Loading arm device

Abstract

A loading arm device for loading fluids comprises a base element (10). A main arm (12) is rotatably connected to the base element (10). The main arm is pivotally connected to an outer arm (14, 16). The main arm (12) and the outer arm (14, 16) carry a guide hose (24). According to the invention, a swivel joint (32) is arranged between the base element (10) and the main arm (12) such that the guide hose (24) is held essentially torsion-free when the main arm (12) rotates.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a loading arm device for loading liquids, in particular highly explosive, cryogenic liquids such as liquid hydrogen.

[0002] Loading arm devices are used for filling transport tanks provided on ships. Typical loading arm devices have a base element anchored to the ground. A main arm, usually rotatably connected to the base element. An outer arm, in particular pivotably connected to the main arm, is then connected, whereby the outer arm can be constructed in several parts. The individual elements of the outer arm are in turn preferably connected to one another in an articulated manner. A guide hose is carried by the main arm and the outer arm. Fluids can be transported to the transport tank provided on the ship or pumped out of the transport tank through this guide hose. Such loading arm devices are described, for example, in EP2757067.

[0003] However, known loading arm devices are not suitable for loading, i.e. for transporting liquid hydrogen.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a loading arm device which is also suitable for transporting / conveying highly explosive liquid gases, such as liquid hydrogen in particular.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention by a loading arm device having the features of claim 1.

[0006] The loading arm device has a base element anchored to the ground. A main arm is rotatably connected to the base element. An outer arm is connected to the main arm. The connection is preferably made such that the outer arm is pivotally connected to the main arm. Typically, a counterweight is connected, in particular, to a free end of the outer arm. A guide hose is carried by the main arm and the outer arm. This guide hose can be used to transport / convey fluids, for example ammonia or the like. In a preferred embodiment, as described below, the guide hose is also suitable for transporting highly explosive fluids, in particular liquid hydrogen.

[0007] Particularly when transporting highly explosive fluids, the permanent tightness of the guide hose or a hose arranged within the guide hose must be ensured. Therefore, torsion of the guide hose must be avoided. In known loading arm devices, however, the guide hose is subject to twisting, particularly in the area of ​​the swivel joint arranged between the base element and the main arm. The invention aims to prevent this. Therefore, the swivel joint is arranged according to the invention such that the guide hose is held essentially torsion-free when the main arm rotates.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the essentially torsion-free arrangement or attachment of the guide hose is achieved in such a way that the guide hose is connected to the main arm above the swivel joint. The guide hose is thus preferably guided past the swivel joint and in particular is not connected to the base element. Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide hose is arranged on the ground before being attached to the main arm above the base element. Preferably, the guide hose is guided in a curved, in particular parabolic, rail. When the main arm is pivoted, the guide hose is moved and changes its distance from the main arm in such a way that no torsion of the guide hose occurs.

[0009] Preferably, the guide hose is connected to the main arm in such a way that when the main arm is rotated from its rest position by ±30°, the guide hose undergoes a bend of a maximum of ±30° with a bending radius of more than 2000mm.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rotational axis of the swivel joint is vertically aligned. Furthermore, it is preferred that the longitudinal axis of the main arm is parallel to the rotational axis of the swivel joint and, in particular, coincides with the rotational axis of the swivel joint.

[0011] In addition to rotating the main arm, in particular about a vertical axis, the joint can also be designed such that pivoting of the main arm, in particular about a horizontal axis, is possible. However, it is preferred that the main arm can only be rotated; pivoting is not possible.

[0012] The outer arm can have multiple arm elements, each of which is preferably pivotably connected to one another. A rotatable connection of the individual arm parts is also possible if necessary. However, it is particularly preferred that the individual arm parts of the outer arm are connected to one another exclusively in a pivotable manner. This ensures that no or at most very slight torsion occurs in the guide tube or in a tube arranged within the guide tube.

