US2277398A - Expansion roof for fluid storage tanks - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1942. P. s. GRANER 2,277,393

I EXPANSION ROOF FOR FLUID STORAGE TANKS Filed Oct. 5', 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I v i Q, E a 4 I INVENTORP Phzlzpfifiraver,

ATTORNEY 5 March 24, 1942.

P. S. GRAVER v EXPANSION ROOF FOR FLUID STORAGE TANKS Filed Oct. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

' ATTORNEYS March 24, 1942. I P. s. GRAVER 2,277,398

EXPANSION ROOFK FOR FLUID STORAGE TANKS Fil ed Oct. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lg INVENTOR P/uZgb i Graver,

ATTORNEY 5.

March 24, 1942.

P. S. GRAVER EXPANSION RQOF FOR FLUID STORAGE TANKS- Filed 001;. '5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheei 4 IN VENTOR.

.P/YLZQb 5 Graper;

I E ATTORNgYS Patented Mar. 24, 19 42 Philip S. Graver, Chicago, 111., assignor to Graver Tank &

aeration of Delaware Application October 5, 1939, Serial No. 298,009

13 Claims.

The invention relates to storagev tanks for storing gases or volatile liquids and has reference more particularly to an improved gas holder type of roof for said tanks capable of moving in a vertical direction to vary the vapor space within the tank.

The type of storage tank above described is relatively large in diameter and accordingly the surface area of liquid subjected to variable climatic conditions is substantial. During the heat of the day the vapors produced as a result of evaporation will materially increase the pressure within the tank. However, if these vapors are conserved they can be reclaimed during the night, owing to the cooler night temperature which condenses the vapors. The production of vapors during the day, followed by subsequent cooling and condensing of the vapors during the night, is known as breathing and in large tanks, particularly if only partly filled, such breathing will be substantial. Also when the oil is pumped into the tanks the agitationincreases the generation of vapors. However, filling of a tank with oil decreases the vapor spaceland here also the vapor pressure within the tank may become dangerously high.

It is well known that severe evaporation losses will result during the storing 'of volatile liquids such as gasoline or the like if the vapors are expelled to the atmosphere in order to relieve the pressure within' the tanks. Thus, as a matter of economy it is necessary to conserve the vapors so that they can be eventually condensed without any loss of the valuable fractions.

The invention. has for its primary object to provide an improved gas holder type of roof for oil storage tanks which as a result of its movement will provide ample vapor space to take care of breathing of the tank under any and all conditions. Another and morespecific object is to provide a roof of the type described which will have considerable movement in a vertical direction to vary the vapor space within the tank so that it Mi'g. 00., Inc., Catasauqua, Pa., a corspecial cross-section depending from the roof in combination with flexible guide cables for controlling the movement of the roof so .that it will rise and fall in a true vertical direction.

With these and various'other objects in view,

the invention may consist of certain novel fea-.

a tank and roof being shown in section and with suitably secured as by welding and by the angle to the atmosphere even under the most severe breathing conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas holder type of roof with improved means for maintaining the roof substantially horizontal during vertical movement thereof and which will also prevent undesirable rotation of the roof with respect to the tank;

A more specific object of the inventionis to provide improved means including posts oi the roof in deflated position;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the arrangement of the flexible cables in pairs;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in elevation the constructional features of the depending posts and their association with rollers and asheave, the latter having engagement with a flexible cable;

Figure 4 is afragmentary elevational view, parts being shown in section, of a pair of posts and their associated rollers and sheaves as illustrated in Figure 3; and

Figures 5 and 6 are modifications embodying a fabric seal.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings comprises an open top tank, Figure 1, having. cylindrical side walls ill, a base ll adapted to rest on the earth or other suitable support, and supporting structure including acenter post l2 having a cap IS on which the center portion of the roof may rest whenin deflated position. The cylindrical walls l0 of the tank are reinforced at their upper end by means of an inwardly directed shell girder I4 which is member l5 to the tank wall a short distance below the. extreme upper end thereof. The shell girder stifiens the upper end of the tank wall and is in turn reinforced by an angle member l6 which extends around the inner periphery of 1 the shell girder. I p 7 Also secured to the cylindrical tank walls Ill some distance below the shell girder II are other girders or brackets l8 extending inwardly or the tank and suitably supported by means of the triangular plates IS. The brackets l8 are located ail-spaced intervals along the inside periphmanner similar to brackets l3.

The outer circumference of the tank at the upper end is provided with a launder 23 formed by the cylindrical member 24 and which is spaced from and concentric with the wall IU of the tank. The launder is completed by the angle member 25 which forms the base of the launder and thus the bottom of the circumferential trough containing the'oil or other sealing liquid for sealing the roof with respect to the open top tank.

In accordance with the present invention said tank is equipped with a movable roof in the form of a holder bell indicated in its entirety by numeral 26 and which has telescoping relation with respect to the cylindrical wall It. The bell includes a cambered roof 21 having a depending skirt 28 for location within the launder and also having a' depending rain shed skirt 30 which forms a cover for the launder, protecting the same from the weather. The rain shed skirt is concentric with the skirt 23 and the same is suitably secured to the outer periphery of the roof 21 by the angle member 3|.

For guidingand controlling the vertical movements of the holder bell the invention provides depending posts 32 of special cross section which are suitably secured as by welding to the cambered roof 21. The posts depend vertically downward passing through openings in the shell girders and rest on the supporting brackets 2| provided therefor. when the depending posts 32 have contact with their supporting brackets 2! the holderbell is in deflated position and said posts accordingly function as supporting means for the roof in this position, a portion of the weight of the holder bell being transmitted to the side walls III of the tank. The posts 32 are arranged in pairs and which are spaced around the peripheral portion of the roof as best illustrated in Figure 2. Incross section said posts simulate an H and as a result of said cross section each post has guiding contact with the rollers and with a sheave, the latter also having contact with a flexible cable as shown in Figures 3 and 4. 7

Referring to said figures, the lower portion of each post has guiding contact with rollers 33 and 34 suitably journalled by shafts 35 in the side plates 20 extending upwardly on the respective sides of each of the brackets i 3. Each depending post is additionally guided by means including a roller 38 and an associated sheave 31. each arrangement of roller-and sheave being suitably joumalled in side members 33 supported on the shell girder l4. A shaft 39 journals the roller 36 and as shown in Figure 4 said roller is provided with peripheral projections 43 adapted to have location within the side flanges'of its respective post 32. In a similar manner the sheave 31 is suitably Journalled by shaft 4| and the periphery of said sheave is likewise provided with projections 42, which have location within the side channels of the post on the side opposite the roller 38.

As shown in ,Figure 2, the depending posts are arranged in pairs and. accordingly the associated roller and sheave are likewise arranged in pairs. Each sheave in addition to having contact with I its depending post carries a flexible cable which plane. Each cable is secured at one end to the roof 21, whereas, its other end has securement to the base of a depending post 32. Thus, the flexible cables as well as the sheaves with which they engage are located entirely within the tank and are protected from the elements.

Referring to Figure 1, which shows a pair of flexible cables, it will be seen that each cable for a part of its length includes a rod identified by numerals 43 and 44, respectively, having a turnbuckle 45 at one end and connecting with chains which engage the sheaves. At the right hand end of rod 43 the chain 46 connecting therewith passes over its respective sheave 31 and depends vertically downward within the post 32 for securement thereto at the base by means of hook 41. To accommodate the chains it will be observed by reference to Figure 4 that each sheave 31 is provided with a groove 48 located centrally thereof between the spaced projections 42. The rod 43 at its left hand end connects with chain 53 which passes under its respective sheave 31 on this side of the tank extending upwardly for securement to the roof as at 5!. In a similar manner the rod 44 has chains 52 and 53 secured to the respective endsithereof, the former passing under a sheave and being secured to the roof, whereas, the latter passes over a sheave and depends vertically downward for securement to the lower end of its post 32.

During operation of the movable roof of the present invention it will be understood that the launder 23 will contain oil or water as a sealing medium for the dependingskirt 23. The space within the cylindrical wall III of the tank may also contain oil if the tank is being used as a storage tank, or the entire space within the same may be used for storing gas. In both cases when the pressure exceeds the weight of the holder bell and the post structure depending therefrom, the same will tend to rise and it is this movement of the holder hell that is controlled by the depending posts 32 and theflexible cables above deplane. The deflatedposition of the roof is fixed by the supporting structure including the central post i2 and by the depending posts 32 which rest on brackets 2i. The posts 32 also limit the inflated position of the roof since the plates 54 will engage brackets l3 when the holder bell has moved upwardly a predetermined amount. The brackets act as a stop since the plates 54 are relatively large in size and will not pass through the openings in the brackets through which the depending posts extend. The movable roof of the invention can be easily adapted to old tanks and of course may be employed with new tanks. The movement of the roof may vary considerably. depending on the size of the tank to which the same is appliedand the nature of the liquid stored therein. In any event, the roof may have movement such as will provide ample space to take care of breathing under the most severe conditions. It is of prime importance that the roof move up and down in a vertical plane and shed skirt 30.

that the roof be prevented from rotating with respect to the open top tank. This is the function of the depending posts 32 and the flexible cables. By using the posts as connections for the flexible cables it is possible to make the liquid seal launder much narrower than is possible in those designs where one end Iof each cable depends vertically downward within the launder for connection to the lower end of the depending skirt of the holder bell. K

In the modifications of the invention shown in Figures and 6 the liquid seal for the holder bell is eliminated and a fabric seal substituted there.-

for. With this exception the open top tank and holder bell is similar in construction to that shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the launder and the depending skirt of the holder hell have both been eliminated. In this form of the invention the seal is made between the cylindrical wall III of the tank and the depending rain The fabric 60 which extends around the tank is suitably secured along one edge to the .side wall Ill through the instrumentality of the angle member GI and bolts 62, which secure the fabric to said angle member. The angle member is in turn suitably welded to the wall of the tank. The other edge of the flexible fabric is secured to the rain shed skirt 30 at the upper end'thereof. A channel 63 isusedfor this connection since "he bolts 64 extend as explained with respect to Figure 1 and said flexible cables also have contact with their. respective sheave 31. It will be understood that the flexible fabric 6|! of Figure 5 and the fabric 68 of Figure 6 extends circumferentially around the tank and as a result the interior of the tank is sealed from the atmosphere although vertical movement of theholder bell is possible.

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

What is claimed. is:

1. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and movable with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, said holder bell having a depending peripheral skirt located within the sealing liquid so as to confine vapors within the tank, a plurality of postsfixed to the roof at spaced points circ'umferentially of the same and depending within said tank, rollers supported from side wall of i the tank and having contact witheach post, re-

through the skirt and are accessible from the outside of the bell holder. To prevent collapse of the fabric when vacuum conditions exist within the tank the weight 65 is suspended from the roof of the tank by the chain 66 and said weight is located substantially centrally of the space occupied by the fabric. The length of the chain 66 is approximately one-half that of the fabric so that the weight just barely contacts the fabric when the roof is in deflated position, as shown in full lines in Figure 5. When inflated the weight also has contact with the fabric to retain control of the same. e

