US393724A - eowland - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

T. F. ROWLAND.l

, GAS HOLDER.

No. 3938.724.A

Patented N ov. 27, 1888.

Nl PETERS. mmumagnpmr. wamingmn. ne

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

T'. F. ROWLAND.

GAS HOLDER.

Patented Nv. '27, 1888..

N. PETERS1 mwumagmpnr, wishingm. nc,

(No Modem 5 sheets-sheen s. 'I'. F. RO'WLAND.

GAS HOLDER.

Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

No. '3Q-3,724.

@gaf/Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 4'.

(No Moae1.)

' T. F. ROWLAND.

GAS HOLDER.

116.393.724; 'Patented Nov. 2v, 1888.

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' 4 T. F. ROWLAND.

GAS HOLDER.'

Patented Nov. 2-7, 18,88.A

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3 5 the foundation of the gas-holder.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS F. ROWLAND OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,724, dated November 27, 1888.

Application tiled February 6, 1888. Serial No. 263,125. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. ROWLAND, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Gas-Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The-present invention relates to gas-holders in general; but the various feature of improvemont relate particularly to gas-holders of large ro size, as such improvements consist, mainly, of

means to overcome the difficulties incident to the construction of very large structures of this kind. These various features of improvement are, however, applicable to small gas- I 5 holders.

Th'ata commensurate conception may be had of the necessities calling for and of the iinportance attaching to the various improvements that I shall hereinafter describe, and of 2o the saving that from an economic point of view tion, and from the plans of which the accompanying drawings are reduced:

In full numbers,the tank of the gas-holder is one hundred and ninety-four feet in diameter and forty-three feet in height, and it contains 3o three hundred and forty-four thousand tons of water, the holder being capable of extension to a point where its dome would be one hundred and forty-one feet above the ground.

Figure l of the drawings is a plan lview of Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections of the piling parts thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan of the tank. Fig. 5 is an elevation thereof. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections of the corrugated bottom of the tank.

4o Fig. 8 is an elevation of apart of the tank and one of its abutments. Figs. 9 and 10 are a horizontal, and Fig. l1- a vertical, section of the same. Fig. l2 is an elevation of a portion of the gas-holder. Figs. 13 and 14 are vertical and horizontal sections thereof, re-

spectively. Fig. 15 is an elevation of a portion of the guide-frame of the gas-holder. Figs. 16 and 17 are vertical and horizontal sec` tions thereof, respectively.

In the building of such a structure it is apparent thatgreat care must be exercised to provide a suitable foundation for the tank, particularlywhere the ground is soft or unstable, as when marshy, or when quicksand is found. One method of securing a suitable foundation has been to make a groundwork of piling extending throughout the area of the base of the tank; but this, obviously, for very large tanks would add very greatly to the cost of the Work, and it is desirable to reduce such cost as much as possible. Another method has been to construct a foundation of annular.

piling, and to provide the tank with a bed or bottom of mound shape, rounding slightly upward from the piling to the central vertical line of the tank, such mound-like bottom or base being constructed of material suitable to permit it,under the weight of the tank and its contents, to settle some distance, if need be, without rupturing or otherwise injuring the structure. This method is productive of a saving in the matter of piling; but when -very large tanks are to be built the danger is that by the increase in bottom area such bottom is liable, under the also increased load of the superstructure and contents, to settle so far as to become ruptured, and thereby offer no protection to the tank being undermined.

The first feature of my invention, therefore, has for its object to construct the bottom of the tank so that it shall have a wide range of flexibility; and this feature consists of a gas-holder tank, the bottom or floor of which is coniposed of a rigid marginal or edge portion, which is attached to the surrounding walls of the tank and rests upon the uuyielding piled foundation of such wall, and an inner yielding portion that rests upon the unstable or unpiled foundation, and Van expansible joint uniting the outer (intiexble) and the inner (dexible) portions of the bottom.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, A represents the annular structure of piles, which extends the requisite distance below the surface of the ground to secure the desired stability of foundation. Upon this piling is laid the bed B, composed of stone and concrete, and which is of a thickness adapted to the size of the tank. Over the area inclosed by the piling is also laid the concrete bottoni G, which is an extension of the main foundation-bed B and integral therewith, but not of the same thickness. This bed C rises slightly to the center of the foundation area so as to form a mound. At D is IOO an annular trench or hollow made in the concrete and extending entirely around the foundation of the tank just inside the piling. E is the outer or marginal part ofthe bottom of the tank, which is composed of plates of iron riveted together and suitably attached t0 the vertical walls of the tank. This part of the bottom rests upon the built-up foundation and is thereby held rigidly in place. E' is the inner plate ofthe bottoni of the tank, which is 'also made up of iron plates riveted together;

