GB2164380A - Sectional tank - Google Patents

Abstract

A sectional storage tank 10 is composed of identical panels 15 each with a tray-like configuration having a planar base (15A, Fig. 2) bounded by upstanding side walls (15B, Fig. 2) and rendered rigid by a brace 16. Each side wall (15B) is provided with through apertures 17 for interconnecting adjoining panels 15. Each panel 15 is formed by a laminated structure of wood and fibre glass and has a skin (25) of Darvic (RTM) plastics material bonded to the fibre glass layer to render the tank (10) resistant to attack by a wide range of chemicals. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sectional storage tank This invention relates to sectional storage tanks for bulk storage of flowable materials such as liquids and granules and more particularly relates to tank panels for such tanks.

According to the present invention there is provided a panel for a sectional bulk storage tank comprising body means having a tray-like configuration with a rectilineal periphery and comprising a laminated structure of wood and fibre glass, and a skin of Darvic (RTM) plastics material bonded to the outer surface of said body means by said fibre glass.

Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a sectional tank composed of tank panels as defined in the last preceding paragraph, the panels being interconnected externally of the tank interior by bolt means penetrating the upstanding tray edges of adjoining panels, each tray joint internally of the tank being covered whith a strip of Darvic (RTM) plastic material solventwelded to said skin of said panels.

Darvic (RTM) plastics material is a proprietary product made and sold by ICI Limited and is resistant to attack by a wide range of chemicals.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a sectional tank; Figure 2 pictorially illustrates a panel for the tank of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2; and Figure 4 schematically illustrates the interconnection of Fig. 2 panels to form the Fig. 1 tank.

As is shown in Fig. 1 the tank 10 for bulk storage of flowable material holds a body of water 11 and rests on a support structure 12 which may be in the form of a platform carried above ground level. The tank 10 is composed of a plurality of identical panels 15 each being as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the panel 15 has a generally tray-like configuration with a rectilineal periphery which in this instance is square. The tray-like configuration is formed by a planar base 15A peripherally surrounded by four upstanding side walls 15B and rendered rigid by a brace 16 extending between one pair of opposed side walls 15B. For the purpose of interconnecting adjoining panels 15 each side wall 15B is provided with a series of through apertures 17.

As is more particularly shown in the sectional view of Fig. 3 the panel 15 comprises a body which defines the tray-like configuration and which is in the form of a laminated structure of wood and fibre glass. The structure comprises a sheet 20 of 9.25 mm plywood supporting a first or upper layer 21 of fibre glass which functions to bond plywood layer 20 to a wooden baton 22 forming the brace 16. Beneath plywood layer 20 is a layer of glass reinforced fibre glass 24 which is adherent to plywood layer 20 and a skin of Darvic (RTM) plastics material 25 is bonded to fibre glass 24 and also to the upstanding portion of fibre glass layer 21 in order to form tray walls 15B.

It is preferred that base 15A of panel 15 has a total thickness of 16.25 mm formed by the 9.25 mm thickness of plywood, 1 mm thickness of Darvic (RTM) plastics material and 6 mm thickness of fibre glass apportioned between layers 21 and 24.

In order to manufacture the panel 15 which conveniently is of 1 metre side length, a rigid jig of the same dimension is provided for initially receiving a sheet of Darvic (RTM) plastics material cut precisely to fit the jig. Four strips of Darvic (RTM) plastics material are thereafter fitted to the jig to form part of side walls 15B of the panel these strips conveniently being solvent welded to the principal sheet of Darvic (RTM) plastics matrial. Thereafter fibre glass layer 24 is applied followed by insertion of plywood layer 20 together with baton 22 which is preferably secured to plywood layer 20 prior to layer 20 being inserted into the jig. Finally, fibre glass layer 21 is applied. The jig is provided with pilot holes whereby after setting of the fibre glass in the panel through the holes 17 may be formed by boring operations.

In order to interconnect panels 15 to form a side wall of tank 10 bolts (not shown) are inserted through registering holes 17 of adjoining panels 15 along the line 30 shown in Fig. 4 and in order to render the joint liquidtight it is preferred to solvent-weld the Darvic (RTM) plastics material which lines abutting side walls 15B and additionally it is preferred to apply a strip of Darvic (RTM) plastics material 32 over the joint and to solvent weld that strip into position.

For the purpose of forming a tank corner joint a galvanised mild steel angle iron 34 is used for bracing purposes and bolts fitted through apertures 17 and corresponding apertures in the angle iron 34 along lines 36, 38 illustrated in Fig. 4. Additionally, an L-shaped strip of Darvic (RTM) plastics material 39 is applied along the joint and solvent-welded to the adjoining panels 15 in order to render the joint liquid-tight.

It will be appreciated that each individual panel 15 of the tank 10 is individually braced at its periphery and also by means of brace 16 which may be either vertically or horizontally disposed and the tank may be further provided with rods interconnecting opposite tank walls for strengthening purposes in which case it is preferred that these rods at each end penetrate a brace 16 and be secured to panel 15 and its brace 16 externally of the tank interior. Furthermore it is preferred that any such rod be sleeved in a tube of Darvic (RTM) plastics material solvent-welded by means of a flange with the layer 25 so that the rod, which is usually of mild steel, is not exposed to the contents 11 of the tank 10.

By virtue of the present invention sectional storage tanks are provided which are substantially maintenance free which are simple to erect, and which are light in weight. An outlet for releasing flowable material contained in the tank may be provided in any tank wall or in the floor of the tank by means of a flanged tube made of Darvic (RTM) plastics material as a result of which the tank can be substantially completely emptied.

Claims (6)

1. A panel for a sectional bulk storage tank comprising body means having a tray-like configuration with a rectilineal periphery and comprising a laminated structure of wood and fibre glass, and a skin of Darvic (RTM) plastics material bonded to the outer surface of said body means by said fibre glass.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each upstanding tray edge is provided with a series of through apertures for receiving bolts to join adjacent panels together.

3. A panel as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein tray-like configuration comprises a planar base rendered rigid by a brace extending between one pair of opposed edges of said base.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.

5. A sectional tank composed of tank panels each as claimed in any preceding claim, the panels being interconnected externally of the tank interior by bolt means penetrating the upstanding tray edges of adjoining panels, each tray joint internally of the tank being covered with a strip of Darvic (RTM) plastic material solvent-welded to said skin of said panels.

6. A sectional tank as claimed in claim 5, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.