US2611457A

US2611457A - Refining vessel

Info

Publication number: US2611457A
Application number: US53585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans C Glitsch
Original assignee: GLITSCH ENGINEERING Co
Current assignee: GLITSCH ENGINEERING Co
Priority date: 1948-10-08
Filing date: 1948-10-08
Publication date: 1952-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-23

Description

Sept. 23, 1952 c, GUTSCH 2,611,457

REFINING VESSEL Filed Oct. 8', 1948 2 SHEETS SHEET l Mommy:

Patented Sept. 23, 1952 2,611,457 REFINING VESSEL Hans C. Glitsch, Dallas, Tex., assignor toGlitsch Q Engineering Company, Dallas, Tex., a. partner"-:

ship I Application October 8, 1948, Serial No; 53,585 j 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in trays for use in refining towers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved tray for use in refining towers of various types and which is so constructed that a minimum quality of light-gauge material, such asstainless steel, may be utilized in fabricatin the same without sacrificing its self-supporting characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved refining tower tray having a plurality of deck plates or sections with their adjacent marginal edge'portions frictionally clamped in overlapping relation, the underlying edge portion having a support made integral therewith for reinforcing its plate and said overlapping edge portions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved refining tower tray, of the character.

described, wherein the underlying plate margin has a depending flange forming an integral support for the adjacent plate margin, the overlying plate margin being upset to form an offset flange or shoulder which rests upon said underlying plate margin for supporting the main portion of its plate in substantially horizontal alinement with the plate having said underlying margin,

A construction designed to carry-out the invention will be herein-after described together with other features of the invention. v

' The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a refining tower tray, constructed in accordance with the invention, shown mounted in a vessel,

' Figs. 2 and 3 are views, similar to Fig. 1, show-;

ing modified arrangements of the deck plates,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the tray,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partlyin section, showing the mounting of the deck plates of the tray,

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional view of the mount- 7 Fig. 7 is a vertical, sectional view, showing the connection and relation of adjacent deck plates, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view, showing another manner of frictionally fastening adjacent plate margins. A I

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates the cylindrical wall or shell of a refining tower or vessel which may be of any suitable or desired type, construction, diameter and height. For the purposes of'illustration, the tower l0 has-been shown as being of the bubble tow-er type; however, the usualrise'rs and bubble caps have been omit ted. The conventional refining towerin'cludesa plurality of trays or decks Awhich extend transversely across the interior of said tower at spaced intervals substantially throughout the 'h'eight thereof with the quantity andspacing of the trays being varied in accordance with thefsize and particular use of the tower. In view of the fact that the present invention relates partlcu' larly to the construction and mounting of the trays, 'only one tray has been shown and has been illustrated more or less diagrammatically and not in detail. The herein described construction may be successfully used in any refining vessel or tower having superimposed traysor decks and its use is not limited to the illustrated tower.

As is most clearly shown in Fig. 4, each tiay'A is supported within'the tower by a substantially annular ring I l which is welded or otherwise se cured to theinternaL-cylindrical surface ofthe wall It which projects inward radially from "said surface. A plurality of deck plates'or floor sec tions l2, I3, '14, I5 and I6, of stainless steel or other suitable light-gauge and preferably corrosion-resistant material, have their end portions supportedupon thering, and frictionally fastened thereto by suitable clamps H, such asshown in my United States Patent No. 2,341,091, issued" February 8, 1944. The deck plates'extend'transversely of the tower in parallel relationwith' each versely of the deck plates of each tray for supcured to the free longitudinal margin of the deck plate l6. An efiluent weir 22 is preferably formed along this plate margin by bending the same upportion of the deck plate [2 is provided with the depending flange 3! and is overlapped by one of the upset flanges 23 of the plate I3. One longitudinal edge portion of the plate [4 is flanged and underlies the other upset flange of the plate l3, while it opposite edge portion is upset so as to overlie the adjacent edge portion of the plate l5. 7 Both longitudinal edge portions of the latter are provided with the depending flanges 3| for supporting the adjacent overlying ofiset margins of the plates l4 and I6. Manifestly, this particular construction and arrangement of the deck plates is not essential or necessarily desirable, be-

wardly upon itself. It is noted that the major portion of the plate l2 overlies and is secured to One of each of the adjacent longitudinaledge portions of the deck plates is upset to provide 'aparallel, co-extensive shoulder or flange 23 which overlies the margin of the adjacent deck plate (Figs.- 5 and'7), A plurality of clamps'24 frictionally fasten together theadjacent margins or longitudinal edge portions of the plates and includes a bolt 25 extending through an opening 26 in the margin of the underlying plate. An angular clamping bar or member 21,- having a depending leg or flange 28, is confined upon the bolt 25v so as to overlie the upset edge portion or flange 23 of the overlying plate and said bolt is engaged withina suitable nut 29 which is welded or otherwise secured in-underlying relation to the opening 26. Due to the provision of the leg 28, the clamping member 21 extends parallel tothe overlapping plate margin and draws said margin into snug frictional engagement upon tightening of the bolt 25; Although the plate margins are frictionally fastened together, the same may undergo limited lateral movement to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. 'If desired, a strip 30, of suitable packing material, may be interposed between the upset flange 23 and the underlying edge portion of the adjacent deck plate. 'It is noted that the major-portions of the sections are substantially fiat and that the spacing of-the sections having the upset shoulders is. greater than'the width of the flatportions of said sections whereby said flat;

portions are spaced transversely from the under lying edge portion of adjacent sections (Fig. 7) and'that the clamp bolts 25 and. openings 25 are spaced transversely from saidupset flanges. Thus, expansion joints are provided between adjacent sections.

For reinforcin and adding rigidity to the deck plates so as to eliminate the necessity of employing auxiliary supports, a depending leg or flange 3!, may be formed by bending the underlying longitudinal edge portion of each leg downwardly upon itself at substantially a right angle. Additional rigidity may be obtained by bending the lower'extremity of the leg- 3| upwardly upon itself to provide'a horizontal leg or flange 32. ,Also, an elongate fiat member or bar 33 may be welded or otherwise secured to any of the depending flanges 3! so as to add stiffness thereto when load conditions are such as to require the same. This bar 33 is preferably formed of similar material, but is of heavier gauge or greater thickness. It is noted that the use of the stiffener bar and the horizontal leg of the depending flange is optional and is subject to variation in accordance with the length of the deck plate as well as the load imposed thereupon.

As shown inFig. 4, the inner longitudinal edge .ing subject tovariation due to the location,

strength anddime'nsion of said plate as well as the load carried by the tray and its functions. In some installations, each plate will have only one depending flange and one upset flange.

For permitting the end portions of the deck plates to overlie the tank ring H, the depending flanges 3! as well as theirvhorizontal legs 32 are of less length than said plates so as to terminate short of said end portions as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A clamp 34 is provided for frictionally fastening the connecting adjacent margins of the plates to the ring and includes an elongate, flat bar or clamping member 35 overlying and extending longitudinally of said adjacent margin. The plate 35 has an opening 35 for receiving the bolt 3'! which extends through

alined openings

38 and 39 in the overlapping plate margins. An angular bar or clamping member 40, having an upstanding, transverse lug 4| at its inner end, underlie the ring I l and is secured on the lower end of the bolt. 3'! by a suitable nut 42 with its lug bearing against the underside of the underlying plate margin. With the bars 35 and of the clamp 34 alined and fastened by the bolt 31 and its nut 42, it will be manifest that the adjacent margins may be frictionally clamped to the rin as shown in Fig. 6. It is noted that the end portions of the deck plates maybe fastened to the tank ring in any suitable manner and that the particular form of the clamp 34 is subject to variation. In many instances, the clamps l! are sufflcient to connect the plates to the rings and sustain the weight of the tray as well as the load imposed thereupon. Ordinarily, the overlapping margins of the deck plates are fastened to the ring in the manner described only under heavy load or long span conditions.

If desired, a'inodifled form of clamp or fastening device 43 may be used in place of the clamp 34. As shown in Fig. 8, the fastening device 43' includes a substantially flat hook or latch element 44 which is insertable through a slot 45 formed in the underlying deck plate adject the overlapping plate margins. The hook 44 is of general C-shape to provide an overhanging head or hanger portion 46 and an underlying bill 47. The upper surface of the latter is adapted to bear against the underside of the underlying plate margin. A flat, upright wedge element or looking key 48 is insertable in the head 46 which is bifurcated or split-longitudinally for receiving the same and which has connected upstanding lugs 49 at its upper end for retaining the key. Suitable notch-es or recesses 50 are cut in the upper and lower surfaces of the key 48 adjacent its larger end to facilitate removal thereof. If desired, a shoulder 5| may be provided on the intermediate portion of the hook 44 for engaging the upper surface of the underlying plate and limiting downward movement of said hook. Upon insertion of the key 48, its

lower edge portion bears against and overlies the upset flange 23 whereby the overlapping plate margins are clamped between said key and the bill 41 of the hook. A substantially identical clamp or fastening device is shown in my pending application, Serial No. 698,143, filed September 20, 1946.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as Well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made. within the Scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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

1. A refining vessel tray including, a plurality of elongate deck sections of light gauge metal incapable of absorbing thermal stresses, the sections being supported at their ends and disposed with their longitudinal edge portions in adjacent substantially parallel relationship, said sections having major fiat portions, an upset horizontal flange on one of the longitudinal edge portions of adjacent sections overlying and resting upon the edge portion of the other section, and integral flange depending from the underlying edge portion for reinforcing its section and providing a support therefor and for the upset horizontal flange, and frictional fasteners carried by each deck section adjacent its underlying edge portion in transversely spaced relation to said upset flange and overlying said flange to clamp the same against upward displacement relative to said underlying edge portion, the sections having the upset flanges being spaced from adjacent sections a distance greater than the width of their flat portions whereby said fiat portions are spaced transversely from the underlying edge portions of adjacent sections, whereby lateral thermal expansion and contraction of adjacent sections is permitted.

2. A refining vessel tray as set forth in claim 1 including replaceable packing removab1y] confined between the upset flange of one section and the underlying edge portion of the adjacent section.

HANS C. GLITSCH.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,604,875 Bogaty Oct. 26, 1926 1,900,711 Howard Mar. 7, 1933 2,341,091 Glitsch Feb. 8, 1944 2,448,362 Earhart Aug. 31, 1948