US1932394A - Floating roof - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3l, 1933. C, BQARDMAN 1,932,394

FLOATlNG ROOF Filed Aug. 1s, 1932 s sheets-sheet 1 FLOATING ROOF Filed Aug. 13, 1952 Sheets-Sheet 2 0d. 31, 1933. C BOARDMA 1,932,394

4 l FLOATING ROOFl Filed Aug. 13, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jig@ ' Z/UQWZOW Patented Oct. 31, 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNITED js'r..'rrssl FLoATmG RooF Application August 13, 1932. seriaI'No. 623,152

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in floating roofs and more especially such roofs adapted for use in connection with liquid containers, for example, containers adapted to hold volatile oils and the like. .f

In tanks of the .character referred to it' is customary to provide a roof that floats on the surface of the liquid and rises and falls therewith as liquid is taken from or put into the tank.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of roofs of this character that have increased buoyancy and stability over those heretofore used.

Another feature of my invention is'the provision of means for. collecting vapors'A and gases under the roof and preventing the uneven distribution of the same, thus increasing the stability of the roof and lesseningf or preventing tendencies of the Asame to chip.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear in full as I proceed with my specification. e

In those forms of devices embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view; l

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the roof of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.` 2 `showing a 30 llriodilcation taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the roof of Fig. 3 taken as indicated by the line 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a -modiilcation' taken as indicated by the line 5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the roof of Fig.

5 taken as-indicated by the line 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 lis a view similar to Fig. 5 of a-modication taken as indicated by the line 7 of Fig. 8 and Fig. 8 is a bottom` plan view of the roof of Fig. 'I taken as indicated by the'line 8 of Fig. 7. As shown '1n the drawings, the invention is illustrated in each case for use in connection'with a cylindrical tank.

. In the form shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the side wall or shell of the tank is indicated by 1 0 and the bottom by 11. cludes a central flat sheet-metal portion 12 supported by an' annular open-bottom pontoon 13 projecting above the plane of the central sheetmetal portion 12. The outer edge of the pontoon The roof as here shown in- 13 is provided with a depending rim 14 extending` below thev plane of the central sheet-metal lportion 12.

Any suitable sealing means may be employed' for sealing or closing the spa `e 15 between the 'periphery of the roof and the shell 10 of the 60` tank. Many varietiesof such sealing means are now well known in the art and consequently none need be described in detail here. It will sufce to say that such sealing means may include -a plurality of shoes or plates 16 supported from the 65 edge of the roof by suitable means, for example, the angular bar 1'7 held at the upper ends of the pivoted levers 18-18. Springs 19 may be employed for yieldingly urging the shoes 16 outwardly into contact with the shell of the tank. 20 may indicate a flexible seal, for example, fabric, for sealing the space between the shoes and the 'upper outer edge of the pontoon 13; and similar fabric (not shown) may be employed for sealing the spaces' between the vertical edgesof the 75 shoes 16.

Since the pontoon 13 projects above the plane of the central portion 12, it forms an upstanding rim 21 at the outer edge of the central circular sheet 12, which rim may be employed to retain water, for example rain water, on top of the central portion 12. This water may serve to insulate the roof and assist in keeping the fabric or liquid under the same cool. Since the pontoon extends, above the plane of the sheet portion l2, it will be seen that such pontoon will impart buoyancy to the roof even after the sheet metal portion 12 is submerged. If desired, the roof may have, enough buoyancy so that even if the central portion is entirely lled with rain water up to the level of the top of the pontoon, 13, the roof will still iloat provided the space in the pontoon above the plane of the central portion 12 (extended) remains substantially lled with gas.

It will be seen that'by extending the outer rim 95 14 of the pontoon below the level of the plane (extended) of the central portion 12, there is provided a gas-receiving space under the entireroof. That is, gases can collect and will be retained not only in the pontoon but also .under the central sheet-metal portion 12. There may, however, be such a small amount of gas that it, will all be in the upper part of therannular pontoon, in which case the central sheet-metal portion 12 will rest in contact with the liquid.

' The form of device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially the same as described except that I have provided on the under side of the roof radial partitions or bulkheads 122. As here shown, there are eight of these partitions radiatl1(` the outer edge of the pontoon. In the form of Y ing from the center 123. The lower edges of these partitions are even with the lower edge of the depending rim 114 at the periphery of the roof. In this form the central sheet-metal portion of the roof is indicated by 112, the open-bottom pontoon by 113, and the upstanding rim formed by the pontoon at the periphery of the central part 112 is indicated by 121. It is to be understood that this roof is to be used in connection with a tank as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with a suitable seal; and in other patents, not shown here, the roof of Figs. 3 and 4 is constructed and operates substantially the same as the roof of Figs. 1 and 2. In the form of device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, however, the partitions 1 22 serve to assist somewhat in preventing an uneven distribution of gas under the roof. For example, if there is some gas under the roof and the roof tips or tends to tip somewhat, the gas is prevented by the partitions 122 from all flowing around to one side. These partitions, therefore, in lessening the uneven distribution of gas,

, increase the stability of the roof.

The form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has the outer .depending rim 14 or 114 omitted. The shoes or other seal used are employed in the place of this outer rim. In the form of Figs. 5 and 6, also, the rim corresponding to the rim 121 at the inner periphery of the annular pontoon is extended ,somewhat below the plane of the central sheetmetal portion.

Describing the form of Figs. 5 and 6 more particularly, the central sheet-metal portion is indicated by 212, the annular open-bottom pontoon by 213, said pontoon projecting above the central sheet 212 to form the upstanding rim 221. There is no rim like 14 or 114 at the outer edge of the pontoon. Instead of this, the sealing shoes 216 together with the fabric seal 220 are employed to assist in retaining gases under the roof, the lower edges of the shoes extending considyerably below the plane (extended) of the central` sheet 212. The lower edges of the shoes are indicated by 216:1.. It is to be understood that the shoes 216 are supported in' a manner similar to the way in which the shoes 16 of Figs. l and 2 are supported, and that the seal is substantially the same as is described in connection with the device of Figs. 1 and 2; or any other seal well known in the art may be employed.

In the form of Figs. 5 and 6 there is provided a downward extension of the rim 221, said extension or depending rim being indicated by 22111. In the form 'of Figs. 5 and 6 there are also provided radial partitions or bulkheads 222 extending from the center 223 outwardly to the depending rim 221e. e

In the form of Figs. 5 and 6 the shell of the tank is indicated by 210.

The form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided with depending rims at both the outer and inner edges of the pontoon and is also provided with bulkheads extending radially from the center .to

Figs. 'l and.8 the central sheet portion is indicated by 312 and the open-bottom pontoon by 313. The depending rim at the outer edge of the pontoon is indicated by 314 and at the inner edge ofY the pontoon there is provided a depending rim 321a similar to the rim 221a of the device of Figs. 5 and 6. The pontoon 313 forms an upstanding rim at the periphery of the sheet 312 as indicated by 321.

The roof of Figs. 'I vand 8 is provided with radial depending partitions or bulkheads extending from all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly V as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A floating roof comprising, a substantially flat central portion of substantial proportion, said portion having an upstanding peripheral wall constituting a portion of an open-bottom annular pontoon, said upstanding wall having connected thereto a downwardly extendingl annular-like member constituting another portion of said pontoon.

2. A floating roof as claimed in claim 1, in which the downwardly extending annular-like member extends below the plane of the flat central portion. f

3. A floating roof as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner edge of the pontoon is provided with a depending rim extending below the plane of the flat central portion.

4. A oating roof as claimed in claim 1, in which the downwardly extending annular-like member extends below the plane of the flat central portion and in which the inner edge of the pontoon is provided with a dependingrim extending below the plane `of the iiat central portion.'

5.V A oating roof as claimed in claim 1, with depending partitions on its underside forming separate open-bottom gas-receiving spaces under the roof, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution of gases under the roof.

6. A floating roof as claimed in claim 1, with depending radial partitions on its underside forming separate open-bottom gas-receiving spaces under the'roof, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution of gases under the roof. I

7. A iloating roof as claimed in claim l, with depending partitions on the underside of the nat central portion forming separate open-bottom gas-receiving spaces under said flat central portion, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution of gases under said at central portion.

8. A :floating roof as claimed in claim l, with depending radial partitions on the underside of the flat central portion forming -separate openbottom gas-receiving spaces under said nat-central portion, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution of gases under said nat cen- 1o. A floating roof as claimed in anim 1, with depending radial partitions in the pontoon forming separate open-bottom gas-receiving spaces in said pontoon, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution of gases in aid pontoon.V

HARRY o BoARDMAN.

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