Réservoir flottant du type à déplacement

摘要

1,036,678. Submerged tanks. SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ N.V. May 26, 1965 [May 28, 1964], No. 22388/65. Headings B7A and B7M. [Also in Divisions B8 and E1] A buoyant reservoir for liquids, e.g. petroleum products obtained from a submarine oil-field, comprises an elongate vessel 5 (Figs. 1 to 3, not shown) which normally floats in a substantially vertical attitude and is secured by mooring chains 6 provided with anchors 7, the submer. sion depth of the vessel being regulated by a liquid, e.g. water, 16 lodged in a ballast chamber 9. Oil is delivered to the reservoir through a pipe 13 and a conduit 12 at the upper end of the vessel, water 14 within the vessel being displaced by the incoming oil 15 through one or more openings 8. Liquid may be continuously fed to the chamber 9 through a pipe 21 containing a flow-control valve 22 whilst liquid is withdrawn from the chamber by a pump 24 through pipes 25, 26 and a flow-control valve 27, said valves being adjusted so that the quantity of liquid in the chamber is changed in accordance with changes in the amount of oil contained by the vessel to keep the depth of submersion substantially constant. The valves 22, 27 are controlled by a control device 20 receiving signals from a recording device 19 which depend upon the movement of a float 17 at the surface of the water of floatation whilst oil is pumped into, or out of, the reservoir. The vertical attitude of the reservoir may be partly effected by lodging one or more blocks of solid material 10 in the lower end of the vessel. Oil is withdrawn from the reservoir through a pipe 28, and the chamber 9 communicates with the atmosphere through a plurality of tubes 11. The reservoir may carry a rotatable element 31 to which a ship, e.g. an oil-tank vessel, 33 can be secured whilst oil is conveyed thereto, or therefrom, through a hose 36 supported by a derrick 35 which is mounted above said element. Alternatively, the reservoir may carry a turntable 37 (Figs. 4, 5, not shown) provided with a capstan 45 to which a ship can be attached whilst oil is transferred thereto, or therefrom, through a hose 43 connected to the vessel 5 by pipes 40, 41 and a movable coupling 42, the hose being rendered buoyant by a plurality of floats 44. The reservoir may also be provided with a landing platform (not shown) for helicopters.