US3838720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotatable distributors
Assignee: CO GENERALE D EQUIPEMENT MARIT
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Filing: 1973-01-30
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-01-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to rotatable distributors for fitment to a buoy or a tower for the purpose of transferring fluids between a ship and a storage point. As an illustration, the distributor may be used for passing oil between an oil storage plant on shore and an oil tanker. The distributor of the invention comprises a platform on the buoy or tower and carrying a fixed hollow body to which two lower pipes are firmly attached, these pipes being connected to the storage point. This hollow body sealingly supports a rotating dome to which are attached at least two lateral pipes connectable to the ship, and the body has an internal cavity into which all the four pipes open. An oblique partition is firmly attached to the dome to define upper and lower chambers in the cavity and the two lateral pipes aforementioned are respectively connected to these two chambers. The lower chamber thus provides a permanent communication between the corresponding lateral pipe and one of the lower pipes aforementioned. An inner passage is firmly attached to the body and extends coaxially and within the dome and it moreover passes through a sealing gland in the partition to provide a communication between the other one of the lower pipes aforementioned and the upper chamber into which the appropriate lateral pipe opens. Thus, any conduits connected to the lateral pipe and the one lower pipe and between the other lateral pipe and the other lower pipe may be isolated one from the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Hulstijn H Van
- 👤 H Herblay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:58
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
358 words
A rotatable fluid distributor adapted to be mounted on a support structure for transferring at least one fluid between a ship and a storage point, comprising, a. a platform mounted on said support structure, b. a hollow body rigidly mounted on said platform, c. two lower pipes firmly attached to said hollow body in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow body and adapted to be connected in fluid communications with said storage point, d. a hollow dome, means for rotatably mounting said dome on said hollow body in fluid tight relation tHerewith, e. at least two laterally extending pipes rigidly secured to said dome in fluid communication with the interior of the dome and adapted to be connected in fluid communication to the ship by ducts; said laterally extending pipes being situated at substantially the same level, f. said dome and said hollow body being in fluid communication to define an internal cavity therebetween all of said pipes being in fluid communication with said cavity, g. an oblique partition rigidly secured to said dome on the interior thereof within said cavity and separating said cavity into lower and upper chambers, one of said laterally extending pipes and one of said lower pipes being connected to said lower chamber, whereby, said lower chamber provides a permanent fluid communication between said one laterally extending pipe and said one lower pipe, and 1. means for providing an inner fluid passage firmly attached to said body and extending coaxially with, and within, said cavity through said partition into said upper chamber, sealing gland means in said partition surrounding said passage means for providing a liquid tight seal between said passage means and said partition thereby to keep said upper and lower chambers isolated from each other; said passage means being in fluid communciation communication the other lower pipe and said upper chamber, into which the other of said laterally extending pipes opens, whereby fluid supplied to said distributor through the respective laterally extending pipes is kept separated in said cavity by said partition and passage means and directed only to the lower pipe associated with a respective laterally extending pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
358 words
A rotatable fluid distributor adapted to be mounted on a support structure for transferring at least one fluid between a ship and a storage point, comprising, a. a platform mounted on said support structure, b. a hollow body rigidly mounted on said platform, c. two lower pipes firmly attached to said hollow body in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow body and adapted to be connected in fluid communications with said storage point, d. a hollow dome, means for rotatably mounting said dome on said hollow body in fluid tight relation tHerewith, e. at least two laterally extending pipes rigidly secured to said dome in fluid communication with the interior of the dome and adapted to be connected in fluid communication to the ship by ducts; said laterally extending pipes being situated at substantially the same level, f. said dome and said hollow body being in fluid communication to define an internal cavity therebetween all of said pipes being in fluid communication with said cavity, g. an oblique partition rigidly secured to said dome on the interior thereof within said cavity and separating said cavity into lower and upper chambers, one of said laterally extending pipes and one of said lower pipes being connected to said lower chamber, whereby, said lower chamber provides a permanent fluid communication between said one laterally extending pipe and said one lower pipe, and 1. means for providing an inner fluid passage firmly attached to said body and extending coaxially with, and within, said cavity through said partition into said upper chamber, sealing gland means in said partition surrounding said passage means for providing a liquid tight seal between said passage means and said partition thereby to keep said upper and lower chambers isolated from each other; said passage means being in fluid communciation communication the other lower pipe and said upper chamber, into which the other of said laterally extending pipes opens, whereby fluid supplied to said distributor through the respective laterally extending pipes is kept separated in said cavity by said partition and passage means and directed only to the lower pipe associated with a respective laterally extending pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A distributor according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body includes a lower portion extending beneath said platform, said lower portion of said body being formed by a substantially frustro-conical underpiece, said lower pipes being connected obliquely to said underpiece, and said inner fluid passage means having a lateral enlargement into which said other of said lower pipes opens in fluid communication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 2 including, a. means defining a third hollow chamber in said dome isolated from said upper chamber, b. a third lateral pipe connected in fluid communication with said third chamber, c. a third conduit extending coaxially with, and within, said inner fluid passage means and connected in fluid communication with said third chamber; a sealing gland surrounding said third conduit at its point of connection to said means defining said third chamber to provide a fluid tight seal isolating said third chamber from said upper chamber; d. said third conduit projecting through said underpiece to the exterior of said body and defining a third lower pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 3, wherein said three lateral pipes include flanges situated in the same plane and with their centres in line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 4, including a. a conduit-carrying rigid arm comprising at least in part, a plurality of conduits adapted to be connected to said ducts connecting said chambers to the ship, b. pivot means for connecting said