US3889728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine loading arm for bunkering vessels
Assignee: TECH ET COMMERCIAL D INSTALLAT
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Filing: 1973-04-23
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A compactly stowable marine loading arm especially suitable for mounting on the deck of relatively small or coaster-type marine tankers to facilitate transfer of fluids, and especially petroleum products such as bunker fuel, from the tankers to other ships, particularly container-carriers. The loading arm comprises an inboard arm section mounted on a riser for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, and an outboard arm section joined to the inboard section for pivotal movement about two additional horizontal axes and another vertical axis. The loading arm is arranged to be stowed in a horizontal attitude with the outboard section extending back toward the riser and overlying the inboard section. When the arm is used, the outboard section is pivoted about the vertical axis at its juncture with the inboard section until it extends forward from the inboard section in the desired functional direction. A counterweight carried by the inboard section provides a counterbalancing force for the arm about the riser''s horizontal axis, and a sheave and cable system maintains the outboard section''s elevational attitude, i.e., with respect to the vertical, as the inboard section is raised or lowered, this attitude being variable by a suitably mounted hydraulic cylinder or equivalent means.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M Riche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:31
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D9/00; B67D9/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/8807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A tubular loading arm comprising: a riser, an inboard arm section mounted on the riser for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane about a generally horizontal axis through the riser, an outboard arm section, and means pivotally interconnecting the inboard and outboard arm sections having three pivot axes, whereby the outboard section can be pivoted with respect to the inboard section in both a generally horizontal direction and a generally vertical direction independent of movement of said inboard section, and the outboard section can be moved between a forwardly extending operational attitude and a rearwardly extending stowed attitude wherein the outboard section generally overlies the inboard section and extends toward the riser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A tubular loading arm comprising: a riser, an inboard arm section mounted on the riser for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane about a generally horizontal axis through the riser, an outboard arm section, and means pivotally interconnecting the inboard and outboard arm sections having three pivot axes, whereby the outboard section can be pivoted with respect to the inboard section in both a generally horizontal direction and a generally vertical direction independent of movement of said inboard section, and the outboard section can be moved between a forwardly extending operational attitude and a rearwardly extending stowed attitude wherein the outboard section generally overlies the inboard section and extends toward the riser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A loading arm according to claim 1 wherein the pivotally interconnecting means comprises three swivel joints interconnected through elbows, with the first and third swivel joints oriented on generally horizontal axes and the second swivel joint oriented on a vertical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A loading arm according to claim 2 including a pantograph system for maintaining the axis of the second swivel joint vertical throughout elevational movements of the inboard section, said pantograph system comprising an inner sheave non-rotatably mounted on the riser, an outer sheave connected to the outboard arm section and mounted on the inboard arm section for rotation about the axis through the aforesaid first swivel joint, and means interconnecting the inner and outer sheaves to rotate the outer sheave as the inboard arm section is pivoted iN a vertical plane about the horizontal axis through the riser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A loading arm according to claim 3 wherein the outer sheave and the second swivel joint are connected in a manner that precludes relative movement between said outer sheave and the axis through said second swivel joint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A loading arm according to claim 2 wherein the outboard section is connected to the third swivel joint for pivotal movement about the generally horizontal axis through said third swivel joint independently of movement of the inboard section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A loading arm according to claim 2 including means to pivot the outboard section about the generally horizontal axis through the third swivel joint independently of movement of the inboard section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A loading arm according to claim 2 including means for pivoting the outboard section about the vertical axis through the second swivel joint independently of movement of the inboard section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A loading arm according to claim 1 including first means to pivot the inboard section on the riser, and second means to pivot the outboard section horizontally and vertically with respect to the inboard section, said first and second means functionable independently of each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A loading arm according to claim 1 wherein the inboard section is mounted on the riser for pivotal movement also about a generally vertical axis through said riser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A loading arm according to claim 1 including means to at least partially counterbalance the inboard and outboard sections about a generally horizontal axis through the riser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A loading arm according to claim 1 including means to connect the outer end of the outboard section to a marine vessel for delivering fluid thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A loading arm according to claim 11 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of swivel joints interconnected by elbows to provide pivotal movement about three mutually perpendicular axes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |