US2436580A - Movable roof stabilizer - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1948. w. e. LAIRD MOVABLE ROOF STABILIZER Filed May 20, 1944 illilll II INVENTQR WILBUR. G. LAIRD 3PM ATTQRNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOVABLE ROOF STABILIZER Wilbur G. Laird, Pleasantville, N. Y.

Application May 20, 1944, Serial No. 536,493

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in appar-atus for storing liquids or gases or both, and more particularly to tanks or containers provided with a vertically movable roof such as a lift or bell, or other type of roof in combination with means for guiding the roof.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 448,822, filed June 27, 1942.

The expansion roofs of large oil storage tanks must be guided in their vertical movement to prevent tipping. The guiding or stabilizing means of the present invention is particularly adapted for controlling the movement of lifts, bells and other types of roofs for either liquid or gas storage apparatus and may be used regardless of the sealing means by which the roof is sealed with respect to the body of the tank or container.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved storage apparatus in which a novel stabilizing means is provided for the roof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roof stabilizing means which may be mounted entirely outside the roof and container and therefore be readily accessible for repairs and inspection, and be out of contact with the fluid or fluids stored in theapparatus. The stabilizing means may be mounted inside the container if desired.

Accordingly, the storage apparatus of the present invention comprises an upright cylindrical type container or tank, a roof for the fluidto be stored therein which is movable vertically with changes in the volume of fluid in the tank or container, and means for guiding the roof or stabilizing it from substantial tilting or tipping,

The pending application referred to discloses the use of distributedhydraulic units of the type described, that is, a plurality of sets or pairs, cross-connected, for maintaining parallel motion of a portion of a vertically movable roof fora storage tank. Each of the units includes spaced upper and lower cylinders mounted in vertical .alignment and in fixed position with "respect to each other by means of a solidframe. Each unit is provided with a plunger which extends into th cylinders t r h. i kli l 2 plunger being provided with a, central lug by which the plunger is connected to the peripheral portion of the roof to be kept horizontal. The lower cylinder of each pair of units or control mechanism is connected by a conduit to the opposite upper cylinder.

Said application disclosesthat the cylinders are provided with plungers of equal displacement, and all cylinders and lines filled with oil or other pressure transmitting liquid. The plungers are all connected to the same peripheral part of the roof. When the plungers are forced into the lower cylinders they cause liquid to be forced through the conduits into the opposite upper cylinders, The plungers have the same diameter and displacement so' that the quantities of pressure medium forced from the lower cylinders into the opposite upper cylinders are the same. Two or more pairs of the units distributed around the roof insure. parallel motion, because no plunger can move unless the plunger of the opposite connected unit moves to the same extent and in the same direction.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanyin drawings in which: I

Fig. l is a broken front view partly in vertica section of a storage apparatus for fluids constructed in accordance with and illustrating one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken horizontal sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on 35 the line 22.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the expansion relief chamber shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a modiflcation of the arrangement of the plunger unit shownin Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus illustrated is of the type used for the storage of petroleum products such as crude oil and gasoline, and comprises an upright cylindrical steel shell l0 having a bottom plate I2 (Fig. 2). The shell l0 supportsa trough 0r launder I4 having an inner wall 16 provided with a top curb l8. The launder l4 holds a sealing liquid and extends entirely around the upper portion of the shell which serves as the outside wall of the launder. The launder is shown inside the shell but may be outside if desired, although it is somewhat more convenient to have it inside in the present instance, The tank roof comprises a cambered or cone-shaped plate 20 having a sub- 3 4 stantially flat section 22 which extends over the If the plunger of one unit is forced down by the launder l4 and which may be integral with the roof, it forces liquid from the lower cylinder and roof plate 20, or an attached continuation. The draws liquid into the upper cylinder, thereby afroof also includes an annular or cylindrical sheet fecting the connected unit to draw liquid from metal curtain wall or apron 24, which is secured 5 the lower cylinder and force liquid into the upper to the roof plate 20 in a fluid-tight manner, and cylinder which causes the plunger therein to which seals in the liquid in the launder M. The move down.

roof may also be provided with a weather hood Two or more pairs of these plunger and cylin- 26 which IIIQYQEQbQltEd or otherwise fastened to "deg j units distributed around the roof insure the edge of the plate 22. i 10 paralleljniotion because no' plun'g'er can move The bell-type lift as shown moves up and down, unless the plunger of the opposite connected unit according to the changes in volume of the liquid QII to the sa extent and i the same direcor vapor in the container. These changes may tiqn. ljhe distributed connected pairs of units be caused by changes in the atmospheric condialso" provide a cushioning means for the roof tions or by the introduction of or 'withdrawal of 1'5 bfi ii lwfi .lig l must be moved through e li the stored fluids. Containers on expansion roof 50 when the roof moves up or down.

tanks of this type prevent loss of valuable volatile The upper portion of each pipe 50, and the constituents which would be lost by evaporation associated Cylinders are connected inf/0 a relief if stored in open tanks, chambeiBZ by a connecting line 54. Each chams as wea er nt The rust -1&1, Dfjijh relief chambers 52 in n ili y i e i Shawn i i Bills h .te ti e dt jj ihza,stptye iss is; ma ntainin the n 58 and its associated cylindersjiHedwith oil'or other .liquid under yarious empera ure conditions. The line 51 nthe cnaifiberisprb ided with a cutbttya e tig jch amnesty a float 60. At the top ofjhe line 4i 's' essiir' relief verve 62 of con- A i er ends of these 25, ventional'type-fidapted 't'o operate w release oil J achedtothe roof plate L i jnf' lil iliflfl'e 5, 1 fif $1 fifedeterniin'ed maximum 1 by'we di'n other lso provided with an h s 'rr hy be of'any dec c s-sjecuo putare prefeifablyof the chanection' shOwnl int F a. zijahdfprovided with ls'oilo'r otherjliqiii'd. The valve}! is connected ckfflangesjglwhichoperatefbetween ajpair mic the uses-a "below thefioat' valve.

According. to the feeitures oi the present inx V i keptjh itslhorma'l I n; prevented from cans; comprising 'a ffcfhaiigeurolle s mou nedii js acea brackets sihc'e it' is abrialrfit that the liquid i "the "BB a ttachjerl t the t f tl fijshell l0. plunger units will egrpand when its temperature ontr wh 'ts terh'p'e'rature falls, 7 fi ledw thj'si fiicieiit liqu'id to take "care of "any possiBIe coi'itraction of the liqntq the line 54 and line 53 v' t4. wn'nt e temperaecurity theistic i der38and and "it exp nds to creil Thespacebetweenqs are p axinaum pressure in the hicfh thieroofjmollfls. it: atically caresses-squ d into the chamber aplunger or ram 44 S2 tdgom rfsateior the expansion of the liquid.

fiders'38 and 40 llffde's'i'red fifiatcor'ltfolled valve 53 the be omitted, 1but"it serves, as indicated, to prevent the 'rel asoj'fiiofe liquid through the valve 62 than 'thatrequ r'ea' temperate thefi6at 59, so" as to cut 61f the-new through 54. The valve 58 w is preferablyi ludedlntli'e assembly. The'cl'os- 5 5 "ihg"6 f the i791 e 5!; "may-cause the pressure to b'iiild'iifisoirieivhatbiit}preventsfreleaseof an eX- jcss yquaiiuty iiiinnia npmtne mnger unit's. The-plunger uiiits ill stanu sxnemeiy high press 'es. fTfie'valvleffi'zis 'rerersbiyset to'openonly at'a'ielat'iteiiiiii h assured, for exainple,'from v ISQQ t poo seunus -per square inch whe're'thr'ee d; placement, the 1' aim areused. Other "lower cylinder, y be; "d oa ut'om cally"release liqe t libpericylinden'will imovejdpwn through ppbsfite plunger e exact 'am'ount of x 1 lower "cylinder. efplungersjwill move n'ie vertical distance, dWill be'iorced from drawn into the "'s. 'Ihe "6p;-

e rejbe'keptfat revenue-tank. "75

formed. Each of the connecting pipes 86is provided with a, relief chamber 52 as in Fig. 1. In this modification the plungers, and the "roof to which they are connected, must move .in unison in the same direction and to the same extent because the liquid in the cylinders is substantially incompressible, and is adapted to flow through a line 66 in either direction between the lower cylinder of one unit and the upper cylinder of an adjacent unit.

The plunger units may be interconnected in other ways than that shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to insure the proper guiding of the roof in its up and down movements with respect to the tank or storage container. Furthermore, the units may be mounted inside the container and at any desired level, although it is preferred to have them outside the container so that they will be accessible for inspection and repair. The plungers may be connected to the roof by any suitable means adapted to take the up and downthrust,

other than the beams 28, and the units may be suitably combined with other roof stabilizing or guiding means. The securing of the plunger unit cylinders to the stationary part of the apparatus,

combined with the beams 28 and'guide rollers 34, provide a very effective vertical guide means for controlling an expansion or movable roof. However, the plunger may be the fixed member while the barrels move if such an arrangement is de-' sired.

The connecting pipes or lines 50 and 66 may be provided with connections (not shown) for filling, and the cylinders may be provided with suitable valved air vents at the top for venting;

air or other gas when the units are initially filled with liquid. The lines 50 or 66 may be mounted on the outside of the tank or may extend across through the tank, below the roof. It might be of considerable'advantage in the case of the lines.

50 to have them go straight through the tank since they would be shorter and about on a diameter. They could be supported by the inside roof supports which are almost always necessary for tanks of any substantial diameter. Where the pipes pass through the tank wall they may be welded in the wall or otherwise extended through by a fluid-tight joint or be extended through a pipe casing. 'The pipes may be connected into any part of the cylinders or barrels 38 and 40, which need not be accurately sized, machined inside, or of the same capacity.

The cylinders or barrels 38 and MI may be made by welding heads on suitable lengths of standard steel pipe of the selected diameter. The plungers may be made from solid billetsior of pipe lengths with plugged or welded-in ends, the pipe being machined to a uniform diameter, and plated or protected against corrosion. Theliquid used. in the hydraulic system is preferably a stable oil which will be fluid and non-volatile at The plunger units may be'mounted on the roof, I

if desired, and beams or. other means used to connect the plungers to a fixed part of the apparatus. -The cylinders of each unit are preferably arranged in line, one above the other, with a single'plunger or ram operating therein, in the simple form'described and illustrated, but it is apparent that they could be arranged horizontally or. at some other angle if suitable leverage means-connects theplunger to the roof. Furthermore, the cylinders of a unit can be arranged otherwise thanin a line, for example, at the same level and upright, if two interconnected plungers are used, only one of which would be connected to. the roof, the same one in each of several units. Two plungers in a unit of this type might be connected by a walkingbeam so that one plunger would draw in the same volume of liquid forced out by the other.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the invention. 7

Having described'the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed as new is:

- i. In astorage apparatus for fluids including .an upright cylindrical container and a vertically movable roof-sealed with respect to the container Wall, a plurality of at least three spaced hydraulic stabilizing units distributed around the container, each of said units including a pair of vertically spaced chambers fixed to the container, a plunger extending into said chambers and vertically movable therein; connecting means between the midall temperatures encountered, and of low expansion characteristics. The liquid may contain an anti-corrosion agent.

.The stabilizing means of the present invention may be applied to various types of'tanks or containers for liquids and gases or both, and to various types of roofs such as bells, decks, floating roofs and piston roofs. Where it is desired merely to store gases, a launder may be made of concrete in the earth, and the earth inside the launder gas-proofed and rounded to support the roof.

The stabilizing units adjacent each other around the apparatus may be arranged in pairs portion of each plunger and the roof, and a conduit from the lower chamber of each unit to the upper chamber of a;diiferent unit, the plungers of the units interconnected by a conduit bein of equal displacement.

2.- An apparatus for holding fluids, comprising a container including a vertically movable belltyperoofseaied with respect to the stationary part of the container, a plurality of at least three spaced hydraulic units for preventing the tipping of the'roof, said units being distributed around the container and each unit including a pair of chambers for hydraulic liquid arranged with one spaced substantially above the other and attachedto a fixed part of the apparatus, a plunger operating between and extending into the chambers of each pair and operative therein to replace liquid and be displaced by liquid, the mid-portion ofieach plunger being attached to the roof and operable thereby, a..pipe connecting the lower chamber of each unit with the upper chamber of a difierent unit, and an expansion chamber connected with each two hydraulic chambers which are interconnected by a pipe, the plungers of the. units connected by a pipe being of equal displacement.

3. An apparatus for holding fluids, comprising a container including a vertically movable belltype roof sealed with respect to the stationary part of the container, a plurality of at least three spaced hydraulic units for preventing the tipping of theroof, said units being distributed around the containerand each unit including a pair of .ch'argegand discharge chambers for hydraulic liquid upon a given vertical movement of the roof, said chambers being attached to a fixed part .of theapparatus, plungers. of equal displacement extending into the chambers of all units and operative therein by the roof to replace liquid and be displaced by liquid, a plunger of each unit being attached to the roof by a beam which is attached to the plunger between the chambers like the pair of units shown in Fig. 1, if desirable. n of the unit, and a pipe connecting the charge

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