Patent ID: 8967174
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: B63B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An articulated tug and barge (ATB) arrangement comprising: a tug; a barge; and an articulated conduit system for transferring a fuel gas between the tug and the barge, wherein the tug is positioned within a notch at the stern of the barge, and wherein the tug is configured to push the barge through a pin connection, and wherein the articulated conduit system comprises a first end on the tug and a second end on the barge, wherein the first and second ends are connectable through a plurality of rigid conduits fluidically interconnected by swivel joints that accommodate different movement between the tug and barge, wherein the swivel joints comprise i) at least three swivel joints each having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a forward-aft axis of the tug such that each of the at least three swivel joints is rotatable about its axis of rotation in a substantially port-starboard plane, wherein together the at least three swivel joints are rotatable in their substantially port-starboard planes to accommodate relative vertical displacement between the tug and barge and relative rotation between the tug and barge about the forward-aft axis of the tug, and ii) at least one swivel joint having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a port-starboard axis of the tug such that the at least one swivel joint is rotatable about its axis of rotation in a substantially forward-aft plane to accommodate pitch motion between the tug and barge.