[0013] Transporting liquid hydrogen is not possible with conventional guide hoses. The particular problem with transporting liquid hydrogen is that it must be transported at a temperature of -253°C. Hydrogen is highly explosive upon contact with oxygen. It is particularly important to consider that, due to the extremely low transport temperature of liquid hydrogen, oxygen would also liquefy at these temperatures. This increases the risk of explosion.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the loading arm device has a hose assembly arranged within the guide hose. The hose assembly has an inner hose suitable for transporting liquid gases, in particular liquid hydrogen. The inner hose is surrounded by an outer hose, wherein the outer hose is arranged substantially concentrically to the inner hose. A vacuum can be applied in the space between the inner hose and the outer hose. The vacuum space thus formed serves to insulate the inner hose. By applying a vacuum to the vacuum space, very good insulation is possible, so that liquid hydrogen can be transported at a correspondingly low temperature. In particular, several sleeves are arranged on the outer hose.Guide elements are provided on the sleeves to guide and / or support the hose assembly within the guide hose. A particular advantage is that the existing guide hose can be used to transport gases and / or liquids such as ammonia, hydrogen derivatives, and the like, whose insulation requirements are not as stringent as those for transporting liquid hydrogen. The inner hose can be retracted into the transport hose.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] The figure shows a schematic side view of a loading arm device.

[0017] A loading arm, such as that shown in Figure 1, has a base element 10. This is anchored in the ground. A main arm 12 is connected to the base element 10. In the illustrated embodiment, this is designed as a vertical main arm. In the illustrated embodiment, the main arm is rotatably connected to the base element 10, with rotation occurring about a vertical axis 19 running in the longitudinal direction of the main arm. An outer arm 14, 16 is connected to the main arm 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer arm 14, 16 has two arm sections 14 and 16. The arm section 14 of the outer arm is pivotally connected to the main arm 12 via a joint 18. The pivot axis runs horizontally or perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing in Figure 1.

[0018] The arm portion 16 of the outer arm is pivotally connected to the arm portion 14 via a further joint 20, with the pivot axis again running horizontally or perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. A counterweight 22 is arranged at the free end of the arm portion 14 of the outer arm.

[0019] A guide hose 24 is supported by the main arm 12 and the outer arm 14, 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide hose 24 has a plurality of flexible hose elements 26. Furthermore, the guide hose 24 has a plurality of rigid hose elements 28 configured as tubes. The individual hose elements 26, 28 are connected to one another via flanges 30.

[0020] With such a loading arm device it is possible to load liquids or gases, such as ammonia, via the guide hose, i.e. to remove or fill a transport tank provided on a ship.

[0021] In order to be able to use a loading arm device for loading highly explosive fluids, such as in particular liquid hydrogen, a hose device is arranged in the guide hose 24, in particular pulled into the guide hose 24.

[0022] According to the invention, a pivot joint 32 is arranged between the base element 10 and the main arm 12. The pivot joint is designed such that it is rotatable about the vertical axis 34, thus enabling rotation of the main arm 12.

[0023] According to the invention, the guide hose 24 is directly connected to the main arm 12. The connection of the guide hose 24 to the main arm 12 is made above the swivel joint 32, so that the guide hose 24 is held essentially torsion-free.

Claims

1. Loading arm device for transporting / conveying fluids, comprising a base element (10), a main arm (12) rotatably connected to the base element (10), an outer arm (14, 16) pivotably connected to the main arm (12), a guide hose (24) carried by the main arm (10) and the outer arm (14, 16) and characterized in that a rotary joint (32) arranged between the base element (10) and the main arm (12) is arranged such that the guide hose (24) is held substantially torsion-free when the main arm (12) rotates, in particular about a vertical axis (34).

2. Loading arm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide hose (24) is connected to the main arm (12) above the swivel joint (32).

3. Loading arm device according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe guide hose (24) is connected to the main arm (12) in such a way that the guide hose (24) undergoes a bend of a maximum of ±45° when the main arm (12) is rotated by ±90° from a rest position.

4. Loading arm device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that a rotation axis (34) of the rotary joint (32) is aligned vertically.

5. Loading arm device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a longitudinal axis (34) of the main arm (12) is parallel to the axis of rotation (34).

6. Loading arm device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the main arm (12) is connected exclusively pivotably to the outer arm (14, 16).

7. Loading arm device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outer arm has several arm parts (14, 16).

8. Loading arm device according to claim 7, characterized in that the arm parts (14, 16) are connected to one another exclusively in a pivotable manner.

9. Loading arm device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the guide hose (24) a hose device is arranged, with an inner hose, in particular for transporting / conveying liquid gases, in particular liquid hydrogen, an outer hose surrounding the inner hose substantially concentrically, a vacuum intermediate space formed between the inner hose and the outer hose, in which vacuum can be applied for the thermal insulation of the inner hose, a plurality of cuffs surrounding the outer hose and guide elements arranged on the cuffs for guiding and / or supporting the hose device in the guide hose.

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