US3894567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Offshore vessel mooring
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1971-09-08
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1991-09-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a ship''s mooring of the single point type for an offshore location, including a liquid cargo loading facility. The mooring comprises a foundation member such as a pile or the like which is imbedded in the offshore substratum with a portion projecting thereabove. A buoyant casing extending to the water''s surface is operably engaged at its lower end with the foundation member to enclose and protect a liquid carrying conduit. Said conduit is communicated either with a shore based source of liquid to be transferred to a transport vessel, or is coupled with a floating storage vessel such as a tanker or barge. In the latter instance, the storage or transport vessel is positioned by a rotatable connection at the foundation member whereby to limit movement of the vessel during a liquid transfer operation.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Mott
- 👤 Lynn J Ratcliff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:08
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A vessel mooring and liquid transfer apparatus for an offshore body of water being adapted to moor and communicate a floating vessel with a submerged source of liquid cargo, which transfer apparatus includes; an elongated column disposed normally in a substantially upright disposition with said body of water and having an upper buoyant portion and a lower anchoring section, the latter being embedded into the floor beneath said body of water, flexible coupling means operably connecting said respective lower section and upper buoyant portions, to permit limited pivotal movement of the latter about said anchoring section, an articulated conduit disposed within said elongated column having a pivotal segment extending beyond the upper end of said column and having means on said the ends of conduit to engage said floating vessel for transferring liquid cargo between said vessel and said liquid cargo source, said conduit including a flexible connection therein to permit pivotal movement of the conduit in response to pivotal movement of said column buoyant portion, and vessel mooring means depending from said anchoring section at a pOint adjacent to the floor of said body of water, and spaced vertically downwardly from said conduit end, being rotatably carried on said anchoring section operable to removably engage a mooring line extending to said vessel whereby to permit limited movement of the latter about said transfer apparatus during a cargo transfer operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A vessel mooring and liquid transfer apparatus for an offshore body of water being adapted to moor and communicate a floating vessel with a submerged source of liquid cargo, which transfer apparatus includes; an elongated column disposed normally in a substantially upright disposition with said body of water and having an upper buoyant portion and a lower anchoring section, the latter being embedded into the floor beneath said body of water, flexible coupling means operably connecting said respective lower section and upper buoyant portions, to permit limited pivotal movement of the latter about said anchoring section, an articulated conduit disposed within said elongated column having a pivotal segment extending beyond the upper end of said column and having means on said the ends of conduit to engage said floating vessel for transferring liquid cargo between said vessel and said liquid cargo source, said conduit including a flexible connection therein to permit pivotal movement of the conduit in response to pivotal movement of said column buoyant portion, and vessel mooring means depending from said anchoring section at a pOint adjacent to the floor of said body of water, and spaced vertically downwardly from said conduit end, being rotatably carried on said anchoring section operable to removably engage a mooring line extending to said vessel whereby to permit limited movement of the latter about said transfer apparatus during a cargo transfer operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible coupling means includes; a plurality of flexible lines interconnecting the respective upper portion and lower anchoring sections to permit said limited pivotal movement therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower anchoring section includes; at least one elongated foundation member substantially embedded along its length into the substrate beneath said body of water, the upper end thereof being disposed above the surface of said floor, said vessel mooring means including a collar rotatably carried on said anchoring section at the end thereof extending above the ocean floor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said lower anchoring section includes; at least one elongated cylindrical pile having the lower end thereof embedded in the substrate, and the pile upper end extending beyond the floor of said body of water, and means forming a circumferential track about said pile extending upper end, said collar being guidably received within said track to permit circumferential movement of the collar about said pile when the collar is connected to said vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said pile upper end projecting above the substrate includes a pair of longitudinally spaced circumferential rings defining a channel therebetween, said collar being slidably received within said channel to permit circumferential movement of the collar about the pile outer surface when said collar is connected to a floating vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower anchoring section includes; at least one elongated cylindrical pile embedded into the substrate beneath said body of water in a substantially upright position.
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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) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |