GB1585176A

GB1585176A - Liquid storage tank

Info

Publication number: GB1585176A
Application number: GB3505076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-09-19
Filing date: 1977-09-19
Publication date: 1981-02-25

Description

(54) LIQUID STORAGE TANK (71) I, NORMAN FRANK DEWEY, of Vine Cottage, Urchinwood, Congresbury, Bristol, a British Subject, formerly of Orchard Rise, School Road, Wrington, Bristol, Avon, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to liquid storage tanks, and in particular to liquid tanks intended to be mounted at the top of buildings or in other open-air situations.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid storage tank, comprising an enclosed housing having a bottom, side walls, and a top, at least the side walls and the top having a thermally insulating construction, the interior of the housing having a rigid partition which defines on one side thereof a liquid storage chamber and on the other side a service chamber for the tank, the top having an openable portion extending partly over the storage chamber and partly over the service chamber to permit entry of a person into either chamber. Preferably, at least the side walls of the housing have a composite structure comprising an inner layer of glass fibre reinforced resin material, steel reinforcing strips bonded to the outer surface of the inner layer, and a thermally insulating material applied between the reinforcing strips.The insulating material is preferably a foamed plastics material.

The walls preferably have an outer layer of glass fibre reinforced resin material.

The top is preferably also of composite structure having a glass fibre reinforced resin inner layer and a thermally insulating material applied thereto, and optionally a glass fibre reinforced outer layer. The internal partition may be made from a layer of glass fibre reinforced resin material with steel reinforcing members secured thereto. The top is preferably upwardly convex. It is preferably permanently secured around its edge to the side walls.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification wherein: Fig. 1 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the storage tank, and Fig. 2 shows a partial cross-section through the water storage chamber.

Referring to the drawings, the storage tank comprises an enclosed housing having a bottom 10, two pairs of opposite side walls 12, 14 respectively and a top 16. In Fig. 1, one half of the top, to the line A-A, is shown in an exploded condition relative to the tank, while the other half is shown secured in position. However, it is to be understood that this is merely to reveal the interior of the tank, and the top is in practice made in one piece. The tank is divided internally by a partition 18 into a larger water-storage chamber 20 and a smaller service chamber 22. The top has a rectangular opening 24 at the service chamber end, arranged so as to extend not only the service chamber, but to an equal extent over the water storage chamber. This opening allows access of a person into either chamber through the top of the tank.The opening 24 is surrounded by an upstanding ridge 26 over which fits a removable cover panel 28 having a depending peripheral flange 30 to engage the outside of the ridge 26. The cover panel can be conveniently hinged to the top, and can be secured by a hasp and staple fastening. The cover panel is provided with a vent 32 which has a vent cover 34.

Fig. 2 shows the detailed construction of the tank. The bottom 10 and the inner layers 11 of the side and end walls are made as an integral structure from glass reinforced resin material, and an outturned flange 13 is provided at the top of the wall panels. Then mild steel reinforcing strips 15 are secured to the side walls by encasing thetm in resin impregnated glass fibre, the resin adhering to the reinforced resin material of the wall layers. Also, a triangular fillet 17, suitably of wood, is similarly secured in the angle between the panels 11 and flange 13. The top 16 also has an inner layer 19 of glass reinforced resin material, preferably of upwardly convex form with an out-turned flat flange 21 around its periphery. The flange 21 is bonded to the flange 13 so as to secure the top panel 19 to the side wall panels 11.Then a foam plastics insulated material 23 is applied to the top panel 19 and side wall panels 11 until a suitable thickness has been built up, for example a two inch thickness, which presents a smooth outer surface, since it extends somewhat beyond the reinforcing ribs 15 and flanges 13, 21.

To this outer surface is then applied an exterior layer 25 of glass fibre reinforced resin material. The cover panel 28 is also made of the same three layer insulating construction as the top 16. The partition 18 has the glass fibre reinforced layer and reinforcing steel ribs 15, but need not have the insulating layer or second glass fibre reinforced resin layer.

The tank is particularly suitable for installing on the flat tops of large buildings, such as flats and office buildings, where it is customary for the tanks to be exposed rather than covered by a roof. Accordingly, the present tank provides good insulation against the water freezing. The bottom 10 may also be provided with an insulating layer, but generally this will not be necessary if it is in close contact with the surface of the building. The tank has a smooth external finish, which is not unsightly, and in addition it provides an integral service chamber which is also insulated, and the top opening provides a simple access point to both the storage chamber and service chamber.

To provide additional rigidity to the tank, as well as or instead of the steel reinforcement, internal ribs may be formed in the tank extending at an angle from the side walls to be formed in the tank extending at an angle from the side walls to the bottom of the tank. These ribs may be solid or may be formed in the walls so that corresponding recesses are formed in the outside surfaces of the walls. Such ribs are described in more detail in Patent Application Serial No. 45 171/76.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A liquid storage tank, comprising an enclosed housing having a bottom, side walls and a top, at least the side walls and the top having a thermally insulating construction, the interior of the housing having a rigid partition which defines on one side thereof a liquid storage chamber and on the other side thereof a service chamber for the tank, the top having an openable portion extending partly over the storage chamber and partly over the service chamber to permit entry of a person into either chamber.

2. A liquid storage tank according to claim 1 wherein at least the side walls of the housing have a composite structure comprising an inner layer of glass fibre reinforced resin material, steel reinforcing strips bonded to the outer surface of the inner layer, and a thermally insulating material applied between the reinforcing strips.

3. A liquid storage tank according to claim 2 wherein the insulating material is a foamed plastics material.

4. A liquid storage tank according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the walls have an outer layer of glass fibre reinforced resin material.

5. A liquid storage tank according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein the top is of composite structure having a glass fibre reinforced resin inner layer and a thermally insulating material applied thereto.

6. A liquid storage tank according to claim 5 wherein the top includes a glass fibre reinforced outer layer.

7. A liquid storage tank according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the internal partition is made from a layer of glass fibre reinforced resin material with steel reinforcing members secured thereto.

8. A liquid storage tank according to any one of thet preceding claims wherein the top is upwardly convex.

9. A liquid storage tank according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the top is permanently secured around its edge to the side walls.

10. A liquid storage tank substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. triangular fillet 17, suitably of wood, is similarly secured in the angle between the panels 11 and flange 13. The top 16 also has an inner layer 19 of glass reinforced resin material, preferably of upwardly convex form with an out-turned flat flange 21 around its periphery. The flange 21 is bonded to the flange 13 so as to secure the top panel 19 to the side wall panels 11. Then a foam plastics insulated material 23 is applied to the top panel 19 and side wall panels 11 until a suitable thickness has been built up, for example a two inch thickness, which presents a smooth outer surface, since it extends somewhat beyond the reinforcing ribs 15 and flanges 13, 21. To this outer surface is then applied an exterior layer 25 of glass fibre reinforced resin material. The cover panel 28 is also made of the same three layer insulating construction as the top 16. The partition 18 has the glass fibre reinforced layer and reinforcing steel ribs 15, but need not have the insulating layer or second glass fibre reinforced resin layer. The tank is particularly suitable for installing on the flat tops of large buildings, such as flats and office buildings, where it is customary for the tanks to be exposed rather than covered by a roof. Accordingly, the present tank provides good insulation against the water freezing. The bottom 10 may also be provided with an insulating layer, but generally this will not be necessary if it is in close contact with the surface of the building. The tank has a smooth external finish, which is not unsightly, and in addition it provides an integral service chamber which is also insulated, and the top opening provides a simple access point to both the storage chamber and service chamber. To provide additional rigidity to the tank, as well as or instead of the steel reinforcement, internal ribs may be formed in the tank extending at an angle from the side walls to be formed in the tank extending at an angle from the side walls to the bottom of the tank. These ribs may be solid or may be formed in the walls so that corresponding recesses are formed in the outside surfaces of the walls. Such ribs are described in more detail in Patent Application Serial No. 45 171/76. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A liquid storage tank, comprising an enclosed housing having a bottom, side walls and a top, at least the side walls and the top having a thermally insulating construction, the interior of the housing having a rigid partition which defines on one side thereof a liquid storage chamber and on the other side thereof a service chamber for the tank, the top having an openable portion extending partly over the storage chamber and partly over the service chamber to permit entry of a person into either chamber.