Multiple fluid swivel arrangement

A fluid transfer installation comprising:

• a ship which can weathervane and which has a plurality of rotatable pipes that weathervane with the ship, said ship having a turret and said ship can rotate about a substantially vertical turret axis relative to said turret;
• a plurality of stationary pipes with substantially nonrotatable upper portions that are mounted to said turret;
• a plurality of fluid swivels that each couples one of said stationary pipe portions to one of said rotatable pipes;
• a first of said fluid swivels includes a largely horizontally-extending arm with an inner end pivotally coupled to a first of said rotatable pipes about a primarily vertically-extending swivel axis, said arm having an outer end spaced from said swivel axis, said arm including a pair of fluid-carrying rigid links that are pivotally connected, with a first of said links forming a majority of the length of said arm inner end and a second of said links forming a majority of the length of said arm outer end;
• a plurality of couplings arranged substantially along an imaginary circle centered on said turret axis, said arm outer end being detachably connectable to each of said couplings, and each of said couplings being connected to one of said stationary pipe upper portions.

A fluid transfer installation comprising:

• a ship which can weathervane and which has a plurality of rotatable pipes that weathervane with the ship, said ship having a turret and said ship can rotate about a substantially vertical turret axis relative to said turret;
• a plurality of stationary pipes with substantially nonrotatable upper portions that are mounted to said turret;
• a plurality of fluid swivel devices that each couples one of said stationary pipe portions to one of said rotatable pipes;
• a first of said fluid swivel devices includes an arm having an inner end mounted on a first of said nonrotatable pipes and an opposite outer end, said arm being capable of flexing so said outer end can move;
• a plurality of couplings arranged largely along an imaginary circle centered on said turret axis, said arm outer end being detachably connectable to each of said couplings, and each of said couplings being connected to one of said rotatable pipes.

A fluid swivel apparatus which couples each of a group of largely stationary pipes extending up from undersea locations, to each of a group of rotatable pipes mounted on a ship or the like that can weathervane, characterized by:

• a first fluid swivel with a body connected to a first pipe of one of said groups of pipes, said first swivel having first and second largely horizontally-extending fluid-carrying arms each having an inner end pivotally mounted on said body about a primarily vertically-extending swivel axis, and each of said arms having an outer end spaced from said axis;
• a plurality of first couplings each connected to a first pipe of the other of said groups of pipes, said first couplings being arranged largely along an imaginary circle as seen in a plan view, said first arm outer ends being detachably connectable to each of said first couplings;
• a plurality of second couplings each connected to a second pipe of said other of said groups of pipes, said second couplings being arranged largely along a second imaginary circle, and said second arm outer ends being detachable connectable to each of said second couplings;
• said body has a first port connected to said first pipe of said one of said groups, and second and third ports that face vertically with one facing primarily up and the other facing primarily down, said first arm inner end lying on and extending upwardly along said pivot axis, and said second arm inner end lying on and extending downwardly along said pivot axis, and said first arm and first plurality of couplings lie above the level of said second arm and second plurality of couplings.

A fluid swivel apparatus which couples each of a group of largely stationary pipes extending up from undersea locations, to each of a group of rotatable pipes mounted on a ship or the like that can weathervane, characterized by:

• a first fluid swivel with a body connected to a first pipe of one of said groups of pipes, said first swivel having a largely horizontally-extending fluid-carrying arm with an inner end pivotally mounted on said body about a primarily vertically-extending swivel axis, said arm having an outer end spaced from said axis;
• a plurality of first couplings each connected to a first pipe of the other of said groups of pipes, said couplings being arranged largely along an imaginary circle as seen in a plan view, said arm outer end being detachably connectable to each of said couplings;
• one of said first pipes is arranged to flow fluid in a direction toward and through said first fluid swivel into the other first pipe;
• and including
• an accumulator connected to said one of said pipes, whereby to accumulate fluid flowing into said one of said pipes during the time between disconnection of said arm end from one of said couplings and connection of said arm end to another of said couplings.