Device for transferring fluid between two floating supports

A device for transferring fluid between two floating supports anchored to the sea bottom, the device comprising a rigid pipe installed below the surface, said rigid pipe having first and second ends connected to said two floating supports via respective flexible hoses, wherein:

• a) a main portion of said rigid pipe includes or co-operates with buoyancy elements such that in a quasi-static rest state, said rigid pipe adopts a configuration of a curved arch;
• and
• b) said flexible hoses are of lengths and curvatures such that variations in the curvatures of said flexible hoses are suitable for compensating movements of said floating supports;
• and
• c) said rigid pipe is connected at each of said first and second ends by a tensioning link, said tensioning links being connected respectively:
• at said first end to one of said floating supports, said first end including or co-operating with ballasting means;
• and
• at said second end, to the sea bottom, said second end including or co-operating with additional buoyancy means;
• wherein said flexible hoses are connected to said first and second ends of said rigid pipe via flexible mechanical joints each comprising:
• a rigid tube connected at its ends to one of said first and second ends of said rigid pipe and to one of said flexible hoses;
• and
• a main body constituting a forging defining:
• an outside surface to which one of said tensioning links is connected;
• and
• an inside surface defining an empty passage through which said rigid tube passes;
• said inside surface of said main body and said rigid tube supporting a laminated abutment comprising layers of elastomer that are circularly symmetrical about a respective axis, providing a flexible mechanical connection between said main body and said rigid tube, so as to allow said tube to move angularly relative to said main body within a cone having an angle at an apex lying substantially on said axis of symmetry of said laminated abutment and presenting a maximum value d equal to 15°.