Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Buoy – For mooring a vessel
Patent
1995-03-29
1996-07-30
Sotelo, Jesus D.
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Buoy
For mooring a vessel
114230, B63B 2202
Patent
active
055406076
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device of which the main component is a guide cylinder having a circular or possibly other cross-sectional shape and which can be displaced relative to an air-tightly closable shaft above a receiving space at the bottom of the vessel. The receiving space is adapted to the outer shape of the loading/unloading buoy, and the objective of the device of the invention especially is to provide for a reliable and gentle guiding during the pulling-up of the buoy to the correct position in the receiving space, whereafter locking can take place.
The loading/unloading buoy all the time is anchored by lines to the sea bed. From the bottom of the buoy, a transfer line in the form of a flexible riser extends down to an installation or something else on the sea bed. The flowable medium normally will be hydrocarbons (oil or gas), possibly also other flowable materials, for example in powder or particle form.
The transfer of medium takes place in that the buoy is pulled up into the receiving space in the bottom of the vessel and locked in place, whereafter a coupling unit which is connected to the tube system of the vessel, is connected.
Such a system for The connection of a loading buoy to a floating vessel and transfer of medium to/from the vessel, is already known from the international patent applications PCT/NO92/00053 and . . . 054, a vessel which is especially arranged for such connection and transfer is described in the corresponding application . . . 055, and finally, a loading/unloading buoy which is adapted to be received in the receiving space of such a vessel is described in the corresponding application . . . 056.
The technique described therein already involves substantial advantages for the transfer of medium, and especially the transfer itself as well as the connection/disconnection will be able to be carried out under partly very difficult weather and sea conditions. In order to facilitate and make safe the critical phase when the buoy during the pulling-up for connection in the vessel has arrived at the level of the bottom of the vessel, to thereafter be introduced into the receiving space in the bottom, it has turned out, however, that there is a need for better facilities for guiding. In the solutions-according to the prior art, there is primarily taken care that the receiving space has an appropriate shape and surface structure, so that a buoy having a corresponding shape and surface will be able to be moved in place without any appreciable risk for damages or misalignments. A generally conical outer shape of the buoy, possibly divided into parts having different conicity, will be preferable, and corresponding considerations will apply to the internal shape of the receiving space. Another means is that the pick-up line pulling the loading/unloading buoy up into the vessel, is centred and consequently secondarily causes a guiding of the buoy itself. If the pick-up line at the bottom branches off and forms a so-called lifting bridle having several lines, e.g. in a number of three, the buoy secondarily will be able to be guided in place even better. This principle is additionally utilized in the invention, and the guide elements with which the inventive device is equipped, is precisely suitable for causing guiding by means of a pick-up line which, at the pick-up end, forms a lifting bridle having converging lines.
Generally, the device of the invention, for guiding of a loading/unloading buoy during its pulling-up or lowering to/from a locked position in the receiving space of the vessel, wherein the guiding takes place by means of guide elements and wherein the vessel above the receiving space has an airtightly closable shaft for connection, inspection and maintenance, especially is characterized by arranging the guide elements are arranged on a guide cylinder which is displaceable coaxially relative to the closable shaft and in the longitudinal direction thereof from an upper, retracted position of rest via a guiding region to a lower, advanced end position, and by mea
REFERENCES:
patent: 4765378 (1988-08-01), Engelskirchen et al.
patent: 4892495 (1990-01-01), Svensen
patent: 5292271 (1994-03-01), Boatman et al.
Breivik Kare
Kleppesto Harald
Smedal Arne
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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