# US 2014/0150707 A1 · Device for Passing a Fluid in a Tank and Having Such a Device Equipped Vessel

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- Number: US 2014/0150707 A1
- Document ID: US20140150707A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/090,088
- Filed: 2013-11-26
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03
- Assignees: Fr. Lurssen Verft GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Fr. Lurssen Verft GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Eberhard Hecht
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150707A1

## CPC

- B63B 27/24: of pipe-lines
- B67D 7/002: {using articulated pipes}
- B67D 7/0401: {arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention}
- B67D 7/78: Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
- B67D 9/00: Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships (ship-based equipment B63B27/00)
- B67D 9/02: using articulated pipes
- Y10T 137/8807: Articulated or swinging flow conduit
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus (1) for transferring a fluid, in particular combustion fuel, to the tank (T) of a vessel, having a flange (4) that is firmly dedicated to said tank (T), a filler neck (2) for receiving an external fuel hose element, and a pipe (3) connecting the flange (4) and the filler neck (2), with said filler neck (2) being pivotable about a bearing (7) that is stationary in relation to the tank (T). The pipe (3) features a plurality of pipe elements (13, 14, 15, 16) that are, at least in part, rotatably coupled to one another and to the flange and formed such that the filler neck (2) is pivotable about at least two, preferably exactly two, predetermined pivot axes (X7, X5).

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16

An apparatus for transferring a fluid to a tank of a vessel using an external fuel hose element, the tank including a flange, the apparatus comprising:
a bearing that is stationary in relation to the tank;
a filler neck configured to receive the external fuel hose element, the filler neck being movably mounted about the bearing; and
a pipe coupling the filler neck with the flange of the tank, the pipe including a plurality of pipe elements that are rotatably coupled, at least in part, to each other and to the flange, the pipe elements shaped such that the filler neck is pivotable about first and second pivot axes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first and second pivot axes are aligned vertically relative to each other and transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the filler neck.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first pivot axis is aligned vertically in relation to the vessel and the second pivot axis is aligned horizontally in relation to the vessel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein one of pipe elements has a rotation axis that is coaxially aligned with the first pivot axis or with the second pivot axis.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein adjoining pairs of the pipe elements are connected to each other by a pipe swivel joint.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein one of the pipe swivel joints has a rotation axis that is aligned vertically to a rotation axis of at least another of the pipe swivel joints.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the pipe is formed by four pipe elements.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the pipe is connected to the flange by a pipe swivel joint.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the pipe is connected to the filler neck in a rotationally fixed manner.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second pivot axis is spaced from the first pivot axis of the bearing.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filler neck is held at a holding element that is located in the stationary bearing, the holding element being pivotable about the first pivot axis, and the filler neck being mounted pivotably about the second pivot axis at the holding element.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filler neck is pivotable about the first pivot axis within a range of 300° through 180° to 60° and about the second pivot axis within a range of 0° to 60°.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filler neck is detachably connected to the pipe.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a securing means for stashing and/or securing the apparatus.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

A vessel including the apparatus of claim 1.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The vessel of claim 30 wherein the vessel includes a hull, a deck, and a superstructure on the deck, the tank is arranged in the hull, and the filler neck is arranged at the superstructure.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The vessel of claim 30 wherein the apparatus is designed and arranged such that the filler neck is pivotable by at least +/−30° degrees in relation to the athwartship direction.