Fluid transfer adapter for connecting a single conduit to a plurality of tanker manifolds
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorHouston W. Knight
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adapter especially suited for transferring petroleum fluids from a single large-diameter loading arm to a plurality of smaller tanker manifolds, including a generally T-shaped connector having a large-diameter inlet housing at one end and a plurality of smaller diameter outlet housings at the other end thereof. The inlet housing of the connector is connected to the outboard end of the loading arm by a pair of large-diameter swivel joints and a pipe elbow. A plurality of eccentric fluid couplers are each connected to a corresponding one of the smaller outlet housings by one of a plurality of smaller swivel joints. These eccentric fluid couplers can be rotated into various positions to adapt to differences in spacings between the manifolds of various marine tankers.
Claims7
A fluid transfer adapter for connecting a single articulated loading arm to a pair of tanker manifolds, said adapter comprising:
- a generally T-shaped connector having a single annular inlet housing and a pair of smaller annular outlet housings with an approximate 90 degree bend in said connector between said inlet housing and each of said outlet housings to align said outlet housings along parallel axes;
- a pair of eccentric couplers;
- a pair of swivel joints;
- means for connecting each of said swivel joints between one of said eccentric couplers and a corresponding one of said outlet housings of said connector;
- and
- means for connecting said inlet housing to the outboard end of said articulated loading arm whereby said single loading arm simultaneously provides fluid to said pair of tanker manifolds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.