US2541090A - Lifter roof - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1951 c, QRR ET AL 2,541,090

LIFTER ROOF Filed Oct. 29, 1945 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 LIFTER ROOF Clifford M. Orr and Fred L. Goldsby, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company,

a corporation of Illinois Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,399

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a lifter roof, and more particularly to a storage vessel having an annular receptacle of small width at the top of the side walls and adapted to be filled by a liquid within th storage vessel whenever the vessel is filled.

Liquid sealed lifter roofs have heretofore been suggested, but the problem has never been heretofore well solved as to the type of liquid to be used within the seal.

In the present invention the same liquid is employed for a seal as the liquid that is stored within the tank, provision being made for filling the sealed receptacle whenever the tank itself is filled.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a storage vessel embodying one form of the invention showing the roof in raised position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the roof in lowered position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the modified form of the roof in lowered position.

In the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2, the storage vessel I is provided with the usual bottom H and side walls I2 which are normally circular in horizontal cross section. The vessel is provided with a receptacle l3, annular in shape, and immediately below the top of the side walls of the tank. The receptacle has a bottom 14 and an inner wall I5, the top edge of which [6 is substantially lower than the side wall of the tank. The receptacle contains a liquid II which is the same as the liquid within the vessel. The receptacle is normally filled by filling the storage vessel to its normal height, the receptacle being filled by overflow. In vessels which are not filled with great frequency, or are not filled at the top with great frequency, independent means for filling the receptacle may be provided. Drain I8 is indicated, and this drain may be used for filling the receptacle, if desired, although the by-pass line from the main inlet line is preferred.

The vessel is provided with a roof 26 having a depending vertical rim 2| of greater height than the depth of the receptacle It. The rim 2| is the appropriate diameter to fit substantially centrally of the receptacle. The space between the rim and the side wall of the storage vessel is, in this form of the invention, sealed by a flexible fabric in the form of a looped annulus 25 which is secured by clamping or bolting to the top edge of the side wall and which normally presses against the rim 2! by means of its own resiliency. Appropriate pressure means may be supplied, if desired.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 a difierent form of seal is provided. In this form the fabric ring 3| is attached to the side wall at 30 and to the rim 2| at 32. The fabric is slightly more than one-half the maximum length of travel of the rim, enough slack being provided to maintain a loop 33, as indicated in Figure 3.

A fabric or metal weather skirt 40 is indicated in Figures 3 and 4.

It is obvious, of course, that a stop of suitable form is employed which prevents undue strain upon the fabric.

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

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

A lifter roof tank having side walls, an annular receptacle of small width at the top of the side walls, said receptacle having as its outer face the side wall of the tank and having its inner face lower than said outer face whereby on filling the tank liquid will enter and fill the annular receptacle, said receptacle being filled with the same liquid as stored within the tank at all times during normal operation of the tank, a roof for the tank having a depending rim adapted to extend into the annular receptacle, and an annulus of flexible sealing material having one edge secured to the top of the outer face of the receptacle and having its other edge secured to an intermediate portion of the rim.

CLIFFORD M. ORR. FRED L. GOLDSBY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,823,256 Clark Sept. 15, 1931 1,906,685 Wiggins May 2, 1933 2,125,771 De Castro Aug. 2, 1938 2,236,996 Ellis Apr. 1, 1941 2,344,436 Laird Mar. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 554,928 Germany July 15, 1932

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