Multipurpose pipeline system for handling fluids on liquid cargo vessels

Claim 2

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising a plurality of storage tanks, a plurality of transfer pipelines extending adjacent to and between said plurality of tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks, said plurality of transfer pipelines being fewer in number than said plurality of storage tanks, each of said storage tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank, each of said plurality of transfer pipelines having respectively opposite ends and further having means prOviding pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening, means for closing selected ones of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings, movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any storage tank to a selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, removable cap means on each of said respectively opposite ends of each said transfer pipeline, and a plurality of shutoff valves in each of said transfer pipelines, one of said shutoff valves in each said transfer pipeline being adjacent to an end thereof which is common to such valved end of each other of said plurality of transfer pipelines, and the others of said shutoff valves being at respective locations between two of said pipe connection openings in the transfer pipeline with which the valve is associated.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said storage tanks further have respective means providing a vapor vent presenting a second pipe connection opening of the tank, and which further comprises movable pipe connection means for connecting said second pipe connection opening of any storage tank to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1 wherein said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with each said storage tank are disposed at respective, substantially equal distances away from said pipe connection opening of the tank.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3 wherein said pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening of any said storage tank to any selected one of its said associated transfer pipeline pipe connection openings comprises a pipe arm having a free end carrying a universally mounted, quick-connect pipe coupler, and means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said pipe arm to said storage tank pipe connection opening.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 3 wherein said pipe connection means comprises a length of piping having a quick-connect pipe coupler on each of its ends, and each of said pipe connection openings of said storage tanks and of said transfer pipelines has a co-mating quick-connect pipe coupler thereon.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 5 wherein said length of piping comprises flexible pipe.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 5 wherein said length of piping comprises a substantially elbow-shaped, rigid pipe connection piece.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 3 wherein each of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with any one of said tanks is disposed within a plane and at an arcuately spaced apart location with respect to any other of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings along the circumference of an imaginary circle whose center is on the axis of said pipe connection opening of the tank.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 8 wherein said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with any one said tank are disposed within a plane extending transversely with respect to the axis of said pipe connection opening of the tank.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 9 wherein said plane of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with any said storage tank is spaced from said pipe connection opening of the tank along its said axis.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 1 wherein said storage tanks are substantially aligned with each other, and said transfer pipelines extend substantially parallel to each other, each said transfer pipeline having one of said pipe connection openings thereof associated with each of said storage tanks.

Claim 13

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising a plurality of storage tanks, a plurality of transfer pipelines extending adjacent to and between said plurality of tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks, said plurality of transfer pipelines being fewer in numbEr than said plurality of storage tanks, each of said storage tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank, each of said plurality of transfer pipelines having means providing pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening, each of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with any one of said tanks being disposed at an arcuately spaced apart location with respect to any other of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings along the circumference of an imaginary circle whose center is on the axis of said pipe connection opening of the tank and whose plane extends transversely with respect to said axis of, and is spaced from said pipe connection opening of the tank, means for closing selected ones of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings, and movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any storage tank to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, said plane of said imaginary circle along which said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings are disposed being a vertical plane, said plurality of transfer pipelines comprising three longitudinally extending and vertically spaced apart transfer pipelines, the upper and lower of said three transfer pieplines being disposed within said vertical plane of their said pipe connection openings, the middle one of said three transfer pipelines being spaced in lateral direction a farther distance away from said pipe connection opening of said associated tank and having a substantially elbow-shaped section of pipe connected thereto, said elbow-shaped pipe section having an open end disposed within said plane of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings to thereby provide said pipe connection opening of said middle transfer pipeline.

Claim 14

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising a plurality of storage tanks, a plurality of transfer pipelines extending adjacent to and between said plurality of tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks, said plurality of transfer pipelines being fewer in numbEr than said plurality of storage tanks, each of said storage tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank, each of said plurality of transfer pipelines having means providing pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening, each of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with any one of said tanks being disposed at an arcuately spaced apart location with respect to any other of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings along the circumference of an imaginary circle whose center is on the axis of said pipe connection opening of the tank and whose plane extends transversely with respect to said axis of, and is spaced from said pipe connection opening of the tank, means for closing selected ones of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings, and movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any storage tank to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, said plane of said imaginary circle along which said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings are disposed being a vertical plane, said plurality of transfer pipelines comprising three longitudinally extending and vertically spaced apart transfer pipelines, the upper and lower of said three transfer pieplines being disposed within said vertical plane of their said pipe connection openings, the middle one of said three transfer pipelines being spaced in lateral direction a farther distance away from said pipe connection opening of said associated tank and having a substantially elbow-shaped section of pipe connected thereto, said elbow-shaped pipe section having an open end disposed within said plane of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings to thereby provide said pipe connection opening of said middle transfer pipeline.

Claim 15

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising a plurality of storage tanks, a plurality of transfer pipelines disposed along substantially the tops of and extending between said plurality of storage tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks, said plurality of transfer pipelines being fewer in number than said plurality of storage tanks, each of said storage tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank, each of said plurality of transfer pipelines having means providing pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening, means for closing selected ones of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings, movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any storage tank to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, and a deepwell pump associated with each said storage tank for pumping said fluids out from the tank, each said pump having a liquid cargo line through which said fluids flow to and from the tank, said liquid cargo line having means defining a pipe connection opening which provides said pipe connection opening of the tank with which the pump is associated.

Claim 16

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising a plurality of storage tanks, a plurality of transfer pipelines disposed along substantially the tops of and extending between said plurality of storage tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks, said plurality of transfer pipelines being fewer in number than said plurality of storage tanks, each of said storage tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank, each of said plurality of transfer pipelines having means providing pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening, means for closing selected ones of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings, movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any storage tank to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, and a deepwell pump associated with each said storage tank for pumping said fluids out from the tank, each said pump having a liquid cargo line through which said fluids flow to and from the tank, said liquid cargo line having means defining a pipe connection opening which provides said pipe connection opening of the tank with which the pump is associated.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 13 wherein each said pump has control means disposed substantially on the top of said tank with which the pump is associated, and an impeller disposed within, and substantially at the bottom of the tank.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 13 wherein said storage tanks are fluid cargo holds of a water-borne vessel, said plurality of transfer pipelines being mounted on and extending in longitudinal direction of the vessel along its main deck, and which further comprises a plurality of transverse header pipelines mounted on the main deck of said vessel, each of said transfer pipelines being connected at one of its ends to one of said transverse header pipelines, the opposite end of each of said transfer pipelines having a pipe connection means including removable closure means, and each said transverse heaDer pipeline having a pipe connection means including openable closure means at an end thereof adjacent to a side of said vessel.

Claim 19

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising first and second pluralities of storage tanks, first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines respectively associated with and extending adjacent to and between the respective of said first and second pluralities of tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks in each of said pluralities thereof, said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines each being fewer in number than said first and second pluralities of storage tanks with which they are respectively associated, each of said tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank and each of said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines having means providing pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening of said plurality of tanks with which the plurality of transfer pipelines is associated, means for closing selected ones of said pipe connection openings of said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines, movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any of said storage tanks to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, and a plurality of transverse header pipelines, each of said transfer pipelines in said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines being connected at one of its ends to one of the said transverse header pipelines, the number of said transverse header pipelines being fewer than the number of transfer pipelines in said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines.

Claim 20

A fluid storage tank and pipeline system comprising first and second pluralities of storage tanks, first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines respectively associated with and extending adjacent to and between the respective of said first and second pluralities of tanks for conducting fluids to and from selected ones of the tanks in each of said pluralities thereof, said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines each being fewer in number than said first and second pluralities of storage tanks with which they are respectively associated, each of said tanks having means providing a pipe connection opening of the tank and each of said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines having means providing pipe connection openings thereof respectively associated with, but spaced from each said storage tank pipe connection opening of said plurality of tanks with which the plurality of transfer pipelines is associated, means for closing selected ones of said pipe connection openings of said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines, movable pipe connection means for connecting said pipe connection opening on any of said storage tanks to any selected one of said transfer pipeline pipe connection openings associated with the tank, and a plurality of transverse header pipelines, each of said transfer pipelines in said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines being connected at one of its ends to one of the said transverse header pipelines, the number of said transverse header pipelines being fewer than the number of transfer pipelines in said first and second pluralities of transfer pipelines.

Claim 21

The system according to claim 16 which further comprises a collecting pipe manifold having means providing a plurality of pipe connection openings thereof, means for closing selected ones of said collecting pipe manifold pipe connection openings, each of said transverse header pipelines having means providing a pipe connection opening adjacent to said collecting pipe manifold, movable pipe connection means for connecting a selected one of said collecting pipe manifold pipe connection openings to a selected one of said adjacent transverse header pipeline pipe connection openings, and shut-off valve means in each of said transfer pipelines and transverse header pipelines, whereby a fluid flow connection can be made between any of said storage tanks, said pipe connection openings at the ends of said transverse header pipelines, and said pipe connection openings of said collecting pipe manifold and any other.

Claim 22

The system according to claim 17 wherein said storage tanks are fluid cargo holds of a water-borne vessel, said transfer pipelines being mounted on and extending in longitudinal direction of the vessel along its main deck above the tanks with which they are respectively associated, said transverse header pipelines being mounted on and extending transversely across said main deck of the vessel at a midship location, and said collecting pipe manifold being mounted on and extending in said longitudinal direction at one side of said vessel.

Claim 23

The system according to claim 18 which further comprises a second collecting pipe manifold mounted on and extending in said longitudinal direction at the other side of said vessel, said second collecting pipe manifold having means providing a plurality of pipe connection openings thereof and means for closing selected ones of said second collecting pipe manifold pipe connection openings, each of said transverse header pipelines having means providing a pipe connection opening adjacent to said second collecting pipe manifold, and movable pipe connection means for connecting selected ones of said second collecting pipe manifold pipe connection openings to selected ones of said adjacent transverse header pipeline pipe connection openings.

Claim 24

The system according to clAim 19 wherein said transfer pipelines and said transverse header pipelines and said first and second collecting pipe manifolds are substantially straight and have cappable clean-out and inspection openings at each of their respective ends.