Luis B Serpas

US Patent:

40857816, Apr 25, 1978

Filed:

May 13, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/685966

Inventors:

Luis B. Serpas - Belmont CA
Sam W. Small - Walnut Creek CA
Frederick S. Ellers - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Bechtel International Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B65B 300

US Classification:

141 1

Abstract:

A spar having fluid flow lines or material conveyors extending along the same is anchored by a ball joint, U-joint, elastic joint or the like to a base on the bottom of a body of water, such as a sea bottom. The spar has a buoyancy chamber near its upper end for applying an upward tension thereto at all times. When a vessel is adjacent to the upper end of the spar, tension means extends between the spar and structures on the vessel bow to couple the two together. The tension means provides a lateral force exerted on the spar to bias the spar toward the vessel even as the latter changes position relative to the spar due to current, wave and wind action. Several embodiments of the tension means are disclosed. The fluid flow lines carried by the spar connect a base manifold on the bottom of a body of water with delivery hoses or other conductors which can provide flexibility and are connected to the vessel for the transfer of crude oil and other fluids thereto. In lieu of fluid flow lines, material conveyors carried by the spar, such as bucket or pneumatic conveyors, can be used to raise particle material, such as manganese nodules and ore.