OFFSHORE CARGO RACK FOR USE IN TRANSFERRING FLUID HOLDING TANK LOADS BETWEEN A MARINE VESSEL AND AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM

摘要

A cargo rack for transferring loads between a marine vessel and an offshore marine platform (for example, oil and gas well drilling or production platform) provides a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end of the frame has a perimeter beam base, a raised floor and a pair of open-ended parallel fork tine tubes or sockets that communicate with the perimeter beam at the front and rear of the frame, preferably being structurally connected (e.g., welded) thereto. Openings in the perimeter beam base align with the forklift tine tubes or sockets. The frame includes a plurality of fixed side walls extending upwardly from the perimeter beam that include at least left and right side walls. A plurality of gates are movably mounted on the frame including a gate at least at the front and at least at the rear of the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, the gates enabling a forklift to place fluid holding tanks on the floor by accessing either the front of the frame or the rear of the frame. A manifold arrangement with specially configured fittings enables transfer of fluid in any tank to a common outlet.

主权项

1. A cargo rack comprising:
a) a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions; b) a plurality of fluid load modules that are supported with the frame during use; c) the lower end portion having a perimeter beam base with a floor providing multiple load holding positions, each configured to hold a separate one of the fluid load modules; d) the frame including a plurality of side walls that attach to and extend upwardly from the perimeter beam base and including at least left and right side walls, the frame having four corners with a corner column at each corner; e) a plurality of gates that are movably mounted to the frame, including a pair of gates at the front and a pair of gates at the rear of the frame, each gate being movably between open and closed; f) a header under the floor having a plurality of branch flow lines and a common discharge, each branch flow line being positioned to form a fluid conveying connection with a fluid tank; g) a discharge fitting on each tank that is connectable with a branch flow line; and h) wherein at least two of said branch flow lines connect to form a connection that is spaced inwardly of said perimeter and upstream of said common discharge.