# US 7,610,934 B2 · Hydrocarbon transfer system with a damped transfer arm

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- Number: US 7,610,934 B2
- Document ID: US7610934B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/555,791
- Filed: 2004-05-04
- Published: 2006-10-19
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2003-05-05
- Assignees: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
- Inventors: Mamoun Naciri; Jean-Pierre Queau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610934B2

## CPC

- B63B 27/24: of pipe-lines
- B63B 27/34: using pipe-lines {(anchoring arrangements for special vessels with mooring turrets B63B21/507; buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids B63B22/021)}
- B67D 9/02: using articulated pipes
- B63B 2035/448: {Floating hydrocarbon production vessels, e.g. Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels [FPSO]}
- Y10T 137/8807: Articulated or swinging flow conduit
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Hydrocarbon transfer system includes a first structure having a substantially vertical first arm hingingly connected to the first structure via a first articulation around a substantially horizontal axis and a second arm attached to the first arm in an articulation joint, the second arm having a connecting arm part carrying a releasable connector for connecting to a floating second structure and a restoring arm part carrying a counterweight for exerting a restoring force on the second structure that is connected to the second arm upon relative movement of the first and second structures, characterized in that damping elements are provided above water level, acting on the second arm for damping movement of the second arm around the articulation joint upon transition of the second arm from an operative position to an inoperative position after disconnecting the releasable connector from the second structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Hydrocarbon transfer system comprising a first structure (8) having a substantially vertical first arm (4,61) hingingly connected to the first structure (8) via a first articulation (22,22′) around a substantially horizontal axis (23) and a second arm (5,62) attached to the first arm in an articulation joint (16,16′, 64), the second arm (5,62) having a connecting arm part carrying a releasable connector (13,65) for connecting to a floating second structure (7) and a restoring arm part carrying a counterweight (6,6′) for exerting a restoring force on the second structure that is connected to the second arm upon relative movement of the first and second structures, characterized in that damping means are provided above water level, acting on the second arm (5,62) for damping movement of the second arm (5,62) around the articulation joint (16,16′, 64) upon transition of the second arm (5,62) from an operative position to an inoperative position after disconnecting the releasable connector (13, 65) from the second structure (7), wherein the second, arm (5,62) in the operative position extends in a substantially horizontal direction, the second arm (5,62) in the inoperative position being rotated upward through an angle of at least 15 degrees in the articulation joint (16,16′, 64), relative to the operative arm position and wherein hydrocarbon transfer ducts (35,36,39,40,66,67,68,69) are provided in or on the first and second arms (4,5,61,62), wherein the damping means comprise a damping member situated in the articulation joint (16,16′,64) increasing the moment required for upward rotation of the second arm in the articulation joint.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Hydrocarbon transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the articulation joint comprises a pin (164) on one of the first or second arms and a rotating eye (167), rotatable around said pin on the other of the of the first or second arms, the damping member comprising a circumferential spring (162) in the articulation joint attached with one end to the pin (164) and with an other end to the eye (167).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Hydrocarbon transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the articulation joint comprises a pin (164) on one of the first or second arms and a rotating eye (167), rotatable around said pin on the other of the of the first or second arms, the damping member comprising a projection (166) on the pin (164), engaging with a complementary projection on the eye upon movement of the second arm to the retracted position, the projections not substantially engaging upon relative movement of the first and second arms in the operative position.