Multiple fluid swivel arrangement
US5205768A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B21/50
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A multiple fluid swivel arrangement is described, for connecting stationary undersea pipes to rotatable pipes on a weathervaning ship, which provides ready access to each of the fluid swivels and which minimizes the diameters of the fluid swivels and their seals and other parts. Each of the multiple fluid swivels, except for the uppermost one, includes a largely horizontal arm (40A, FIG. 2) with an inner end (38) that can pivot about a largely vertical axis (32) on a fluid swivel body (33) that is connected to a stationary pipe (12A) extending to a deep underwater location. The outer end (42) of the arm is detachably connected to one of a plurality of couplings (44A, 46A) mounted on the ship. As the ship weathervanes and the arm approaches one of the vertical stationary pipes (12B), the outer end of the arm is disconnected from a coupling (44A), the arm is pivoted until its outer end lies adjacent to a second coupling (46A), and the outer end of the arm is attached to the second coupling.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.