US2269568A - Breather reservoir - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1942. A. WILKIN BREATHER RESERVOIR Filed Jan. 29, 1940 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNI-TED STATES". PATEN-TY ;,OFFICE.

. nnas'rnnn REsEnvorn Lester A. 'wnkinjnast Chicago, ma. page to 7 Graver Tank & Mfg. Co.,-In'c.-, Catasan'qua. lea- 1 acorporation-of Delaware U M Application January 29, 1940. Serial No. 's ei'ss i 6'Claims. (oils-17s) The invention relates to devices for storing vapors such as received from storage tanks containing gasoline or other volatile liquids and has more particular reference to a breather reser- A voir of the type having a movable diaphragm 7 position ofthediaphragm and the improved balancing means when th reservoir is inflated.

' Referring tothe drawing, the steel shell-I0 comprising the housing of the reservoir may consist of a new tank built especially for the purpose, or said housing may comprise aniold tank I that-has been renovated in order to accommodate the present structure.- The vapor supply line I I has connection with the tank I 0 in the vicinity of its base and said, tank is provided with a which can be economically manufactured and Another object is to provide a breather reservoir having a flexibl wall or "diaphragm to pro-' vide a variable 'vapor space and which is automatically balanced by improved means so that the diaphragm is maintained under control during movement in an up and down direction.

Another object resides in the provision of a gas holder of the breather type having at least one diaphragm of flexible material capable of moving to vary the vapor space of the holder and which is'equipped with one or more loading members of improved construction and operation for controlling the horizontal position of the diaphragm during movement.

Another object is to provide improved loading means for the flexible diaphragm of a breather reservoir wherein a ring is employed to define the central portion of the diaphragm and which improved loading means will be suspended from the ring and have operation automatically to maintain the ring in a horizontal plane as the diaphragm moves in a vertical direction to vary the vapor space of the reservoir.

With these and various other objects in .view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more full described and particularly pointed out I y 4 cured as by ngtotheinteriorsurface' of in the specification,- drawing and claims appended hereto. e In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a single diaphragm type of breather reservoir embodying the improvements of the invention with the diaphragm being shown in deflated position; and Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the relatively thin bottom member I 2' resting directly on the ground and an-arcuate or dome-shaped top l3 having a manhole cover [4 permitting access'to the interior of-the tank. The cylindrical wall of the tank is likewise provided with a manor even hole cover 15 which may be removed for access to. the interior when it is necessary to inspect the base of the tank in the vicinity of the supply line ll.

It is well known thatthe vapor pressure within gasoline-storage tanks increases during the midpart of the day due to the direct rays of' the sun on the tanks and this is especially ,true in the summertime. During the night the temperature may drop to an extent where a large portion of the vapors are condensed. The vapor pressure within .said storage tanks will therefore vary within relatively wide limits. For this reason the vapor space of the tanks is generally connectedfwith astorage reservoir which will ing actionIof the-volatile .vapors admitted to the voperate to store the vapors when excessive pressures are-generated ,andreturn said vapors to the tanks when an opposite or vacuum condition exists.

v To accommodate fiu :tuating vapor pressure tank. Thediaphragmyi's securedaround its periphery to the securing; ring l1, which-ring is shaped like an angle;,member in cross section, with the horizontal legithereof being suitably se- 'the tank at about a central point in the height thereof. An annular facing member I8 is suitably securedtb the inside: periphery of said ring by means of screws Hand between said mem'- her and thenring-the terminal end of the dia-' phragm IS'is positioned.-- This terminal portion of the fabric comprising the diaphragm is thus securely held and the annular facing member may be drawn up-sufliciently'tight by the screws I 9- breather reservoir of Figure 1 illustrating the to form a seal, preventing the escape of vapors from the lower portion of the tank past the diaphragm' into the upper portion of the tank. 5

Therefore. the action of the vapors admitted to the tank by the supply pipe II is to inflate said diaphragm, causing upward movement of the same, and when the pressure within the tank has reached a predetermined maximum pressure the diaphragm will assume an inflated position as shown in Figure 2, which is just the reverse of the deflated position of Figure 1.

