Hydrocarbon fluid transfer system
AssigneeSingle Buoy Moorings Inc.
InventorsLeendert Poldervaart, Jack Pollack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a fluid transfer system, in particular for LNG in which an articulated vertical and horizontal mooring arm are suspended from a support on the processing vessel. Independently moveable ducts, for instance cryogenic hard piping are placed parallel to the mooring arms such that a transfer system is obtained in which is the mooring forces are insulated from the fluid transfer line with which rapid connection and disconnection is possible and which provides a large yaw resistance. In a preferred embodiment, the mooring system comprises two vertical arms connected to a triangular horizontal yoke attached to the bow of the LNG-carrier for improved yaw resistance.
Claims19
Hydrocarbon transfer structure having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis comprising a vessel (8) moored to a mooring point via a mooring device, which mooring device comprises a support structure (2) on the vessel (8), two spaced apart substantially vertical arms (4,4′) being at a top end attached to the support structure (2) in an articulation joint (22,22′) to be rotatable around a longitudinal axis (24) and a transverse axis (23), two substantially horizontal arms (5,5′) being connected to respective vertical arms (4,4′) in an articulation joint (16,16′) near the lower ends thereof to be rotatable relative to the first arms around a longitudinal (19) and a transverse (18) axis, the two arms (5,5′) being rotatable around a vertical axis (17) and carrying at a coupling end part (25) a mechanical connector (13) comprising an articulation joint allowing rotation of the substantially horizontal arms (5,5′) relative to the connector (13) around a longitudinal axis (27), a transverse axis (28) and a vertical axis (26), a counterweight (6) being attached to the restoring end part of the substantially horizontal and/or the vertical arms, characterised in that, the mooring point is placed on a second vessel (7), the substantially vertical and horizontal arms (4,4′;5,5′) being located above water level, wherein the mooring device comprises displacement means (30) acting on the substantially horizontal arms (5,5′) for raising or lowering the arms (5,5′) and a guide element (45) for guiding the connector (13) to the a connecting position on the vessel (7) upon connecting and disconnecting of the connector (13),
- wherein first ends of the two arms (5, 5′) are, near the articulation joints (16, 16′), spaced apart and wherein second ends of the two arms (5, 5′) are mutually connected at or near, the mechanical connector (13, 13′) to form a delta-shaped frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.