US3602175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil production vessel
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
•
Filing: 1969-07-02
•
Granted: 1971-08-31
•
Expires: 1989-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A ship is described which is useful for recovery of fluid minerals from the ocean floor. A rotatable mooring swivel through an aperture in the ship''s hull near the bow is moored to the sea floor. A riser pipe from the ocean floor passes through the center of the mooring swivel and is connected to a substantially vertically extending tower above the ship. This permits the ship to ''''weathervane'''' about the moored plug and riser. The tower rotates with the ship and a fluid swivel is provided between the upper end of the riser and the tower to accommodate relative rotation. In addition, vertical translation of the riser upper end relative to the length of the tower is permitted and the tower is mounted on gimbals for tilting relative to the deck of the ship to remain aligned with the riser end.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Morgan
- 👤 Bruno R Naczkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:31
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B35/4413; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B21/507; E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/002; E21B19/004; E21B19/006; E21B7/00; E21B7/12; E21B7/128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A sea going storage tanker comprising: a streamlined hull: means within said hull for storing substantial quantities of fluid; said hull having a vertical aperture through said hull at a distance from the bow of no more than twenty percent of the bow to stern length of said hull; a mooring plug in said aperture; means for anchoring said mooring plug tO the sea floor; bearing means between said mooring plug and said hull for permitting relative rotation therebetween about a substantially vertical axis; said mooring plug having a substantially vertical passage; a substantially vertically disposed tower mounted over the passage in said mooring plug and connected to said hull for minimizing rotation between said tower and said hull about a substantially vertical axis; support means for said tower for permitting limited rotation of said tower relative to said hull about at least two axes in a substantially horizontal plane; means on said tower for connection to an upper end of an underwater riser, and means for connection further comprising: means for applying a substantially constant tension to the end of the riser during relative translation of the riser end along the height of the tower; a fluid manifold mounted for translation along the length of said tower and restricted from rotation relative to said tower about an axis along the length thereof, said fluid manifold being connected to said riser for transfer of fluids therebetween; and an articulated fluid conduit between said fluid manifold and the tower.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A sea going storage tanker comprising: a streamlined hull: means within said hull for storing substantial quantities of fluid; said hull having a vertical aperture through said hull at a distance from the bow of no more than twenty percent of the bow to stern length of said hull; a mooring plug in said aperture; means for anchoring said mooring plug tO the sea floor; bearing means between said mooring plug and said hull for permitting relative rotation therebetween about a substantially vertical axis; said mooring plug having a substantially vertical passage; a substantially vertically disposed tower mounted over the passage in said mooring plug and connected to said hull for minimizing rotation between said tower and said hull about a substantially vertical axis; support means for said tower for permitting limited rotation of said tower relative to said hull about at least two axes in a substantially horizontal plane; means on said tower for connection to an upper end of an underwater riser, and means for connection further comprising: means for applying a substantially constant tension to the end of the riser during relative translation of the riser end along the height of the tower; a fluid manifold mounted for translation along the length of said tower and restricted from rotation relative to said tower about an axis along the length thereof, said fluid manifold being connected to said riser for transfer of fluids therebetween; and an articulated fluid conduit between said fluid manifold and the tower.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A tanker as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means for mounting said tower comprises: a tower base; first and second orthogonally arranged gimbal means on said mooring plug and supporting the lower end of said tower for limited rotation thereof about at least two axes in a horizontal plane; a plurality of guy cables connected to the upper end of said tower; and constant tension means interconnecting each of said guy cables and said hull for permitting limited motion of the upper end of said tower relative to said hull.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
235 words
A combination comprising: a floating structure at the surface of the sea; an elongated multiple conduit riser having a lower end connected to the sea floor; means interconnecting the floating structure and the upper end of said riser, said means comprising means connected to the upper end of said riser for maintaining a substantially constant tension on said riser despite relative motion between said surface structure and the sea floor; means between the ends of said riser for conveying fluids between the interior of each of the multiple conduits and said floating structure comprising: a fluid manifold surrounding a portion of the length of said riser and in fluid communication with a conduit thereof, and means for accommodating relative rotation between said manifold and said conduit about an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said riser so that said surface structure may rotate about said riser; and means at a location substantially coincident with the upper end of said riser for mooring the floating structure to the sea floor for limiting lateral translation thereof comprising: a mooring plug including a circular portion, means for anchoring the mooring plug to the sea floor, and bearing means interconnecting the circular portion of said mooring plug and said floating structure for permitting relative rotation therebetween for minimizing relative rotation between said riser and said mooring plug while permitting relative rotation between said floating structure and said riser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
235 words
A combination comprising: a floating structure at the surface of the sea; an elongated multiple conduit riser having a lower end connected to the sea floor; means interconnecting the floating structure and the upper end of said riser, said means comprising means connected to the upper end of said riser for maintaining a substantially constant tension on said riser despite relative motion between said surface structure and the sea floor; means between the ends of said riser for conveying fluids between the interior of each of the multiple conduits and said floating structure comprising: a fluid manifold surrounding a portion of the length of said riser and in fluid communication with a conduit thereof, and means for accommodating relative rotation between said manifold and said conduit about an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said riser so that said surface structure may rotate about said riser; and means at a location substantially coincident with the upper end of said riser for mooring the floating structure to the sea floor for limiting lateral translation thereof comprising: a mooring plug including a circular portion, means for anchoring the mooring plug to the sea floor, and bearing means interconnecting the circular portion of said mooring plug and said floating structure for permitting relative rotation therebetween for minimizing relative rotation between said riser and said mooring plug while permitting relative rotation between said floating structure and said riser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
A combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said means interconnecting the floating structure and the riser comprises: a tower mounted on said floating structure over said mooring plug to the floating structure so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween about an approximately vertical axis; means for mounting said tower on said floating structure for permitting limited rotation therebetween about at least a pair of axes in a substantially horizontal plane; said tower supporting at least a portion of said means for applying constant tension to said riser; and means on said tower for fluidly interconnecting the fluid manifold on said conduit and a point aDjacent the base of said tower.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |