Patent US2877023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3648879A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3648879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Storage arrangement for liquefied gases
Assignee: Conch International Methane Ltd
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Filing: 1970-09-28
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Granted: 1972-03-14
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Expires: 1990-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A membrane tank for liquefied gas storage in which the tank walls are made of relatively narrow vertical strips of thin and flexible sheet material joined to vertical stiffening members which in turn are fastened to an external supporting structure. The vertical stiffening members are alike and each is channel shaped with the web of the channel attached to the supporting member by means of a bolt and slot arrangement which allow vertical thermal expansion. The sheet edges are attached to the legs of the channel members, which are then bent toward each other at the edges and welded together to form lateral expansion joints.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Glover Jackson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:32
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/005; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0678; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A. A storage arrangement for liquefied gas of the kind comprising a membrane tank located within a surrounding support structure, b. wherein the wall of the tank includes vertically extending expansion joints to cater for dimensional changes around the periphery of the tank, c. and vertical stiffening members spaced around and rigidly attached to the wall of the tank, d. said stiffening members also being attached to the support structure by expansion means permitting them and the wall of the tank to expand a limited vertical distance relative to the support structure to cater for any dimensional changes over the height of the tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A. A storage arrangement for liquefied gas of the kind comprising a membrane tank located within a surrounding support structure, b. wherein the wall of the tank includes vertically extending expansion joints to cater for dimensional changes around the periphery of the tank, c. and vertical stiffening members spaced around and rigidly attached to the wall of the tank, d. said stiffening members also being attached to the support structure by expansion means permitting them and the wall of the tank to expand a limited vertical distance relative to the support structure to cater for any dimensional changes over the height of the tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 1, e. wherein the stiffening members hold the wall of the tank spaced from the support structure and the space so formed is filled with a suitable thermal insulation material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The storage arrangement according to claim 1, e. wherein the support structure includes a number of vertical beams to which the stiffening members are attached, said beams being spaced around the support structure at intervals equivalent to the spacing of said stiffening members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 1, e. wherein at least some of the expansion joints and stiffening members are coincident and shaped so that when welded together between them they provide tubular casings which act as expansion joints as well as the means for attachment of the tank to the support structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 4, f. wherein the spaces within the tubular casings are filled with suitable thermal insulation material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 4, f. wherein said wall of the tank consists of strips of sheet material, and each tubular casing comprises sidepieces extending in a plane transverse to said strips, g. cooperating edges of said sidepieces being turned over and connected together to provide said stiffening member with a channel shape for connection to the support structure, h. the other cooperating edges of the sidepieces being connected together to provide an expansion joint for lateral expansion of the wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 1, e. said expansion means including bolts passing through slots spaced along the stiffening member for attaching each stiffening member to the support structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 7, f. wherein each stiffening member is channel shaped, the web of the channel being attached to the support structure and the free ends being attached to the wall of the tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 8, g. wherein boxes are secured in a pressuretight manner over each slot and bolt location to provide a secondary line of defense against leakage of the liquefied gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 8, g. including a corrugated strip bridging the free ends of the channel member to provide said expansion joint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A storage arrangement according to claim 8, g. wherein said wall of the tank consists of strips of sheet material and a tubular casing is provided by each channel-shaped stiffening member connected to adjacent strips of sheet material inwardly of their cooperating edges, h. and said cooperating edges are turned away from said stiffening member and connected together to provide an expansion joint for lateral expansion of the wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |