EP0020267B1 - Articulated apparatus for transferring fluids - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an articulated device for transferring fluids from a first location to a second location, for example from an oil installation at sea to a tanker or other marine vessel.

Fluid transfer devices of the accordion type or with deformable diamonds are known.

According to one of these devices described in patent application FR-A-2,367,700, a single broken line (11) is used for transferring a liquid and is formed by articulated hollow elements, while the another broken line (12) is produced by any articulated connecting elements. The assembly is articulated respectively to a support arm (8) and to a connector (c). The articulation (10) with the carrying arm can be a universal joint, so that the connector (c) is a device to clean bell or funnel coming to fit over a head _'hollow nozzle disposed on a ship. The operation of the articulated assembly is obtained using a cable (32). The assembly is completed by a hawser (26) which is fixed to the connector (c).

It is desirable to have the possibility of using the two paths in a broken line for the transfer of a fluid or of two different fluids and a transfer device is known which is described in the patent application FR-A-2,373 .009, also of the accordion or deformable diamond type, in which two broken line paths (10) and (14) are used for the transfer of fluid. The assembly is joined in an articulated manner to two coaxial terminations (T5) and (T6). Coaxial composite rotary joints (132) make the connection with these terminations, using bolts (136), which makes the connection difficult to dissociate and constitutes a drawback when the termination at the first location and / or the termination at the second location of the articulated device are mobile due to the own or relative mobility of these locations.

The present invention overcomes this major drawback in an advantageous manner and is aimed at a fluid transfer device comprising in particular an arm composed of multiple articulated segments of fluid conduit of the accordion type or with deformable diamonds, mini of an upper connection means universal connecting it to a carrying means, of a dissociable lower connection means and actuating means such as a cable, which device allows a transfer of fluids from the carrying means, such as an arrow comprising at least two fluid conduits located at a location , to a couolaqe means located at a second location and connected to the articulated arm by the lower connection means, characterized in that the coupling means located at the second location comprises two lines or legs each comprising a coupler means, three rotary joints and plus two other means of rotation with different horizontal axes and in that an elbow connects the coupler by means of rotation of each j ambe and is pivotally mounted on the same central axis at the end of a console carried by a sliding sleeve on a central mast, the combination of the five rotations allowing vertical movement of the couplers and a final connection of the end of the arm in the second location.

• -la figure 1 est une vue de face d'une partie du dispositif de transfert selon l'invention, montrant les moyens de connexion du bras qui le relient, d'une part, à la flèche et, d'autre part, au bateau-citerne;
• -la figure 2 est une vue de côté du dispositif de la figure 1, où les moyens de connexion situés sur le bateau-citerne ne sont pas représentés;
• -la figure 3 est une vue schématique, coupée selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2, du moyen de connexion inférieur du bras articulé au moyen de couplage du bateau-citerne;
• -la figure 4 est une vue en élévation du moyen de couplage et de transfert situé au second emplacement ou bateau-citerne.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, relating to a particular embodiment of the invention shown in the attached drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a front view of a part of the transfer device according to the invention, showing the means of connection of the arm which connects it, on the one hand, to the boom and, on the other hand, to the boat -tank;
• - Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1, where the connection means located on the tanker are not shown;
• - Figure 3 is a schematic view, cut along the line III-III of Figure 2, of the lower connection means of the articulated arm to the coupling means of the tanker;
• FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the coupling and transfer means located at the second location or tanker.

An articulated arm 1 according to the invention comprises two upper pipes 11, 12 the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the end of an arrow 2 (only sketched in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) and more specifically to respective pipes 21, 22 carried by the latter, by means of connection means 3, two lower pipes 13, 14, the lower end of which is connected to a tanker 4, of which only one upper wall is shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, by means of a connection means 5 of the articulated arm and of the coupling means 6, forming part of the deformable transfer device, and two intermediate conduits 15, 16 interposed respectively between the lower end of each upper pipe and the upper end of the corresponding lower pipe. Each of the two assemblies consisting of an upper pipe 11, 12, an intermediate pipe 15, 16 and a lower pipe 13, 14 which connects a pipe 21, 22 of the boom to the boat, one for the transfer liquefied natural gas, the other for the return of steam, is formed in the form of a hinged broken line placed opposite the other as shown in Figure 1; these two sets are not in the same plane, but in planes arranged in parallel, and are placed so as to constitute, seen from the front, two articulated diamonds of which two respective angles are opposed by the apex, this apex being in the middle of the intermediate conduits 15, 16, which are secured at this point by a joint for example a ball joint 17; in this way the two diamonds formed, arranged one above the other, remain equal to each other in all positions of the articulated arm 1. The tower or the vertical support device which is mounted by its base on a platform that is part of the installation at sea is not shown, and we have seen that the same is true of most of the boom, in particular of its end pivotally attached to the top of the carrier device; a support and actuation device with cables is also provided, cooperating with a tensioning device, the characteristics of which will be explained below; a securing device is used to secure the articulated arm 1 deformable transfer to the boom 2.

