System for the control of a marine loading arm
US4402350A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1981 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8807
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for sensing the position in space of the outer end of an articulated loading arm connected to a marine tanker or other transport vessel, for predicting if the arm will move outside a safe operating envelope, for discontinuing the flow of fluid before the arm reaches an unsafe area, and for disconnecting the arm from the vessel when the arm reaches an unsafe area. The sensing system includes means for determining various angles representative of the orientation of the limbs of the loading arm, and a computer for using these angles to compute the spatial position of the arm's outer end. The computer uses the spatial position and movement of the loading arm to predict future positions of the outboard end of the arm, and to determine if the loading operation should be terminated and the arm disconnected from the vessel. When the computer predicts that the loading arm may move outside a first operating envelope an alarm is sounded. When the computer predicts that the arm may move outside a second operating envelope the flow of fluids through the arm is automatically discontinued, and if the computer predicts that the loading arm may move outside a third operating envelope the a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.