US4042990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single point mooring terminal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-09-27
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Granted: 1977-08-23
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Expires: 1996-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A single point mooring terminal or system which can be used for ship mooring and cargo transfer, which includes a spar type floating buoy combined with a tethered underwater buoy concentric to the spar buoy. The underwater buoy is in the form of a collar which is mounted around the spar buoy and is completely submerged and anchored to the seabed by collar mooring lines. The spar buoy is free to move vertically within the collar, but is restrained from lateral and rotary movements by the collar. Thus, the collar restrains lateral movement of the spar buoy while introducing a minimal tilting moment. A mooring swivel can be mounted on the collar of the underwater buoy, and to which the bow mooring line of a ship can be attached to permit the ship to swing freely around the buoy system. A leak-proof skirt is connected to the bottom of the spar buoy, and is in the form of an inverted bucket so that when a fluid having lower density than seawater, such as air, is introduced into it, seawater is forced out through the bottom and an air pocket is provided for containing motion compensators connecting the pipe risers from the seabed pipeline to piping within the buoy so that the pipe compensators are not immersed in seawater. The air filled skirt also allows personnel to enter it through an airlock from the spar buoy for inspection and maintenance purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn B. Donaldson, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:19
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B2035/442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A single point mooring system which comprises a first floating buoy having a downwardly depending elongated portion submerged in the water, a second submerged buoy positioned around said elongated portion of said first buoy, means anchoring said second buoy to the marine bottom, and means permitting vertical motion of said first buoy but restraining rotary motion thereof, said anchored second buoy also restraining said first buoy from lateral motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A single point mooring system which comprises a first floating buoy having a downwardly depending elongated portion submerged in the water, a second submerged buoy positioned around said elongated portion of said first buoy, means anchoring said second buoy to the marine bottom, and means permitting vertical motion of said first buoy but restraining rotary motion thereof, said anchored second buoy also restraining said first buoy from lateral motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 1, including a ship mooring swivel, means mounting said ship mooring swivel on said second submerged buoy and means on said swivel for fastening thereto a ship mooring line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 2, said anchoring means for said second buoy and said means for fastening a ship mooring line to said swivel, being connected to said second buoy a relatively short vertical distance from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 2, said anchoring means including a buoy mooring line, means connecting said buoy mooring line at one end to said second buoy and at the other end to said marine bottom, said means connecting said ship mooring line to said swivel being at a location above said connection of said buoy mooring line to said second buoy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 4, including a ship mooring line, the length of said ship mooring line being chosen so that said line is substantially in the same plane as the taut mooring line for said second submerged buoy on the opposite side thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 4, including means in said second buoy to maintain the buoyancy thereof against said buoy mooring line, and to maintain said mooring line taut.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 1, including an inverted chamber connected to the lower end of said elongated submerged portion of said first buoy, said chamber being open at the bottom, and means for introducing a compressed fluid lighter than water into said chamber and forcing water therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 7, said fluid being compressed air and forming an air atmosphere in said chamber, and including first pipe risers from a seabed pipeline, and second pipe risers passing through said elongated portion of said first buoy, and pipe motion compensators located in said chamber and connected to said first and second pipe risers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 4, including an inverted chamber connected to the lower end of said elongated submerged portion of said first buoy, said chamber being open at the bottom, means for introducing a compressed fluid lighter than air into said chamber and forcing water therefrom, first pipe risers from a seabed pipeline, and second pipe risers passing through said elongated portion of said first buoy, and pipe motion compensators located in said chamber and connected to said first and second pipe risers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 9, said pipe motion compensators comprised of short lengths of piping, and swivel joints connecting said short lengths of piping to permit relative motion between said first and second pipe risers in response to motion of said first buoy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 1, including means for varying the buoyancy of said first buoy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 2, including means for varying the buoyancy of said first buoy, said last mentioned means including valve means for introducing a predetermined amount of water into said elongated portion of said first buoy and pump means for removing said water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 2, said means permitting vertical motion of said first buoy but restraining rotary motion thereof comprising track means vertically disposed on the periphery of said elongated portion of said first buoy and cooperating roller means mounted on the inner periphery of said submerged buoy, and said ship mooring swivel being mounted at the upper end of said submerged buoy, and including roller bearing means for mounting said swivel on said second buoy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 8, including means for passage of personnel through said elongated portion of said first buoy and into said chamber, and including a seabed valve chamber, and passage means for personnel from said first mentioned chamber to said seabed chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
220 words
A single point mooring system which comprises a floating spar buoy comprising an upper enlarged portion and a depending elongated tubular portion of substantially smaller diameter than said upper enlarged portion, a second submerged buoy positioned around said elongated tubular portion of said spar buoy, said second buoy including a buoyant mooring collar and a ship mooring swivel mounted on the upper end of said collar, means anchoring said collar and said second buoy to the marine bottom, a skirt connected to the lower end of said tubular portion of said spar buoy, said skirt being open to the water at the bottom thereof, means for forcing water out of the bottom of said skirt and providing an air atmosphere in said skirt, means associated with said tubular portion of said spar buoy and with said collar of said submerged buoy permitting vertical motion of said spar buoy with respect to said anchored collar, and restraining said spar buoy from rotary and lateral motion, a seabed pipeline, first pipe risers from said seabed pipeline communicating with the lower interior portion of said skirt, second pipe risers passing through said tubular portion of said spar buoy and communicating with the upper interior portion of said skirt, and pipe motion compensators in said skirt and connecting said first and second pipe risers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
220 words
A single point mooring system which comprises a floating spar buoy comprising an upper enlarged portion and a depending elongated tubular portion of substantially smaller diameter than said upper enlarged portion, a second submerged buoy positioned around said elongated tubular portion of said spar buoy, said second buoy including a buoyant mooring collar and a ship mooring swivel mounted on the upper end of said collar, means anchoring said collar and said second buoy to the marine bottom, a skirt connected to the lower end of said tubular portion of said spar buoy, said skirt being open to the water at the bottom thereof, means for forcing water out of the bottom of said skirt and providing an air atmosphere in said skirt, means associated with said tubular portion of said spar buoy and with said collar of said submerged buoy permitting vertical motion of said spar buoy with respect to said anchored collar, and restraining said spar buoy from rotary and lateral motion, a seabed pipeline, first pipe risers from said seabed pipeline communicating with the lower interior portion of said skirt, second pipe risers passing through said tubular portion of said spar buoy and communicating with the upper interior portion of said skirt, and pipe motion compensators in said skirt and connecting said first and second pipe risers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 15, said anchoring means including a buoy mooring line, means connecting said buoy mooring line at one end to said collar and the other end to said marine bottom, means for connecting a ship mooring line to said swivel at a location above said connection of said buoy mooring line to said mooring collar, said points of connection of said mooring line to said mooring collar and of a ship mooring line to said swivel being spaced a relatively short distance from each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 16, said means permitting vertical motion of said spar buoy but restraining rotary motion thereof comprising track means vertically disposed on the periphery of one of (a) said elongated tubular portion of said spar buoy and (b) the inner periphery of said mooring collar, and cooperating roller means mounted on the other of said peripheries, and including means comprising roller bearing for mounting the ship mooring swivel on said mooring collar.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 16, including means in said mooring collar to maintain the buoyancy thereof against said buoy mooring line and to maintain said mooring line taut.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 18, including valve means for introducing water into said elongated tubular portion of said spar buoy to decrease the buoyancy thereof, and pump means for removing water from said spar buoy to increase the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 16, including an air-lock tube passing through the tubular portion of said spar buoy and communicating with the upper end thereof and with the interior of said skirt, for passage of personnel into said skirt, a seabed valve chamber for said seabed pipeline, and an air-lock tube communicating with the interior of said skirt and with said seabed valve chamber for passage of personnel between the interior of said skirt and said seabed valve chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
A stable buoy system which comprises a first floating buoy having a downwardly depending elongated portion submerged into the water, a second submerged buoy positioned around said elongated portion of said first buoy, means for minimizing movement of said second buoy, means for minimizing tilting movement of said first buoy, means for adjusting the draft of said first buoy, and means permitting vertical movement of said first buoy but preventing rotary movement thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
A stable buoy system which comprises a first floating buoy having a downwardly depending elongated portion submerged into the water, a second submerged buoy positioned around said elongated portion of said first buoy, means for minimizing movement of said second buoy, means for minimizing tilting movement of said first buoy, means for adjusting the draft of said first buoy, and means permitting vertical movement of said first buoy but preventing rotary movement thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 21, said means for minimizing movement of said second buoy comprising means providing excess buoyancy within said second buoy and means for restraining said second buoy from rising.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 22, said means for restraining said second buoy consisting of a series of mooring lines attached to said second buoy at uniform intervals around its lower edge, each extending downward and radially outward to individual pilings or anchors on the marine bottom.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 23, including means for neutralizing buoyancy of said mooring lines and thereby preventing slack or catenary arcs in said mooring lines.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 22, said means for restraining said second buoy consisting of a series of rigid structural members attached to said second buoy at uniform intervals around the lower edge thereof, each member extending downward and radially outward to individual pilings on the marine bottom.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 21, said means for minimizing tilting movement of said first buoy comprising a water-free upper section constructed of light weight materials, and an elongated lower section constructed of heavy materials, containing variable ballast means, said sections thus creating a righting moment which tends to prevent tilting of said first buoy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 21, including valve means for introducing water into the lower section of said first buoy to decrease the buoyancy thereof, and pump means for removing water from said first buoy to increase the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 21, said means permitting vertical movement but restraining rotary means thereof comprising track means vertically disposed at regular intervals around the periphery of said elongated portion of said first buoy, and cooperating roller means mounted on the inner periphery of said second buoy to engage said tracks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
