US3746060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connecting of conduit terminals on traveling marine vessels
Assignee: Weser AG
•
Filing: 1971-06-24
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Each of two marine vessels, which are capable of travelling in line-ahead formation, is provided with one or more conduit terminals for a flowable substance. One of the vessels is further provided with a bridge which is connected to the one vessel at its one end for movement about a horizontal(and/or a vertical)axis so that it can be raised and lowered. The other end of the bridge is provided with a connecting arrangement, preferably a universal joint structure, by means of which it can be connected at will to the other vessel travelling in the wake of the first one. The bridge carries one or more conduits extending longitudinally and provided at their opposite ends with coupling devices by means of which they can be coupled to the conduit terminals on the two vessels so that flowable substance can be transferred from one vessel to the other vessel, and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 F Wiese
- 👤 H Janssen
- 👤 G Ecke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:08
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D9/00; B67D9/02; B63; B63B; B63B27/00; B63B27/18; B63B27/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/8807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A transfer system for transferring flowable substances between marine vessels travelling in line-ahead formation, comprising a first and a second marine vessel capable of travelling in line-ahead formation; a first and a second conduit terminal for flowable substances on said first and second vessel, respectively; an elongated rigid bridging structure having two end portions; first connecting means connecting one of said end portions to said first vessel for movement of said bridging structure to and from a position in which it extends to said second vessel; second connecting means including jointed means for connecting the other of said end portions to said second vessel with freedom of limited relative displacement of said second vessel and bridging structure but for transmission of pressures and tensile forces between said vessels via said bridging structure while said vessels remain spaced apart by a distance which is determined by the length of said bridging structure; conduit means mounted on said bridging structure extending longitudinally of the same and having spaced end sections located in the region of the respective end portions; and coupling means on said end sections and said conduit terminals, respectively, for mating engagement in a sense connecting the conduit terminals of said vessels via said conduit means so as to permit transfer of flowable substances between said vessels through said conduit means without danger of damage to the latter and to said coupling means due to the stresstransmitting connection of said vessels via said bridging structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A transfer system for transferring flowable substances between marine vessels travelling in line-ahead formation, comprising a first and a second marine vessel capable of travelling in line-ahead formation; a first and a second conduit terminal for flowable substances on said first and second vessel, respectively; an elongated rigid bridging structure having two end portions; first connecting means connecting one of said end portions to said first vessel for movement of said bridging structure to and from a position in which it extends to said second vessel; second connecting means including jointed means for connecting the other of said end portions to said second vessel with freedom of limited relative displacement of said second vessel and bridging structure but for transmission of pressures and tensile forces between said vessels via said bridging structure while said vessels remain spaced apart by a distance which is determined by the length of said bridging structure; conduit means mounted on said bridging structure extending longitudinally of the same and having spaced end sections located in the region of the respective end portions; and coupling means on said end sections and said conduit terminals, respectively, for mating engagement in a sense connecting the conduit terminals of said vessels via said conduit means so as to permit transfer of flowable substances between said vessels through said conduit means without danger of damage to the latter and to said coupling means due to the stresstransmitting connection of said vessels via said bridging structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
217 words
An arrangement for connecting conduit terminals on two marine vessels travelling in line-ahead formation, comprising an elongated rigid bridging structure having two opposite end portions; first connecting means for connecting one of said end portions to one vessel for movement relative to the same to and from a position in which said bridging structure extends to the other vessel; second connecting means for connecting the other of said end portions to said other vessel so that pressures and tensile forces can be transmitted between said vessels via said bridging structure while said vessels remain spaced apart by a fixed distance determined by the presence of said bridging structure, at least one of said connecting means comprising jointed means for permitting relative independent limited movements of the connected vessels; conduit means mounted on said bridging structure extending longitudinally of the same and having spaced end sections in the regions of the respective opposite end portions of said bridging structure; and coupling means on said end sections for coupling the same with the respective conduit terminals on said vessels so as to permit the transfer of flowable material between said vessels through said conduit means without danger of damage to the latter and to said coupling means due to the stress-transmitting connection of said vessels by said bridging structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
217 words
An arrangement for connecting conduit terminals on two marine vessels travelling in line-ahead formation, comprising an elongated rigid bridging structure having two opposite end portions; first connecting means for connecting one of said end portions to one vessel for movement relative to the same to and from a position in which said bridging structure extends to the other vessel; second connecting means for connecting the other of said end portions to said other vessel so that pressures and tensile forces can be transmitted between said vessels via said bridging structure while said vessels remain spaced apart by a fixed distance determined by the presence of said bridging structure, at least one of said connecting means comprising jointed means for permitting relative independent limited movements of the connected vessels; conduit means mounted on said bridging structure extending longitudinally of the same and having spaced end sections in the regions of the respective opposite end portions of said bridging structure; and coupling means on said end sections for coupling the same with the respective conduit terminals on said vessels so as to permit the transfer of flowable material between said vessels through said conduit means without danger of damage to the latter and to said coupling means due to the stress-transmitting connection of said vessels by said bridging structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said first connecting means comprises mounting means mounting said bridging structure on said one vessel for pivotal displacement about a transverse axis, and said jointed means connects said other end portions with said other vessel with freedom of universal movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said axis is a normally horizontal axis; and further comprising displacinG means for displacing said bridging means about said axis between an inoperative upright position and an operative substantially horizontal position in which it extends from said one to said other vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 4, said displacing means comprising a winding tackle connected with said bridging structure and including rope means, and a winch on said one vessel and connected with said rope means for taking-up and paying-out of the same so as to displace said bridging means about said axis between said operative and inoperative positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said jointed means means comprises a universal joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said coupling means comprising coupling portions provided on said end sections and adapted to mate with cooperating coupling portions on said conduit terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 7, said first connecting means being adapted for connecting said one end portion to said one vessel for turning movement of said bridging structure about an axis; and wherein at least said coupling portions on the end sections at said one end portion are located in a general plane which in any position of said bridging structure is substantially tangential to said axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said first connecting means comprising connecting structures for connecting said one end portion to said one vessel with freedom of relative movement about two mutually inclined axes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said first connecting means comprising connecting structures for connecting said one end portion to said one vessel with freedom of relative movement about two mutually inclined axes one of which is normally horizontal and the other of which is normally vertical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2; further comprising at least one arm adapted to be connected with said one vessel and displaceable independently of said bridging structure to an engaging position extending to and engaging said other vessel, whereby to enable establishing of a connection between said vessels prior to connecting of said bridging structure between the same.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 11, said first connecting means comprising a substantially horizontal pivot shaft mounting said bridging structure for movement to said position; and wherein said arm is a hydraulically telescopable arm also mounted on said pivot shaft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |