Apparatus For Offshore Transfer Of Fluid

Abstract

Apparatus is described which is suitable for effecting the offshore loading and offloading of fluids, such as liquefied natural gas. The apparatus comprises a plurality of rotatable members ( 3,4,5 ) and a fluid transfer system suitable for connecting the apparatus to a fluid source or a fluid store. The apparatus is mounted on a base ( 2 ) and the fluid transfer system is mounted on or coupled to one of the rotatable members ( 3,4,5 ). In use, rotation of the rotatable members ( 3,4,5 ) relative to each other is controlled so as to maintain the fluid transfer system is a predetermined orientation relative to the base ( 2 ).

1 . Apparatus suitable for the offshore transfer of fluids, the apparatus being mountable on a base and comprising first, second and third rotatable members, and a fluid transfer system suitable for connecting the apparatus to a fluid source or a fluid store, second rotatable member, and the fluid transfer system being mounted on said third rotatable member, wherein the first member is rotatable about a first axis, the second member is rotatable about a second axis, and the third member is rotatable about a third axis, the axes being substantially vertical and parallel, the first and second axes being offset from each other and the second and third axes being offset from each other, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the first member is rotated about first axis through an angle of α, the second member is rotated about said second axis through an angle of 2α°; whereby in use, the fluid transfer system is maintained in a predetermined orientation relative to the base.  
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer system, in use, undergoes translation in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axes.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first rotable member is rotatably mountable on the base.  
   
   
       5 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when said first member rotates in a first direction the second member rotates in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite to each other.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the first element is rotated about said first axis through an angle of α°, the third member is rotated about said third axis through an angle of α°.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that said first and third members rotate in the same direction.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first axis and the second axis is the same as the distance between the second axis and the third axis.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first actuator for rotating said first rotatable member.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator for rotating said second rotatable member relative to said first rotatable member.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a third actuator for rotating said third rotatable member relative to said second rotatable member.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first linkage assembly for effecting rotation of the second rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a second linkage assembly for effecting rotation of the third rotatable member relative to the second rotatable member.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining the angular rotation of each rotatable member.  
   
   
       18 - 23 . (canceled)