US2624490A - Oil tank - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1953 A. F. FINO ErAl.

OIL TANK l l. nulli,

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INVENTORS: ALEXANDER F. FlNO a FRED L. PLUMMER,

FIG.2.

` ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1953 A. F. mNo ErAL 2,624,490

01x. TANK Filed March 18, 195o s sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 3. FIG. 4. FIG. 5. 13 |5 l |3 :l I l FIG. 6. FIG.7. FIG. 8. 15 I |5 laj gI5 Im FIG.9. FIG.IO. FIG.II.

's j@ jmL I5 IENh I3 l5 l5 FIG. l2. FIG. I3. FIG. I4.

INVENTORSZ ALEXANDER F. F|NO& FRED L. PLUMMERI BY 0.2L, Ma-JLM ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 19153 A. F. FlNo ETAL OIL TANK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18, 1950 FIG. l5.

lNvENToRs; ALEXANDER F. Fmoa FRED L. PLUMMER,

QJLMM-Q-LNJ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1953 OIL TANK Alexander F. Fino and Fred L. Plummer, Warren,

Pa., assignors to Hammond Iron Works, Warren, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 18, 1950, Serial No. 150,438

1 Claim.

This invention relates to closed liquid-storage metallic tanks, adapted for holding a fluctuating amount of volatile liquid, for example high octane gasoline, in such a manner that in spite of the uctuating outside temperatures with consequent alternate contraction and expansion of the gas or vapor accumulating above the liquidlevel, there is rendered unnecessary, except under abnormal conditions, the use of means for venting expanding gas to the atmosphere with the attendant loss of valuable constituents thereof.

There are many existing tanks which cannot now be used for the storage of such gasoline because of such loss through essential vents. So it is an object of this invention to provide ways and means for ready attachment to existing tanks, to render them available for the storage of such gasoline Without series vapor losses.

Another object is to make use, in the solving of this problem, of a diaphragm somewhat like that disclosed in copending patent application of Plummer, Serial No. 21,603, led April 17, 1948, now Patent No. 2,578,090, in which the top face of the stored liquid body in the tank, even though nuctuating, is at all times sealed 01T against the outer atmosphere by and in contact with a generally bucket-shaped diaphragm or septum of pliable material substantially impervious to gas and liquids, that is at all times in surface contact with the stored liquid, and as a septum separates it from the outer atmosphere. The bucket-shape of such diaphragm comprises a more or less flat bottom portion and a more or less cylindrical wall portion which has its peripheral free edge portion fastened liquidand gastight to the inside of the tank along a horizontal line intermediate the height of the tank wall. A tank of this type may be termed briefly a diaphragm type tank.

According to that copending patent application, when the liquid-level has dropped suiciently, the diaphragm depending from' its wall support assumes its bucket shaped form or contour; but as the level rises the bottom portion of the bucket shape rises therewith with excess material of the diaphragm forming a fold, finally to assume the shape of an inverted bucket. The diameter of the bucket shaped diaphragm is substantially dependent upon and conforms to the basic shape and diameter of the tank, and by necessity requires a round tank to be applied to, and normally it must be made to conform with and t such a tank especially with respect to the diameter thereof. So it is another object of this invention to re-devise that diaphragm arrangement and its supporting structure so that it can be made smaller and then as a unit associated With existing tanks.

It is also among the objects of this invention to provide means or auxiliary structure for making existing tanks into what are in eiect diaphragm type tanks, at a minimum of expense yet substantially without reducing the original maximum usable volumetric capacity of the tank.

Another object is to provide means for making tanks into What in effect are diaphragm tanks so that bucket-shaped diaphragms can be utilized whose diameter need not be substantially co-extensive with the diameter of the tank but may be signicantly smaller and indeed may be independent of the shape of the main tank.

Still another object is to provide a supplementary structure containing a gas-and-liquid tight bucket-shaped diaphragm, adapted for gasand liquid-tight attachment to an existing tank for making such tank into what in effect is a diaphragm-type tank.

A further object is to provide improved simple and inexpensive yet eiective fastening means for making a liquidand gas-tight connection between the diaphragm and the tank, that is emplaceable and manipulatable from underneath the diaphragm.

In order to attain some of these objects a diaphragm-containing structure is placed into cooperative relationship with the fixed roof of an existing tank, so that liquid from the tank may communicate with the gas-receiving space in that structure. According to one embodiment, such structure may be xedly provided upon the tank; according to another embodiment it may be substantially separate from the tank although having communication or transfer connection therewith.

Other objects especially regarding improved fastening means for the diaphragm are attained by providing a horizontal annular ledge along the inner face of what in effect is a vertical tank wall and providing hold-down means for fastening the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm to the top face of the ledge in such a manner that the edge of the diaphragm points inwardly and away from the wall.

According to one feature this invention provides that a hood or dome be provided upon the top of the roof of an existing tank, and having mounted in it a bucket-shaped exible diaphragm; or else that a smaller central domeshaped portion rise vertically from a surounding larger annular roof portion, with a bucket- 3 shaped flexible diaphragm mounted within the dome-shaped portion.

According to another feature a diaphragmcontaining dome is provided upon a fixed roof structure of a closed tank, and the roof portion covered by the dome is provided with fluid passage openings. This arrangement allows for a central supporting column for the 'fixed roof.

According to still another feature, the means for fastening the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm to tank wall comprises an annular ledge extending inwardly from the tank wall, a hold-down strip extending along and upon the top face of the ledge for holding down upon the ledge the edge portion of the diaphragm in such a manner that the diaphragm edge extends inwardly away from the tank wall, and screw bolts passing through the assembly of hold-'down strip, diaphragm, and ledge for tightening them together, whereby the assembly and connection of parts can be manipulated from underneath the diaphragm.

Other features and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, withinthe scope of the claim or equivalents of its requirements, may be resorted to without departing from the-spirit or sacriclng any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part-sectional view of an embodiment of a tank equipped with a dome containing a bucket-shaped diaphragm, with the dome constituting a corresponding break or step in the roof of the tank;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional detail view of the improved fastening means for the diaphragm;

Figs. 3 to 8 illustrate diagrammatically stages of progressive deformation of the diaphragm when due to a rising liquid level, starting with the diaphragm in normal bucket-shape and ending with the bucket-shape inverted;

Figs. 9 to 14 illustrate diagrammatically the stages of progressive deformation of the diaphragm when due to a falling liquid level, starting with the diaphragm extended to its inverted bucket-shape and ending with the normal bucketshape restored;

Fig. 15 is a part-sectional elevational view of an embodiment of a tank in which the roof of the tank itself is substantially unbroken by the dome except for fluid passages provided in that roof portion that is covered by the dome;

Fig. 15a is an exploded view, partly. in section, of the dome and a fragment of the-tank'shown in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 16 shows a section taken through the dome on line IG-IG of Fig. 15.

The embodiment in Figure 1 comprises a round tank I of a height H, having a fixed roof II comprising a substantially horizontal or shallow conical annular portion I2 and a central dome I3 of a height H1 provided with a top vent 4. The dome comprises a cylindrical vertical wall portion I3a and a convexly shallow 'top portion I3b, the inner face of the cylindrical portion having fastened thereto a bucket-shaped diaphragm I herein also termed a bladder or lung. That is to say, the diaphragm is peripherally fastened to the inner face of the dome as at I6, the fastening means being more particularly shown in the enlarged detailed Figure 2. The fastening means comprise an annular ledge I'I extending in a horizontal plane and fastened as by welding to the inner face of the dome I3. This ledge presents a horizontal 'top face I8 upon which is held the peripheral edge portion I5 of diaphragm I5 in such a manner that the outer face of that edge portion engages the top face of ledge I1 with the edge portion itself pointing inwardly and away from the inner face of the dome. Hold-down means for maintaining this edge portion 5l1 tightly engaged upon and fastened to the ledge are shown to comprise a at clamping member I9 and bolts 20 having nuts 2|)a at the lower end and thus accessible from the underside of the diaphragm.

Figures 3 through 8 indicate diagrammatically successive phases or conditions of progressive deformation of the diaphragm I5, namely, from its initial complete upright bucket shape in Figure 3fto its complete inverted bucket shape in Figure 8. Such inversion of the bucket shape takes place due to the expansion of the vapors from the fluid contents of the tank and it compensates for what otherwise would manifest itself as increased vapor pressure which may otherwise require venting of such vapors from the tank.

Figures 9 through 14 illustrate the process in reverse, namely, the condition'where the vapor volume shrinks so that the complete inverted bucket shape in Figure 9 reverts to its complete upright bucket shape in Figure 14.

The Figurel, 15a, 16 embodiment shows an auxiliary chamber or dome 2| applied to the fixed shallow conical roof 22 of a tank 23, the roof being supported by a central column 23a within the tank. The dome 2| is welded to the tank roof as at 2 Ia and houses a bucket-shaped diaphragm D peripherally fastened to the inner face of the dome in a vapor-tight manner substantially similar to that'shown in detailed Figure 2. The central portion 24 of the roof that is the portion which is overlain by the dome has communicating openings 25 (see also Figure 16) through which vapor from the liquid stored in the tank may pass to and from the dome 2| in accordance with deformations or movements of the diaphragm D. The dome 2| comprises a cylindrical or vertical portion 26 and a convexly-shaped shallow top portion 2l, a vent 28 being provided in the top portion of the dome.

The significance of the Figure 15 embodiment is more clearly illustrated in Figure 15a showing the dome 2| inclusive of the diaphragm D detached as a unit from or about to be positioned upon the fixed roof on an existing tank, the roof being unchanged except for the provision of vapor passage openings shown at 25 within the central area. of the roof.

What we claim is:

A liquid storage tank for volatile liquids comprising a closed cylindrical wall and a closed bottom attached thereto, a round top attached to the upper part of the wall, a plurality of openings in the top adjacent the center thereof, a cylindrical wall extension ailixed to the top adjacent the center thereof and surrounding the openings, the extension being of considerably less diameter than the wall of the tank, an annular ledge affixed to the interior of the extension intermediate the vheight thereof and extending inwardly therefrom in a horizontal direction, a flexible diaphragm of circular formation com- 5 pletely housed Within the extension at all times and shaped into the form of a bucket with a bottom adapted due to fluctuation in iluid pressure thereon to freely rise and fall past the inner edge of the ledge while unrestricted against foldforming pressure that foldingly reduces the eiective diameter of that bottom as it passes the ledge, the diaphragm having a free edge, a circular ring clamping the free edge of the diaphragm against the ledge, that part of the diaphragm adjacent the clamped portion overlying the ring when the center portion has fallen past the ring and ledge, the openings in the top of the tank providing fluid communicaion between the tank and that part of the extension that is beneath the diaphragm irrespective of the position of its bottom.

ALEXANDER F. FINO. FRED L. PLUMMER.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,666,666 Pew, Jr. Apr. 17, 1928 1,726,281 Wilson et al Aug. 27, 1929 1,715,112 Atwell May 28, 1929 1,959,191 Acly May 15, 1934 2,257,941 Ellis Oct. 7, 1941 2,269,568 Wilkin Jan. 13, 1942 2,327,085 Wiggins Aug. 17, 1943 2,378,467 Kiss June 19, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 318,397 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1929

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