US3838718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-product swivel joint
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1973-01-02
•
Granted: 1974-10-01
•
Expires: 1993-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A multi-product fluid swivel assembly for handling more than one cargo flow at a time, for use in single anchor leg mooring systems where deballasting to shore is required, where bunkering is desired, or where it is desired to handle more than one product simultaneously. The fluid swivel assembly includes a plurality of concentric passageways for handling simultaneous fluid flow. Concentric and integral with male and female race rings of the fluid swivel joint are a plurality of seal rings separated from the bearing rings by means of webs. The webs include a plurality of holes in a concentric pattern around a bore to form the concentric paths for fluid flow. Seals and the seal rings separate the bore from the concentric passage fluid flow paths.
Inventors
- 👤 J Flory
- 👤 R Beazley
- 👤 K Pedersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:08
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
In a single anchor leg mooring system for mooring a tanker at sea, comprising a mooring buoy located at the surface of the sea for receiving a mooring load, a base anchored to the sea bottom, a single anchor leg connected to said buoy and said base comprising an anchor chain, an anchor swivel and a mooring loadcarrying shaft, and a swivel assembly located between said base and said buoy below the surface of the sea, said swivel assembly operably associated with said shaft for aiding in the transfer of cargo between said base and said tanker when it is moored to said buoy, wherein the improvement comprises: said swivel assembly being capable of handling multi-product flow and comprising a plurality of radially spaced passages each for handling separate product flow, including a first product flow passageway formed by said load-carrying shaft having a plurality of spaced openings in the peripheral wall thereof and at least a second product flow passageway radially spaced from said first passageway, a rotatable swivel housing spaced radially outward from said first and second passageways and constructed and arranged to provide at least two separate chambers disposed vertically adjacent each other and concentric with said load-carrying shaft for handling the product flow from said first and second passagways respectively, each of said chamber having an opening in the outer radial wall thereof for connection with product conduit means to provide product flow communication between said conduit means and said chambers, one of said chambers being directly adjacent said load-carrying shaft in product flow communication therewith via said openings, bearing means enabling relative rotation between said load-carrying shaft and said rotatable swivel housing, and a plurality of seal means radially spaced at different distances relative to said peripheral wall of said shaft for separating the product flow through each of said first and second passageways from each other and from contamination by the surrounding sea and for preventing passage of product from said passageways to said bearing means respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
In a single anchor leg mooring system for mooring a tanker at sea, comprising a mooring buoy located at the surface of the sea for receiving a mooring load, a base anchored to the sea bottom, a single anchor leg connected to said buoy and said base comprising an anchor chain, an anchor swivel and a mooring loadcarrying shaft, and a swivel assembly located between said base and said buoy below the surface of the sea, said swivel assembly operably associated with said shaft for aiding in the transfer of cargo between said base and said tanker when it is moored to said buoy, wherein the improvement comprises: said swivel assembly being capable of handling multi-product flow and comprising a plurality of radially spaced passages each for handling separate product flow, including a first product flow passageway formed by said load-carrying shaft having a plurality of spaced openings in the peripheral wall thereof and at least a second product flow passageway radially spaced from said first passageway, a rotatable swivel housing spaced radially outward from said first and second passageways and constructed and arranged to provide at least two separate chambers disposed vertically adjacent each other and concentric with said load-carrying shaft for handling the product flow from said first and second passagways respectively, each of said chamber having an opening in the outer radial wall thereof for connection with product conduit means to provide product flow communication between said conduit means and said chambers, one of said chambers being directly adjacent said load-carrying shaft in product flow communication therewith via said openings, bearing means enabling relative rotation between said load-carrying shaft and said rotatable swivel housing, and a plurality of seal means radially spaced at different distances relative to said peripheral wall of said shaft for separating the product flow through each of said first and second passageways from each other and from contamination by the surrounding sea and for preventing passage of product from said passageways to said bearing means respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 1 wherein said second passageway is located externally of said first passageway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 2 including external seal means for confining flow within said second passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 3 wherein said second passageway is located external to said bearing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 4 wherein said seal means includes internal seal means which comprises first seal means disposed internally of said bearing means and second seal means disposed externalLy of said bearing means for separating said bearing means from said first and second passageways respectively, and said external seal means comprises third seal means disposed externally of said second passageway for confining flow within said second passageway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 2 wherein said second passageway is