US2067105A - Tank cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

1937 E. F. STEVENS ET AL 2,067,105-

. TANK CLEANING DEVICE v Filed April 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 23 u mmmmmnmmmmm mmmmm 24 72 If A; /6

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TANK CLEANING DEVICE 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1936 numnmmmmmnn s w EJZevezzs 1 JZflZZen to provide a novel means for moving heavy Patented Jan. 5, 1937 TANK CLEANING DEVICE Edward F. Stevens and Featherston H. Allen, Ada, Okla.

Application April 29, 1936, Serial No. 77,067 2 Claims; (Cl. 210206) The broad object of the present invention is inwardly from the shell 2 of the tank to a point closely adjacent to the shaft 12, the inner end of the stop plate being spaced slightly from the the said hole. Above the draw-ofi hole 9, the draw-off hole 9, diametrically with respect to the said hole. Above the draw-off hole 9, the stop plate M is cut away on its lower edge, as shown at It in Fig. 1.

.Angle brackets I? are located within the shell 2, at the lower end of the tank I. Each angle bracket l'l' comprises a horizontal inwardly extended arm 49 and a vertical depending arm 50, the arms 50 of the angle brackets I! being secured at 48 to the shell 2 of the tank. 'Depending vertical rollers l8 are journaled on the horizontal arms 49 of the angle brackets ll. Horizontal inwardly extended rollers l9 are journaled on the depending arms 50 of the angle brackets H.

A ring it! is provided and includes an upstanding vertical fiange 2| and a horizontal inwardly extended flange 22. The horizontal pairs settlings on the bottom of an oil tank to a point adjacent to the clean-out hole, at the will of an operator. The settlings are moved to the place of discharge by. a scraper, and structurally viewed, the present invention aims to supply novel means for mounting and operating the scraper.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

Changes may be made within the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in vertical transverse section, an oil tank wherein the device forming the subject matter of this application is embodied, parts appearing in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; I flange 22 of the ring 20 rides. on the horizontal Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View on the line rollers 19, and the vertical flange 2| of the ring 3-3 of Fig. 2; moves, in contact with the depending vertical Fig. 4 is a section on the line ll of Fig. 1.

The numeral l marks an oil tank, including a cylindrical shell 2, a bottom 3, and a roof 4 having. a central cupola 5, supplied with a removable closure 6. The upper end of a ladder I is secured in the cupola 5, the lower end of the ladder being spaced from the bottom 3 of the tank. The ladder 1 includes rungs, several of the lowermost rungs being designated by the numeral 8. The bottom 3 of the tank i has. a draw-off hole 9, located near the shell 2 and in communication with a pipe Ml secured to the bottom 3.

A central bearing H is secured to the bottom 3. The lower end of a fixed shaft [2 is secured in the bearing H, and the upper portion of the shaft is secured in the lower rungs 8 of the ladder 1. Here note that the ladder i has a twofold oifice. It serves as a means whereby a person may descend into the tank 9, and it answers also as a mounting for the shaft I2. The shaft l2 has a double function. It serves as a mounting for the scraper 29, to be described hereinafter. Moreover, because the shaft i2 is mounted at its lower end in the bearing H and at its upper end in the rungs 8 of the ladder I, the shaft forms an anchor for the lower part of the ladder.

A radial stop plate It is secured at I5 to the bottom 3 of the tank, the stop plate extending rollers i 8, between those rollers and the depending arms 50 of the angle brackets H, as shown in Fig 3. The upstanding vertical flange 2! of the ring 28 has a rack 23.

The rack 23 of the ring 20 meshes with a pinion 2 secured to the lower end of a vertical operating shaft 25. The lower portion of the shaft 25 is journaled in a bearing bracket 26 on the shell 2 of the tank I. The shaft 25 passes out through the roof i of the tank and is journaled in a packing box 2'! on the roof. The shaft 25 may be rotated by any suitable means, such as a hand wheel 23 attached to the upper end of the shaft.

In the tank is located a radial scraper which, as a whole, is marked by the numeral 29. The scraper 29 comprises a rigid plate-like body 30, to the lower part of which a cleat M is attached by securing elements 32. The cleat 3! holds a depending wiper 33 on the body 30 of the scraper, and the wiper is adapted to move along the bottom 3 of the tank, as shown in Fig. 4. Although the wiper 33 has been described as being flexible, it is to be understood that the wiper is stiff enough so that it will advance the settlings, as the scraper moves around in an orbit. The functhe tank. Loops 34 are secured to the inner end of the body 30 of the scraper 29 and receive the fixed shaft [2, the construction being such tion of the wiper 33 is to clean the bottom 3 of I that the scraper 29 can swing horizontally, about an axis represented by the shaft l2. There are angle brackets on the horizontal flange 22 of the ring 20. The outer end of the body 30 of the scraper 29 extends between the angle brackets 35 and is connected thereto by a securing member 36.

The operation of the device is simple. The shaft 25 is rotated by the hand wheel 23, the pinion 24, cooperating with the rack 23, rotates the ring 28 on the rollers l8 and I9 of Fig. 3, the scraper 29 is carried around in an orbit, and the settlings in the bottom of the tank are moved to the stop plate M, where they can flow away through the opening it in the outer end of the stop plate 14 and through the draw-off hole 9, into the pipe I0. By swinging the scraper 29 back and forth, until it cooperates with opposite sides of the fixed stop plate I4, the settlings are carried to the place of outflow, the bottom 3 of the tank being cleaned by the wiper 33.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an oil tank cleaner, a tank having a bottom provided with an outlet, a ladder extended downwardly into the tank and spaced from the bottom of the tank, a fixed shaft mounted at its upper end on the ladder and mounted at its lower end on the bottom of the tank, a scraper, means for mounting the inner end of the scraper on the shaft for swinging movement over the bottom of the tank and underneath the lower end of the ladder, toward and away from the outlet, and means for imparting swinging movement to the scraper.

2. In an oil tank cleaner, a tank comprising a shell having a bottom provided with an outlet, angle brackets embodying inwardly extended arms and vertical depending arms at the outer ends of the inwardly extended arms, means for securing the depending arms to the inner surface of the shell, depending vertical rollers mounted on the inwardly extended arms, horizontal inwardly extended rollers mounted on the depending arms, a ring including a horizontal inwardly extended flange and an upstanding vertical flange at the outer edge of the inwardly extended flange, the upstanding flange being received between the shell and the depending rollers, the inwardly extended flange resting on the inwardly extended rollers, the upstanding flange being provided with a rack, a vertical shaft supported for rotation in the tank, a horizontal pinion secured to the shaft, the pinion being located within the upstanding flange and meshing with the rack, a scraper movable over the bottom of the tank, toward and away from the outlet, and means for securing the outer end of the scraper to the inwardly extended flange of the ring.

EDWARD F. STEVENS. FEATHERSTON H. ALLEN.

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