.

Claim 3

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; f. first power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; g. control means for regulating said first power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section; and h. second power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said first axis, saiD second power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said second power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said inner pipe section in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 4

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; f. first power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; g. control means for regulating said first power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section; and h. second power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said first axis, saiD second power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said second power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said inner pipe section in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 5

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis; d. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; e. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; f. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; g. first power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; h. control means for regulating said first power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section; and i. third power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said vertical axis, said third power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said third power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating horizontal movement of said pipe sections in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 6

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis; d. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; e. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; f. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; g. first power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; h. control means for regulating said first power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section; and i. third power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said vertical axis, said third power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said third power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating horizontal movement of said pipe sections in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 7

A fluid transferring apparatus as defined in claim 3, including second power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said first axis, said second power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said second power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said inboard pipe section in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 8

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis, said counterbalancing means including a weighted arm, a shaft fixed to said arm and rotatably mounted at the end of said inboard pipe section opposite the end to which said outboard pipe section is connected, a first sheave fixed to the shaft on one side of the weighted arm, and a second sheave fixed to the shaft on the opposite side of the weighted arm; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis, said means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section including a sheave fixed to said outboard pipe section, a first cable trained about said outboard pipe section sheave, a second cable trained about said first sheave and connected at each end to corresponding ends of said first cable, a third cable trained about said second sheave and connected at each end to corresponding ends of said first cable, and pulley guide means for aligning said third cable to exert a force on said second sheave that is equal and parallel to the force exerted by said second cable on said first sheave; f. power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; and g. control means for regulating said power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 9

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis, said counterbalancing means including a weighted arm, a shaft fixed to said arm and rotatably mounted at the end of said inboard pipe section opposite the end to which said outboard pipe section is connected, a first sheave fixed to the shaft on one side of the weighted arm, and a second sheave fixed to the shaft on the opposite side of the weighted arm; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis, said means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section including a sheave fixed to said outboard pipe section, a first cable trained about said outboard pipe section sheave, a second cable trained about said first sheave and connected at each end to corresponding ends of said first cable, a third cable trained about said second sheave and connected at each end to corresponding ends of said first cable, and pulley guide means for aligning said third cable to exert a force on said second sheave that is equal and parallel to the force exerted by said second cable on said first sheave; f. power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; and g. control means for regulating said power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 10

A fluid transferring apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said power means include a double-acting hydraulic cylinder linked with said first cable.

Claim 11

A fluid transferring apparatus as defined in claim 6, including second power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said first axis, said second power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said second power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said inner pipe section in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 12

A fluid transferring apparatus as defined in claim 6, including means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, and third power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said vertical axis, said third power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said third power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating horizontal movement of said pipe sections in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 13

A fluid transferring apparatus as defined in claim 8, including second power means for pivoting said inboard pipe section about said first axis, said second power means being regulated by said control means to prevent operation of said second power means when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said inboard pipe section in response to movement of said outboard pipe section.

Claim 14

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; f. power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; g. control means for regulating said power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section; h. means for releasably locking said outboard pipe section to said inboard pipe section to prevent pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; and i. means for preventing operation of said power means when said outboard pipe section is releasably locked to said inboard pipe section.

Claim 15

A fluid transferring apparatus comprising: a. an inboard pipe section; b. means mounting said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal axis; c. an outboard pipe section connected to said inboard pipe section for pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal axis; d. counterbalancing means connected to the inboard pipe section at a given point for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal axis; e. means connecting said counterbalancing means with said outboard pipe section for movement of said counterbalancing means about said third axis on pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; f. power means for simultaneously moving said outboard pipe section about said second axis and said counterbalancing means about said third axis whereby said outboard pipe section is balanced when filled with fluid; g. control means for regulating said power means to prevent operation thereof when said pipe sections are filled with fluid, while also facilitating movement of said connecting means in response to movement of said outboard pipe section; h. means for releasably locking said outboard pipe section to said inboard pipe section to prevent pivotal movement of said outboard pipe section about said second axis; and i. means for preventing operation of said power means when said outboard pipe section is releasably locked to said inboard pipe section.

Claim 16

A fluid transferring apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said locking means is powered by an hydraulic cylinder, and said power operation preventing means is associated with and actuatable by said locking means.