US3891004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottom cross-over loading arm
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1973-08-24
•
Granted: 1975-06-24
•
Expires: 1993-08-24
Abstract
Abstract An articulated fluid loading arm especially for transferring gasoline or other fuels from a bulk storage reservoir into the bottom of a tank truck or other fluid transport vehicle. The arm is pivotally mounted on a generally vertical riser, and includes an inboard arm section connected to the riser through a vertical swivel joint assembly, an outboard arm section connected to the inboard section through another vertical swivel joint assembly, and a coupling assembly, connected to the outboard arm section by a horizontal swivel joint assembly, for coupling the arm to the inlet of a tank or the like. The outboard arm section comprises inner and outer pipe members interconnected through a horizontal swivel joint assembly that facilitates pivoting the outer member with respect to the inner member about a horizontal axis, and the outer member and the coupling assembly are counterbalanced about this horizontal axis by a counterweight or any of several other systems including springs, fluid cylinders, and gear assemblies.
Inventors
- 👤 Houston W Knight
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:33
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/002; F; F16; F16L; F16L27/00; F16L27/08; F16L27/0861; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/8807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An articulated fluid loading arm especially for use in transferring fuel from a storage reservoir into a tank truck through a bottom-located cargo inlet, comprising a. an inboard arm section pivotally mounted on an upstanding riser for movement with respect thereto in a horizontal direction, b. an outboard arm section pivotally connected to the inboard arm section for movement with respect thereto in a horizontal direction, said outboard arm section including 1. an inner horizontal pipe section extending from the inboard arm section, 2. an intermediate vertical pipe section extending downwardly from the inner horizontal pipe section, and 3. an outer pipe section pivotally connected at its inner end to the lower end of the intermediate pipe section by a first pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis, c. a swivelable coupling assembly for pivotally interconnecting the outer pipe section to a bottom-located tank truck cargo inlet, said coupling assembly having an inlet element and an outlet element, and d. a second pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis and interconnecting the outer pipe section and the coupling assembly such that the axis of the outer pipe section and the axis of the adjacent portion of the coupling assembly reside in a common plane that is transverse to the axis of said second swivel joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
An articulated fluid loading arm especially for use in transferring fuel from a storage reservoir into a tank truck through a bottom-located cargo inlet, comprising a. an inboard arm section pivotally mounted on an upstanding riser for movement with respect thereto in a horizontal direction, b. an outboard arm section pivotally connected to the inboard arm section for movement with respect thereto in a horizontal direction, said outboard arm section including 1. an inner horizontal pipe section extending from the inboard arm section, 2. an intermediate vertical pipe section extending downwardly from the inner horizontal pipe section, and 3. an outer pipe section pivotally connected at its inner end to the lower end of the intermediate pipe section by a first pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis, c. a swivelable coupling assembly for pivotally interconnecting the outer pipe section to a bottom-located tank truck cargo inlet, said coupling assembly having an inlet element and an outlet element, and d. a second pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis and interconnecting the outer pipe section and the coupling assembly such that the axis of the outer pipe section and the axis of the adjacent portion of the coupling assembly reside in a common plane that is transverse to the axis of said second swivel joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
an intermediate vertical pipe section extending downwardly from the inner horizontal pipe section, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
an intermediate vertical pipe section extending downwardly from the inner horizontal pipe section, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A loading arm according to claim 1 wherein said common plane extends through the area of the bearing raceway of the second swivel joint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
an outer pipe section pivotally connected at its inner end to the lower end of the intermediate pipe section by a first pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis, c. a swivelable coupling assembly for pivotally interconnecting the outer pipe section to a bottom-located tank truck cargo inlet, said coupling assembly having an inlet element and an outlet element, and d. a second pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis and interconnecting the outer pipe section and the coupling assembly such that the axis of the outer pipe section and the axis of the adjacent portion of the coupling assembly reside in a common plane that is transverse to the axis of said second swivel joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
an outer pipe section pivotally connected at its inner end to the lower end of the intermediate pipe section by a first pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis, c. a swivelable coupling assembly for pivotally interconnecting the outer pipe section to a bottom-located tank truck cargo inlet, said coupling assembly having an inlet element and an outlet element, and d. a second pipe swivel joint oriented on a horizontal axis and interconnecting the outer pipe section and the coupling assembly such that the axis of the outer pipe section and the axis of the adjacent portion of the coupling assembly reside in a common plane that is transverse to the axis of said second swivel joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A loading arm according to claim 2 wherein the second swivel joint includes a pair of pipe elbows extending outwardly from said bearing raceway area and wherein said elbows are flattened to reduce the width of said second swivel joint as measured on its axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A loading arm according to claim 3 including means for counterbalancing the outer pipe section, the second pipe swivel joint, and the coupling assembly about the horizontal axis of the first pipe swivel joint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A loading arm according to claim 4 wherein the counterbalancing means comprises a counterweight assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A loading arm according to claim 4 wherein the counterbalancing means comprises a tension spring assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A loading arm according to claim 4 wherein the counterbalancing means comprises a compression spring assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A loading arm according to claim 4 wherein the counterbalancing means comprises a torsion spring assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A loading arm according to claim 4 wherein the counterbalancing means comprises a fluid cylinder assembly.
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) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |