Hydraulically balanced marine loading arm
US4142551A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 1977 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 25, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8807
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A loading arm for transferring petroleum products at sea between two floating vessels. The loading arm structure includes a rotatably supported column having a boom hingedly supported at the upper end of the column for rotation about a first horizontal axis. An outer arm is hingedly connected at one end to the outer end of the boom for rotation about a second horizontal axis. A hydraulic/pneumatic spring includes a hydraulic cylinder connected between the column and the boom, the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder being pressurized from a large volume of gas for counterbalancing the weight of the boom and the arm. A second hydraulic/pneumatic spring is coupled between the column and a lever arm rotatable about the first horizontal axis. Linkage means couples the lever arm to the outer arm for maintaining the lever arm and outer arm in fixed angular relationship relative to each other as they rotate. The gas pressure in the hydraulic/pneumatic springs is adjustable to accommodate changes in load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.