Pressurized storage tank

Claim 2

A structure for storing liquified gases maintained at cryogenic temperatures and high pressures comprising a floor, a sidewalls, a roof and tension members connecting the roof and floor together, said sidewall and tension members being made of prestressed reinforced concrete; the floor, roof and tension members connected together to form an integral assembly, said assembly moveable substantially independent of the sidewall.

Claim 3

A structure as defined in claim 1 and further including sealing means between the roof and sidewall and the floor and sidewall whereby the tank remains substantially liquidtight under high pressure.

Claim 4

erecting a prestressed concrete sidewall on said foundation, said wall having a steel liner on the inner surface thereof and being an integral part of the sidewall;

Claim 5

erecting a prestressed concrete sidewall on said foundation, said wall having a steel liner on the inner surface thereof and being an integral part of the sidewall;

Claim 6

placing a floor within the sidewall, said floor having a steel liner therewith and said liner adapted to be joined to the liner on the staves of the sidewall;

Claim 7

placing a floor within the sidewall, said floor having a steel liner therewith and said liner adapted to be joined to the liner on the staves of the sidewall;

Claim 8

A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the tension members connected to the floor and roof are prestressed concrete columns comprised of prestressing tendons of high-strength steel encased in concrete, said tendons anchored to the floor and roof and tensioned so that the concrete in the columns is in a state of compression when the interior of the structure is not under high pressure.

Claim 9

A structure as defined in claim 1 and further including a liner within the structure comprised of a material resistant to brittle fracture.

Claim 10

erecting a plurality of tie columns having post-tensioned tendons therein, said tendons being anchored to the floor and positioned within the boundary formed by the sidewall; and

Claim 11

erecting a plurality of tie columns having post-tensioned tendons therein, said tendons being anchored to the floor and positioned within the boundary formed by the sidewall; and

Claim 12

placing a roof, said roof having a steel liner therewith and said liner adapted to be joined to the liner on the staves of the sidewall, said roof joined to the columns; whereby the assembly of the floor roof and post-tensioned tie columns are adapted to act substantially independent of the sidewall.

Claim 13

placing a roof, said roof having a steel liner therewith and said liner adapted to be joined to the liner on the staves of the sidewall, said roof joined to the columns; whereby the assembly of the floor roof and post-tensioned tie columns are adapted to act substantially independent of the sidewall.

Claim 14

A structure as defined in claim 1 and further including an expansion joint having a convex shape between the sidewall and the floor system.

Claim 15

A structure for storing liquified gases maintained at cryogenic temperatures and high pressures comprising a floor system, a sidewall, a roof system and tension members connecting the roof and floor system together, said sidewall including a concrete core having an inner surface with an attached liner of steel resistant to brittle fracture and an outer surface having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive tendons for prestressing said wall and an insulation system thereon, said floor system including a outer vapor and moisture barrier, an insulation layer and a concrete slab, said roof system including a concrete slab, an insulation layer and an outer coating, said tension members comprising high-tensile-strength tendons encased in concrete, said tendons connected to said floor slabs and tensioned to place the encasing concrete in compression, a liner of material resistant to brittle fracture on the inner surfaces of said floor and roof systems and connected to the liner on said sidewall by expansion joints the floor and roof systems connected by said tension members forming an integral assembly substantially independent of the sidewall.

Claim 16

A structure for storing liquified gases maintained at cryogenic temperatures and high pressures comprising a floor system, a sidewall, a roof system and tension members connecting the roof and floor system together, said sidewall including a concrete core having an inner surface with an attached liner of steel resistant to brittle fracture and an outer surface having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive tendons for prestressing said wall and an insulation system thereon, said floor system including a outer vapor and moisture barrier, an insulation layer and a concrete slab, said roof system including a concrete slab, an insulation layer and an outer coating, said tension members comprising high-tensile-strength tendons encased in concrete, said tendons connected to said floor slabs and tensioned to place the encasing concrete in compression, a liner of material resistant to brittle fracture on the inner surfaces of said floor and roof systems and connected to the liner on said sidewall by expansion joints the floor and roof systems connected by said tension members forming an integral assembly substantially independent of the sidewall.

Claim 19

A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the step of erecting a prestressed concrete sidewall includes erecting precast pretensioned vertical staves having a steel liner on the inner surface thereof said staves being an integral part of the sidewall and acting as the inner form for placing the remainder of the wall before prestressing the composite wall.