94 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 22, including a rotatable ship mooring fixture mounted on said second buoy slightly above the attachment points for said means for restraining said second buoy, with roller means for supporting and restraining said rotatable mooring fixture, including a buoyed or buoyant line attached at one end to said mooring fixture and free at the other end to be picked up by an approaching ship and attached to the bow of said ship, said ship thereafter being free to weathervane around the stable buoy system while moored.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
80 words
A ship mooring system as defined in claim 29, the length of said buoyed or buoyant line being chosen so that when taut, said line is substantially in alignment with said means for restraining said second buoy on the opposite side thereof, thus assuring that forces exerted on said mooring line by said ship are transmitted directly through said second buoy into an opposite restraining member of said means for restraining said second buoy without effect on said first buoy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
A ship mooring system as defined in claim 29, including conduit means for transferring fluid or fluidized commodities between a moored ship and the top of said first buoy as said ship weathervanes around said mooring system, without transmitting forces between said mooring system and said ship through said conduit means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
83 words
A ship mooring system as defined in claim 31, including an inverted chamber connected to the lower end of said first buoy, said chamber being leak-tight around the sides and top but open to water at the bottom, and including first pipe risers from said seabed pipeline, and second pipe risers passing through said elongated portion of said first buoy and connecting with said conduit means, and pipe motion compensators located in said chamber and connected to said first and second pipe risers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
A single point ship mooring terminal as defined in claim 32, said pipe motion compensators comprised of short lengths of piping, and swivel joints connecting said short lengths of piping to permit relative motion between said first and second pipe risers in response to motion of said first buoy.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
A single point mooring terminal as defined in claim 32, including means for introducing a fluid lighter than water into said chamber and displacing water therefrom, thereby isolating said motion compensators from the water environment.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A single point mooring terminal as defined in claim 34, said fluid being compressed gas and forming a gaseous atmosphere in said chamber, thereby locating said motion compensators in a gaseous environment.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
50 words
A single point mooring terminal as defined in claim 35, said fluid being compressed air and forming an air environment in said chamber, and including means for passage of personnel through said elongated portion of said first buoy and into said chamber without escape of the compressed air environment therefrom.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
A single point mooring terminal as defined in claim 36, including a leak-tight, air-filled housing located on said marine bottom beneath said first buoy, and including passage means for personnel betweeen said chamber and said housing.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
63 words
A stable buoy system as defined in claim 21, said second buoy being located at a height corresponding to the center of drag of said first buoy, thereby affording restraint of said first buoy when said system is installed in areas of water currents, without tilting said first buoy through the action of drag forces exerted by said currents on said first buoy.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
54 words
A single point morring terminal as defined in claim 34, said fluid being a compressed gas having condensation and freezing temperatures lower than those of cargo fluids within said first and second pipe risers and said motion compensators, thereby permitting transfer of said cargo fluids without condensate or ice formation on said motion compensators.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 24, said means for neutralizing buoyancy of said mooring lines comprising buoyant floats attached along said lines to offset the weight of heavier mooring line materials.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 15, including a rotatable spray shield mounted on said upper enlarged portion of said spar buoy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
61 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 41, said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy being cylindrical, said spray shield being conical and having a depending point around said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy, and including a seal between said last mentioned depending portion and the periphery of said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
70 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 15, including a second swivel mounted on said upper enlarged portion of said spar buoy, said second pipe risers connected to said second swivel, a spray shield mounted over said second swivel and said upper enlarged portion of said spar buoy, and means connecting said spray shield to said second swivel for rotation of said spray shield on said second swivel.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
63 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 43, said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy being cylindrical, said spray shield being conical and having a depending skirt portion around said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy, and including a sealing ring between said last mentioned depending portion and the periphery of said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
46 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 44, including fluid transfer lines connected to said second swivel and in communication with said second pipe risers, said transfer lines passing through said rotatable spray shield and rotatable on said second swivel with said spray shield.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
35 words
A single point mooring system as defined in claim 45, including rollers mounted on the inner periphery of said spray shield and contacting an upper surface of said enlarged upper portion of said spar buoy.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ship mooring system as defined in claim 32, including a swivel mounted on said first buoy, said second pipe risers connected to said swivel, said conduit means also connected to said swivel and permitting rotation of said conduit means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ship mooring system as defined in claim 47, including a rotatable spray shield mounted over said first buoy, said conduit means passing through said rotatable spray shield.
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) | 1980-08-22 | 1981-02-21 | 1981-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-22 | 1985-02-21 | 1985-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-22 | 1989-02-21 | 1989-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |