Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~2~
The present invention relates essentially to asi~i-
:L~ single moor~ device for mooring and ~oadjng-~10a~ing
tanker vessels from a submarine conduit for feeding or
discharging a fluid, as well as a method of installing
said submarine conduit and said simplified mooring device.
There are presently ~nown various off-shore mooring
and loading-unloading systems (see ~ou~nal "OFFSHORE",
Sept. 1977, pages 8~ - 98).
For example, there is known a mul-tiple-buoy mooring
10 device, whereby the vessel i5 kept in almost stationary
position by six anchors. One of its medial manifolds is
connected to the submarine feed or discharge conduit
through a ~lexible pipe resting on the sea bottom when not
in use and picked from on-board the vessel at the beginning
of each loading or unloading operation.
This device, however, su~fers from the major draw-
back of being applicable only at sites where the vessel,
once moored, lies permanently in the prevalent direction
of the wind, of the current and of the heaviest wave O In
20 case of variation of these elements, it may be subjected
to transverse forces exceeding the capacity of its
anchoring means.
,~ ~
2 12'~5~4
There is also known a single-buoy multianchorage
mooring device. In this case, the vessel rotates spontan-
eously around the buoy to place itself in the direction of
the elements and thus reduce their action to a minimum.
At the same time it swivels a rotary joint located at
the top of the buoy and which is connected to at least one
floating flexible conduit ending at one of the manifolds.
FurthermorP, the buoy is connected to the end of the
submarine c~nduit by one or several hoses also lying under-
10 water, as well as a Conduit End Module which isgenerally provided with remote-controlled valves operated
from the surface.
Permanent mooring of the buoy is by means of from
four to eight anchored chains, each of which must be
capable of withstanding full pull from the tanker.
The device includes mechanical Dl ements which are
relatively complex and subject -o wea~ and fatigue, such
as the mono- or multi-passage rotary joint and the vessel
mooring rotating head, which is a major drawback to such 2
20 device,
Also, in addition to the surface floating conduits,
there are provided submarine hoses suspended from the buoy,
which are strained by the movements of the latter due to
swell and which subject the Conduit End Module to
tractive forces which sometimes are considerable and of the
same order of magnitude as those exerted by the vessel
mooring hawser attached to the buoy.
There is also known a single-buoy single-anchored
~ooring device which comprises a single vertical tensioned
chain which ensures multidirectional anchoring of the buoy
to a gravity base or to a pile anchored base.
In this case, the rotary joint connected to the
vessel by a flexible conduit partially ~loating at the
surface is located not on the buoy but on the base. It is
therefore a submarine rotary joint, and this is a major
drawback to this device.
Indeed, such rotary joints with bearings, which are
3 12~
not actually designed and constructed for underwater
operation, have a limited life, and their breakage, the
time of occurrence of which cannot be forseen, will
result in a p~ution of the approaches, to say nothing of
a shutdown of the terminal possibly ~or a long time for it
would be necessary to await calm weather conditions before
undertaking the repairs.
Another major drawback to this known buoy device lies
in the fact that a collision of the vessel with tlle buoy,
10 due either to a false manoeuvre or to a change of tide,
may not only damage the body of the buoy but also lead to
breakage of the anchoring chains, of the submarine hoses,
and even cause a displacement of the Conduit End Module if
the latter is not firmly anchored.
Lastly, in still another known device, the latter
comprises a fixed mooring tower which, however, suffers
from the drawback that it is relatively expensive and
that the greater the depth of the sea bottom the higher
its cost, and besides, such towers must also be provided
20 with appropriate fenders for protection against drifting
ships.
The purpose of the present invention, therefore, is
to provide a simple solution for mooring ~ loading-
unloading tanker vessels so as to lower the cost of
supplies, to reduce their installation costs, to do away
with any quick-wearing submarine rotary joints, to dispense
also with the anchoring chains, whose life at sea is unfor-
seeable and always limited, and above all, to completely
eliminate the risk of vessel collision with the mooring-
30 loading point.
Said solution consists, according to the presentinvention, of a simplifiedmooring device for mooring and
loading-unloading tanker vessels, of the type comprising a
submarine conduit for the supply or the discharge of the
fluid to be handled, to which is connected at least one
flexible pipe resistant to tortional stresses through the
medium of a Conduit End Module resting on the sea bottom?
~22~ L4
provided with an orifice for connection to the flexible
pipe, the free end of the said flexible pipe being
designed to be connectable to loading or unloading con-
duits or manifolds provided on the said vessel, charac-
terized in that the said Conduit End Module comprises
means for mooring the tanker vessel and is designed with
a sufficient mass to withstand the pull from the vessel,
and the flexible pipe is connected at least temporarily
to the loading or unloading conduits or manifolds provi-
10 ded on the vessel through the medium of a Hose End Mo-
dule including at least one rotary joint which is put in
rotation during the rotations or drifts of the vessel un-
der the action of external elements such as prevalent
wind, current and wave.
According to a particularly advantageous form of em-
bodiment of the device of the invention, the Hose End Mo-
dule is coaxial with the flexible pipe. In other words
the rotary joint is also coaxial with the flexible pipe
and of course with the Hose End Module. The Hose End Mo-
20 dule can also be fixed on the vessel, preferably at itsbow, the flexible pipe being provided at its free end with
a simple shutter or obturator and the Hose End Module in-
cluding a rapid coupling associated with its rotary joint.
According to a particular form of embodiment, the
Hose End Module is essentially constituted by a rotary
joint coaxial with the flexible pipe. Accordingly, the
rotary joint is always coaxial with the flexible pipe.
According to another particularly advantageous form
of embodiment, the Conduit End Module is constituted es-
~0 sentially by a closed hollow structure including internaltransverse fluid-tight partitions defining independent bal-
lastable compartments.
According to various presently preferred forms of em-
bodiment, the Conduit End Module may be substantially L-
shaped or T-shaped.
According to a further particular characterizing fea-
ture, the Conduit End Module may comprise a rear portion
fixed to the submarine conduit and provided with an
orifice for communication with the submarine conduit and
12~SS~'~
for connection with the flexible pipe, and a front portion
hingedly connected to the rear portion so as to be rotata-
table with respect to the said rear portion either in a
vertical plane passing through the axis of the submarine
conduit or in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis
of the submarine conduit, or both.
The present invention also relates to a method of in-
stalling the submarine conduit and the simplified mooring
device according to the above invention, characterized in
10 that the non-ballasted Conduit End Module is mounted on
land on the submarine conduit, the non-ballasted Conduit
End Module thus having under the water its raised front
portion, the submarine conduit and Conduit End Module as-
sembly is hauled by the rear portion of the Conduit End
Module provided with an at least temporary hauling means,
and once the site is reached, the Conduit End Module js
ra~idly and instantaneously ballasted to cause a dynamic
self-anchoring of the Conduit End Module.
Furthermore,according to an adv~ge~s c ~ ac~izing
20 feature of this method,theConduitEn~ Module is alsoe~uipped
on land with its flexible pipe and the said HoseEhdMcdule.
Other purposes, characterizing features and advanta-
ges of the present invention will appear more clearly in
light of the following explanatory description made with
reference to the appended drawings, wherein ;~
Figure 1 is a general diagrammatic view of one pre-
sently preferred form of embodiment of the s~li~ ~ single
mooring device for mooring and loading-unloading tanker
vessels, according to the present invention ;
Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the Hose End
Module shown in Fig~re1 in co~l a~nn~nt w~h ~ef~iblepipe;
Figure 3 is an elevationalviewof a p~ic ~ r fonm ofem-
bodiment wherein the Hose End Module isfixed ~ thevessel ;
Figure 4 is a view in the direction of arrow IV of
Figure 3 ;
Figure 5 illustrates another form of embodiment of
the device according to the present invention allowing
easy mooring of the vessel ;
6 ~2255~
- Figures 6 and 7 illustrate variants of embodiment
of the articulation between thè mooring rod and the
Conduit End Module;
- Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating a particular
form of embodiment of the conduit end device according
to the invention;
- Figure 9 is a lateral view of the Conduit End
Module of Figure 8;
- Figure 10 diagrammatically illustrates the position
10 of the Conduit End Module of Figure 8 during the instal-
lation of the submarine conduit;
- Figure 11 illustrates the installation through
dynamic self-anchoring of the Conduit End Module of
Figures 8 to 10 according to the method of the present
invention;
- Figure 12 is a plan view of anothex for~ of
embodiment of the Conduit End ~io~ule ~orming the subject
matter of the present invention;
- Figure 13 is a later21 view o~ the Conduit End
20 Module of Figure 12;
- Figure 14 is a diagrammatic partial view showing
the position of the Conduit End Module of Figures 12 and
13 durin~ the installation of the submarine conduit;
- Figure 15 diagrammatically illustrates the self-
anchoring of the Conduit End Module of Figures 12 to 14 at
the site according to the method of the present invention;
- Figures 16 and 17 are an elevational view and a
plan view, respectively, showing the arrangement of the
various elements of the simplified mooring device
30 according to the present invention during the installation
of the submarine conduit; and
- Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the
berthing of a tanker vessel at the site.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first form of
embodiment of a simplified moo~ng device according to the
invention for mooring and loading-unloading a tanker
vessel is of the type comprising a su~marine conduit 1 for
:122~ 4
the supply or the discharge of the fluid to be handled,
to which is connected at least one flexible pipe 2 resis-
tant to torsional stresses through the medium of a Conduit
End Module 4 resting on the sea bed 5, provided with an
orifice 6 for connection to the flexible pipe 2; the free
end 8 of the flexible pipe 2 being designed to be connec-
table to loading or unloading conduits or manifolds 10~12
provided on the tanker vessel 14.
According to the invention, this device is charac-
10 terized in that the Conduit End Module 4 ~D~es mo~ngmeans 16 for mooring the tanker vessel 14 and the Conduit
End Module 4 is designed with a sufficient mass to with-
stand the traction from the vessel 14. Furthermore, the
flexible pipe 2 is connected at least temporarily to the
loading or unloading conduits or manifolds 10,12 provided
on the vessel 14 through the medium of a Hose End Module 18
including at least one rotary joint 20 which is put in ro-
tation by the rotations or drifts of the vessel 14 under
the action of the external elements such as prevalent
20 wind, current and wave, owing to the quasi-undeformability
in torsion of the flexible pipe 2.
As is clear from Figures 1 and 2, the Conduit End
Module is coaxial with the flexible pipe. In other words,
the rotary joint is also coaxial with the flexible pipe
and also with the Hose End Module. This simplifies the
structure and improves greatly the working of the devices
with minimized torsional stress.
It will be noted that the flexible pipe 2 is par-
tially submerged and comprises in its immersed portion
30 floats 22 designed to impart to it an almost zero apparent
weight, whereas the emerged portion of the flexible pipe
2 is provided with floats 24 the buoyancy of which is
markedly positive. The flexible pipe 2 must of course be
of a length and have bending properties sufficient to
allow deformation in harmonious curves with a radius com-
patible with the torsional rigidity of the flexible pipe
2 which, therefore, is generally made of reinforced rub-
ber. Such deformation without folding nor squeezing is
facilitated moreover by the near weightless state of the
~2~
immersed portion of the hose ~.
It will be observed that, according to the form of
embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2~ the Hose End
Module 18 is shown moored lat~rally to the vessel 14 by
means of hoses 26,28, so that the Hose ~nd Module 18 is
provided with means 30,32 for attaching the hoses 26,28,
such as rings.
It will also be observed, as seen clearly in Figure
2, that the Hose End Module 18 has a rotary joint 20 which
10 is incorporated in its mass. Thus, the free end 8 of the
flexible pipe 2 is connected to a portion of the rotary
joint 20 whereas the Hose End Module 18 is connected to
the other portion of the rotary joint 20 or forms an in-
tegral part of this other portion, i,e., in fact, the
flexible pipe 2 is mounted rotatably with respect to the
Hose End Module 18 In the form of embodiment illustrated
in Figure 2, the Hose End Module 18 is essentially con-
stituted by a hollow structure which may be of metal and
closed at its free end 18a opposite to the side where the
20 rotary joint 20 is located. The Hose End Module 18 may
include integrated float compartments to impart to it
positive buoyancy.
Furthermore, according to the example illustrated in
Figure 2, the Hose End Module may serve as a manifold and
be equipped with one or several shut-off valves 34,36 from
which starts an associated affluent flexible pipe 38,40
which is generally smaller in diameter than the main fle-
xible pipe 2 and opening individually into the conduits
10,12 of the vessel 14.
Furthermore, in this case, the Hose End Module 18 is
advantageously provided with resilient fenders 42, 44
protecting it against damage from its contacts with the
vessel 14,
It will be observed that, in certain simple cases,
particularly when it is not necessary to sub-divide the
main flexible pipe 2, the Hose End Module may be essen-
tially constituted by a rotary joint 20 which it is then
possible to raise out of the water for direct connection
with one of the conduits 10, 12 of the vessel 14.
12~5~
Furthermore, when several liquid products have to be
loaded or unloaded, there may be provided more than one
submarine conduit. 1. Likewise, use may be made of more
than one connection 6, more than one flexible pipe 2 and,
therefore, more than one rotary joint 20 or a multi-pas-
sage coaxial rotary joint.
Furthermore, the orifice 6 for connecting the Conduit
End Module 4 to the flexible pipe 2 is not imperatively
arranged in prolongation of the submarine conduit 1 and
10 may be located at the rear of the Conduit End Module 4 and
extend in a vertical plane, as shown at 50, in which case
the flexible pipe 2 is in the position shown in phantom
lines 2'. Of course, there may also be provided a com-
bination of these two orifices with two hoses starting se-
parately and then meeting into a common hose,
To ~vo:id ha~ing to moor the vessel 14 on the mooring
means i6 located on the sea bed, a hawser 52 has one of
its ends permanently attached to the mooring means 16 and
is designed so as to allow its free end of positive buo-
20 yancy to end with a marking float facilitating the pickingup of the hawser 52 as in the case of the HoseEndModule 18.
Of course the Conduit End Module 4 may also serve as
a manifold and comprise one or several valves such as 54.
Furthermore, the Hose End Module 18 may in an advan-
tageous form of embodiment, be fixed on the vessel 14 pre-
ferably at its bow as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this
case, the flexible pipe 2 is provided at its free end with
a simple shutter or obturator and the Hose End Module 18
comprises a rapid coupling associated with its rotary joint
30 20 which,aspreviouslysaid,is coax~lwith theflexible pipe 2.
It will be observed that in this case, both the haw-
ser 52 and the flexible pipe 2 end preferably at the bow
of the vessel 14 at points near one another but with the
Hose End Module 18 slightly apart from the axis X-X of the
vessel 14 which is necessarily reserved for the fixing of
the hawser 52. This arrangement is particularly advanta-
geous in the case of rough open sea, over a submarine oil
field served by specially assigned vessels,
As a further result of these arrangements, the
12~5~'~
flexible pipe is advantageously shorter than in the more
frequent case of a connection to the standard medial
manifold of the vessel, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Furthermore, the hoses 52, which generally are made
of nylon or polypropylene, are subject to fatigue caused
by variations in tension and finally break if they are not
replaced in time. Thus, the hawser 52 ending directly at
the Conduit End Module 4 requires to be connected to the
mooring means 16, or to be disconnected therefrom, by a
10 diver.
This drawback may be obviated by modifying the
Conduit End Module as shown in Figures 5 to 7, so that it
comprises a rod or bar 60 articulated at 62 at its bottom
on the body 63 of the Conduit End Module 4 resting on the
sea bed. The rod 60 is advantageously provided with a
float 65 so that, when no vessel is moored to +he Conduit
End Module 4, its free end is flush with or projects from
the surface of the water so as to be easily locatable and
accesslble, the said free end belng provided withthe
aforesaid mooring means 16 for the hawser 52 which is
advantageously designed to be buoyant and with a locating
buoy to facilitate its picking up.
In Figure 6 is illustrated a form of embodiment of
the articulation 62 between the rod 60 and the Conduit End
Module 4. In the case considered, this articulation is
designed in the form of two interlocked rings 66,68.
A preferred form of embodiment is the one illustrated
in Figure 7, wherein the rod 60 is articulated to the Hose
End Module 4 by an articulation consisting of a mechanical,
~0 universal joint, which is advantageous on account of its
small play.
Referring to Figures 8 to 11, there is illustrated
one of the presently preferred forms of embodiment of the
Co~it End Module according to the invention, which, in
this case, is substantially T-shaped, with the leg of the
T preferably extending in prolongation of the submarine
conduit 1.
12~5~
The Conduit End Module, either T-shaped or not, is
advantageously constituted essentially by a closed hollow
structure including internal fluid-tight transverse
partitions such as 70,71,72 defining independent ballast-
able compartments such as 73,74,75,76.
According to this form of embodiment as illustrated,
the Conduit End Module 4 comprises a rear portion 80 fixed
to the submarine conduit 1 and provided with an orifice 82
for communication with the submarine conduit 1 and for
connection to the flexible pipe 2, and a second front
portion 84 articulated at 86 to the rear portion 80 so as
to be rotatable with respect to the rear portion 80 either
in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the
submarine conduit 1 or in a vertical plane perpendicular
to the axis of the submarine conduit 1, or both.
In the example illustrated, it ~.~.;ll be observed that
this articulation is formed of a shaft 88 which, as
clearly seen in Figure 9, is perpendicular to the axis of
the submarine conduit 1 and pa~ses throu~h the rear portion
80 on the ends of which is secured a fork 90 integral with
the leg 91 of the T.
This arrangement allows the front portion 84 to
rotate, in a vertical plane passing through the axis of
the submarine conduit 1, with respect to the rear portion
80 of the Conduit End Module 4~
According to this form of embodiment, the horizontal
bar 90 of the T-shaped member is advantageously provided
on either side with teeth or spades 94 for anchoring the
Conduit End Module 4 on the sea bed, the said teeth or
spades 94 bein~ preferably constituted by flat panels or
tubes open at their lower end.
It is thus easily understood that this structure of
the Conduit End Module 4, when not ballasted, allows the
aforesaid method of the invention to be carried out for
installing the assembly constituted by the submarine
conduit 1 and the device according to the invention, as
shown in Figures 10 and 11.
~2255~4
12
It will be observed that, in this case, when the
front portion of the Conduit End Module 4 is not ballasted,
the latter is normally buoyant and is therefore raised, as
appears in Figure 10. The submarine conduit 1 can thus be
drawn by using at least temporary hauling means 96 at the
rear portion 80 of the Conduit End Module 4.
When the site is reached, it is sufficient to perform
a rapid or instantaneous ballasting of the front portion
of the T-shaped Conduit End Module to thus obtain a
10 dynamic self-anchoring of the Conduit End Module owing to
the presence of the teeth or spades 94 on the bar of the
T-shaped member and as can be quite clearly understood
from the representation of Figure 11 by the presence of
arrows and of the anchored position shown in phantom lines.
In another form of embodiment of the Conduit End
Module, the latter is L-sha ed as shown in Figures 12 to
15.
This form of embodiment allows a similar installation
as in the case of the T-shaped embodiment of Figures 8 to
20 11. Thus, the L-shaped Conduit End Module also comprises
ballastable compartments 100,101,102,103 which are
ballasted rapidly or instantaneously at the site, as shown
in Figure 15. In this case, the bar 104 of the L-shaped
Conduit End Module 4 is provided at its free end with
teeth or spades 1C5 as in the case of the T-shaped Conduit
End Module of Figures 8 to 11 to thus ensure a dynamic
self-anchoring of the Conduit ~nd Module according to the
method of the present invention.
It will be observed, however, that in this case the
3 Conduit End Module is provided with hauling means 106 such
as a ring in prolongation of the bar of the L-shaped member
coaxial with the submarine conduit 1.
Whether the end module is L-shaped or T-shaped, rapid
or instantaneous ballasting can be obtained by providing
pyrotechnical valves designated by the reference numerals
10~,110 in Figure 14, controlled by wires or ultrasound.
Another way of causing such rapid or instantaneous
1 3 ~L22~5~4
ballasting w~d bebydemolishing one or several partitions
in contact with the sea, thus resulting in an instantaneous
~looding of the compartments to be ballasted.
It will be observed that some of the compartments of
the Conduit End Module can be filled with permanent ballast
of concrete or other heavy material contributing to the
stability in operation of the Conduit ~nd Module when
subjected to the mooring stresses, whereas other compart-
ments can be ballastable with wate~ or heavy mud. These
10latter compartments are the ones that are kept empty
during the drawing of the submarine conduit 1 and cause a
portion of the Conduit End Module to float in a more or
less vertical plane, such as the arm 104 of the L-shaped
member or the front portion 84 of the T-shaped member,
thus contributing in easing the strain on the Conduit End
Module in its f~nction as a drawing head for the submarine
condui~ 1,
In the case of the L-shaped form of embodiment of the
Conduit End Module, the arm 104 thereof, during the
20 ballasting of the non-ballasted compartments located in
the arm 104, causes a rotation around the conduit 1.
In this case, the flexible pipe is preferably
connected to a connecting orifice 112 located at the rear
of the Conduit End Module in a vertical plane, as seen
clearly in Figure 12.
The present invention therefore allows a dynamic
self-anchoring to be obtained in a particularly simple
manner while at the same time facilitating the installation
of the submarine conduit 1 and the simplified mooring
30 device according to the invention.
According to an advantageous characterizing feature
of this method, as mentioned previously, the Conduit End
Module may also be provided on land with all the necessary
accessories to obtain the complete single mooring and
fluid loading-unloading device according to the invention.
Figures 16 and 17 illustrate this ~referred feature of
the method of installation.
1 4 12~ 4
It will thus be observed, referring to Figures 16 and
17, that the conduit 1 has been provided on land with a
Conduit End Module (shown for example in T-shape ) 4,
itself provided on land with the flexible pipe 2 and with
the Hose End Module 18 provided with the rotary joint 20,
the Conduit End Module 4 being provided with the hawser
52 attached to the mooring means 16. There is sh~wn in
Figure 16 the towing cable 118 connected to a winch 120 of
a towing barg~ 122, an auxiliary winch 124 being provided
to pull an auxiliary line 126 for towing the Hose End
Module 18.
Figure 17 is a plan view of this assembly of means.
Referring to Figure 18, there is diagrammatically
illustrated the procedure of berthing the vessel at the
site.
It is seen that, at the site, the floating h~.~ser 5
,lay be provided with a hawser heaving-line 130 witrh a
f~oating marker 132. Likewise, the floating Hose End
Module 18 may also be provided with a hawser heaving-line
134 also provided with floating markers 136 facilitating
the picking up, e.g. by means of a grapnel 138, from the
tanker vessel 14. It will be observed that the berthing
is particularly simple, since no use is made of a mooring
buoy which the vessel 14 might run into, whereas with
conventional buoy devices the flexible conduits and the
hoses tend to wind around the buoy owing to changes in
the direction of current or wind, thus causing them
damages as a result of friction and requiring the presence
of a servicing motor boat at the terminal in order to
disentangle these lines before use. This, in the known
devices, often requires that they be anchored in a fixed
direction by means of permanent moorings which the
servicing motor boat must raise to the surface when a
vessel arrives, whereafter the motor boat arranges the
hawser and the floating conduit in the direction of the
vessel.
With the device of the present invention, this
~ 5
precaution, i.e. the temporary anchoring of the floating
lines, is useless since there is no longer any ~ncho,ed
floating buoy and the vessel berthing movements are
therefore considerably simplified and are facilitated by
the presence o~ marking floats and of ~he hawser heaving
line, as shown in Figure 8, even though these last
features are not absolutely necessary. ~ikewise, the
device of the invention allows a servicin~ motor boat to
be dispensed with, for the marking floats provided on the
heaving-lines leading to the hawser and to the floating
hose can be easily pic~ed up from the vessel by means of
the grapnel, as can be clearly understood from Figure 18.
Furthermore, the device of the invention offers the
considerable advantage of not using any submarine rotary
joint inaccessible from the surface for supervision and
maintenance and/or directly or indirectl~ SU'u jected to the
mooring pulls. Likewise, the flexible conduit runs
directly and quite naturally from the submarine conduit 1
to the vessel without necess~lly passing through a buoy
It will also be understood that the simplified sin~le
moo~ device for mooring and for ~luid loading or unload-
ing according to the invention allows substantially
reducing the installation costs, and the increase of its
cost with the increase in water depth is markedly smaller
-than in the case of the prior buoy devices.
Furthermore, the invention of course comprises all
the means constituting technical equivalents to the means
described as well as their combina-tions. It will be
observed, in this connection, that the various forms of
embodiment described and illustrated, notably for the
Conduit End Module and the Hose End Module, can be
combined together.
Also, the Conduit End Module 4 may be shaped other-
wise~ in particular I-shaped.