Each intermediate pipe is connected by its respective ends on the one hand to an upper pipe and on the other hand to a lower pipe, by means of articulations 18, which can be of single knee, each provided with a rotating joint and at at least one fixing with fixed flanges whose respective axes are perpendicular or orthogonal, or, as shown in the drawings, of the "double genuo" type, each provided with a pair of rotary joints 181 whose respective axes are in the extension l one of the other and fixings with fixed flanges 182 whose respective axes are also in the extension of one another and parallel to the first; whereas with simple knee joints, it is easier to produce each of the two assemblies consisting of an upper pipe, an intermediate pipe and a lower pipe in the form of a broken line of which the three segments are in two (or three) parallel planes, with double knee joints, it is easy to make a broken line whose three segments are in the same plane.

The connection means 3 of the articulated arm 1 to the pipes 21, 22 of the boom comprise on each line a single knee 31 to allow extensions and retractions of the arm, with a pair of cryogenic rotary joints 311, 312 having their axes perpendicular so to carry out a coupling of the "cardan" type.

The connection means 5 of the deformable transfer device with the boat may have an axial rotary joint; copendant, this is not essential and it comprises here two independent lines each provided with a knee 51 to allow extensions and retractions of the arm, with rotary joints 511, 512 having their axes perpendicular so as to also achieve a coupling of the gimbal type, a safety valve 513, a hemispherical ball valve 514, and locking members 515; the connection means 5 also comprises a central locking head 516, connected here to the two lines by flanges; the safety valves 513 and the locking head 516 are provided on the one hand with shutters and on the other hand with quick disconnection members 517 represented symbolically, so that in case of emergency disconnection, the lower part of these valves and the locking head remain on the ship, the jet being moreover blocked by its own weight or if necessary by spring devices provided respectively on the two parts of these valves and of the locking head which are to be disconnected , so that the shutters are then automatically pushed into their closed position.

The support and actuation device includes two cables 71, permanently on the structure; these two cables, connected to the tensioning device 72 via pulleys 72A disposed on the arrow 2 above the arm, are attached to the lower part of the deformable transfer device.

The tensioning device is designed so that on the one hand the arm has an equilibrium position just above the zone of maximum movements encountered during loading, that on the other hand it rises to its equilibrium position without oscillation when disconnected at the end of loading, and also that in all cases of normal or emergency disconnection, its upward acceleration is greater than the acceleration of the ship; the folded position of the articulated arm is shown in long dashed lines in FIG. 1.

The securing device is designed so that, from its equilibrium position, the articulated arm is secured to the boom by means of claws which lift it and support it in its securing position.

The articulated transfer device according to the invention, which can be fitted with members intended for cryogenic type operation, in particular cryogenic rotary joints, allows rapid connection and disconnection with the tanker, under good conditions of balance and safety, thanks to its double diamond arrangement in pantograph operated by cables connected to a tensioning device designed to meet extremely severe requirements, a certain number of organs located at the bottom of the device being likely to remain secured to the tanker in case of emergency disconnection.

The coupling means (6) of the boat, connected to the articulated arm (1) by the intermedia of the lower connection means (5), is produced by two transfer lines or dog legs (62, 63); these two dog legs (62, 63) each comprising three rotations, such as the rotary joints (621, 622, 623) of the leg (62), each form a transfer line articulated around a central mast (M), couplers (C) at the ends of the dog legs coming to mate at the ends the lower connection means (5) of the articulated arm (1). Each transfer line or dog leg with three rotations of these coupling and transfer means comprises, in addition, two other rotations with a horizontal axis, the combination of the five rotations allowing a vertical movement of the couplers and a final connection at the ends of the arm . Each dog leg (62 or 63) therefore shows two other means of rotation (A and B) in addition to the three rotations (621-622-623) for the leg (62) and (631-632-633) for the leg (63).

The rotation means (A) is disposed between the. coupler (C) and the rotation (621) or (631) depending on whether it is the leg (62) or the leg (63).

