Cryogenic storage tank

Claim 2

A cryogenic storage tank comprising an inner shell having an insulated bottom and a substantially vertical cylindrical sidewall and a roof supported by said sidewall, an outer shell surrounding said sidewall and spaced therefrom and joined thereto adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof and defining therewith a vaportight annular space, insulation filling said annular space to a level slightly below the upper end thereof to provide a purge space above said insulation, a tension ring disposed adjacent to the upper end of said sidewall and having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said sidewall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced supporting means mounting said tension ring on said sidewall adjacent to the upper end thereof, a supporting column centrally positioned with respect to said inner shell bottom and extending upwardly above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, a a plurality of supporting struts extending upwardly and outwardly from said supporting column adjacent to the top thereof, a support ring mounted on said struts adjacent to the upper ends thereof, a plurality of radially extending joist members respectively supported at the outer ends thereof by said tension ring and respectively supported at the inner ends thereof by said support ring, an essentially imperforate deck supported by said joist members above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank and closing the area between said sidewall and said support ring and dividing the tank into a lower storage space and an upper vapor space, a foraminous member supported by said support ring and covering the opening therein to permit equalization of the pressure on the opposite sides of said ceiling, and a body of heat insulating material supported upon and covering said deck and said foraminous member, said sidewall having a plurality of communicating openings therethrough between said vapor space and said purge space for maintaining said purge space at a sufficient pressure to prevent infiltration of outside air.

Claim 3

A cryogenic storage tank comprising a closed shell having an insulated bottom and a substantially vertical cylindrical insulated sidewall and a domed roof supported by said sidewall, ceiling support structure mounted on said sidewall adjacent to the upper end thereof, a supporting column centrally positioned with respect to said shell bottom and extending upwardly above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, a pair of crown plates covering the Top of said supporting column and being fastened together at the peripheries thereof, the bottom one of said crown plates being attached to the top of said column, a plurality of supporting struts attached at the bottom ends thereof to the upper one of said crown plates and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, a support ring mounted on said struts adjacent to the upper ends thereof, and an insulated ceiling having an essentially imperforate outer portion surrounding a foraminous inner portion and mounted on said ceiling support structure and said support ring, said imperforate outer portion extending between said sidewall and said support ring and disposed above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, said foraminous inner portion overlying the central portion of said support ring to allow passage of vapors therethrough for equalizing the pressure on the opposite sides of said ceiling while preventing convective circulation therebetween, whereby said insulated bottom and said insulated sidewall and said insulated ceiling define an enclosed insulating container for cryogenic materials.

Claim 4

A cryogenic storage tank comprising a closed shell having an insulated bottom and a substantially vertical cylindrical insulated sidewall and a domed roof supported by said sidewall, ceiling support structure mounted on said sidewall adjacent to the upper end thereof, a supporting column centrally positioned with respect to said shell bottom and extending upwardly above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, a plurality of supporting struts extending upwardly and outwardly from said column adjacent to the top thereof, a support ring mounted on said struts adjacent to the upper ends thereof, said support ring having a substantially L-shaped radial cross section including a vertically downwardly extending flange and a horizontally outwardly extending flange, the inner surface of said downwardly extending flange being attached to the upper ends of said supporting struts, and an insulated ceiling having an essentially imperforate outer portion surrounding a foraminous inner portion and mounted on said ceiling support structure and on the outwardly extending flange of said support ring, said imperforate outer portion extending between said sidewall and said support ring and disposed above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, said foraminous inner portion overlying the central portion of said support ring to allow passage of vapors therethrough for equalizing the pressure on the opposite sides of said ceiling while preventing convective circulation therebetween, whereby said insulated bottom and said insulated sidewall and said insulated ceiling define an enclosed insulating container for cryogenic materials.

Claim 5

A cryogenic storage tank comprising a closed shell having an insulated bottom and a substantially vertical cylindrical insulated sidewall and a domed roof supported by said sidewall, a cylindrical tension ring disposed adjacent to the upper end of said sidewall and having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of said sidewall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart supporting means mounting said tension ring on said sidewall adjacent to the upper end thereof, a plurality of hanger members spaced around the periphery of said tension ring and extending downwardly therefrom, a substantially vertical supporting column centrally positioned with respect to said shell bottom and extending upwardly above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, and an insulated ceiling supported by said hanger members and said supporting column and overlying the area enclosed by said sidewall and disposed above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, whereby said insulated bottom and said insulated sidewall and said insulated ceiling define an enclosed insulating container for cryogenic materials.

Claim 6

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said circumferentially spaced supporting means includes a pair of stRaplike radially extending members overlapping each other and joined together at one end and connected at their opposite ends to said tension ring and said sidewall, respectively.

Claim 7

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said circumferentially spaced supporting means and hanger members comprises a relatively thin straplike member having a rectangular cross section of minimal area to minimize the conduction of heat therealong.

Claim 8

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 6, and further comprising an annular closure ring having a substantially Z-shaped radial cross section and attached at its lower end to said ceiling adjacent to the outer edge thereof and at its upper end to said sidewall for closing the space between said sidewall and the outer edge of said ceiling.

Claim 9

A cryogenic storage tank comprising a closed shell having an insulated bottom and a substantially vertical cylindrical insulated sidewall and a domed roof supported by said sidewall, a tension ring disposed adjacent to the upper end of said sidewall and having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of said sidewall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced supporting means mounting said tension ring on said sidewall adjacent to the upper end thereof, a supporting column centrally positioned with respect to said shell bottom and extending upwardly above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, a plurality of supporting struts extending upwardly and outwardly from said column adjacent to the top thereof, a support ring mounted on said struts adjacent to the upper ends thereof, a plurality of radially extending joist members respectively supported at the outer ends thereof by said tension ring and respectively supported at the inner ends thereof by said support ring, an essentially imperforate deck supported by said joist members above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank and closing the area between said sidewall and said support ring, a foraminous member supported by said support ring and covering the opening therein to permit equalization of the pressure on the opposite sides of said deck, and a body of heat insulating material supported upon and covering said deck and said foraminous member.

Claim 10

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 10, and further comprising a screen overlying said foraminous member and covering the opening in said support ring.

Claim 11

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 10, wherein said support ring is an angle member having a substantially L-shaped radial cross section having one flange extending vertically downwardly and another flange extending horizontally outwardly and wherein the inner surface of said downwardly extending flange is attached to the upper ends of said supporting struts and wherein said outwardly extending flange supports said foraminous member and said screen and the inner ends of said joist members.

Claim 12

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said joist members includes a lower chord, an upper chord spaced vertically therefrom and connected thereto at the ends thereof and a bar bent into a series of W-shapes and attached between said lower chord of said upper chord.

Claim 13

A cryogenic storage tank comprising, an inner shell having an insulated bottom and a substantially vertical cylindrical sidewall and a roof supported by said sidewall, an outer shell surrounding said sidewall and spaced therefrom and joined thereto adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof and defining therewith a vaportight annular space, insulation filling said annular space to a level slightly below the upper end thereof to provide a purge space above said insulation, ceiling support structure mounted on said sidewall adjacent to the upper end thereof, a substantially vertical supporting column centrally positioned with respect to said inner shell bottom and extending upwardly above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank, and an insulated ceiling mounted oN said ceiling support structure and said supporting column and overlying the area enclosed by said sidewall and disposed above the intended maximum capacity level of the tank for dividing the tank into a lower storage space and an upper vapor space, said sidewall having a plurality of communicating openings therethrough between said vapor space and said purge space for maintaining said purge space at a sufficient pressure to prevent infiltration of outside air.

Claim 14

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 14, wherein said sidewall includes a compression ring attached at the upper edge thereof and wherein said communicating openings are situated in said compression ring.

Claim 15

The cryogenic storage tank set forth in claim 14, wherein said outer shell includes a compression ring attached thereto adjacent to the upper end thereof for holding said outer shell firmly in place against said insulation.