Bottom Loading Arms

PRODUCTS

OPW Bottom Loading Arms Systems are ideal for loading and unloading petroleum products, chemicals and liquefied gases, and offer numerous benefits over conventional top-loading systems:

• Improved safety since operator remains on the ground during loading/unloading
• Quicker connections reduce overall loading/unloading time
• Bottom loading systems create less turbulence in the tank, reducing the danger of generating static electricity.
• Bottom loading reduces vapors and the system can be adapted to also recover displaced vapors
• Tanks can be filled faster and several compartments can be loaded simultaneously
• Bottom-loading islands are simpler and cheaper to build than top-loading racks

Unsupported Boom Bottom Loader
A-Frame Loader
“A” Frame Hose Loader AFH-32-F
CWH Series Counterweighted Hose Loader
Short Range Hose Loader
Long Range Hose Loader
LBM800 Liquip Balance Mechanism
Velvet Touch MK2 Balance Assembly
Compact Torsion Swivel (CTS) Hose Loader

Unsupported Boom Bottom Loader

Designed to provide flexible long-range operation, the heavy-duty unsupported boom type bottom loader configuration is both reliable and easy to use. A minimum of five swivel planes of rotation offer complete flexibility in making tight connections for loading and unloading rail cars and tank trucks. The outboard swivel and arm adjust for any changes in elevation or tilting that may result as the vehicle is loaded or unloaded. The unsupported boom type loader is extremely versatile and many variations are possible. It can be equipped with dry disconnect coupler, union, quick coupling, or other customer specified end fitting to make connections on the side, at the rear, or underneath the vehicle. The intermediate swivel is often 2” – 6” sizes available inverted to achieve the low profile and clearances needed to connect to the underside of a rail car.

Typically installed at or near ground level, arms of varying lengths can be mounted on staggered risers to achieve crossover and neat compact storage of multiple arms in a confined space.

• 2” – 6” sizes available
• Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel and Aluminum options
• Ideal for Railcar Unloading applications
• Fully customizable

A Frame Loader

The “A” Frame Loader is a popular loading-arm configurations due to its flexibility, long reach and convenience of use. Commonly used for tank-truck bottom loading, “A” Frame arms can also be used in top-loading/unloading installations. Inlet flange and seamless piping are suitable for handling liquefied petroleum gases, including propane and butane.

• 2”–4” sizes available
• Carbon-Steel, Stainless-Steel and Aluminum options
• Adjusts for elevation/tilting during loading/unloading
• Stores in upright, near-vertical position
• Compact storage envelope allows closer installation proximity
• Low riser mounting heights
• Equipped with dry-disconnect coupling, union or other tight-fill inlet
• Choice of flanged, threaded or all-welded construction
• LPG service arms (LPG-32-F) feature all-welded construction
• Fully customizable

“A” Frame Hose Loader AFH-32-F

OPW A-Frame Hose (AFH) Loading Arms offer the same advantages as conventional A-Frame Loaders, except flexible hose is used instead of rigid piping on secondary/outboard arm. The A-Frame’s compact storage envelope allows loaders to be installed relatively close together, often on risers that are approximately the same height as the truck connection.

AFH loaders are typically stored in an upright, near vertical position, making it possible to load from both sides of a loading bay. In addition to bottom-loading petroleum, the AFH is also a common choice for use as a vapor recovery arm.

CWH Series Counterweighted Hose Loader

Installation and operation are simple and efficient with OPW Engineered Systems’ hose loaders. Adjustable counterweights mounted on a pair of horizontal rails are simply moved until the desired balance point is located. This design provides for efficient handling and coupling to the tank adaptors.

This popular hose loader features a flange-by-flange base swivel joint for reliable performance and ease of maintenance. A heavy-duty Dual Split Flange (DSF) base swivel joint is standard on 4″ arms. Construction is carbon steel with a drop hose for maximum flexibility and easy handling. Coupler swivel joint, spacer spool and API coupler are aluminum on the standard model.

CWH Series Counterweighted Hose Loader

Installation and operation are simple and efficient with OPW Engineered Systems’ hose loaders. Adjustable counterweights mounted on a pair of horizontal rails are simply moved until the desired balance point is located. This design provides for efficient handling and coupling to the tank adaptors.

This popular hose loader features a flange-by-flange base swivel joint for reliable performance and ease of maintenance. A heavy-duty Dual Split Flange (DSF) base swivel joint is standard on 4″ arms. Construction is carbon steel with a drop hose for maximum flexibility and easy handling. Coupler swivel joint, spacer spool and API coupler are aluminum on the standard model.

Short Range Hose Loader

The slide sleeve type loading arm incorporates a slide-sleeve assembly that telescopes in and out to adjust for variations in the distance from the loading rack to the tank truck. It is used primarily in small bulk plants and terminals for top loading fuel oil or other petroleum products. This cost-effective loading arm is time-tested as a practical method of locating the drop tube accurately and easily.

The slide sleeve is a medium-duty unit designed for flow rates up to 15 ft/sec (4.5m/sec.). Higher flow rates may tend to push the inner tube out beyond the loading point.

Long Range Hose Loader

OPW spring balanced hose loaders are available in both short-range (SRH-32) and long-range (LRH-32) versions. Like counterweighted hose loaders, spring balanced hose loaders are generally stored at horizontal and only slightly upward or downward movement is required to align the coupler with the tank truck adaptor.
The Long Range Hose Loader, in the 4″ size, is used in exactly the same manner as the counterweighted hose loader. The major difference being the counterbalance mechanism is a torsion spring rather than weights.

• Available in 4″
• Available in carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum
• Choice of flanged, threaded or all-welded construction

LBM800 Liquip Balance Mechanism – Bottom Loading Arm

A benchmark has been set for all bottom loading arms with the introduction of the LBM800. This state-of-the-art design is essential when you require safety and long service life with minimal maintenance.

The LBM800 provides effortless bottom loading in petrochemical distribution terminals through the use of the unique design known as the Velvet Touch.

The ability of 360° rotation in the horizontal plane allows the LBM800 to easily move from a parked to loading position, and to service vehicles on either side of the loading bay. While the vertical plane swivel allows users to position the coupler at different heights within the API envelope.

Liquip Velvet Touch MK2 Balance Assembly

The Velvet Touch MK2 Balance Assembly has been designed for use with bottom-loading arms in petrochemical-distribution depots. The MK2 features horizontal-plane swivel capability that allows 360° rotation of the bottom-loading arm and easy coverage of the width of a standard API envelope. The vertical-plane swivel allows movement 15° above and below horizontal to satisfy various coupler-height requirements while working in conjunction with twin lift-O-mat struts, which minimizes the amount of effort required to position the API coupler.

Compact Torsion Swivel (CTS) Hose Loader

OPW Compact Torsion Spring Swivel (CTS) Bottom Loading Arms are ideal to replace loading arms in situations where tight clearances are required. The CTS Loader features a fully integrated internal torsion spring for a streamlined profile. Ideal for replacing existing FMC TL Loaders or any application where space is a premium. The CTS has been engineered to be easier to adjust and maintain.