In Figure 6 a length of fabric extends across the space formed by the side wall ll! of the tank and the depending rain shed skirt. The fabric 68 along one edge is suitably secured to the angle member 69 welded to the side wall ID of the tank a short distance below the extreme top of said I tank. The other edge of the fabric is secured nel '|0 is employed.- With the roof 2! in deflated position it will be observed that the fabric 68 is somewhat slack. The full movement of the roof will determine the length of the flexible fabric forming the seal therefor and by properly locating the angle 69 on the tank sidewall and the channel 10 on the rain shed skirt "it is possible to have some slack in the fabric in deflated position and also in inflated position. In any event, it is not intended to place any tension on the fabric since the movement of the roof is limited by the depending posts 32 and the stops provided therefor-f In both forms of the invention, as shown in Figures 5. and 6, the depending posts rest on brackets 2| when the roof is in deflated position and during vertical movement of said roof the depending posts are guided as'a result of contact with the rollers 33 and 34, and with the roller 36 in combination with the sheave 31. The flexible cables are connected to the roof and'to the lower end of the depending posts in' the same manner spectively, for guiding the same during said ver-- tical movement, flexible cables secured at their respective ends to substa'ntilly diametrically spaced points on the holder ell and movable with respect to thetank for guiding and controlling the holder bell during its up and down movement, and sheaves adapted to engage the cables at intermediate points, each sheave having one of said rollers associated therewith and also having contact with its respective depending post. i

2. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and movable with respect thereto to. vary the vapor space within the tank, said holder bell having a depending peripheral skirt located within the sealing liquid so as to confine vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts fixed to the roof at circumferentially spaced points and depending within said tank, spaced brackets supported from the cylindrical wall of the tank and having association with each depending post, one of said spaced brackets journalling rollers having guiding contact with its respective depending post and the other of said spaced brackets providing a support on which its respective post may rest when the roof is in deflated position.

3. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank arranged to provide a body of sealing'liquid, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and movable with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, said holder bell having a depending peripheral skirt located within the sealing liquid so as to confine vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts fixed to the roof at circumferentially spaced points and depending within said having rolling contact with each depending post,

respectively, including a roller and a sheave spaced from each other sothat a post passes therebetween, and flexible-cables for maintaining the holder bell substantially .horizontal durtank including a holder bell havingits depending vertical movement thereof, said flexible cables having contact with said sheaves at points intermediate thereof.

4. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and movable with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, said holder bell having a depending peripheral skirt located within the sealing liquid so as'to confine vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts fixed to the roof at circumferentially spaced points and depending within said tank, a shell girder fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank near its upper end and extending inwardly, means supported by said shell girder and having rolling contact with each depending post, respectively, including a roller and a sheave spaced from each other so that a post passes therebetween, and flexible cables for maintaining the holder bell substantially horizontal during movement thereof, each cable at points intermediate its ends having contact with said sheaves and each cable at one end being secured to the roof and at its other end having connection with a depending post, near the lower end thereof.

5. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and movable with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within thetank, said holder bell having a depending peripheral skirt located within the sealing liquid so as to confine vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts fixed to the roof at circumferentially spaced points and depending within said tank, a shell girder fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank near its upper end and extending inwardly, means supported by said shell girder and having rolling contact with each depending post, respectively, including a roller and a sheave spaced from each other so that a post passes therebetween, flexible cables extending substantially diametrically and being, located within said tank, each cable at one end passing under a sheave and being secured to the roof and at its opposite end passing over a sheave and depending vertically downward for securement to a depending post near the lower end thereof.

6. In a storage container for petroleum prod ucts and the like, in combination, an open top tank having a launder at the upper end thereof containing sealing liquid, a movable roof for the tank including a holder bell having its depending member located within the sealing liquid so as to confine vapors Within the tank, a plurality of posts secured to the roof at circumfer'entially spaced points anddepending within said tank, flexible cables for maintaining the holder bell substantially horizontal during vertical movement thereof, each cable at its respective ends having securement to the holder bell at substantially diametrically spaced points, sheaves for engaging the cables at points intermediate their connection with the holder bell, each of said sheaves also having contact with a depending post, and a roller associated with each sheave and adapted to have contact with the opposite I side of the depending pOst whereby a post is located between and has guiding contact with a sheave and a roller.

7. In a storage container for petroleum products and the like, in combination, an open top tank having a launder at the upper end thereof containing sealing liquid, a movable roof for the from each other whereby the post passes therebetween, the periphery of each sheave and roller having projections extending within the side flanges of its respective depending post, whereby each post is properly oriented and the holder bell is prevented from rotating during vertical movement, and flexible cables located within the tank and extending substantially diametrically thereof, one end of each cable passing under one of said sheaves and extending upwardly for securement to the roof, the other end of each cable passing over a sheave and depending vertically downward for connection to a post near the lower end thereof.

8. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank, a holder bell providing'a root for said tank and movable with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell so as to confine vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts fixed to the roof at circumi'erentially spaced points and depending within said tank, spaced brackets supported from the cylindrical wall of the tank and having association with each depending post, one of said spaced brackets Journalling rollers having guiding contact with its respective depending post and the other of said spaced the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell so as to confine vapors with in the tank, a plurality of posts fixed to the root at clrcumferentially spaced points and depending within said tank, a shell girder fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank near its upper end and extending inwardly, means supported by said shell girder and having rolling contact with each depending post, respectively, including a roller and a sheave spaced from each other so that a post passes therebetween, and flexible cables for maintaining the holder bell substantially horizontal during vertical movement thereof, said flexible cables having contact with said sheaves at points intermediate the length of said cables.

10. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in

combination, an open .top tank, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and movable with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell so as to confine vapors "with each depending post, respectively, including a roller and a sheave spaced from each other so that a post passes therebetween, fiexiblecables for maintaining the holder bell substantially horizontal during movement thereof, each cable. a plurality of posts fixed to the holder bell at at points intermediate its ends having contact with said sheaves and each cable at one end being secured to the roof and at its other end having connection with a depending post near the lower end thereof.

11. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and adapted'to have vertical movement with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell so as to confine said vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts depending from the underside of said holder bell within the tank, a plurality of shell girders fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank in spaced relation vertically thereof and being directed inwardly of the tank, said shell girders having aligned openings through which the depending posts extend, sets of rollers supported by one girder and having rolling contact with each depending post respectively for guiding the same in its up and down movement, a plurality of sheaves supported by the other girder, and flexible cables for maintaining the holder bellsubstantially horizontal during movement thereof, said cables being located within the tank and having contact with the sheaves at points intermediate their ends, each cable at one end being secured to the roof and at its other end having connection with a depending post near the lower end thereof.

12. In a storage container for gas or liquid, in combination, an open top tank, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and adapted to have vertical movement with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, means providing a. seal between the tank and holder bell so as to confine said vapors within the tank, a

plurality of shell girders fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank in spaced relation vertically thereof and being directed inwardly of the tank,

circumferentially spaced points and depending within the tank through aligned openings formed in said girders, a plurality of sets of rollers supported by one girder and having rolling contactwith its respective depending post for guiding the same in its up and, down movement, a plurality of sheaves supported by the other girder adjacent-each of the depending posts, and flexible cables extending substantially diametrically within the tank, each cable at one end passing under a sheave and being secured to the roof and at its other end passing over a sheave and depending vertically downward for securement to a depending post near the lower end thereof.

13. In a storage container for gas or liquid in combination, an open top tank, a holder bell providing a roof for said tank and adapted to have vertical movement with respect thereto to vary the vapor space within the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell so as to confine said vapors within the tank, a plurality of posts depending from the underside of said holder bell within the tank, a shell girder fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank and being directed inwardly of the tank, said shell girder having openings through which the depending posts extend, a plurality of sets of rollers supported by said girder and having rolling contact with each depending post respectively for guiding the same in its up and down movement, a plurality of sheaves supported from the cylindrical wall of the tank adjacent each of the depending posts, and flexible cables extending substantially diametrically within the tank, each cable at one end passing under a sheave and being secured to the roof, and at its opposite end passing over a sheave and depending vertically downward for securement' to a depending post near the lower end thereof.

' PHILIP S. GRAVE-R.

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