# US 8,539,970 B2 · Device for transferring a fluid to a ship, ship, transfer system and associated method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,970 B2 - Document ID: US8539970B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/595,689 - Filed: 2008-03-31 - Published: 2010-06-17 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-12 - Assignees: Technip France - Applicants: Pierre-Armand Thomas; Jean-Pascal Biaggi; Jean-François Patinet - Inventors: Pierre-Armand Thomas; Jean-Pascal Biaggi; Jean-François Patinet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539970B2 ## CPC - B63B 27/24: of pipe-lines - B67D 9/00: Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships (ship-based equipment B63B27/00) - B67D 9/02: using articulated pipes - Y10T 137/0441: Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank - Y10T 137/598: With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means - 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 The present disclosure comprises a platform and a manifold, the latter being intended to be connected to a fluid tank. The manifold comprises a length of rigid tube defining a pipe of approximately horizontal axis and a length of connecting tube for connection to a transfer line connected to the length of rigid tube. The length of connecting tube is permanently attached to the length of rigid tube and is hinged to the length of rigid tube to allow movement relative to the length of rigid tube between: —a retracted rest position in which the length of connecting tube extends entirely inside the inner edge; and —a first or filling position, in which the free end of the length of connecting tube projects out from the outer edge of the support platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for transferring a fluid to a ship, the device comprising: a support platform delimiting a support surface having an outer edge; and a manifold disposed above the support surface and configured to be connected to a fluid tank located on the ship, the manifold comprising: a length of a rigid tube having an outer end, an outer flange extending at the outer end in a plane transverse to the support surface, the rigid tube having a length delimiting an inner pipe with an axis in a region of the outer end, the axis being parallel to the support surface; and a length of a connecting tube, connected to the length of the rigid tube, the length of the connecting tube having a free end configured for projecting out beyond the outer edge in order to be connected to a first fluid transfer line, and delimiting an inner passage connecting to the inner pipe and opening at the free end; wherein the length of the connecting tube is permanently attached to the length of the rigid tube and is hinged onto the length of the rigid tube in order to be movable in relation to the length of the rigid tube between: a retracted rest position in which the length of the connecting tube extends entirely inside the outer edge; and a first filling position, in which the free end of the length of the connecting tube projects out beyond the outer edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein in the first filling position, the inner passage has an axis inclined downwards in the region of the free end of the length of the connecting tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the connecting tube is movable relative to the length of the rigid tube approximately in a vertical plane between the rest position and the first filling position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the length of the connecting tube is movable relative to the length of the rigid tube in a plane parallel to the supporting surface between the rest position and the first filling position, the manifold comprising a carriage for supporting the length of the connecting tube, the carriage mounted to be movable on the support surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the connecting tube is hinged on the length of the rigid tube at a branching point located on an inside relative to the outer end of the length of the rigid tube, the length of the rigid tube comprising an end extension of non-zero length extending between the branching point and the outer end of the length of the rigid tube and the length of the rigid tube has at the outer end an additional end-piece configured for connection to a second fluid transfer line, the inner pipe opening to the outside at the outer end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the length of the connecting tube in its first filling position comprises a portion extending approximately parallel to the end extension of the length of the rigid tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the rigid tube comprises an inner tubular element, intended to be connected to the fluid tank, an outer tubular element mounted to be movable on the support surface between a storage position away from the inner tubular element and a usage position connected to the inner tubular element, at least one conveying carriage movable on the support surface and carrying the outer tubular element between its storage position and its usage position, the length of the connecting tube being hinged on the outer tubular element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the connecting tube is formed by a flexible hose, the flexible hose being flexible over approximately the entire length of the flexible hose. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the flexible hose is permanently attached to the outer end of the length of the rigid tube, the length of the connecting tube being configured for assuming a second filling position, in which an axis of the length of the connecting tube in a region of the free end of the length of the connecting tube extends parallel to the support surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the length of the connecting tube comprises a stiffening assembly attached to the flexible hose in order to limit curvature of the flexible hose in a region of the free end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the stiffening assembly comprises a plurality of vertebrae hinged to one another by controlled articulations, the controlled articulations being capable of assuming a rest configuration in which the vertebrae are immobilized relative to one another and a release configuration in which the vertebrae are movable relative to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the connecting tube comprises a rigid tubular element mounted to be movable on the length of the rigid tube via an articulation means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The ship for transporting the fluid, wherein the ship comprises the fluid tank, and the transfer device according to claim 1, the outer edge of the support platform delimiting partially an outer edge of the ship, the space below the free end of the length of the connecting tube in its first filling position being totally clear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An assembly for transferring the fluid, comprising: a fluid transfer installation located in contact with a stretch of water and comprising the first fluid transfer line; the ship according to claim 13, floating on the stretch of water, the first fluid transfer line being connected to the free end of the length of the connecting tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method for transferring the fluid to the ship in the assembly according to claim 14, the method comprising the following steps: moving the ship towards the transfer installation, while the length of the connecting tube is in its retracted rest position; positioning the ship facing the transfer installation and moving the length of the connecting tube from its rest position to its first filling position; and connecting the first fluid transfer line of the transfer installation to the free end of the length of the connecting tube.