Easily removable fluid swivel for SALM buoy installation

Claim 2

In a buoy installation of a type which includes an upper structure and a lower structure having a fluid conduit, the improvement of a product distribution assembly comprising: first and second product distribution units, each having a largely stationary portion and a rotatable portion; first and second valve means for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough; said units and valve means connected in a stack, with said first unit above said first valve means, said second valve means above said first unit, and said second unit above said second valve means; hose means for connecting said first valve means to said second valve means, said first valve means operable to direct fluid between said lower structure conduit and either said first unit or said hose means; and a tension transmitting device extending beside said product distribution units and connecting said upper and lower structures to hold said upper structure in place.

Claim 5

In a buoy installation which includes a buoyant riser extending upwardly from the sea bottom, and a product distribution unit located along the riser between lower and upper structures of the riser, and wherein the product distribution unit has a rotatable portion rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, and the riser includes a middle portion extending vertically within the rotatable portion of the product distribution unit and connecting the lower and upper structures of the riser, the improvements of means for temporarily holding the upper structure in place during replacement of a damaged or worn product distribution unit comprising: means for detachably connecting said middle portion of said riser to said riser structures; a tension transmitting device extending to the side of said axis at a location beside said product distribution unit, and having upper and lower ends; and means for temporarily fastening the upper and lower ends of said tension device respectively to said upper and lower riser structures.

Claim 6

In a buoy installation which includes a buoyant riser extending upwardly from the sea bottom, and a product distribution unit located along the riser between lower and upper structures of the riser, and wherein the product distribution unit has a rotatable portion rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, and the riser includes a middle portion extending vertically within the rotatable portion of the product distribution unit and connecting the lower and upper structures of the riser, the improvements of means for temporarily holding the upper structure in place during replacement of a damaged or worn product distribution unit comprising: means for detachably connecting said middle portion of said riser to said riser structures; a tension transmitting device extending to the side of said axis at a location beside said product distribution unit, and having upper and lower ends; and means for temporarily fastening the upper and lower ends of said tension device respectively to said upper and lower riser structures.

Claim 9

The method described in claim 4 wherein: at least one of said tension devices has an actuator which is operable to increase and decrease the distance between the ends of the device, said step of removing includes operating said actuator to increase the distance between the ends of the device, and said step of later installing a unit includes operating said actuator to decrease the distance between the ends of the device.

Claim 10

In a buoy installation which includes a buoyant riser extending upwardly from the sea bottom, and a first product distribution unit located along the riser between lower and upper structures of the riser, and wherein the product distribution unit has a rotatable portion rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, the improvement comprising: a tension transmitting device extending to the side of said axis at a location beside said first product distribution unit, and having upper and lower ends respectively coupled to said upper and lower structures; an upper product distribution unit lying above said first mentioned unit and having a stationary and a rotatable portion; a lower valve located below said first product distribution unit; and an upper valve located between said first and upper product distribution units, and connected to said upper unit, whereby to enable use of the upper unit by using a hose or other conduit to connect the upper and lower valves, so that fluid flow can continue while the first mentioned unit is removed.

Claim 11

In a buoy installation which includes a buoyant riser extending upwardly from the sea bottom, and a first product distribution unit located along the riser between lower and upper structures of the riser, and wherein the product distribution unit has a rotatable portion rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, the improvement comprising: a tension transmitting device extending to the side of said axis at a location beside said first product distribution unit, and having upper and lower ends respectively coupled to said upper and lower structures; an upper product distribution unit lying above said first mentioned unit and having a stationary and a rotatable portion; a lower valve located below said first product distribution unit; and an upper valve located between said first and upper product distribution units, and connected to said upper unit, whereby to enable use of the upper unit by using a hose or other conduit to connect the upper and lower valves, so that fluid flow can continue while the first mentioned unit is removed.

Claim 12

A buoy installation for use in a sea, comprising: a buoyant riser which includes a lower structure extending upwardly form the sea bottom, and a buoyant upper structure extending upwardly from the lower structure; a product distribution unit located along said riser between said lower and upper structures, said unit including an inner stationary portion connecting said lower and upper structures to transmit forces between them, and also including an annular rotatable portion surrounding said inner portion and rotatable thereabout while in fluid communication with said inner portion; and a tension transmitting device which can extend to the side of said product distribution unit, and having upper and lower ends which can respectively couple to said upper and lower riser structures; said inner stationary portion of said unit being detachably connected to said lower and upper riser structures to permit removal of the unit, and said tension transmitting device including means at either of its ends for temporarily fastening to a corresponding one of said riser structures to hold them together when the product distribution unit is removed.

Claim 13

A buoy installation for use in a sea, comprising: a buoyant riser which includes a lower structure extending upwardly form the sea bottom, and a buoyant upper structure extending upwardly from the lower structure; a product distribution unit located along said riser between said lower and upper structures, said unit including an inner stationary portion connecting said lower and upper structures to transmit forces between them, and also including an annular rotatable portion surrounding said inner portion and rotatable thereabout while in fluid communication with said inner portion; and a tension transmitting device which can extend to the side of said product distribution unit, and having upper and lower ends which can respectively couple to said upper and lower riser structures; said inner stationary portion of said unit being detachably connected to said lower and upper riser structures to permit removal of the unit, and said tension transmitting device including means at either of its ends for temporarily fastening to a corresponding one of said riser structures to hold them together when the product distribution unit is removed.