US1867845A - Pontoon seal for floating decks - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1932. J. F. KIMBELL PONTOON SEAL FOR FLOATING DECKS Filed July 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 19, 1932. J. F. KIMBELL PONTOON SEAL FOR FLOATING DECKS 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1928 Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES F. KIMBELL, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 CHICAGO BRIDGE & IRON COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS PONTOON SEAL FOR FLOATING DECKS Application filed July 11, 1928. Serial No. 291,887.

. This invention relates to floating decks of the type employed on oil tanks and containers and refers particularly to the seal employed between the deck and side wall of the tank.

The floating decks employed in oil tanks generally comprise a floating deck proper of fixed diameter, which diameter isinade somewhat smaller than the side wall of the tank and the space between the floating deck and the side wall of the tank is normally closed by expandible elements connected with the floating deck and referred to as seals. The floating decks of the best type 1 are those formed of a number of pontoons so that the floating deck provides over the surface of the liquids, an insulating seal of air space. v Heretofore, however, there has not been provided a seal between the floating deck which forms such a dead air space.

An object "of the present invention is to provide a floating deck with a variable sealing means which is made up of, or includes a plurality of individual pontoons so that the seal between the floating deck and the side walls of the tank provides a dead air space for cutting down evaporation of the contents of the tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a buoyant part of a seal so constructed and arranged that the buoyant effect of such part of the seal is made use of as a means for yieldingly holding the seal in the expanded position.

Various further objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the description of the preferred form or example of a floating deck and seal thereof, embodying the invention. For this pur- 40 pose, there is hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of forms of floating decks and seals embodying the, invention.

In the drawings: Y

Figure l is a plan view of a pair of ad]acent sealing floats of a floating deck.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the deck showing the seal.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the v 9 line 3-3 of Figure Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line ir-4: of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation in vertical section of a preferred form of deck and seal therefor.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of a further modified form of floating deck and seal therefor.

Referring to the drawings:

1 indicates the side wall of a tank or container of liquid in which a floating deck 2 is intended to float.- The floating deck is indicated as of the pontoon type and provided with an internal brace 3 between the top walls 4: andthe bottom walls 5 of the pontoon. It is understood that any desired form of pontoon deck may be employed and the deck may be composed of a plurality of, pontoons suitably secured together. The pontoons of the deck or the outer ring of pontoons are indicated as having their bottom walls 5 sloped upwardly as indicated at 6 and on the sloping portions 6 of the pontoons, there is indi cated a bracket 7 carrying rollers 8. One bracket 7 is employed for each of the pontoon seals hereinafter described.

In the preferred form of the bracket there is mounted a roller 8 at each side of the bracket for slidably engaging a track in a pontoon sealing member 9. The pontoon sealing members 9, at their opposite sides and near their upper edges, are provided with channel ways 10 in which the rollers 8 are disposed. The pontoons 9 are indicated as preferably of a general triangular shape in elevation and as having their outer sides provided with a vertical portion 11 for slidably engaging the side wall 1 of the tank. In horizontal or plane, the pontoon sealing members 9 are in sector shape and a circular series of the pontoon sealing members are provided so that they substantially fill the intervening space'between the floating deck proper and the side wall 1 of the tank.

By the construction thus described, the pontoon members 9 which contain an air space, are urged outwardly against the side wall of the tank by the buoyant effect of the liquid within the tank pushing the sealing members 9 against the inclined roller bracket 8. The

floating deck also preferably includes a rim 12 near the seal for preventing gases from passing into the sealing space. There is also preferably provided an upstanding rim 13 on the upper periphery of the deck which serves to prevent water passing down through the sealing space. The upstanding rim 13 also preferably mounts a plurality of sealing plates 14 extending upwardly and outwardly from the rim to the side wall 1 and curved at their ends, as indicated at 15. The sealing plates 14 have offset edges 16 so that the ad- ]acent sealing plates are adapted to overlap.

Now referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the floating deck 17 is indicated as of the pontoon type and having the internal bracing 18a. The bottom wall of the pontoon or outer pontoons of the deck slopes slightly upwardly, as indicated at 18, to provide an upwardly sloping track for pontoon sealing members 19. The pontoon sealing members 19 are indicated as sliding directly against the sloping wall '18 of the pentoon 17. The said pontoon sealing members are also sector shape in cross section and in practice, a circular series of the same are provided in order to substantiallycompletely close the space between the deck 17 and the side wall 20 0f the tank in which the deck floats. The pontoon sealing members 19 are indicated as having a false side 21 so that only the outer portion of the sealing members form an air-tight buoyant chamber, the inner portion of the pontoon members receiving a guiding rod 22 which is supported by a bracket 23 at the bottom of the pontoon 17 Between the bracket 23 and the pontoon member 19, there is indicated a tension means such as the coil spring 24 for urging the pontoon members 19 outwardly from the deck 1.

, The pontoon 17 also has an upstanding rim 25 to which is pivotally secured metallic wear plates 26 which extend downwardly and outwardly into contact with the side walls 20 and are curved inwardly at their ends, as indicated at 27. Behind the wear plates 26 there is indicated a gas-tight curtain 28 attached to the floating deck at its upper end and to the lower end of the wear plate, as indicated at 29 and 30, respectively.

The wear plates 26 thus operate as air receiving members, while the gas-tight curtain 28 is the final seal of the deck. The wear plates 26 are so related relative to the pontoon sealing members 19, that the pontoon sealing members 19 normally engage the outer portion of the wear plates and urge the same into contact with the side wall 20. There is also indicated a well 31 by which gas may be Withdrawn from the lower side of the floating deck, if desired.

Now, referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, a floating deck of pontoon type 32 is indicated having a horizontal groove 33 at its outer periphery for receiving pontoon sealing members 34, which'are designed to move horizontally in operation. Between the pontoon 32 and the pontoon sealing members 34 are provided tension means 35-for urging the pontoon sealing members outwardly. The pontoon 32 has the upstanding rim 36 to .which is secured metallic wear plates 37 which engage the side walls of the tank 38 in which the deck is floating. There is also provided a gas-tight curtain 39 between the pontoon wear members 3 1 and sealing plates 37.

While the forms of floating decks and seals therefore herein described are well adapted to carry out the object of the present inven-' mally urged outwardly toward the wall of the tank, said radially movable members adapted to slide on said inclined surface; and sealing means carried by the deck lying between said radially movable members and the wall of the tank, said sealing means being urged outwardly against the wall of the tank by said radially movable members.

2. An oil storage tank having a floating deck therein with an inclined surface at its periphery; a plurality of radially mov-- able members at the periphery of said deck normally urged outwardly toward the wall of the tank, said members adapted to slide on said inclined surface; wear plates carried by the deck lying between said radially movable members and the wall of the tank and urged outwardly against the wall of. the tank by said radially movable members; and a flexible sealing curtain with its upper edge attached to the deck and its lower edge submerged in liquid in the tank, said curtain lying between said wear plates and said radially movable memr 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the radially movable members are! buoyant.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the radially movable members are buoyant.

Signed at Los Angles, California, this 5th day of July, 1928.

' JAMES F. KIMBELL.

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