EP0138120A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A truss supporting structure for a toroidal tank
Assignee: Boeing Co
•
Filing: 1984-09-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2004-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A toroidal tank truss supporting structure for a toroidal tank having a torus portion, with a hollow interior, and a torus shell enclosing the hollow interior is provided. The internal support structure includes a plurality of ring-bulkheads attached to the torus shell to divide the hollow interior into compartments. A first number of stringers are each connected to or integral with the torus shell. A second number of slosh baffles are each attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to two of the first number of stringers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Eugene Jones
- 👤 Max Donnell Musgrove
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:06
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D37/00; B64D37/02; B64D37/06; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/40; B64G1/402; B64G1/4021; B64G1/4022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a toroidal tank having a truss supporting structure comprising the steps of: (a) joining a plurality of ring-bulkheads to several stringers to esablish a firm framework corresponding to the desired size and shape of the tank; (b) attaching one or more slosh baffles to the ring-bulkheads and stringers; and (c) fitting a tank skin over the framework to form a torus shell of the toroidal tank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a toroidal tank having a truss supporting structure comprising the steps of: (a) joining a plurality of ring-bulkheads to several stringers to esablish a firm framework corresponding to the desired size and shape of the tank; (b) attaching one or more slosh baffles to the ring-bulkheads and stringers; and (c) fitting a tank skin over the framework to form a torus shell of the toroidal tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toroidal tank truss supporting structure comprising: a toroidal tank having a torus portion capable of containing a fluid or a gas, the torus portion having a hollow interior and a torus shell enclosing the hollow interior; a plurality of ring-bulkheads attached to the torus shell to divide the hollow interior into compartments; a first number of stringers each connected to the torus shell; and a second number of slosh baffles, each attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to two of the first number of stringers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toroidal tank truss supporting structure comprising: a toroidal tank having a torus portion capable of containing a fluid or a gas, the torus portion having a hollow interior and a torus shell enclosing the hollow interior; a plurality of ring-bulkheads attached to the torus shell to divide the hollow interior into compartments; a first number of stringers each connected to the torus shell; and a second number of slosh baffles, each attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to two of the first number of stringers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in claim 2, wherein the first number of stringers include a top stringer connected to the top portion of the interior surface of the shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in claim 2 or 3, wherein the first number of stringers include an outer stringer connected to the outer portion of the interior surface of the shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first number of stringers include a bottom stringer connected to the bottom portion of the interior surface of the shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The toroidal tank interior support structure as in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the first number of stringers include an inner stringer connected to the inner portion of the interior surface of the shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first number of stringers are equidistantly positioned on the torus shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second number of slosh baffles includes at least one slosh baffle attached to two of the first number of stringers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each ring-bulkhead has a plurality of holes to allow for the passage of fluid and gas through the ring-bulkhead.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The toroidal tank truss supporting structure as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each slosh baffle has a plurality of holes to allow for the passage of fluid and gas through the slosh baffle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
A toroidal tank truss supporting structure comprising: a toroidal tank having a torus portion capable of containing a fluid or gas, the torus portion having a hollow interior and a torus shell enclosing the hollow interior, the shell having interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surface having a top, a bottom, an outer and an inner portion; a plurality of ring-bulkheads attached to the torus shell to divide the hollow interior into compartments; a top stringer, a bottom stringer, and an outer stringer each connected respectively to the top, bottom, and outer portions of the interior surface of the shell; and a plurality of slosh baffle pairs including a top slosh baffle and a bottom slosh baffle, each top slosh baffle being attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to the top stringer and the outer stringer, each bottom slosh baffle being attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to the outer stringer and the bottom stringer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
A toroidal tank truss supporting structure comprising: a toroidal tank having a torus portion capable of containing a fluid or gas, the torus portion having a hollow interior and a torus shell enclosing the hollow interior, the shell having interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surface having a top, a bottom, an outer and an inner portion; a plurality of ring-bulkheads attached to the torus shell to divide the hollow interior into compartments; a top stringer, a bottom stringer, and an outer stringer each connected respectively to the top, bottom, and outer portions of the interior surface of the shell; and a plurality of slosh baffle pairs including a top slosh baffle and a bottom slosh baffle, each top slosh baffle being attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to the top stringer and the outer stringer, each bottom slosh baffle being attached to two adjacent ring-bulkheads and to the outer stringer and the bottom stringer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.