US2516101A

US2516101A - Liquid seal for floating roofs

Info

Publication number: US2516101A
Application number: US631812A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irving E Boberg
Original assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
Current assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
Priority date: 1945-11-30
Filing date: 1945-11-30
Publication date: 1950-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1967-07-25

Description

July 25, 1950 l. E. BOBERG LIQUID SEAL FOR FLOATING ROOF'S Filed Nov. 30, 1945 Patented July 25, 1950 LIQUID SEAL FOR FLOATING BOOFS Irving E. Bobcrg, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Chicfislg firldge & Iron Company, a corporation of Application November 30, 1945, Serial No. 631,812

2 Claims. (01. 220-26) This invention relates to a liquid seal for a floating roof, and more particularly to a seal employing the same, or, substantially the same liquid as that employed in the vessel.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section 01 a roof; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

The seal is intended for use in a liquid storage 2 vessel in having side walls of sheet metal II. The roof 20 is indicated as a pontoon type having a bottom 2|, an annular upstanding rim 22, and a top 23 which slopes downwardly and inwardly to the center of the pontoon.

The seal comprises a flexible sheet of fabric material 24 which is secured at the bottom 01 the rim to an annular flange 25, and at the top to the horizontal arm 01' the angle 21. The vertical arm of the angle is secured to the top 23 and thus forms a liquid filled annular channel.

The space between the rim 22 and the fabric is partially filled by sealing liquid 30 which is preferably the same liquid as that in the storage vessel. In the case of highly volatile liquids, however, such as high test gasoline, the sealing liquid may be of slightly lower vapor pressure. It is not, however, sufficiently diflerent to endanger pollution oi. the tank contents in the event of a seal break. The weight of the liquid causes the fabric to form a slight loop 3i at the bottom.

The fabric is also supported in a loop 32 at the top by suitable supporting means, such as the pivoted lever 33.

Inasmuch as the distance between the rim 22 and the side wall ll may vary considerably as the roof rises and falls, due to irregularities in tank construction, the amount of liquid required within the seal likewise varies. In order to accommodate excessive liquid and to provide liquid when more is required I maintain one or more reservoirs 40, located on the top of the roof. These reservoirs are suitably connected as by lines II to the liquid space within the seal. It i preferred to have a number of connections from the reservoir to the seal. The pipes for such connections have been indicated at right angles to each other. A plurality of such reservoirs may be provided, if desired, with one or more connections to each.

The liquid level within the seal is maintained above the normal displacement level of the root,

and the amount of liquid within the reservoir 40 is sufllcient to maintain this excess head of liquid at all times, and under all conditions and positions of the roof.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

i. In a liquid storage tank having a floating roof. means for sealing the space betwen the root and the sides of the tank comprising: an annular flexible sealing member having one edge attached to the upper portion 01' the roof and having the other edge attached to the lower portion of the roof to form a pocket, said member having a first intermediate portion extending upwardly from the edge to the side of the tank, a second intermediate portion extending downwardly along the sides, and a third intermediate portion extending upwardly to the other edge, a hanger in the pocket and pivotally mounted on the roof, said hanger being in engagement with the underside of the first intermediate portion to support said first intermediate portion in an outwardly convexed loop of substantially U-shaped cross section, a sealing liquid partially filling the pocket, and a reservoir 01' sealing liquid on the roof and connected to the pocket to maintain the head of the sealing liquid in excess 01' the head of the liquid within the tank at all positions of the roof.

2. A storage vessel as set forth in claim 1 in which the sealing liquid is substantially the same as the liquid within the storage vessel.

IRVING E. BOBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,426,998 Leland et al. Aug. 22, 1922 2,085,752 Horton et al July 8, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 94,546 Switzerland May 1, 1922 437,158 Germany Nov. 16, 1926 695,985 Germany Apr. 25, 1934