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US 4,144,829 AGranted
Method and apparatus for venting hydrocarbon gases from the cargo compartments of a tanker vessel
OwnerCharles S. Conwayinventor
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OwnerCharles S. Conwayinventor
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An improved method and apparatus for venting hydrocarbon gases from the cargo compartments of a tanker vessel for the transportation of oil in water, which tanker vessel includes a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, a plurality of watertight cargo compartments disposed in the hull between the top deck and the hull bottom for receiving the oil, and vent means coupled to each of the cargo compartments and communicative externally of the compartments for venting hydrocarbon gases to and from the cargo compartments and the atmosphere during loading, discharge and transfer of oil and ballast from the compartments. In an apparatus according to the invention, the improvement comprises valve means, coupled to and communicative with at least two of the cargo compartments and disposed at the top of the compartments, which interconnects the two cargo compartments for venting hydrocarbon gases from one of the two compartments to the other of the compartments after discharge of oil from the one of the compartments. In a method according to the invention, the valve means coupled to one of the cargo compartments from which oil is to be discharged is opened subsequent to discharging oil from the compartment so as to operatively interconnect the compartment with another, empty compartment in the tanker vessel. The vent means of both compartments are then closed so as to render the compartments non-communicative to the atmosphere. The emptied cargo compartment is then filled with a liquid so as to expel the hydrocarbon gases from the compartment and vent the gases to the other of the cargo compartments through the valve means.
In a tanker vessel for the transportation of oil in water, said vessel including a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, a plurality of watertight cargo compartments disposed within the hull between said top deck and said hull bottom for receiving said oil, and vent means including cargo expansion trunk means coupled to and opening downwardly into each of said cargo compartments and vent closure valve means coupled to said cargo expansion trunk means and communicative externally of said compartments for venting hydrocarbon gases from said cargo compartments through said cargo expansion trunk means to the atmosphere, the improvement comprising valve means including pipe means coupled to and communicative with at least two of said cargo compartments and opening into said compartments at the top of said compartments, said pipe means comprising first pipe means coupled to one of said cargo compartments and second pipe means coupled to the other of said cargo compartments, said valve means directly interconnecting said first and second pipe means for venting hydrocarbon gases from one of said two cargo compartments to the other of said cargo compartments through said first and second pipe means after discharge of oil from said one of said compartments.
A method of venting hydrocarbon gases from a tanker vessel for the transportation of oil in water, said tanker vessel including a hull comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck, a plurality of watertight cargo compartments disposed within said hull between said top deck and said hull bottom for receiving said oil, vent means including cargo expansion trunk means coupled to and opening downwardly into each of said cargo compartments and vent closure valve means coupled to said cargo expansion trunk means and communicative externally of said compartments to the atmosphere, and valve means including pipe means coupled to and communicative with at least two of said cargo compartments and opening into said compartments at the top of said compartments, said pipe means including first pipe means coupled to one of said cargo compartments and second pipe means coupled to the other of said cargo compartments, said valve means interconnecting said first and second pipe means, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.