Patent US3583352A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3583352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Supporting device for self-carrying cylindrical or spherical storage tanks and its various applications
Assignee: Technigaz
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Filing: 1969-06-18
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for supporting a cylindrical or spherical rigid tank comprising several spaced bearing devices distributed about said tank and comprising each one a horizontal bracket member integral with and projecting radially outwards from said tank in its horizontal axial or diametral plane, a horizontal arm below and parallel to said bracket member and pivoted to a fixed fulcrum in the vertical plane tangent to the geometrical envelope of the neutral fibers of the tank wall and two parallel links spaced outwards from said fulcrum and pivoted to said bracket member and arm to form a deformable vertical parallelogram.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Alleaume
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:40
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/08; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
319 words
An arrangement for supporting a sTorage tank having a rigid self-supporting wall the outer surface of which having substantially the shape of a solid of revolution about at least one geometrical axis at least approximately horizontal in the normal position of the tank, comprising a plurality of outer main bearing devices distributed at discrete locations about said tank; a plurality of structural elements each connected firmly to said outer surface of said tank wall and being part of one of said bearing devices and connecting said bearing device to said tank wall substantially at the level of the horizontal axial plane of said tank in its normal position, said structural elements being disposed in spaced relationship along a corresponding meridian line; a plurality of stationary elements and plurality of connecting means each of said connecting means being a part of one of said bearing devices and connecting said device to one of said stationary elements in such a manner that the vertical lines, issuing from the points of application of the resultant weight components of said tank and of its contents to said stationary elements, respectively, and along which are directed the passive supporting reaction forces statically balancing the weight of said tank and of its contents, are respectively at least approximately tangent to the geometrical envelope surface of the neutral lines of the tank wall at the level of said horizontal axial plane and have their application points lying substantially within said envelope surface; said connecting means having sufficient relative local resiliency mobility to permit free thermal deformation of the tank; each bearing device comprising a pair of said connecting means which are arranged in spaced relationship in such a manner that the straight lines, each of which joins both points of engagement of one connecting means with the structural element and with the corresponding stationary element of said bearing device, respectively, are substantially parallel to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
319 words
An arrangement for supporting a sTorage tank having a rigid self-supporting wall the outer surface of which having substantially the shape of a solid of revolution about at least one geometrical axis at least approximately horizontal in the normal position of the tank, comprising a plurality of outer main bearing devices distributed at discrete locations about said tank; a plurality of structural elements each connected firmly to said outer surface of said tank wall and being part of one of said bearing devices and connecting said bearing device to said tank wall substantially at the level of the horizontal axial plane of said tank in its normal position, said structural elements being disposed in spaced relationship along a corresponding meridian line; a plurality of stationary elements and plurality of connecting means each of said connecting means being a part of one of said bearing devices and connecting said device to one of said stationary elements in such a manner that the vertical lines, issuing from the points of application of the resultant weight components of said tank and of its contents to said stationary elements, respectively, and along which are directed the passive supporting reaction forces statically balancing the weight of said tank and of its contents, are respectively at least approximately tangent to the geometrical envelope surface of the neutral lines of the tank wall at the level of said horizontal axial plane and have their application points lying substantially within said envelope surface; said connecting means having sufficient relative local resiliency mobility to permit free thermal deformation of the tank; each bearing device comprising a pair of said connecting means which are arranged in spaced relationship in such a manner that the straight lines, each of which joins both points of engagement of one connecting means with the structural element and with the corresponding stationary element of said bearing device, respectively, are substantially parallel to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each bearing device consists of a system the reduced equivalent geometrical configuration of which is substantially plane and which is deformable and displaceable within a plane which is substantially radial and vertical, i.e. perpendicular to said horizontal meridian plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, for a tank the relative position and orientation proper of which is variable about its center of gravity by various intermittent disturbing movements of rotation shifting it away from its normal position of stable static equilibrium, also comprising at least one set of auxiliary bearing devices and structural elements associated with each separate geometrical axis of rotation, so that at least the points of rigid connection of the elements of each set with said tank are respectively located within a same plane substantially perpendicular to the corresponding axis of rotation and distributed along the trace of intersection of said plane on the tank wall surface for producing additional supporting reactions adapted at least to assist in balancing the weight of said tank and of its contents in its temporarily deviated position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each auxiliary bearing device, associated to an axis of rotation of a disturbing motion, consists of a system the reduced equivalent geometrical configuration of which is substantially plane and which is deformable and displaceable within a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation corresponding to said disturbing motion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
An arrangement according to claim 4, for a tank undergoing rolling and pitching movements and mounted on a vehicle the longitudinal, normally substantially horizontal direction of which is substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of said tank, also comprising additional auxiliary bearing devices distributed respectively on the one hand within at least one radial vertical plane, perpendicular to said axis of revolution, along its corresponding circumference of intersection and on the other hand within the vertical meridian plane, along its trace on the tank wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein each aforesaid structural element forms a substantially straight bracket member extending outwards as an elongated projecting arm in overhanging relationship in a substantially radial direction, normal to the outer wall surface of said tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein each aforesaid bearing device consists of a deformable assembly forming a hinged parallelogram linkage, one longitudinal side of which is formed of at least one portion of said bracket member and the opposite side is connected to an outer stationary support, whereas one of the transverse sides, which is axially compressed, consists of a rigid rod and the other transverse side, which is axially under tension, consists of an inextensible tie means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said inextensible tie means consists of a rigid rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said inextensible tie means consists of a flexible elongated connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal side of said hinged parallelogram, which is opposite to said bracket member, consists of a rigid arm extended towards said tank and pivotally connected by its corresponding end to said stationary support about a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to the pivot axis of said hinged parallelogram and located substantially within the plane tangent to the tank wall and passing through the middle point of connection of said bracket member to said tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein each bracket member is thermally insulated from its connections with the remainder of the associated bearing device, which remainder is made from ordinary steel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein that longitudinal side of said hinged parallelogram, which is opposite to said bracket member, is formed of said rigid stationary support and the pivotal connection at least one end of the rigid rod forming said compressed transverse side is of the ball and socket, swivel joint type, said end terminating in a rounded tip engaging a corresponding complementary hollow recessed depression provided in the structure to which said rod is pivotally connected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each bracket member is thermally insulated from its connections with the remainder of the associated bearing device, which remainder is made from ordinary steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said bracket member comprises at least a pair of rotary loose, longitudinally spaced rollers, and also comprising a pair of mutually confronting guide runways, substantially parallel to the plane normal to the wall surface of said tank at the point of connection of said bracket member thereto and perpendicular to the plane of said system which forms a kinematically equivalent toggle system, said rollers being in rolling engagement respectively with said pair of mutually confronting guide runways and being located respectively on either side of said first-named plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein both aforesaid runways are stationary.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein each bracket member is thermally insulated from its connections with the remainder of the associated bearing device, which remainder is made from ordinary steel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
An arrangement according to claim 14 also comprising a beam pivotally connected to a fixed support the geometrical pivot axis of which is lying substantially within the plane tangent to the main wall surface of the tank at the point of connection of said bracket member thereto, said guide runways forming an integral part of said beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein each aforesaid bracket member is thermally insulated from its connections with the remainder of the associated bearing device, which remainder is made from ordinary steel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
An arrangement according to claim 5 for a substantially cylindrical transportation tank mounted on a conveying vehicle having a stationary housing mounted thereon and wherein the axis of revolution is at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of said vehicle, also comprising retaining stop means provided to prevent the upsetting and throwing over of said tank under the action of the rolling and pitching motion of said vehicle said stop means consisting of radially outward protruding projections integral with the outer wall surface of said tank and distributed along at least one of the two diametrally opposed top and bottom generators of the cylindrical lateral surface of said tank, each one of said projections engaging with clearance a cavity of said stationary housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the point of pivotal connection of said parallelogram to said outer stationary support is located above at least the horizontal axial plane of said tank in its normal position, whereby said tank is suspended from said support in a condition of substantially stable balance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the substantially vertical side of said parallelogram, which sustains a tractive force and is nearest to said tank, is rigidly connected and connects both substantially horizontal sides of said parallelogram and is flexible enough in at least parallel relation to a substantially vertical plane which is normal to said tank to allow free thermal deformation of the latter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the stretched side of said parallelogram consists of a substantially flat strip the widest faces of which are substantially parallel to the substantially horizontal axis of revolution of said tank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein said outer stationary support comprises a portion directly in connecting engagement with each aforesaid device and thermally insulated from the remaining portion of said support.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement according to claim 20 also comprising thermal insulation means insulating said tank and wherein each of said bearing devices is exposed to an ambient gaseous medium by being located substantially completely outside of the thermal insulation means, said bearing devices being made of relatively less noble material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
An arrangement according to claim 20 also comprising heat insulating means consisting of heat insulation material distributed relatively loosely below the horizontal meridian plane of the tank close to the outer wall thereof and covering in a relatively compact and thinner layer the wall of said tank above said plane, said bearing devices being located substantially outside of said heat insulating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
An arrangement according to claim 20 wherein said tank is located in the hold of a ship, said hold having a top wall, said outer stationary supports being an integral part of said top wall and forming a reinforcement thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2256673A
Cited
US3357589A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |