# US 2017/0283243 A1 · Auto-Balancing Hose System and Method for Fluid Transfer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283243 A1 - Document ID: US20170283243A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/293,159 - Filed: 2016-10-13 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-02 - Inventors: Xuejie Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283243A1 ## CPC - B67D 9/00: Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships (ship-based equipment B63B27/00) - B65H 57/14: Pulleys, rollers, or rotary bars - B65H 75/366: {with stored package of material loosely hanging on a support, e.g. a hose hanger} - B63B 27/34: using pipe-lines {(anchoring arrangements for special vessels with mooring turrets B63B21/507; buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids B63B22/021)} - B65H 2701/33: Hollow or hose-like material - 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) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - 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) ## Abstract The present invention provides an auto-balancing hose system and a method for fluid transfer between an onshore facility and a floating vessel. The system comprises a transfer pipeline extended from the onshore facility to a loading platform, a hose with a first end fluidly connected to the transfer pipeline and a second end fluidly connected with a ship manifold on the floating vessel, a hose saddle or rigid coupler that elevates the hose in the middle and divides the hose into a riser at the first end and a U-tube next to the second end, and a counterweight or a winch with a predetermined pulling force that is adapted to maintain a top tension to the riser. The hose is kept away from water and in tension, and adapted to accommodate vessel motions as well as relative displacements between the transfer pipeline and loading platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A loading system for transferring fluids between an onshore facility and a floating vessel, said floating vessel is docked with a vessel manifold near a loading platform, said loading system comprising: a) a transfer pipeline extended from said onshore facility to said loading platform, said transfer pipeline has an upward opening offshore; b) a hose with a first end and a second end, said first end is fluidly connected with said transfer pipeline at said upward opening, said second end is fluidly connected with said vessel manifold; c) a hose elevator, said hose elevator elevates said hose in the middle and divides said hose into a riser at said first end and a freely suspended U-tube next to said second end; d) a counterforce device, said counterforce device is adapted to maintain a top tension to said riser; wherein said hose is kept away from water and in tension, and said transfer pipeline is movable relative to said loading platform at said loading platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose elevator consists of a hose saddle, a sheave and a rigid coupler, said hose saddle and sheave are supported on said loading platform, and said rigid coupler is lifted from above. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The loading system of claim 2, wherein said counterforce device is a counterweight, said counterweight comprises a hose segment of said U-tube that remains immediately under said hose saddle or sheave. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The loading system of claim 2, wherein said counterforce device is a motor-driven device that provides a predetermined pulling force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The loading system of claim 2 further comprising another rigid coupler and a hose extension, said another rigid coupler is lifted from above and has two downward flanges for holding said second end and said hose extension up respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1 further comprising a crane that delivers said second end to said vessel manifold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The loading system of claim 6 further comprising a mobile hose saddle, said crane lifts said mobile hose saddle and said mobile hose saddle supports said hose near said second end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1 further comprising a hang-off device, said hang-off device is adapted to hold up said second end above said loading platform during non-transfer periods. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose further comprises a middle flange, and said counterforce device is tied to said middle flange. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose is adapted to accommodate relative displacements between said transfer pipeline and loading platform, said relative displacements are caused by the end displacements of said transfer pipeline, the movements of said loading platform, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1 further comprises an upward pipe branch with said upward opening, said upward pipe branch is fluidly connected to said transfer pipeline. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1 further comprises another hose saddle, said another hose saddle is located around an end of said hose. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1 further comprises an elbow and a swivel joint that are fluidly connected to said hose. opening beyond a side of said vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose is made of materials suitable for transferring cryogenic fluids. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose is a hose-in-hose. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said transfer pipeline is supported above water and has a free end that allows thermal expansion and contraction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The loading system of claim 1, wherein said floating vessel is selected from the group consisting of a floating storage unit, a floating production unit, a barge and a ship. ### Claim 18 A method for transferring fluids between a transfer pipeline and a floating vessel, said transfer pipeline has an upward opening offshore, said floating vessel is docked with a vessel manifold near a loading platform, said method uses a hose with a first end fluidly connected to said transfer pipeline at said upward opening and a second end fluidly connected to said vessel manifold, said method comprising: a) elevating said hose in the middle and dividing said hose into a riser at said first end and a U-tube next to said second end; b) maintaining a top tension to said riser; wherein said hose is kept away from water and in tension, and said transfer pipeline is movable relative to said loading platform at said loading platform. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said top tension is maintained by a motor-driven device with a predetermined pulling force. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said top tension is maintained by a counterweight through force redirection.