Patent US3934289A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3934289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine fluid transfer apparatus
Assignee: McDermott Inc
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Filing: 1975-01-06
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Granted: 1976-01-27
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Expires: 1995-01-06
Abstract
Abstract An offshore marine terminal for mooring a tanker and transferring fluids between the tanker and an underwater manifold. The offshore marine terminal comprises a buoyant member having a first end extending above the surface of the water and a second end submerged and extending beneath the water, a bathyal service chamber on the second end of the member defining an underwater habitat suitable for maintaining humans in an artificial atmosphere, an upper buoyancy and ballast chamber to selectively change the buoyancy of the member from a first lowered condition which has the bathyal service chamber positioned around the manifold to a second elevated position which has the chamber disposed above the manifold, and flow lines to transport the fluid through the chamber from the manifold to the tanker. The tanker may be moored to the terminal by a swivel mooring connection that is rotatable about the buoyant member. The terminal may be secured to the ocean bottom in a flexible manner such that a fulcrum point is created allowing the terminal to tilt.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence W. Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:54
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An offshore marine terminal for mooring a tanker vessel and transferring fluids between the tanker and an underwater manifold, which comprises: a buoyant member having a first end extending above the surface of the water and a second end submerged and extending beneath the water; a bathyal service chamber on said second end of said member defining an underwater habitat suitable for maintaining humans in an artificial atmosphere; means to selectively change the buoyancy of said member from a first lowered condition, in which said bathyal service chamber is positioned around said manifold to provide access to said manifold in a dry environment, to a second elevated positioned in which said member is disposed above said manifold; and flow lines to transport the fluid, through said chamber, between the
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An offshore marine terminal for mooring a tanker vessel and transferring fluids between the tanker and an underwater manifold, which comprises: a buoyant member having a first end extending above the surface of the water and a second end submerged and extending beneath the water; a bathyal service chamber on said second end of said member defining an underwater habitat suitable for maintaining humans in an artificial atmosphere; means to selectively change the buoyancy of said member from a first lowered condition, in which said bathyal service chamber is positioned around said manifold to provide access to said manifold in a dry environment, to a second elevated positioned in which said member is disposed above said manifold; and flow lines to transport the fluid, through said chamber, between the
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 1, which further comprises: anchors for securing said member of the subsea floor; and anchor lines secured to said anchors and attached to said member at a position permitting lateral movement of the first end of said member in
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 2, wherein said anchor lines are positioned to create a fulcrum point allowing said member to tilt in the
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 2, wherein said anchor lines are
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 2, including flexible couplings
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 1, which further comprises: swivel connection fluid transfer means, mounted on the first end of said member, for maintaining fluid communication between said flow lines and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 1, which further comprises: a buoyancy chamber, proximate said member, which is selectively ballasted
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 1, which further comprises: swivel mooring means circumjacent the lower portion of said member for
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 8, wherein said swivel mooring means is free to swivel 360° around the vertical axis which
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 8, which further comprises: a mooring line which moors the vessel to said swivel mooring means; and a floating hose interconnecting a tanker manifold and said swivel
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 1, wherein said bathyal service chamber includes a docking port proximate thereto for receiving a submarine diving bell to provide access to said chamber from said diving
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 1, which futher comprises: means disposed within said member for transporting personnel to and from
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 12, wherein said means for transporting personnel comprises: a hollow, cylindrical tubular member positioned longitudinally within said member, said tubular member extending from said bathyal service chamber to a point just below said swivel connection fluid transfer means; a capsule placed within the tubular member to carry personnel; a cable attached to said capsule providing support thereto; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The offshore marine terminal of claim 11, wherein said means for moving
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
194 words
An offshore marine terminal for mooring a tanker vessel and transferring fluids between the tanker and an underwater manifold, which comprises: a buoyant member having a first end extending above the surface of the water and a second end submerged and extending beneath the water; a bathyal service chamber on said second end of said member defining an underwater habitat suitable for maintaining humans in an artificial atmosphere; means to selectively change the buoyancy of said member from a first lowered condition, in which said bathyal service chamber is positioned around said manifold to provide access to said manifold in a dry environment, to a second elevated position in which said member is disposed above said manifold; flow lines to transport the fluid, through said chamber, from the manifold; anchors for securing said member to the subsea floor; anchor lines secured to said anchors and attached to said member at a position permitting lateral movement of the first end of said member in response to movement of said vessel; and swivel connection fluid transfer means, mounted on the first end of said member, for maintaining fluid communication between said flow lines and the vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
194 words
An offshore marine terminal for mooring a tanker vessel and transferring fluids between the tanker and an underwater manifold, which comprises: a buoyant member having a first end extending above the surface of the water and a second end submerged and extending beneath the water; a bathyal service chamber on said second end of said member defining an underwater habitat suitable for maintaining humans in an artificial atmosphere; means to selectively change the buoyancy of said member from a first lowered condition, in which said bathyal service chamber is positioned around said manifold to provide access to said manifold in a dry environment, to a second elevated position in which said member is disposed above said manifold; flow lines to transport the fluid, through said chamber, from the manifold; anchors for securing said member to the subsea floor; anchor lines secured to said anchors and attached to said member at a position permitting lateral movement of the first end of said member in response to movement of said vessel; and swivel connection fluid transfer means, mounted on the first end of said member, for maintaining fluid communication between said flow lines and the vessel.
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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) | 1979-01-26 | 1979-07-28 | 1980-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-07-28 | 1984-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-26 | 1987-07-28 | 1988-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |