US3805369A

US3805369A - Method of making storage tank for liquids comprised of prefabricated and prepainted components

Info

Publication number: US3805369A
Application number: US00235746A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Harper
Original assignee: Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Co
Current assignee: PITTSBURGH-DES MOINES Corp
Priority date: 1972-03-17
Filing date: 1972-03-17
Publication date: 1974-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-23

Abstract

A storage tank for liquids, including a vertically extending pedestal comprised of at least one cylindrical section prefabricated and prepainted in a shop, means securing said cylindrical section in operative position, and an enlarged tank, preassembled and prepainted outside the shop, secured on top of the preassembled pedestal, said preassembled tank and pedestal having the necessary accessory devices thereon, the preassembled and prepainted tank and pedestal being considerably more economical than conventional tank construction wherein the tank and pedestal are completely built on the site and the pedestal and tank are painted after complete assembly thereof.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [1 11 3,805,369 Harper Apr. 23, 1974 [54] METHOD OF MAKING STORAGE TANK 3,219,224 11/1965 Anderson 220/1 B F LIQUIDS COMPRISED 0 3,235,956 2/1966 Heathcote et al. 29/429 PREFABRICATED AND PREPAINTED COMPONENTS Inventor: George C. Harper, Coraopolis, Pa.

Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed: Mar. 17, 1972 Appl. No.: 235,746

Assigneez.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1946 Brown 29/458X 2/1961 Brady 29/453 X Primary ExaminerCharlie T. Moon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shoemaker and Mattare [5 7] ABSTRACT A storage tank for liquids, including a vertically extending pedestal comprised of at least one cylindrical section prefabricated and prepainted in a shop, means securing said cylindrical section in operative position, and an enlarged tank, preassembled and prepainted outside the shop, secured on top of the preassembled pedestal, said preassembled tank and pedestal having the necessary accessory devices thereon, the preassembled and prepainted tank and pedestal being considerably more economical than conventional tank construction wherein the tank and pedestal are completely built on the site and the pedestal and tank are painted after complete assembly thereof.

13 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a storage tank for liquids, and more particularly, relates to large elevated storage tanks for water, wherein an enlarged tank is supported in elevated position on top of a vertically extending column or pedestal.

In conventional elevated storage tank constructions, which include an enlarged tank supported on top of a vertically extending pedestal, the tank and pedestal are constructed in situ with the individual plates comprising the pedestal and tank, welded or otherwise suitably secured together progressively from the ground up, and after the pedestal and tank are completely constructed, they are then cleaned and painted. In some instances, the tank is constructed on the ground and then hoisted into position on top of the pedestal. In any event, in prior art elevated tank constructions, considerable labor and time are spent by workmen at dangerous heights from the ground. Consequently, the work in constructing conventional elevated storage tanks is dangerous and, because of the necessity of performing substantial work at large heights, the time required to construct a tank and the cost of the tank are quite large.

With the present invention, the pedestal or vertically extending support for the tank is completely constructed in a shop facility, including fabrication, cleaning and painting of the pedestal, and the pedestal is then shipped to the site at which the elevated storage tank is to be constructed. The enlarged tank is completely constructed, including cleaning and painting thereof, on the ground and the pedestal is then placed in operative position on a preformed concrete foundation. The preconstructed and prepainted tank is then lifted on top of the pedestal and secured thereto. All accessory devices, such as ladders, header pipes, flanges, manholes and the like, are constructed in the pedestal and tank before the pedestal and tank are assembled on the foundation and, as a consequence, all that is required to complete the tank at the site is to secure the pedestal to the foundation and to secure the tank on the pedestal. The accessory devices, such as ladders, header pipes and the like, are simply joined together at the junction between pedestal sections and between the pedestal and tank. Very little work is thus required to be performed at any substantial height above the ground and the tank can, accordingly, be constructed with considerably less danger to the workmen and with a substantial savings in time and cost involved in constructing the tank as compared with conventional tank constructions.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a storage tank for liquids which requires considerably less time and effort to construct and which is substantially more economical than conventional storage tanks for liquids.

Another object of this invention is to provide a storage tank for liquids comprising a vertically extending pedestal and an enlarged tank supported on the top thereof, said pedestal and tank being preconstructed and prepainted, and then assembled together.

A further object of this invention is to provide an elevated storage tank for liquids, comprising a vertically extending pedestal and an enlarged tank supported on the upper end thereof, said pedestal being constructed and painted in a shop facility and transported to the site of said tank, and said enlarged tank being constructed and painted on the ground and then lifted onto the top of said pedestal and secured thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a storage tank in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tank shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of a top section of the pedestal, temporarily bolted in position on a foundation.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the conical portion of the tank being constructed.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the cylindrical portion of the tank being constructed.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the roof being assembled to the tank and the tank being painted.

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation with the tank removed from the foundation and supported on suitable blocks and with a first section of the pedestal being placed onto the foundation.

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of the pedestal bolted in position on the foundation.

FIG. 9 is a view in elevation showing the manner in which two pedestal sections are positioned one upon the other.

FIG. 10 is a view in elevation showing the manner in which the tank is lifted onto the top of the pedestal.

FIG. 11 is a view in section taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a modified means of constructing the tank, wherein the tank is constructed in two portions temporarily secured together.

FIG. 13 is a view in elevation similar to FIG. 12 of a completed tank temporarily joined at a seam through the middle thereof and with said tank being painted.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the manner in which the modified method of tank construction is accomplished and wherein one-half of the enlarged tank is positioned on top of the pedestal.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the second half of the enlarged tank positioned on top of the pedestal and with the seam between the halves of the enlarged tank being painted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an elevated storage tank for liquids is indicated generally at T in FIG. 1 and comprises an elongate, cylindrical, vertically extending pedestal 20 and an enlarged tank 30 supported on top of the pedestal 20.

The pedestal 20 comprises a plurality of plates P welded or otherwise suitably secured together at their adjacent edges as at W. An annular base plate or flange 21 is suitably secured to the lower end of the pedestal 20, as by welding or the like, and a plurality of bolts B, such as anchor bolts, extend through the base plate or flange 21 and through a suitable grout G into a concrete foundation F, provided on a supporting surface S, such as the ground. Suitable means, such as a manhole M or'the like, is in the pedestal adjacent the lower end thereof for gaining access to the interior of the pedestal.

Depending upon the size and height of the tank and pedestal, more than one pedestal section joined in endto-end superposed relationship may be provided as shown in FIG. 2, wherein two substantially identical pedestal sections a and 20b are joined in end-to-end relationship by means of bolts B extended through inturned flanges 22 on the adjacent ends of the pedestal sections 20a and 20b. Each of the pedestal sections 20a and 20b has necessary accessory devices therein, such as ladder L and header pipe H, with each pedestal section carrying a respective portion of the ladder L and header pipe H. When the pedestal sections 20a and 20b are joined together, as in FIG. 2, the adjacent ends of the ladder L and header pipe H are in alignment and the adjacent ends of the header pipe H are joined together through a suitable connection, such as a Dresser connection D or the like, to allow for temperature movement and any slight makeup required to allow for any variation in the lengths of the header pipes H in adjacent sections.

The tank includes a top section 31 of the pedestal, a conical section 32 of the tank, a cylindrical section 33 of the tank and a roof R on the tank. The top section 31 of the pedestal has a flange 34 on the lower end thereof, which is bolted to a flange 35 on the upper end of pedestal section 20b, by means of a plurality of bolts B. An annular stiffening ring 36 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper end of top pedestal section 31 and a concavo-convex dishplate 37, defining the bottom of the tank 30, is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top of stiffening ring 36. The annular peripheral edge 38 of dishplate 37 extends upwardly and outwardly a relatively short distance beyond the upper end of top pedestal section 31 and annular stiffening ring 36, and the center portion of dishplate 37 extends downwardly a short distance within the upper end of top pedestal section 31. A platform or the like 39 is welded or otherwise suitably secured inside the top pedestal section 31 adjacent the lower end thereof and a ladder L extends upwardly therefrom through the dishplate 37 to the interior of the tank. A suitable access means, such as a manhole M or the like, is provided in the side of top pedestal section 31 adjacent the upper end thereof and a second access means, such as a manhole M or the like, is in the dishplate 37 to provide access from the interior of pedestal 20 to the interior of the tank 30. A short section of header pipe H is secured centrally in the dishplate 37 and has a suitable coupling means D on the lower end thereof for coupling the adjacent sections of header pipe I-I together in a manner to allow relative movement therebetween to compensate for temperature changes and to compensate for variations in the length of the header pipes in adjacent sections.

The conical section 32 of the tank extends upwardly and outwardly from the upper edge of the portion 38 of the dishplate 37 at the upper end of top pedestal section 31. The conical section 32 of the tank is comprised of a plurality of suitably shaped plates P, welded or otherwise suitably secured together at their adjacent edges. A short section of ladder L extends from adjacent the manhole M along the slope of the conical portion 32 to the upper edge thereof. An annular stiffening ring 40, similar to stiffening ring 36, is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper edge of the conical section 32.

The cylindrical section 33 of the tank 30 is comprised of a plurality of suitably shaped plates P, welded or otherwise suitably secured together along their adjacent edges, and the cylindrical section is welded or otherwise suitably secured at its lower end to the top of the stiffening ring 40. A section of ladder L extends from the bottom of the cylindrical section to the top thereof and in alignment with the section of ladder L in the conical section of the tank. A roof R is welded or otherwise suitably secured about its peripheral marginal edge portion to the top edge of cylindrical section 33 and a manhole M or other suitable access means is provided therethrough adjacent the upper end of ladder L to provide ingress and egress means to and from the tank. A suitable vent V is provided at the highest portion of roof R for venting gases therefrom and a suitable overflow opening 0 is in the cylindrical portion 33 adjacenk the upper end thereof.

As seen in FIG 11, the entire pedestal and tank are covered with a layer of paint 41 to increase the durability and longevity of the pedestal and tank and to enhance the appearance of the tank.

The method of constructing the tank is depicted in FIGS. 3 through 10. In constructing the tank, the various components, such as the plates P, flanges, stiffening rings, header pipes, ladders and the like, are fabricated in a shop facility, including rolling of the pedestal and cylinder tank plates, pressing of the tank conical plates, rolling of the stiffener rings, burning and drilling of the various flanges and base plates, and blast cleaning and painting of the various parts.

The pedestal 20, or if appropriate, pedestal sections 20a and 20b, are then fabricated in the shop'facility, including fitting and welding of the cylindrical pedestal plates together; fitting and welding of flanges and base plates thereon; fitting and welding of the accessory items such as ladders, pipe headers, insulation if required, manholes, platforms and the like therein; and blast cleaning and painting, including both the prime and final coats of paint. The top section 31 of the pedestal is also fabricated in the shop facility, including fitting and welding of the cylindrical plates together; fitting and welding together of flanges, stiffener rings, the dishplate, header pipe, ladders and manholes and the like therein; and blast cleaning and painting, including both the prime and final coats of paint. The pedestal, including pedestal sections 20a and 20b if more than one pedestal section is to be used, and the top pedestal section 31 are then shipped to the erection site of the storage tank.

At the erection site of the tank, the top section 31 of the pedestal is set on the concrete foundation F, which has been previously constructed, and is temporarily bolted thereto, as seen in FIG. 3. The plates P in the conical portion 32 of the tank are then fitted and welded to the top of the annular edge 38 of the dishplate 37 on the top section 31 of the pedestal, as seen in FIG. 4. Stiffener ring 40 is then welded to the top of the conical section 32 and the plates in the cylindrical portion 33 of the tank are thenfitted and welded, as

seen in FIG. 5. The roof R of the tank is then fitted and welded to the top of the cylindrical section 33 and the accessory items, such as the ladder L, vent V, overflow O and manhole M, are then installed in the tank. The erection crew then leaves the job site and a painting subcontractor cleans and paints the top section of the pedestal and the conical and cylindrical portions and the roof of the tank.

After the tank and pedestal top section are painted, the painting subcontractor leaves the job site, and a minimal erection crew then returns to the job site to erect the tank. The tank 30 and top section of the pedestal are removed with a crane C from the foundation and placed on supporting cribbing blocks 42 nearby, as seen in FIG. 7. The pedestal is then set on the foundation with the crane C and fastened thereto by the anchor bolts B. If the pedestal is to include more than one section, the first section 20a is set on the foundation and bolted thereto, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. As seen in FIG. 9, the second section of pedestal 20b is then lifted with the crane G into position on top of the first section 20a and bolted thereto by means of bolts B extending through the flanges at the adjacent ends of the pedestal sections 20a and 20b. The tank is then lifted from the cribbing blocks 42 and set on top of the pedestal and bolted thereto by means of bolts B extending through the flanges 34 and 35. The header pipes H in each of the sections 20a and 20b and in the pedestal section 31 are then bolted together at adjacent ends through suitable connecting means, such as Dresser connection D or a similar connection, to allow for temperature changes and any variation in the length of the header pipes in adjacent sections. If insulation of the piping is required, because of the climate or other conditions existing at the tank location, it is also installed at this time. The tank is then filled with water to test for leaks and the like and, if the tank is to be used for potable water, the tank is sterilized.

A slightly modified construction method is depicted in FIGS. 12 through 16, wherein the tank 30 is constructed of two substantially identical halves 30a and 30b, temporarily joined together along a seam S, with each half of the tank being lifted independently onto the top of the pedestal and secured thereto, both halves then being permanently welded together along the seam S. This construction method is used when very large tanks are required, and substantially reduces the size and weight of the components required to be lifted and handled by the crane C. In FIG. 12, one half 30a of the tank is already constructed on the foundation F and the cylindrical portion of the half 30b is in the process of being constructed. The halves 30a and 30b are temporarily welded together along seam S. In FIG. 13, the tank 30 is completely constructed and is being painted. The area of the tank at the seam S need not be painted at this stage of construction, since the seam will need to be painted at the completion of tank construction. In FIG. 14, the tank 30 has been lifted off the foundation and placed on cribbing blocks or other suitable support means 42 and the pedestal 20 is bolted on the foundation. The temporary seam S between the tank halves 30a and 30b is then cut and tank half 30a is set on top of the pedestal 20 and bolted thereto, as seen in FIG. 15. Tank half 30b is then set on top of the pedestal and bolted thereto and the tank halves 30a and 30b are permanently welded together at the seam S and the seam is cleaned and painted, as seen in FIG.

16. The accessory items and the like are then installed as before. The construction of the tank is the same as previously described in all other respects.

Accordingly, an exceptionally simple and economical tank construction is realized with the present invention and the danger and time and expense involved in the usual construction of storage tanks is substantially reduced, since the pedestal and tank of the present invention are comprised of prefabricated and prepainted subassemblies, which are then simply placed in position and bolted or otherwise suitably secured together at the site of the tank, thus eliminating the substantial work required at large heights above the ground.

By way of specific example, a typical storage tank constructed in accordance with the present invention would comprise a pedestal having a diameter of approximately l0 feet and a height or length of approximately 64 feet from the foundation to the top of section 38. The tank 30 would have a height of slightly over 23 feet and the overall height of the tank and pedestal would be slightly over 87 feet. The tank would have a diameter of approximately 30 feet and a net capacity of approximately 100,000 gallons.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. The method of making and constructing a large storage tank for liquids comprising making a cylindrical pedestal in a shop and thereafter painting same in the shop, moving said cylindrical pedestal from the shop to an outside location, making and painting an enlarged tank outside the shop, placing the pedestal on a previously prepared place for supporting the pedestal in a vertical position, placing the enlarged tank on the pedestal and securing the enlarged tank to the pedestal, the completely assembled tank and pedestal lessening the time and expense involved in conventional tank construction wherein the tank and pedestal are completely assembled on-site and painted after complete assembly of the tank and pedestal.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the previously prepared place comprises a concrete foundation and said tank is made and painted on the foundation and then set aside onto suitable support means, said pedestal then being placed on and secured to the foundation.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein a prefabricated and prepainted top section of the pedestal is temporarily secured to the foudation and the tank is then made on top of the top section of the pedestal.

4. The method as in claim 3, including forming the top section of the pedestal with an. upwardly and outwardly flared section at the top thereof, fitting and welding of plates in a conical section of the tank to the upwardly and outwardly flared section, fitting and welding of plates in a cylindrical section of the tank to the top of the conical section, fitting and welding of a roof to the top of the cylindrical section, and cleaning and painting of the top section of the pedestal, the conical and cylindrical sections and the roof of the tank.

5. The method as in claim 4, including making the pedestal in two sections, one of said sections being set on and secured to the foundation, and the other of said pedestal sections then being set on and bolted to the top of the first section.

6. The method as in claim 4, including removing the tank from the support means and then setting the tank on top of the pedestal and bolting it thereto.

7. The method as in claim 6, including providing each section of the pedestal with a corresponding length of header pipe and ladder therein, the header pipes and ladders in adjacent sections being in alignment with one another.

8. The method as in claim 7, including securing ends of the header pipes in adjacent pedestal sections together through a coupling allowing relative movement therebetween to compensate for temperature changes and variations in the length of the header pipe sections.

9. The method as in claim 8, including making the tank in two substantially identical halves, and temporarily securing the halves together along a temporary seam, and then setting said tank aside onto the support means.

10. The method as in claim 9, including setting the pedestal on the foundation and securing it thereto, breaking the temporary seam of the tank, and individually setting each half of the tank onto the pedestal and securing it thereto, the halve then being permanently welded together at the seam, and the seam being cleaned and painted.

l l. The method of making and constructing a storage tank for liquids comprising the steps of fabricating the various components of the tank in a shop facility, including rolling of column and cylinder tank plates, pressing of tank cone plates, rolling of stiffener rings, burning and drilling of various flanges and base plates, and blast cleaning and painting of the various components; construction of a pedestal for the tank including fitting and welding together of the cylindrical plates, fitting and welding together of the flanges and base plates thereon, fitting and welding of accessory items such as ladders, pipe headers, manholes, platforms and the like thereon, and blast cleaning and painting of said pedestal; constructing a top section of the pedestal, including fitting and welding together of cylindrical plates, fitting and welding together of flanges, stiffener 8 rings, and a dishplate, fitting and welding of accessory devices such as manholes, ladders and header pipes and the like to said top section of pedestal, and blast cleaning and painting of said top section of pedestal; shipping of the pedestal and top section of pedestal to an erection site for the storage tank; constructing a tank on a previously constructed concrete foundation, including setting the top section of pedestal on the foundation and temporarily bolting the same thereto, fitting and welding of plates in a conical portion of the tank to the top of the top pedestal section, fitting and welding plates in a cylindrical portion of the tank to the top of the conical portion, fitting and welding a roof to the top of the cylindrical portion of the tank, and installing accessory items in the tank, and cleaning and painting the top section of the pedestal, the conical and cylindrical portions and the roof of the tank; removing the constructed tank from the foundation to supporting cribbing blocks nearby, setting the pedestal on the foundation and securing same thereto by anchor bolts, lifting the tank from the supporting blocks and setting the same on top of the pedestal and bolting same thereto, connecting the header pipes in adjacent sections of pedestal and tank by means of a Dresser connection to allow for temperature changes and to compensate for variations in the length of header pipe sections, and filling the tank with water and, if the tank is to be used for potable water, sterilizing the tank.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the pedestal is made in two substantially identical sections, and including the steps of placing a first section on the foundation and securing it thereto and then placing the second section of the pedestal on top of the first section and bolting it thereto.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the tank is made in two substantially identical halves and including the steps of making said tank on the foundation and securing the two halves of the tank together along a temporary seam, painting said tank, removing said tank from the foundation to supporting cribbing blocks nearby, placing and securing the pedestal on the foundation, breaking the temporary seam between the halves of the tank, lifting each half of the tank individually onto the top of the pedestal and securing each half thereto, welding the halves of the tank together along said seam, and cleaning and painting said seam.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFTcE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTWN Patent No. v 3 805 369 Dated April 23 y 1974 Inventor( George C Harper It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The present Front Page and the drawing Figures should be cancelled and the attached sheets substituted therefor, as part of the Letters Patent. v i

Signed and sealed this 13th dayof August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: V

'McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM DC 603754359 w u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING omc: was oaseas4,

Claims

4. The method as in claim 3, including forming the top section of the pedestal with an upwardly and outwardly flared section at the top thereof, fitting and welding of plates in a conical section of the tank to the upwardly and outwardly flared section, fitting and welding of plates in a cylindrical section of the tank to the top of the conical section, fitting and welding of a roof to the top of the cylindrical section, and cleaning and painting of the top section of the pedestal, the conical and cylindrical sections and the roof of the tank.

11. The method of making and constructing a storage tank for liquids comprising the steps of fabricating the various components of the tank in a shop facility, including rolling of column and cylinder tank plates, pressing of tank cone plates, rolling of stiffener rings, burning and drilling of various flanges and base plates, and blast cleaning and painting of the various components; construction of a pedestal for the tank including fitting and welding together of the cylindrical plates, fitting and welding together of the flanges and base plates thereon, fitting and welding of accessory items such as ladders, pipe headers, manholes, platforms and the like thereon, and blast cleaning and Painting of said pedestal; constructing a top section of the pedestal, including fitting and welding together of cylindrical plates, fitting and welding together of flanges, stiffener rings, and a dishplate, fitting and welding of accessory devices such as manholes, ladders and header pipes and the like to said top section of pedestal, and blast cleaning and painting of said top section of pedestal; shipping of the pedestal and top section of pedestal to an erection site for the storage tank; constructing a tank on a previously constructed concrete foundation, including setting the top section of pedestal on the foundation and temporarily bolting the same thereto, fitting and welding of plates in a conical portion of the tank to the top of the top pedestal section, fitting and welding plates in a cylindrical portion of the tank to the top of the conical portion, fitting and welding a roof to the top of the cylindrical portion of the tank, and installing accessory items in the tank, and cleaning and painting the top section of the pedestal, the conical and cylindrical portions and the roof of the tank; removing the constructed tank from the foundation to supporting cribbing blocks nearby, setting the pedestal on the foundation and securing same thereto by anchor bolts, lifting the tank from the supporting blocks and setting the same on top of the pedestal and bolting same thereto, connecting the header pipes in adjacent sections of pedestal and tank by means of a Dresser connection to allow for temperature changes and to compensate for variations in the length of header pipe sections, and filling the tank with water and, if the tank is to be used for potable water, sterilizing the tank.