Patent ID: 7174930

Claim:
Hydrocarbon transfer system comprising a first structure ( 8 ) with a first connector part ( 13 , 43 , 65 ), and a vessel ( 7 ) comprising a second connector part ( 47 , 48 , 70 ), wherein each connector part comprises a housing ( 72 , 73 ) with at least two fluid ducts ( 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ) supported by said housing, which ducts can be placed into sealing engagement along respective sealing faces ( 94 , 95 ), and a locking member ( 74 , 75 , 78 , 79 , 101 ) for locking the housings ( 72 , 73 ) of the connector parts together when the housings are in a locking position in which contact faces of the housings ( 72 , 73 ) are in mutual engagement, wherein the fluid ducts ( 68 , 69 ) of either the first or second connector part: are connected to a respective fluid swivel ( 91 , 92 , 93 ) to allow at least partial rotation of the ducts along their longitudinal axis, and are connected to a drive means ( 90 ) for jointly rotating the ducts along a centerline of the connector parts for alignment of the ducts in the first and second connector parts, the fluid ducts of the first or second connector part comprising a section ( 98 ) which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, by a displacement member ( 97 ) for varying the axial position of the sealing faces ( 94 , 95 ) of the movable duct sections relative to the housing, characterised in that, the first structure carries an articulated arm ( 4 , 5 , 61 , 62 ), having at a free end ( 64 ′) the first connector part ( 13 , 43 , 65 ), wherein the housing ( 72 ) of the first connector part ( 65 ) comprises on each side of a centerline first attachment means ( 76 ), the second connector part ( 70 ) comprising complementary attachment means ( 82 , 83 ) for engaging with the first attachment means ( 76 ) when the housings are in an alignment position in which the housings ( 72 , 72 ) are in a relatively spaced-apart relationship and for placing the housing ( 72 , 73 ) in the locking position.