but this portion ofthe bottom rests mainly upon the natural foundation, and is therefore subject to the saine settling or other move ment that this unbuilt foundation may have. F is the expansible joint which connects the inner and outer portions of the bottom. rlhis joint is fitted to the annular trench D, and is preferably constructed as shown in Figs. d and 7, though it will be plain that this `joint may be of other forms and otherwise arranged between the rigid and flexible portions ofthe tanklbottom. By this means the bottom ol' the tank may be constructed to safely yield to an extentquite equal to and, if required, more than the probable range of settling or of the sinking away of the unpiled ground below, and this is true whether the ground settle regularly or more in one place than in another, so that a warping action or other like tendency to dangerous or rupturing strains be set up. Accordingly this expansible capacity of the bottom of the gas-holder tank relieves the builder of the necessity of providingr an absolutely stable foundation throughout, and corn respondingly saves in the cost of foundationwork, though it is of course to be understood thatthe ground inclosed by the main foundaA tion will generally have a no greater' sinking or shifting tendency than is due to the weight of the superstructure and contents.

The second feature of invention relates to the construction of the body of the tank.

lt is well known that in structures of this kind the lateral or bursting pressure upon the walls thereof, due to the contained water, is greatest at the bottom and decreases toward the top; and it must be plain that in large tanks (such, for instance,- as in the use of a structure of the dimensions given) the great head of water produces strains upon the structure that call for the heaviest plates in the construction of the tank that the market affords. In fact, rolled plates of sufficient thickness are not produced, and if the required thickness is to be had by single plates they must be forged at great expense. Furthermore, the working of the plates of the requisite thickness could only be done at large expense, if, in fact, at all. It has, therefore, become essential to devise a method of using the rolled plates now procurable and yet secure the proper strength in the building of large tank structures.

To this end the second feature of niyinvention consists of a gasholder tank, the vertical walls of which are doubled or composed of two course overlap the abuttingjoint.

Figs. S to 11 represent a tank built according to this method. Commencing with the bottom of the vertical wall, a course of two superimposed plates, (l (l, forming an inner` and an outer layer, is employed. '.lhe plaies of either layer are laid flat upon those of the other, and with their ends abutting, and so that the outer plates break joints with those of the inner layer. The upper edge of the inner layer of this course abuis against the lower edge of the outer layer of the next adA joining course, ll. 1l. rlhe outer layer, (l, overlaps thejoint thereby formed on the out side, and the inner layer, lf, overlaps it on the inside of the tank. There the plates of a layer abut, a binder, l, is used to connect such adjoining ends and lo insure the same strength at the vertical joints as the body of the plate has. The plates are all properly riveted together in the separate courses, as also are the courses to each other; and this arrangement of the plates and the layers of the courses is preserved so far as a doubled wall is necessary, it being understood, of course, that the abutting layers of the courses are alternately the inner and outer layers. By this arrangement of the plates and layers it will be seen that every joint is protected upon both sides, and that the tripled thickness at thejoints insures the same strength as at any other portion of a course.

In the present structure the plates are double for about only onehalt` of the height of the tank. lf the requirements demand, however, this double thickness might be carried still higher, as, also three or more plates might be used to make up the thickness of the walls of the tank at the bottom thereof, and for a sufficient height above the bottom.

The advantages incident to this method of constructing the tank are numerous and iinportant; but essentially there is a great saving in the cost of the material of the structure and inthe working thereofthat is,in the handling, punching and riveting, bending and shaping. In fact, the cost of the plates necessary to build up the requisite thickness is less than would be the cost of single plates of the requisite thickness, and the manipulation of the thinner plates represents in total 'a less expense than would be incurred in the manipulation of such thicker plates were it attempted to use them.

With tanks 0f large dimensions and great height the tendency of the tanks to rack or careen at the top, and thereby twist or rag the edge.

structure,'becomes asource of liability to weakness that I have found very essential to guard against.-

The third feature of invention consists,there fore, of a tank re-enforced at its top by an annular box-curb extending entirely around the tank on the outside and forminga part thereof, as also, in combination with the tank and such curb, of abutting pillars arranged at proper intervals around the tank and bracing the same, and upon which the said curb rests.

Figs. 8 and 11 illustrate this curb, where it is indicated by the letter J. It is made of suitable plates and angle-iron riveted together, and is secured to the tank just below its upper It may be otherwise constructed, but the form hereshow n will be generally preferred, as it best joins with and forms a strong and secure landing for the guide-columns of the holder.

K represents abutments, which rise from the base B at regular intervals around the outside ofthe tank to the annular curb J, and are very securely anchored in the foundation, and properly secured to the walls of the tank and to the annular curb at its top. The construction of these abutments and their various means of connection to the tank and annular curb are in accordance with the usual methods of making structures of this kind, and therefore a specific description of them is not essential. Generally they consist of suitable angleirons, channel-beams, and the like, together with plates, all duly shaped and riveted together. rlhese abutments give stability to the tank and afford the bracing necessary therefor. They also support the annular curb at the top ofthe tank and forni the loose portions of the guide-pillars of the holder. It should also be noted that the annular curb forms a connection between the tops of the abutments,thereby obviating the necessity of special trusses forthat purpose, and tying t-he whole tank structure into one very rigid and powerful system best calculated to resist the enormous strains and` pressure that must be set up in a structure of such dimensions.

I am aware that curbs similar in form have been used at the top and upon the inside of a gasholder; but in such ease it forms .a part of the roof or closed top of the holder and does not serve the same purpose intended for a curb when placed upon the outside of the top of a tank, as just described. There it operates to take the rag and circumferential strains of the open top of that structure and as a connection between the tank and its abutting pillars, as also between the pillars themselves.

In the construction of gas-holders it has been common to make the hollow cylindrical holder, which is suspended above and in the tank, of comparatively small plates regularly overlapping each other and arranged in continuous layers or breadths extending nnbrokenly around the holder. Theleakage of these holders is an objection that it is desirable to overcome as far as possible-at least to guard against to the fullest extentparticularly in large holders. The amount ofA leakage is manifestly in direct ratio to the number of joints, and the larger the holder the greater will be the effect of the strains to which t-he holder is subjected and the greater the liability of opening up the joints.

The fourth feature of' invention is embodied in aholder the vertical walls of which are made up of a vertical frame-work of uprights or ribs secured to the dome at regular intervals around its outer edge, and of long unbroken plates reaching longitudinally between said uprights, such plates being properly overlapped and riveted together and to the uprights.

L, Figs. 12, 13, and 14, represent these uprights. They consist of long narrow strips or plates backed and stili'ened by interior hollow bracing-ribs, M. At their tops these uprights are secured to the circular curb N, which supports the roof or dome of the holder. To the uprights are riveted the plates O, each of which extends from one upright to another, the lower edge of each plate underlying the upper edge of the next lower adjacent plate and the plates continuing around the holder in regularlayers. By this arrangement the number of joints in the holder is reduced to a minimum, and consequently the effects tending to cause leakage are correspondingly prevented. Furthermore, the vertical framework and stiffening-ribs greatly strengthen the holder and make it more rigid, and in so much also reduce the tendency t-o leakage.

l? indicates the seal at the bottom of the holder, which is of the usual form, and is designed to receive the corresponding overhang of the lower part of the holder, which lower part or parts (if there be more than one) may' be constructed after the manner ofthe top part already described.

Figs. 15 to I7 show the frame-work that incloses the holder, Q, being the guidecolumns that are mounted upon thelanding formed by the curb Jsurrounding the top of the tank, R being the diagonal tie-rods and S the struts that connect and brace the guide-columns and bind them into one continuous circular system. The various parts of this system are constructed and combined in a way well understood in the art, and do not therefore call for further explicit explanation.

What is claimed as new is# 1. The combination, with the vertical walls of a gasholder tank, of a bottom having a rigid marginal part attached to the vertical walls ofthe tank, an interior flexible part-,and an expansible joint uniting the said marginal and interior parts, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a gas-holder tank, the combination, with the vertical walls of the tank, of a bottom composed of a rigid marginal part attached to the said vertical walls, and an interior flexible part united to said marginal part by an expansible joint, and a built-up ICO foundation or piling npon which said marginal part rests, substantially as and for thepurposes hereinbelore set foi th. I 3. A gas holder tank, the vertical walls of l which are Composed of courses of two 01 more z plates riveted together, the plates beingT ai" ranged in layers ol' single thieknesa, and the corresponding.;` layers oi' adjoining` courses overlapping.;` each other, substantially as and forthe purposes hereinhetore set forth. 4. A gas-holder tank, the vertical walls off which are composed of eonlses oi' two or more j plates riveted together, the plates heinfc,T ar- [l l l l l a gasholder tank, abutinents attached to suoli walls from the base to the top thereof and serving as braces therefor, and a box-curb located at the top of and surrounding said walls and rigidly attached to the same and to the abntnients, whereby the said enrb and abutwork l'or the tanlrwalln, Substantially as set forth.

(i. In a holding structure, the combination, with the roof of the holder and its curb, of nprights extending from the curb tothe bottom ol' the holder, and horizontallyarranged plates extending nnbrokenly between the nprights and properly secured thereto and to one another, substantially as set forth.

THOS. F. Tt() VLA Nl).

ranged in layers ot' single thickness, the eorl responding` layers of adjoining,` Courses overlapping each other, and the plates o1' the one layer ol' eaeh course breakingr joint with those 5 of the adjoining layer ol' the same eonrse,snh Stantially as and i'or the purposes hereinhefore set forth.

In combination with the vertical walls of;

lVitnesses:

UHREN E. HILL. .on'ix F. GAS/Loan.

niente forni a stiffening and bracing frame@

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