Surface vessel fueling systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11897586-B2
Application number	US-202217682671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2022
Priority date	Jul 30, 2021
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A system that includes a first winch assembly having a first structure on which a fuel hose is configured to be spooled and unspooled, the first structure having a first rotational axis. The system also includes a second winch assembly located rearward of the first winch assembly, the second winch assembly includes a second structure on which a messenger line is configured to be spooled and unspooled, the second structure having a second rotational axis and being rotatable between first and second rotational positions. Upon the second structure being in the first rotational position the second rotational axis is non-orthogonal to the first rotational axis. Upon the second structure being in the second rotational position, the second rotational axis is orthogonal to the first rotational axis. The second structure including an axial through opening through which the fuel line is configured to pass when the second structure is in the second rotational position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system configured to off-load and on-load a fuel hose and a messenger line coupled to a distal end portion of the fuel hose, the fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system comprising:
a first winch assembly including a first structure on which the fuel hose is configured to be spooled and unspooled, the first structure having a first rotational axis; and
a second winch assembly located rearward of the first winch assembly and including a second structure on which the messenger line is configured to be spooled and unspooled, the second structure having a second rotational axis and being rotatable between first and second rotational positions, upon the second structure being in the first rotational position the second rotational axis is non-orthogonal to the first rotational axis, in the second rotational position the second rotational axis is substantially orthogonal to the first rotational axis, the second structure including an axial through opening through which the fuel hose is configured to pass when the second structure is in the second rotational position.

2. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein when the second structure is in the first rotational position, the second rotational axis is non-orthogonal and non-parallel to the first rotational axis.

3. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second winch assemblies are attached to a common frame.

4. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the second winch assembly is coupled to a frame, the second structure being rotatable between the first and second rotational positions by a linear actuator having a first end coupled to the frame and a second end coupled to a part of the second winch assembly.

5. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , further comprising a pivot pin and a frame on which a base of the second winch assembly is supported, the pin extending into an opening in the base and an opening in the frame to prevent the second winch assembly from rotating.

6. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , further comprising a messenger line buoy chute located rearward of the second winch assembly and through which the fuel hose and messenger line are configured to pass.

7. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , further comprising a messenger line buoy chute assembly located rearward of the second winch assembly, the messenger line buoy assembly including a buoy chute through which the fuel hose and messenger line are configured to pass, the messenger line buoy assembly including a buoy eject arm that pivots between a first position and a second position, the system further comprising one or more position sensors that are configured to detect when the buoy eject arm is in the first position or in the second position, the one or more sensors being operatively coupled to a motor that rotationally drives the second structure of the second winch assembly.

8. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the second structure is diametrically smaller than the first structure.

9. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 8 , wherein the first structure is coupled to and rotated by a first motor and the second structure is coupled to and rotated by a second motor, the second motor being smaller than the first motor in terms of both power and size.

10. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , further comprising a messenger line buoy chute assembly located rearward of the second winch assembly and including first and second horizontal rollers arranged parallel to one another and between which the fuel hose and messenger line are configured to pass.

11. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 10 , wherein the messenger line buoy chute assembly includes a guide ramp located at an entrance of a buoy chute, the guide ramp being made of or coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction.

12. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide roller assembly positioned between the first and second winch assemblies, the guide roller assembly including first and second horizontal rollers arranged parallel to one another, the first horizontal roller being coupled to a motor that is configured to cause the first horizontal roller to rotate, an area between the first and second horizontal rollers being a designated pathway for the fuel hose to pass upon the fuel hose being spooled onto or spooled off the first structure.

13. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 12 , wherein the guide roller assembly is configured to hold the fuel hose taught upon the fuel hose being spooled off the first structure.

14. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 12 , wherein the second horizontal roller is continuously urged towards the first horizontal roller.

15. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 12 , further comprising a messenger line buoy chute located rearward of the second winch assembly and through which the fuel hose and messenger line are configured to pass.

16. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 15 , wherein the first winch assembly, guide roller assembly, second winch assembly and messenger line buoy chute are coupled to a common frame.

17. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 16 , wherein the frame has a length of 20 to 25 feet and a width of 5 to 7 feet.

18. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 12 , further comprising a longitudinal tray that extends between the first winch assembly and the guide roller assembly, the longitudinal tray being configured to support the fuel hose as the fuel hose is spooled off and onto the first structure of the first winch assembly.

19. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 18 , wherein the longitudinal tray includes a bottom surface that comprises or is coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction.

20. The fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system according to claim 18 , wherein the longitudinal tray includes a bottom surface that comprises a nylon strip.

Assignees

• L3Harris Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Meaux Jeremy S
• Kremers Isaac D
• Jones Nicholas B
• Cooper Mark E
• Elliott Quinton P
• Pidduck Andrew T
• Jurisich Joel C
• Henry Robert L
• Marzolf Garret

Classifications

• B63B27/30 Primary

  {Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment} for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures · CPC title

• B63B27/08

  of winches · CPC title

• B63B27/24 Primary

  of pipe-lines · CPC title

• B66D1/26

  having several drums or barrels · CPC title

• B66D1/60

  adapted for special purposes · CPC title