US4459930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Riser and detachably coupled yoke mooring system
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1982-06-28
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Granted: 1984-07-17
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Expires: 2002-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A yoke mooring system pivoted on the forecastle of a vessel, such as a shuttle tanker, is detachably coupled to a riser which is attached to a base located on the ocean floor. The yoke mooring system includes clamping arms which engage a ball with an axial passage at the upper end of the riser. Hydraulic cylinders raise and lower the yoke, and a hydraulic cylinder shifts mechanical linkages to open and close clamping arms mounted on the yoke. A socket is formed in the clamping arms to receive the ball. Cargo piping on the vessel is joined to the ball through hoses and a fluid swivel. Fluid cargo can pass upwardly through the riser, through the ball, through the fluid swivel and hoses, and then through cargo piping to storage tanks on the vessel. Bearings situated between the riser and the ball allow the ball to rotate such that, when the clamping arms are coupled to the ball, the vessel can rotate about the riser without disrupting fluid flow or damaging the riser. In a preferred embodiment, the riser houses a normally closed valve, which is opened to allow fluid flow when the yoke exerts an upward force on the ball. Other embodiments suggest diverse configurations and locations for the bearings, alternative valves for regulating fluid flow, modifications to the ball, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Flory
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:49
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/02; B63B22/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating in a body of water comprising: (a) single riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a protuberance situated upon said riser means near the upper end thereof; (c) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to said vessel; (d) said yoke including an opposed pair of pivoted clamp arms having complementary recesses defining socket means to receive said protuberance therein; (e) operating means located on said yoke for pivoting at least one of said clamp arms to secure said protuberance in said socket means; and (f) bearing means situated between said protuberance and said riser means so that said vessel can pivot 360° in a horizontal plane relative to the riser means after said protuberance has been secured in the recesses of said socket means without displacing said protuberance from said socket means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating in a body of water comprising: (a) single riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a protuberance situated upon said riser means near the upper end thereof; (c) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to said vessel; (d) said yoke including an opposed pair of pivoted clamp arms having complementary recesses defining socket means to receive said protuberance therein; (e) operating means located on said yoke for pivoting at least one of said clamp arms to secure said protuberance in said socket means; and (f) bearing means situated between said protuberance and said riser means so that said vessel can pivot 360° in a horizontal plane relative to the riser means after said protuberance has been secured in the recesses of said socket means without displacing said protuberance from said socket means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said protuberance is symmetrical about the axis of said riser means and is located above the surface of said body of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 2 further comprising bearing means so that said riser can pivot in a vertical plane relative to said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 3 wherein said protuberance is a generally spherical member and said recesses in said clamp arms are substantially hemispherical in shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 4 wherein said operating means includes a hydraulic cylinder retained upon said yoke and a piston rod extending from said cylinder and movable relative thereto so that said arms are positively opened and closed by said hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 5 wherein a circumferential ring is formed on the exterior of said riser means, said spherical member is at least partially hollow, and rests upon said circumferential ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 6 wherein said bearing means comprises a bearing ring that fits around the exterior of said riser means, and within said spherical member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 7 further comprising a cargo pipe extending along said riser means, a fluid swivel secured to the upper end of said riser means, and a cargo pipe extending along said yoke.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 8 further comprising valve means situated within said riser means for controlling fuel flow therethrough, and biasing means for normally retaining said valve means closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 9 further including valve operator means between said spherical member and said valve means, such that the action of said yoke and said clamp arms overcomes said biasing means and opens the valve means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 4 wherein said protuberance comprises a rotatable extension to said riser means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 11 further comprising cargo piping within said riser means and additional cargo piping within said extension, said additional cargo piping communicating with said cargo piping through valving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 12 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat, a valve surface that mates with said valve seat, and biasing means to urge said valve seat and said valve surface together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 13 such that the action of said yoke and said clamp arms overcomes said biasing means lifting said valve surface from said valve seat so that fluid cargo can pass thereby.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 3 wherein said clamp arms include wheels arranged to roll against the exterior of said protuberance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 15 wherein said protuberance comprises a conical collar which is pivoted by a universal joint secured to the upper end of said riser means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 16 wherein said wheels are secured to axles that are parallel to the slope of the exterior surface of said conical collar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 15 wherein said protuberance comprises a spherically shaped segment rotatably mounted on bearings about said riser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 18 wherein said wheels are secured to axles that are tangent to the surface of said spherically shaped segment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 further including hydraulic means extending between said vessel and said yoke.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 further including guide means located at the free end of said yoke to guide the protuberance toward said socket means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
