Loading/unloading buoy

Details Loading/unloading buoy Loading/unloading buoy

1995-01-13

1997-05-13

Avila, Stephen

Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices

Buoy

For mooring a vessel

114230, B63B 2100

Patent

active

056286570

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buoy for use in loading or unloading of a flowable medium, especially oil, comprising an outer buoyancy member arranged to be introduced and secured in a submerged downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel, and a central member rotatably mounted in the outer member, which central member is intended for anchoring to the sea bed and is arranged for passage of medium between a transfer line which, in operation, is coupled to the lower end of the central member and a tube system on the vessel.
2. Background Information
A buoy of the above-mentioned type is disclosed in the international patent application No. PCT/NO92/00056. With the buoy according to this prior application, the floating vessel, when the buoy is placed in the receiving space thereof, is rigidly attached to the outer buoyancy member of the buoy and is rotatable about the central member which is anchored to the sea bed by means of a suitable anchoring system, and the buoy itself thus constitutes a rotating body (turret). When connecting the buoy, this is pulled up into the receiving space of the vessel by a winch means on the vessel and an associated pick-up line which is connected to the submerged buoy to carry out the pulling. Thereafter the buoy is secured by means of a locking mechanism in the receiving space.
This buoy structure entails a number of substantial advantageous in relation To previously known buoy loading systems. Thus, connection and disconnection between vessel and buoy can be carried out in a simple and quick manner, even in bad weather with relatively high waves. Further, the buoy may remain connected to the vessel in all weathers, a quick disconnection being able to be carried out if a weather limitation should be exceeded.
The buoy according to the prior application broadly has a flat underside, something which results in that the buoy becomes more movement sensitive than necessary, under the influence of wave and current forces in the water. Said buoy shape also results in that the fastening points for the transfer line and for the anchoring lines of the buoy are located adjacent to the flat underside of the buoy, something which has appeared to be less favourable in practice.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a buoy of the stated type which has improved hydrodynamic and hydrostatic properties, and which is simultaneously designed such that the fastening point for the transfer line, and preferably also the fastening points for the anchor lines, are lowered to a lower level in relation to the outer buoyancy member of the buoy.
Another object of the invention is to provide a buoy structure giving the possibility for arrangement of one or more buoyancy chambers in the central member of the buoy, in addition to buoyancy chambers in the outer buoyancy member of the buoy.
For the achievement of the above-mentioned objects there is provided a buoy of the introductorily stated type which, according to the invention, is characterized in that the central member is provided with a lower extension body having an outer peripheral portion abutting on and essentially corresponding to the outer periphery of the adjacent end of the outer buoyancy member, and having a lower portion which is downwardly tapering from the outer peripheral portion.
In that the central member of the buoy has a lower extension body which is shaped in the stated manner, there is obtained a hydrodynamic shape resulting in less movement of the buoy in the water, because of waves and underwater currents, both when the submerged buoy is located at the lowest level, and during the connecting phase, and in addition there is achieved that the buoy more easily falls out and is released from the receiving space when disconnecting the buoy.
In an advantageous embodiment of the buoy according to the invention a number of fastening means for securing the upper ends of anchoring lines for the anchoring of the buoy are fastened at int

REFERENCES:
patent: 3735435 (1973-05-01), Mikulicic et al.
patent: 3742536 (1973-07-01), Sada et al.
patent: 4490121 (1984-12-01), Coppens et al.
patent: 4604961 (1986-08-01), Ortloff et al.

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