Ameron, Inc.

Carl A Wilms

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.

Hydraulically balanced marine loading arm

A quick disconnect coupler in which a plurality of jaw clamping units are supported around the periphery of a pipe section for clamping the flange of a second pipe section in engagement with the first pipe section. Each hydraulic unit includes a support member secured to the outer periphery of the pipe and a frame member slidably supported on the support member for sliding movement parallel to the axis of the pipe. An overcenter toggle linkage connects a jaw member to the frame member. A rotatable cam pivotally secured to the frame member engages a stop on the support member. One end of a hydraulic actuator is connected to the cam for rotating the cam while the other end is connected to the toggle linkage for moving the jaw. The actuator causes the toggle linkage to move the jaw into clamping engagement with the flange of the second pipe, while the other end of the hydraulic actuator rotates the cam whem the toggle linkage reaches the overcenter locked position. The cam slides the frame member in an axial direction to adjust for variations in the thickness of the flange being clamped by the jaw.

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La Habra, CA, United States of America

Carl A Wilms