The central part of the diapragm carries a ring 20 of metal or the like which aids in the control of the diaphragm during its up and down movement in addition to providing an anchorage for one end of the loading chains '22, which are fixed at their other end to the member 23, depending from the securing ring 11. It will be noted that the chains 22 contact the outer periphery of the ring 20 and pass under the same for securement to said ring as at 2i. Also it is desirable that the chains 22 have a length so that they support the metal ring 20 when the diaphragm is in deflated position and therefore relieve the fabric of the diaphragm of the stress and strain which would otherwise be placed on the same.

In operation the vapors from the storage tank are admitted to the breather reservoir by supply line H and at certain times, such as during the day. the vapor pressure will increase. As the pressure increases the first movement of the diaphragm takes place with respect to the central portion which is forced upwardly into a dome shape. Upon a further increase in the pressure the metal ring 20 is bodily lifted and said ring together with a part of the diaphragm moves upwardly. eventually assuming the full inflated position shown in Figure 2, when the vapor pressure within the reservoir will be fairly close to a maximum for the particular device concerned. As the central portion of the diaphragm moves upwardly it will be observed that more and more weight is placed thereon by the action of the chains 22. These chains therefore function to apply to the diaphragm a gradually increasing weight, requiring a gradually increasing pressure within the reservior to cause the diaphragm to move in an upward direction. When the full in fiated position of Figure 2 is reached said loading chains 22 relieve the fabric of the daphragm of substantially all tension and strain which might otherwise be placed thereon as a result of the full expanded position. The diaphragm. since it does contain some slack material, will bulge by reason of the internal pressure but this does not strain the fabric to an extent where there is any danger of the fabric being torn from the securing ring.

An additional loading member is provided in the form of a weight 26 having connection with the loading ring 20 by means of the chains 21. The weight and'the additional chains function as a balancing device for maintaining the diaphragm, and particularly the central portion defined by the ring 20. in a substantially horizontal position during vertical movement of the same. As the d aphragm begins its movement from the full deflated position of Figure 1 the loading chains 22, which are spaced around the periphery of the diaphra m. serve to apply a gradually increasing wei ht to the diaphragm and which is evenly distributed. If any tilting vof th ring 20 should occurit would be difficult for the ring to pass through the somewhat restricted opening formed by the securing ring l'l. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to properly balance the ring 20 and automatically shift the weight to one side or the other to maintain a horizontal position of the same during its vertical movement. The suspended weight 26 efficiently accomplishes this function and the chains 21 have a length ,whereby the weight 26 is picked up by the ring 20 just before said ring and the central portion of the diaphragm are to pass through the central opening formed by the securing ring H. The chains 21 have connection with the ring 20 at 24 at which points the loading chains 22 are also joined to the ring. The load applied by said chains and also the weight 26 is therefore transmitted directly to the metal ring 20 and this is the case throughout the range of movement of the diaphragm from the full deflated position of Figure 1 to the inflated position of Figure 2.

It is, of course, understood that the combined weight of the chains 22 and 21 and the balancing member 26 willbe determined by the maximum pressure for which the. reservoir is designed. By securing the chains 22 and the fabric of the diaphragm to the securing ring H the chains are held in spaced relation with respect to the walls of the tank and also the diaphragm is maintained in spaced relation, thereby preventing contact with the tank walls. This is a very desirable feature since moisture forms on the interior walls of the tank and if the diaphragm had contact therewith freezing of the same to the walls might occur during freezing weather. The action of the weight 26 is automatic in balancing the ring 2. and thus the central portion of the diaphragm and in maintaining the same substantially horizon during movement. This control of the diaphragm insures perfect operation of the reservoir for long periods and the special attention of an operator is not required.

In the present construction of storing device for vapors and the like the ring 20 may be considered as a movable member imperforate throughout its extent and having connection with the walls of the housing by the flexible diaphragm I. Said diaphragm, which is substantially cylindrical in shape. provides sealing means, therefore, for the movable member and which may comprise the outer ring 20 defining the member, and the material 25 which may consist of flexible fabric similar to that of the diaphragm, or the material may consist of a limber metal sheet. Said member is actually the moving element of the reservoir and the diaphragm l6 functions only to seal the member with respect to the housing. The chamber of variable capacity forming the present reservoir thereby consists of the bottom wall l2, the cylindrical side walls of the tank, and the movable top wall as above described.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawing, as various forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connection with the supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseous medium, a flexible diaphragm of gas impervious material within said housing dividing the same into chambers one of which is in communication with said supply line, annular means carried by said diaphragm substantially centrally thereof, flexible means connecting with said annular means at one end and having connection with the wall of the housing at their other end, said flexible means supporting the diaphragm in deflated position and also limiting upward movement of the diaphragm beyond a full inflated position, and a balancing weight suspended from said annular means by flexible members, said weight having operation to maintain the central portion of the diaphragm in a substantially horizontal plane during vertical movement thereof.

2. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connection with the supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseous medium, a flexible diaphragm of gas impervious material within said housing dividing the same into chambers one of which is in communication with said supply line, annular means carried by said diaphragm substantially centrally thereof, flexible means connecting with said annular means at one end and having connection with the wall of the housing at their other end, said flexible means supporting the diaphragm in deflated position and also limiting upward movement of the diaphragm beyond a full inflated position, a balancing weight, and chains suspending said weight from said annular means, said weight having operation to maintain the central portion of the diaphragm in a substantially horizontal plane during vertical movement thereof.

3. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connection with a supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseous medium, a flexible diaphragm of gas impervious material within said housing forming with the walls thereof a chamber of variable capacity and which is in communication with the supply line, a

a ring carried by said diaphragm substantially centrally thereof and which aids in controlling the diaphragm during movement, a plurality of chains having connection with said ring at one end and connecting with the housing at their other end, said chains supporting the diaphragm in deflated position and also limiting upward movement of the diaphragm beyond a full inflated position, and a balancing weight suspended from said ring by flexible means, said weight having operation-to automatically maintain the ring and thus the central portion of the diaphragm horizontally positioned during vertical movement thereof.

4. In a breather reservoir, in combination, a housing having connection with a supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseous medium, a flexible diaphragm of gas im-. pervious material within said housing formin with the walls thereof a chamber of variable capacity and which is in communication with the supply line, a ring carried by said diaphragm substantially centrally thereof and which aids in controlling the diaphragm during movement, a plurality of chains having connection with said ring at one end and connecting with the housin at their other end, said chains supporting the diaphragm in deflated position and also limitin upward movement of the diaphragm beyond a full inflated position, a balancing weight, and chains suspending the weight from said ring, said weight having operation to automatically maintam the ring and thus the central portion of the diaphragm horizontally positioned during movement thereof in a vertical direction.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a housing having connection with a supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseous medium, an imperfora'te member of substantially circular shapc adapted to move vertically within said housing, a cylindrical diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material connecting said circular member to the walls of the housing substantially mid-way of its height, whereby said member and diaphragm comprise the movable wall of the chamber having communication with the supply line, flexible means secured to the circular member at points spaced around the periphery of the same for supporting the member in a deflated position, said flexible means applying a gradually increasing weight to the circular member as the same moves in an upward direction and said means also limiting upward movement of the member beyond a full inflated position, and a balancing weight suspended from said circular member by flexible means, said weight controlling the circular member during movement thereof in a vertical direction and also having operation automatically to maintain said member in a substantially horizontal plane during said movement.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a housing having connection with a supply line for delivering to and conducting therefrom a gaseous medium, an imperforate niember including an outer ring having movement vertically within said housing, a cylindrical diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material connecting said circular member to the walls of the housing substantially mid-way of its height, whereby said member and diaphragm comprise the movable wall of the chamber having communication with the supply line, a plurality of chains secured to the outer ring at spaced points around the periphery of the same for supporting the member in a deflated position, said chains applying a gradually increasing weight to said circular member as the same moves in an upward directionfland said chains also limiting her in a substantially horizontal plane during said movement.

LESTER A. WILKIN.

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