rigid arm to said dome and having a pivot axis located at right angles to the axis of rotation of said dome, c. sealed hinged joints connecting said conduits in fluid communication to said pipes, the axes of articulation of said joints coinciding substantially with the pivot axis of said pivot means; d. a circular movement track firmly attached to the platform; and means for movably supporting said arm on said track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 5, and adapted to be mounted on a floating bouy, said distributor including arm means for mooring a ship to the distributor, means for movably supporting said mooring arm on said track, said conduit-carrying arm and said mooring arm form an angle between them; said distributor incluDing a balancing arm arranged in the excluded angle of said two first-mentioned arms, and a counter weight mounted on said balancing arm to hold said platform substantially horizontally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A rotatable distributor according to Claim 1, including a. a conduit-carrying rigid arm comprising at least in part, a plurality of conduits adapted to be connected to said ducts connecting said chambers to the ship, b. pivot means for connecting said rigid arm to said dome and having a pivot axis located at right angles to the axis of rotation of said dome, c. sealed hinged joints connecting said conduits in fluid communication to said pipes, the axes of articulation of said joints coinciding substantially with the pivot axis of said pivot means; d. a circular movement track firmly attached to the platform; and means for movably supporting said arm on said track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
250 words
A rotatable distributor adapted to be mounted on a support structure for transferring at least one fluid between a ship and a storage point, comprising, a. a platform mounted on said support structure, b. a hollow body rigidly mounted on said support structure, c. at least one lower pipe firmly attached to said hollow body and adapted to be connected in fluid communication with said storage point, d. a hollow dome, means for rotatably mounting dome on said hollow body in fluid tight relation therewith, e. at least one laterally extending pipe rigidly attached to said dome in fluid communication with the interior of the dome and adapted to be connected in fluid communication to the ship by a duct; f. said dome and said hollow body being in fluid communication to define an internal cavity therebetween, said pipes being in fluid communication with said cavity, g. a conduit-carrying arm comprising, at least in part, a conduit adapted to be connected to said duct connecting said dome to the ship, h. pivot means for connecting said arm to said dome and having pivot axis located at right angles to the axis of rotation of said dome, i. a sealed hinged joint joining said conduit in fluid communication to said laterally extending pipe, the axis of articulation of said joint coinciding substantially with the pivot axis of said pivot means, and j. a circular movement track firmly attached to said platform; and means for movably supporting said arm on said track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
250 words
A rotatable distributor adapted to be mounted on a support structure for transferring at least one fluid between a ship and a storage point, comprising, a. a platform mounted on said support structure, b. a hollow body rigidly mounted on said support structure, c. at least one lower pipe firmly attached to said hollow body and adapted to be connected in fluid communication with said storage point, d. a hollow dome, means for rotatably mounting dome on said hollow body in fluid tight relation therewith, e. at least one laterally extending pipe rigidly attached to said dome in fluid communication with the interior of the dome and adapted to be connected in fluid communication to the ship by a duct; f. said dome and said hollow body being in fluid communication to define an internal cavity therebetween, said pipes being in fluid communication with said cavity, g. a conduit-carrying arm comprising, at least in part, a conduit adapted to be connected to said duct connecting said dome to the ship, h. pivot means for connecting said arm to said dome and having pivot axis located at right angles to the axis of rotation of said dome, i. a sealed hinged joint joining said conduit in fluid communication to said laterally extending pipe, the axis of articulation of said joint coinciding substantially with the pivot axis of said pivot means, and j. a circular movement track firmly attached to said platform; and means for movably supporting said arm on said track.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
205 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 8, including, a. an oblique partition rigidly secured to said dome on the interior thereof within said cavity and separating said cavity into a first lateral chamber and a second lateral chamber at the same level in said cavity to which chambers at least two laterally extending pipes are respectively connected, said first chamber providing a permanent fluid communication between a first lateral pipe and a first lower pipe, and b. means for providing an inner passage firmly attached to said body and extending coaxially with, and within, said cavity through said partition into said second lateral chamber, sealing gland means in said partition surrounding said passage means for providing a liquid tight seal therebetween, said passage means providing communication between a second lower pipe and the second chamber into which a second laterally extending pipe opens; and c. said conduit carrying arm including at least two conduits adapted to be connected to ducts connecting the dome to the ship, and at least two sealed hinged joints joining said two laterally extending pipes to said at least two conduits of said arm, the axes of articulation of said joints coinciding substantially with the pivot axis of said pivot means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 9, wherein said hollow body includes a lower portion extending beneath said platform, said lower portion of the body being formed by a substantially frustro-conical underpiece, said lower pipes being connected obliquely to said underpiece, and said inner fluid passage means having a lateral enlargement into which said second lower pipe opens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 9, and further comprising: a. at least a third hollow chamber in said dome and isolated from said lateral chambers, b. a third lateral pipe connected in fluid communication to said third chamber, c. a conduit extending coaxially with, and within, said inner fluid passage means and connected in fluid communication with said third chamber, a sealing gland surrounding said third chamber to provide a fluid tight seal isolating said third chamber from said upper chamber; d. a third lower pipe rigidly secured to said hollow body and adapted to be connected to said storage point; and e. a third sealed hinged joint joining said third lateral pipe to a third pipe of said conduit-carrying arm, the centers of said three joints being in line so that the axes, of articulation of the hinged joints coincide substantially with the pivot axis of said pivot means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
A rotatable distributor according to claim 8, and adapted to be mounted on a floating buoy, said distributor including arm means for mooring a ship to the disributor, a. said mooring arm being connected to said rotating dome and including means for movably supporting the arm on a circular movement track on said platform, said mooring arm and said conduit-carrying arm forming an angle between them, and b. a balancing arm arranged in the excluded angle of said two first-mentioned arms and a counter weight mounted on said balancing arm to hold said platform substantially horizontally.
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 |