located internally of said bearing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 6 wherein said seal means includes internal seal means which comprises first seal means disposed internally of said second passageway for separating said first and second passageways, and external seal means which comprises second seal means disposed externally of said second passageway for separating said bearing means from said second passageway, and third seal means disposed externally of said bearing means for preventing entry of foreign material into said bearing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 2 including a third product flow passageway located internally of said load-carrying shaft and a third chamber in said swivel housing separate from and disposed vertically adjacent one of said first and second chambers for handling product flow from said third passageway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 8 wherein said first chamber is in fluid communication with said load-carrying shaft and said second and third chambers are disposed vertically adjacent below and above said first chamber respectively and are fluidly sealed therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 9 wherein said load-carrying shaft includes a second plurality of openings in the peripheral wall thereof spaced axially of said first plurality of openings, said second plurality of openings providing product flow communication between said third chamber and said third product flow passageway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 1 wherein said second passageway is located externally of said load-carrying shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The multi-product swivel of claim 11 wherein said swivel housing includes a stationary lower housing plate having a least one opening therein for providing product flow communication between said second passageway and an adjacent one of said first and second chambers, and said at least one opening being radially spaced from said load-carrying shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
The multi-product swivel of claim 11 having a cavity concentric with said load-carrying shaft and radially spaced therefrom at substantially the same distance as said opening in said lower housing plate, said cavity providing a through path for product flow between said opening in said lower housing plate and said second passageway at any position of relative rotation between said swivel housing and said stationary plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The multi-product swivel of claim 13 including a second seal means mating with surfaces of said rotatable swivel housing and said lower housing stationary plate and located internal with respect to said cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The multi-product swivel of claim 13 including a second seal means mating with surfaces of said rotatable swivel housing and said lower housing stationary plate and located external with respect to said cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
223 words
A multi-product swivel assembly for use in a mooring system for mooring tankers offshore, comprising at least first and second radially spaced passages for product flow therethrough; a centrally located rigid load-bearing shaft having a longitudinal axis and adapted for receiving substantially the entire mooring load from a tanker moored to said system and capable of carrying product therethrough and comprising one of said first and second passages; a plurality of spaced openings in the peripheral wall of said rigid load-bearing shaft; a rotatable swivel housing concentric with said longitudinal axis of said rigid load-bearing shaft and located externally of said shaft directly adjacent thereto; said rotatable swivel housing including a plurality of separate vertically disposed adjacent chaMbers each being concentric with said rigid load-bearing shaft and having product pass therethrough, at least one of said chambers being in direct product flow communication with said rigid load-bearing shaft via said openings; a conduit, comprising the other of said first and second passages, for the passage of product therethrough in product flow communication with a second one of said chambers and located radially outward of said rigid load-bearing shaft; each of said chambers having an opening in the outer radial wall thereof for having connected thereto conduit means for the transfer of product between the tanker moored to said system and said swivel assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
223 words
A multi-product swivel assembly for use in a mooring system for mooring tankers offshore, comprising at least first and second radially spaced passages for product flow therethrough; a centrally located rigid load-bearing shaft having a longitudinal axis and adapted for receiving substantially the entire mooring load from a tanker moored to said system and capable of carrying product therethrough and comprising one of said first and second passages; a plurality of spaced openings in the peripheral wall of said rigid load-bearing shaft; a rotatable swivel housing concentric with said longitudinal axis of said rigid load-bearing shaft and located externally of said shaft directly adjacent thereto; said rotatable swivel housing including a plurality of separate vertically disposed adjacent chaMbers each being concentric with said rigid load-bearing shaft and having product pass therethrough, at least one of said chambers being in direct product flow communication with said rigid load-bearing shaft via said openings; a conduit, comprising the other of said first and second passages, for the passage of product therethrough in product flow communication with a second one of said chambers and located radially outward of said rigid load-bearing shaft; each of said chambers having an opening in the outer radial wall thereof for having connected thereto conduit means for the transfer of product between the tanker moored to said system and said swivel assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multi-product swivel assembly of claim 16 wherein said rigid load-bearing shaft is substantially unobstructed internally in a circumferential direction.
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) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |