US1949981A - Liquid transportation and storage apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1934. STENDRUP 1,949,981

LIQUID TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1930 INVENTOR flarr /7. J'fe/m rup MVM ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEQE LIQUID TRANSPORTATION AND STQRAGE AFPARATUS Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the transportation and storage of liquid materials. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide means adapted 5 to permit the introduction or liquid materials being rapidly transported through pipe lines into large receptacles or containers, such as storage tanks, settling vats and the like, in such a manner as to minimize turbulence and agitation of the material in the container by the introduced liquid.

The apparatus of the invention is of especial value and application in connection with the transportation and storage of volatile liquids, such as gasoline, since the elimination of violent agitation materially reduces evaporation losses. Some idea of the extent of evaporation losses resulting in the transportation and storage of volatile liquids may be obtained from the fact that in 20 pumping gasoline from tank steamers into storage tanks by the present methods evaporation losses of as hi h as 2000 gallons of gasoline are frequently encountered in emptying a single boat. Similarly, the apparatus of the invention may be employed to advantage when introducing liquids to storage or settling tanks containing finely divided solid or semi-solid materials, or two or more liquids of different specific gravities where it is desired to prevent or minimize dispersion of one material through the other or others.

In general, the apparatus of the invention comprises a tank or container having an inlet connection opening thereinto, the discharge end of the inlet connection being provided with an elbow the cross-sectional area and radius of curvature of which progressively increase in such a manner that the velocity of a liquid passing into the oontainer through the inlet connection will be gradually reduced to a minimum and turbulence substantially eliminated.

The accompanying drawing illustrates apparatus embodying the invention and the invention will be more fully described in connection therewith.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section, with parts broken away, illustrating a portion of the shell of a tank having an inlet connection equipped with an elbow of progressively increasing cross-sectional area opening into the tank;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section of a modified form of apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus therein illustrated comprises a portion of the side and bottom oi a tank shell 1 into which an inlet connection 2 extends. lhe inlet connection is provided with a flange 3 at the discharge end and the elbow 4 is secured to this flan e in a suitable manner. The elbow 4 is arranged so that the open end is directed downwardly. The cross-sectional area and the radius of curvature of the elbow- 4 increase progressively from the end of the elbows see ".red to the flange 3. The elbow 4 may be made or" cast iron or any other suitable material. Where it is necessary to introduce the elbow into the tank or container through a relatively small opening, the elbow may advantageously be constructed of two symmetrical halves joined by means of longitudinal flanges, as shown in the drawing. A plurality of longitudinal webs 5 are arranged parallel to the direction of flow of liquid through the elbow, in the illustrated apparatus. These webs direct the liquid flow axialiy and reduce turbulence within the eibow and promote a more even discharge therefrom. The elbow a shown as supported by spacing biocks 6 secured to the discharge end of the elbow. The height of the spacing blocks 6 should be sufiicient to insure a free area between the lower rim of the elbow and the bottom of the tank at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the discharge end of the elbow. Where the apparatus is employed in connection with the handling of inflammable materials, such as gasoline, the spacing blocks 6 may advantageously be made of wood or other relatively soi t and resilient materials so that the danger of striking sparks as a result of any-movement oi the elbow relative to the bottom of the tank will be avoided. The discharge end of the elbov. i in the illustrated apparatus is surrounded by an annular retaining ring '7 of substantially greater diameter than the discharge end of the elbow. This annuiar retaining ring ertends from the bottom of the tank to a point above the lower rim or" the elbow. In a permanent installation the retaining ring '7 may be secured to the bottom of the tank in a position concentric with the discharge end of the elbow 4.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of the apparatus of the invention in which the inlet connection is provided with a pair or" elbows 8 loosely connected to form a conventional swing line adapted to permit the discharge end of the inlet connection to be raised or lowered to compensate for the accumulation or discharge of sediment or other heavy material in the bottom of the tank. In this form of apparatus the annular retaining ring may advantageously be connected to the elbow 4 by supporting webs 9 so that the retaining ring will always maintain the same position relative to the discharge end of the elbow 4 even when the latter is raised or lowered. If the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 is to be employed in connection with the handling of inflammable material, the lower edge of the annular retaining ring may advantageously be provided with a rim of wood or other relatively soft material to guard against the striking of the sparks. It is not essential that the spacing blocks 6 be employed in the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 as the supporting webs 9 may be arranged to maintain the discharge end of the elbow 4 in the proper position with respect to the bottom of the tank or the sediment accumulated therein on which the retaining ring 7 rests. Spacing blocks 6 similar to those employed in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 may, however, be employed in connection with the type of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 and where spacing blocks are so employed the spacing blocks may advantageously extend a slight distance below the lower rim of the retaining ring '7. With the latter arrangement no special precautions need be taken to protect the lower rim of the retaining ring.

In the operation of the apparatus of the present invention a liquid material to be supplied to the tank 1 through the inlet connection 2 passes through the elbow 4 in which its direction of flow is gradually changed and the velocity of flow reduced so that the liquid issues from the discharge end of the elbow 4 in a compact stream flowing at an extremely low velocity. When the amount of liquid in the tank 1 is sufiicient to maintain a liquid level above the discharge end of the elbow 4 the entering liquid is distributed outwardly through the annular opening between the bottom of the tank and the discharge end of the elbow 4 without causing noticeable agitation of the liquid body. Due to the fact that in large storage tanks a substantial volume of liquid is required to provide a relatively small liquid depth throughout the entire tank, the annular retaining ring 7, while not essential to the satisfactory operation of the apparatus under all conditions, accumulates a liquid body surrounding the discharge end of the elbow almost instantaneously so that the most satisfactory condition of operation, namely, that existing when discharge from the inlet connection is below the surface of a liquid body, is almost immediately attained. It is not essential that the lower rim of the retaining ring '7 form a tight joint with the bottom of the tank or container as the retaining ring serves its entire purpose if it comes in sufiiciently close proximity to the bottom of the tank to prevent the escape of liquid from beneath the lower rim of the retaining ring as fast as the rate at which liquid is introduced to the tank through the inlet connection.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising a container, an inlet conduit opening into said container, an elbow the cross sectional area and radius of curvature of which progressively increase toward the discharge end, said elbow being secured to said inlet conduit with the discharge end directed downwardly, and means for supporting said elbow in a position relative to the bottom of the container so that the free area between the lower rim of the elbow and the bottom of the container is at least as great as the cross sectional area of the discharge end of the elbow.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising a container, an inlet connection opening into said container, said inlet connection terminating in an elbow the cross sectional area and radius of curvature of which progressively increase toward the discharge end, and supporting means of resilient material arranged to maintain the discharge end of said elbow out of contact with the bottom of the container.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising a container, an inlet connection opening into said container, said inlet connection terminating in an elbow the cross sectional area and radius of curvature of which progressively increase towards the discharge end, and a plurality of longitudinal webs within said elbow parallel to the axis thereof.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising a container, an inlet connection opening into said container, said inlet connection terminating in an elbow the cross sectional area and radius of curvature of which progressively increase toward the discharge end, and an annular retaining ring of substantially greater diameter than the discharge end of said elbow, said retaining ring being disposed concentric with the discharge end of the said elbow and extended from the bottom of the container to a point above the discharge end of the elbow.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising a container, an inlet connection opening intosaid container, said inlet connection terminating in a downwardly directed elbow the cross sectional area and radius of curvature of which progressively increase toward the discharge end, an annular retaining ring of substantially greater diameter than the discharge end of said elbow and a plurality of radially disposed supporting webs extending from the discharge end of said elbow to said annular retaining ring and adapted to maintain the retaining ring in a position concentric with the discharge end of the elbow.

HARRY A. STENDRUP.

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