System and method for storage and conveyance of fluids, and a method for filling and emptying a collapsible fluid container
AssigneeNordic Water Supply ASA
InventorJan Otto Reimers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for storing and conveying (e.g. towing) fluids. The system includes a collapsible fluid container with an elongate shape and a first and a second end. A flexible fluid conduit is fixedly attached to the front end of the container. A towing/mooring device is attached to the conduit. A retarder/mooring device is attached to the container second end. The system also includes container retrieval, storage and deployment devices.
Claims23
An improved, modularized system for storing and conveying fluids, said system being adapted for towing by marine crafts in offshore conditions, said system comprising:
- a collapsible fluid container having an elongate shape and first and second ends;
- a fluid filling and emptying conduit attached to said container first end;
- towing/mooring means attached to said conduit;
- retarder/mooring means attached to said container second end;
- and
- container retrieval, storage and deployment means, wherein said container is composed of a front section, a forward tapered section, a plurality of central sections, a rearward tapered section, and an aft section, said sections being joined consecutively in a container longitudinal direction.
An improved system for towing collapsible, floating, fluid containing containers, said system comprising:
- a fluid filling and emptying conduit attached to said container's first end, and towing means attached to said conduit, wherein said conduit comprises:
- a plurality of buoyancy elements;
- valve and connector means for connecting to a facility for filling a fluid into and discharging a fluid from said container;
- a plurality of attachment means for towing and mooring, fixedly attached to said valve and connector means;
- a junction element;
- and
- a flexible portion fixedly attached to and between said valve and connector means and said junction element.
A method for emptying and retrieving a collapsible fluid container filled with a volume of fresh water and having an elongate shape and a first and a second end, and comprising:
- a fluid filling and emptying conduit attached to said container first end;
- towing/mooring means attached to said conduit;
- and
- towing/mooring means attached to said container second end,
- said method comprising;
- while said conduit is attached to an emptying facility, attaching said container second end to a container retrieval, storage and deployment means removeably mountable on a vessel intended for the transportation of said container in an empty state;
- coordinated with the discharge of said fresh water through said conduit, reeling said container onto said retrieval, storage and deployment means;
- coordinated with the reeling of said container onto said retrieval, storage and deployment means, propelling said vessel in a direction generally towards said facility;
- and
- when said container is sufficiently empty, releasing said conduit from said facility, thereby enabling the part of said container and said conduit still in the water to be completely retrieved onto said retrieval, storage and deployment means,
- whereby said method effectively causes virtually said entire volume of fresh water to be emptied from said container.
A method for deploying of, and filling with a volume of fresh water, a collapsible fluid container having an elongate shape and a first and a second end, and comprising:
- a fluid filling and emptying conduit attached to said container first end;
- towing/mooring means attached to said conduit;
- and
- towing/mooring means attached to said container second end,
- said method comprising:
- pulling said conduit off a container retrieval, storage and deployment means removeably mountable on a vessel intended for the transportation of said container in an empty state;
- connecting said conduit to a filling facility and commencing a filling of fresh water thorough said conduit and into said container;
- coordinated with the filling of said fresh water through said conduit, reeling said container off said retrieval, storage and deployment means;
- coordinated with the reeling of said container off of said retrieval, storage and deployment means, propelling said vessel in a direction generally away from said facility;
- and
- when said container is sufficiently filled with fresh water, releasing said container second end from of said retrieval, storage and deployment means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.