Patent US2977858A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3724704A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3724704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating roof having uniformly distributed buoyancy means
Assignee: Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Co
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Filing: 1971-04-13
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A Floating roof for covering liquid products stored in storage tanks or the like wherein the roof has an upper surface and a lower surface, with the lower surface in substantially continuous contact with the stored product. Buoyancy means are connected to the floating roof and are substantially uniformly distributed with respect thereto to float the roof on the stored product in the event the stored product leaks onto the surface of the floating roof, and to prevent sinking thereof beyond a predetermined amount and to minimize uneven settling of the roof in the stored product.
Inventors
- 👤 N Edwards
- 👤 V Derr
- 👤 R Mattson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/34; B65D88/36; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A floating roof for covering liquid stored in storage tanks or the like wherein the roof floats on the stored liquid, said roof having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface in continuous contact with the stored liquid to prevent the formation and accumulation of vapor therebeneath and/or to prevent contamination of the stored liquid, a plurality of buoyancy means connected to the floating roof only on the upper surface thereof uniformly distributed with respect thereto to provide uniform floating support of the floating roof and to prevent sinking of the roof beyond a predetermined amount and to minimize uneven settling of the roof in the stored liquid in the event of a rupture in the roof and leakage of the stored liquid onto the surface thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A floating roof for covering liquid stored in storage tanks or the like wherein the roof floats on the stored liquid, said roof having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface in continuous contact with the stored liquid to prevent the formation and accumulation of vapor therebeneath and/or to prevent contamination of the stored liquid, a plurality of buoyancy means connected to the floating roof only on the upper surface thereof uniformly distributed with respect thereto to provide uniform floating support of the floating roof and to prevent sinking of the roof beyond a predetermined amount and to minimize uneven settling of the roof in the stored liquid in the event of a rupture in the roof and leakage of the stored liquid onto the surface thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A floating roof as in claim 1, wherein said buoyancy means comprises a plurality of individual and separate buoys attached to said roof in a regular arrangement, each of said buoys having a size and buoyancy such as to float a predetermined portion of said roof and all of said buoys together providing sufficient buoyancy to uniformly float the entire roof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A floating roof as in claim 2, wherein the lower surface of said floating roof is substantially flat and planar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A floating roof as in claim 3, wherein said buoys are tubular, one end of each of said tubular buoys attached to the upper surface of said roof and a substantially flat planar top closing the other end of said buoys to define an enclosed buoyant volume within each of said buoys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A floating roof as in claim 4, wherein each of said buoys is filled with a foam material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A floating roof as in claim 2, wherein said buoys comprise blocks of foam material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A floating roof as in claim 25, wherein said buoys extend through openings in said floating roof and project a slight amount below the roof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A floating roof as in claim 7, wherein said buoys are tubular, with the opposite ends thereof closed by substantially flat plates or covers to define a closed buoyant volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A floating roof as in claim 8, wherein said buoys are filled with a foam material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A floating roof as in claim 3, wherein said buoys are cylindrical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A floating roof as in claim 11, wherein one end of each of said buoys is attached to said roof and a substantially flat cover closes the other end of said buoys, said cover having a polygonal shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A floating roof as in claim 3, wherein said buoys are rectangular in cross-section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A floating roof as in claim 2, wherein an annular pontoon is connected to said floating roof around the periphery thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A floating roof as in claim 13, wherein said pontoon is circular in cross-section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A floating roof as in claim 13, wherein said pontoon has a substantially trapazodial cross-section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A floating roof as in claim 15, wherein said pontoon comprises a substantially vertically disposed cylindrical inner wall and a radially outwardly spaced substantially vertically disposed cylindrical wall, said outer wall having a greater vertical dimension than said inner wall, and slightly inclined annular top and bottom walls attached to the top and bottom edges of said inner and outer walls, respectively, said inner wall being secured intermediate its top and bottom edges to the periphery of said roof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A floating roof as in claim 16, wherein circumferentially extending stiffeners are secured to each of said top and bottom annular walls for stiffening and reinforcing the pontoon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A floating roof as in claim 2, wherein said roof comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular plates welded or otherwise suitably secured together along adjacent edges thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A floating roof as in claim 18, wherein said plates are overlapped at adjacent edges.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A floating roof as in claim 19, wherein said plates are longitudinally offset relative to one another so that joints between adjacent plates are not aligned.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A floating roof as in claim 13, wherein seal means is connected to said floating roof about the periphery thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A floating roof as in claim 21, wherein said seal means comprises a scuff band connected to the top and bottom edges respectively of a support means on said pontoon, and an annular flexible tube seal is supported in said scuff band for effecting a sliding seal between the wall of said tank and said floating roof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A floating roof as in claim 20, wherein said plates are arranged in rows, and said buoys are attached to alternate rows of plates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A floating roof as in claim 23, wherein said buoys are attached to said plates in said alternate rows in evenly spaced relationship to one another, with two buoys attached to each plate in said alternate rows.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
133 words
A floating roof for covering liquid stored in storage tanks or the like wherein the roof floats on the stored liquid, said roof having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface in substantially continuous contact with the stored liquid, a plurality of buoyancy means connected to the floating roof with at least a major portion of each buoyancy means positioned above the lower surface of the roof, said buoyancy means substantially uniformly distributed with respect to the floating roof to provide uniform floating support of the floating roof and to prevent sinking of the roof beyond a predetermined amount and to minimize uneven settling of the roof in the stored liquid in the event of a rupture in the roof and leakage of the stored liquid onto the surface thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
133 words
A floating roof for covering liquid stored in storage tanks or the like wherein the roof floats on the stored liquid, said roof having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface in substantially continuous contact with the stored liquid, a plurality of buoyancy means connected to the floating roof with at least a major portion of each buoyancy means positioned above the lower surface of the roof, said buoyancy means substantially uniformly distributed with respect to the floating roof to provide uniform floating support of the floating roof and to prevent sinking of the roof beyond a predetermined amount and to minimize uneven settling of the roof in the stored liquid in the event of a rupture in the roof and leakage of the stored liquid onto the surface thereof.
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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) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |