US2580547A - Self-cleaning gas safety tank - Google Patents

Description

Jam l, 1952 J. D. HoLLcRoFT v 2,580,547

SELF-CLEANING GAS SAFETY TANK Filed DSG. 27, 1946 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Jan. 1, 1952 J. D. HoLLcRoF-r SELF-CLEANING GAS SAFETY TANK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1946 Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-CLEANIN G GAS SAFETY TANK Joseph D. Hollcrcft, Kermit, Tex.

Application December 27, 1946, Serial No. 718,768

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in storage tanks and more particularly and specifically to self-cleaning gas safety tanks of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a storage tank for oil or the like which is provided with a new and improved internal means for cleaning and removing basic sediments and sludge from the bottom of the tank without disturbing or involving the clean p oil or fluid stored therein.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tank cleaning means which is completely and wholly operated from without the tank to clean and drain the undesirable elements therefrom with the cleaning and draining operation being carried on completely within the tank without the necessity of opening and draining the operation.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a safe and accurate gauging means for the tank which is so constructed as to eliminate the possibility of a gaseous discharge from the tank onto the person opening the tank for gauging purposes.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a tank and apparatus therefor which is of extremely simple and inexpensive design and which is durable and long lasting in use.

Still further improvements and advantages of this invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the tank.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section o1.' cleaning supply line.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of top 2. A vertical vent pipe 1 opening the interior of the tank outwardly through the top 2 is provided at one point in the top to pass off the gases caused by the evaporation of the contents of the tank and to allow an air escape when the tank is being lled.

A pivoted hatch cover 8 is hinged vat the top center of the tank top in a covering position over a hatch 9 extending downwardly into said tank, and a standard vertical rung ladder I0 is secured within said hatch to extend downwardly to be supported at itsv base in a centered position on the cone-like bottom 3 of the tank.

An elongated hollow gauge tube Il is secured downwardly through the top 2 of the tank to extend vertically downward within said tank, at a spaced distance inward from the wall thereof, to a spaced distance above thebottom of said tank.

The bottom of the tube I I is open while the top is provided with a, hinged cover I2 thereon without the top of said tank. This tube allows for the gauging of the depth of the oil within said tank without allowing a discharge of gases through said tube whose lower end is immersed in oil preventing the entrance of such gases thereinto, and said tube being adjacent one wall of said tank provides for a gauging of the good oil in the tank without including the depth of the basic sediments and sludge which form and collect in the depending center inward from beneath the open end of the tube.

An inlet pipe line I3 for air, gas, `water or the like enters the tank at one point in the joint of said tank and tank bottom where it meets a circular pipe I4 which lies flush with the outer circumference of the cone bottom concentric therewith. This circular pipe is provided with a plurality of spaced alternate length extensions I5 which radiate inward therefrom toward the center of the cone bottom being in an adjacent downhill position therewith. The inward end of these extensions I5 are provided with nozzlelike openings I6 adapted to direct a stream discharge therethrough of the uent material admitted through said inlet pipe under pressure thus forming a swirling vortex about the center of the cone bottom 3 causing a loosening and ushing of the basic sediment and sludge therein which drains downwardly to the center thereof and out through a drainpipe II opening upwardly in the center of the tank bottom.

A cone plate or baie I8 is secured horizontally to the lower end of the ladder I il as at I9 at spaced distance above the center of the tank bottom. The outer edge of this cone plate I8 3 extends beyond the inner end of the longest of the extensions l5 and act to prevent the vortex from penetrating upwardly through the basic sediment into the good oil or the like thereabove and thus preventing the wasteful drainage thereof.

Thus it may be seen that a storage tank with an improved cleaning and safe and accurate gauging meanshas been provided.

Having thus described and "explained the construction and operation of this invention and with full belief that modifications in size, materials and general characteristics, would not constitute a departure from the 'Spirit of this invention what I desire to claim in Letters Patent 1. A tank for storing crude il br the like coinprising a bottom in the form of an inverted cone, an upstanding Wall super-imposed upon said ur'd thereto, l a horizontally e positioned within said adia nt toand spaced from Ythe iid thereo `and ie'sting'rupon said com, v 'end extending through said g Wall and eoriiiecteid to said circular gfluid under pressure to the ality of pipes 'arranged at an to land within said circular in aqii spa d 'felation 'about the inner-periph.- "e`ry of 'said Vcircular pipe and resting upon said inverted cone, the other ends of said plurality f pipes being 'each provided with 'a nozzle and spaced ffrji the apex of said inverted cone, a 'di-'ain pif' eexteiioriy' f said inverted cone and having one end coiinected to' the apex of said cone for withdrawing Sediirilif; Suspension fluid fr'oin said tank, and a iixed conically shaped bailie positioned within` said circular pipe and in align ent with the apex of said inverted cone the having its bounding edge spaced from in@ pini-amy jf pipes. Y

2.` `A tank i storing crude Ioil or the like comprisin'g bottrn in the form of an inverted 4 cone, anV upstanding wall superimposed upon said inverted cone and secured thereto, a horizontally disposed circular pipe positioned within said inverted cone adjacent to and spaced from the upper end thereof and resting upon said cone, a pipe having one end extending through said upstanding wall and connectedI to said circular pipe for delivering fluid under pressure to the latter pipe, a pluralityof pipes arranged at an angle ,with respect to an'dwithin said circular pipe and each having one end connected to said circular pipe, said plurality of pipes extending in radial spaced relation about the inner-periphery of said circular pipe and resting upon said invertedcone, the other end of said plurality of pipes being each provided with a nozzle and spaced 'froni the apex of said inverted cone, some of said plurality of pipes being shorter in length than other of said plurality of pipes, a drain pipeexteriorly of `said inverted cone and having one 'end connected to the apex 'of sa'ic'l c'o'e for withdrawing sediment suspension iiuid from said tank, 'and a fixed conically 'shaped baffle positionedivithin said circular pipe and in 'alignment with the apex of said inverted cone and having its bounding edge spaced above Asaid nozzles.

JOSEPH D. HOLLCROFT.

REFERENCES CITED v lThe following references 'are of rcord in trie file of this* patent: l n

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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