GB1212969A - Improvements in or relating to fluid transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,212,969. Transferring liquid cargoes; counter-balancing. FMC CORP. 21 May, 1969 [10 June, 1968], No. 25839/69. Headings B8B and B8E. Fluid transfer apparatus comprises a riser 22 mounted on a wharf 34, an inboard conduit 24 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis X, an outboard conduit 26 connected to the conduit 24 for rotation about a horizontal axis Y, a coupling assembly 28 for connection to a marine tanker manifold, and a counter-balancing assembly 30. The assembly 30 comprises a beam 70, a pair of bell crank links 72, 74 rotatably mounted on the riser's upper section 40, a link 80 rigidly attached to the conduit 26 and mounted on the conduit 24 by a swivel joint 54. The beam 70 is divided into two prongs 70a, 70b respectively carrying sections 82a, 82b of a counterweight 82. A first actuating means comprises a front cylinder 104 pivoted at 108 to the riser's upper section 4 and with its piston rod 114 pivoted at 116 to a strut 118 fixed to arms 72b, 74b of the bell crank links 72, 74. A second actuating means comprises a rear cylinder 110 pivoted to arms 72a, 74a of the bell crank links 72, 74 at 112, 113 and with its piston rod 120 pivoted to a bracing strut 86 of the beam 70 which is itself pivoted at 88, 90 to the arms 72a, 74a. Fig. 8 shows the apparatus in stowed position where the conduits 24, 26 are overcentre. From this position operation of the front cylinder 104 rotates the conduits 24, 26 and the assembly 30 as a unit, e.g. to the position shown in Fig. 9. On the other hand operation of the rear cylinder 110 not only rotates the conduit 24 but also varies the angle between the conduits 24 and 26, e.g. as shown in Fig. 1. Slewing about a vertical axis Z is provided for by a swivel 42 and cylinders 130, 132.