The rotation means (B) is disposed between the rotations (622 and 623) for the leg (62) and between the rotations (632 and 633) for the leg (63).

The elbow (8) connecting the coupler (C) to the rotation (A) is pivotally mounted at the end of a console (82) carried by a sleeve (821) for the leg (62) and at the end a console (83) carried by another sleeve (831) for the leg (63).

The sleeves (821) and (831) are arranged one above the other and are capable of sliding on the mast (M).

The pivoting takes place along a general axis (X-X) passing through the center of the rotations or rotary joints (A) and using jacks (VI) advantageously supported on the rotations (621) and (631).

Other cylinders (V2) are provided to obtain a vertical translation of the sleeves (821) and (831) along the mast (M).

Another cylinder (V3) is provided to obtain a rotation on itself of the mast (M) around the axis (Z-Z).

The rotation (A) with horizontal axis (X-X) gives the means of tilting the coupler during the connection phase which avoids possible shocks.

The rotation (B), also with a horizontal axis (Y-Y), ensures, when combined with the rotation (A) and the three rotations forming the dog leg, a vertical movement of the coupler. This allows more reasonable manufacturing tolerances, since the assembly is not hyperstatic. In addition, the dog legs are not subject to mechanical stress due to a differential contraction between the dog legs and the locking mast (M), the latter remaining at room temperature when the dog legs cool.

• -le bras est positionné et verrouillé par rapport au bateau au moyen du timon (T) et du mât (M). Les coupleurs (C) sont en position basse;
• -les jambes de chien sont pivotées à l'aide du vérin (V3) autour de l'axe (Z-Z) du timon de façon à amener les coupleurs (C) en face des extrémités (E) du bras;
• -les coupleurs (C) sont amenés en position haute par la rotation (A) à l'aide des vérins (V1);
• -les coupleurs (c) sont amenés en position de connexion finale par translation verticale, opérée au moyen des vérins (V2) et rendue possible par la combinaison des cinq rotations de chaque jambe de chien.

The combination of the five rotations of each dog leg allows the following operation:

• -the arm is positioned and locked relative to the boat by means of the drawbar (T) and the mast (M). The couplers (C) are in the low position;
• -the dog legs are pivoted using the jack (V3) around the axis (ZZ) of the drawbar so as to bring the couplers (C) opposite the ends (E) of the arm;
• the couplers (C) are brought into the high position by the rotation (A) using the jacks (V1);
• the couplers (c) are brought into the final connection position by vertical translation, operated by means of the jacks (V2) and made possible by the combination of the five rotations of each dog leg.

Claims (7)

1. A fluid transfer device comprising in particular an arm (1) composed of multiple, articulated, fluid conduit segments of the accordion or deformable lozenge type, such arm being provided with a universal, upper, connection means (3) connecting the arm to a carrier means (4) of a lower dissociable connection means (5) and of an actuating means such as a cable (71), such device permitting transfer of fluids from the carrier means, such as a boom (2), comprising at least two fluid conduits (21, 22), disposed at one location, to a coupling means (6) disposed at a second location (4) and connected to the articulated arm (1) through the lower conecting means (5), characterized in that the coupling means (6) disposed at the second location (4) comprises two lines or legs (62 and 63), each comprising a coupling means (C), three rotary joints (621, 622, 633) and moreover, two other rotating means (A and B) with different horizontal axes (XX and YY), and in that a bent section (8) connects the coupling means (C) to the rotating means (A) of each leg and is pivotably mounted, on the same central axis (XX) at the end of a console (82, 83) carried by a slidable sleeve (821, 831) on a central mast (M), the combination of the five rotations permitting vertical motion of the couplers and final connection of the end of arm (1) at the second location.

2. A transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeves (821, 831) are disposed one above the other.

3. A transfer device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that jacks (V1) produce the pivoting motion of the bent sections (8) through the rotating means (A).

4. A transfer device according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said jacks (V1) is supported on the rotary joint (621, 631) which immediately follows the rotating means (A) of each leg (62, 63).

5. A transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that jacks (V2) are provided to produce vertical translation of the sleeves (821, 831) along the mast (M).

6. A transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the articulated arm (1) comprises a tensioning means (72) permitting it to be in a balanced position precisely above the zone of the maximum motions encountered during the loading, and in that it moves up again to its balanced position without oscillation when it is disconnected at the end of the loading.

7. A transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connection means (5) of said articulated arm (1) with said coupling means (6) disposed at the second location comprises rotary joints (511-512) having perpendicular axes so as to realize a coupling of the cardanic type and locking members (515) on the couplers (C).

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