164 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating in a body of water comprising: (a) riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a protuberance situated upon said riser means near the upper end thereof and above the surface of said body of water; (c) said protuberance being movable in an axial direction along said riser means; (d) valve means situated on said riser means for controlling flow therethrough; (e) resilient means for normally urging said valve means toward a closed position; (f) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to said vessel; (g) socket means on said yoke to receive said protuberance therein; and (h) power means connected between said yoke and said vessel, said power means, when actuated, pivoting said yoke with sufficient force to lift said protuberance, overcome said resilient means, and open said valve means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
164 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating in a body of water comprising: (a) riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a protuberance situated upon said riser means near the upper end thereof and above the surface of said body of water; (c) said protuberance being movable in an axial direction along said riser means; (d) valve means situated on said riser means for controlling flow therethrough; (e) resilient means for normally urging said valve means toward a closed position; (f) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to said vessel; (g) socket means on said yoke to receive said protuberance therein; and (h) power means connected between said yoke and said vessel, said power means, when actuated, pivoting said yoke with sufficient force to lift said protuberance, overcome said resilient means, and open said valve means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
144 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating offshore in a body of water comprising: (a) riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a `c` shaped riser extension secured to the upper end of said riser means; (c) a protuberance extending downwardly from said riser extension; (d) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative thereto; (e) socket means defined in an upper surface of said yoke adjacent the free end thereof for engaging a lower surface of said protuberance; and (f) bearing means situated between said riser means and said riser extension so that said vessel can pivot freely in a horizontal plane relative to said riser means after said protuberance has been seated within said socket means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
144 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating offshore in a body of water comprising: (a) riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a `c` shaped riser extension secured to the upper end of said riser means; (c) a protuberance extending downwardly from said riser extension; (d) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative thereto; (e) socket means defined in an upper surface of said yoke adjacent the free end thereof for engaging a lower surface of said protuberance; and (f) bearing means situated between said riser means and said riser extension so that said vessel can pivot freely in a horizontal plane relative to said riser means after said protuberance has been seated within said socket means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 23 further including a transfer pipe disposed within said riser extension, and a fluid swivel for securing said transfer pipe to said riser means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 24 wherein the vertical center line of the riser means coincides with the vertical center line of said protuberance.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 25 wherein said said protuberance and said socket are spherical in shape and of substantially the same radius.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
164 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating offshore in a body of water comprising: (a) riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a protuberance with a vertically extending axial passage situated upon said riser means near the upper end thereof and above the surface of said body of water; (c) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to said vessel; (d) pivoted clamping means mounted on said yoke; (e) said clamping means including opposed semi-circular recesses defining socket means to receive said protuberance therein; (f) first bearing means so that said vessel can pivot in a horizontal plane relative to the riser means after said protuberance has been seated in said socket means; and (g) second bearing means so that said vessel can move in a vertical plane without displacing said protuberance from said socket means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
164 words
A mooring system for a vessel floating offshore in a body of water comprising: (a) riser means attached to the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly above the surface of said body of water in a substantially vertical position; (b) a protuberance with a vertically extending axial passage situated upon said riser means near the upper end thereof and above the surface of said body of water; (c) a yoke secured to said vessel for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to said vessel; (d) pivoted clamping means mounted on said yoke; (e) said clamping means including opposed semi-circular recesses defining socket means to receive said protuberance therein; (f) first bearing means so that said vessel can pivot in a horizontal plane relative to the riser means after said protuberance has been seated in said socket means; and (g) second bearing means so that said vessel can move in a vertical plane without displacing said protuberance from said socket means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 27 wherein said second bearing means comprises a ball segment positioned within said socket means, and said first bearing means comprised a bearing between said riser and the ball segment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 28 wherein a plurality of clamp wheels extend into said socket means and roll on said ball segment.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 27 wherein said first bearing means comprises a conical ring positioned within said socket means, and said second bearing means comprise of universal gimbal joint means between said riser and the conical ring.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 30 wherein a plurality of clamp wheels extend into said socket means and roll on said conical ring.
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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) | 1987-07-17 | 1988-01-16 | 1988-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-17 | 1992-01-16 | 1992-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-17 | 1996-01-16 | 1996-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |