US3753494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Under-sea oil storage installation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-14
•
Granted: 1973-08-21
•
Expires: 1991-09-14
Abstract
Abstract An installation including first and second storage tanks supported on the sea bottom; the second or external tank may be annular in shape and surround the first, or internal tank. Means are provided for introducing oil into and removing oil from, the upper part of the internal tank, and conduit means establish communication between the lower part of the internal tank and the upper part of the external tank. The external tank has openings at its bottom through which it communicates with the sea, and a roof having an arched cross-sectional shape. The outer wall of the internal tank may form the inner wall of the external tank and support a hollow shaft extending above the sea surface, the shaft carrying an equipment-supporting platform. Within the internal tank is a sludge-gathering means, which may be perforated plates or netting, for directing sludge into a deposit tank. Means are provided for agitating the sludge preparatory to its being pumped out of the deposit tank.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hirata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An under-sea oil storage installation comprising: first and second storage tanks supported on the sea bottom, means for introducing oil into the upper part of said first tank and for removing oil therefrom, conduit means through which the lower part of said first tank communicates with the upper part of said second tank, an opening in the lower part of said second tank through which the interior of said second tank communicates with the sea, sea water being free to flow into said tank through said opening, and a sludge deposit tank within said first tank and sludgegathering means within said first tank for accumulating and depositing sludge carried by the oil in said deposit tank, said sludge-gathering means allowing the oil to flow through it, whereby when said tanks are empty of oil they are filled with sea water, but when oil is pumped into said first tank it first fills the latter and upon continued pumping flows sludge-free through said conduit means into said second tank, the sea water being pushed by the oil out of said tanks through said opening, and when oil is pumped out of said first tank sea water flows into said tank through said opening pushing oil out of said second tank through said conduit means into said first tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
An under-sea oil storage installation comprising: first and second storage tanks supported on the sea bottom, means for introducing oil into the upper part of said first tank and for removing oil therefrom, conduit means through which the lower part of said first tank communicates with the upper part of said second tank, an opening in the lower part of said second tank through which the interior of said second tank communicates with the sea, sea water being free to flow into said tank through said opening, and a sludge deposit tank within said first tank and sludgegathering means within said first tank for accumulating and depositing sludge carried by the oil in said deposit tank, said sludge-gathering means allowing the oil to flow through it, whereby when said tanks are empty of oil they are filled with sea water, but when oil is pumped into said first tank it first fills the latter and upon continued pumping flows sludge-free through said conduit means into said second tank, the sea water being pushed by the oil out of said tanks through said opening, and when oil is pumped out of said first tank sea water flows into said tank through said opening pushing oil out of said second tank through said conduit means into said first tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said second storage tank has an annular shape and surrounds said first storage tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 2 including a circular roof covering said second tank, said roof having an arched cross-sectional shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 2 wherein said second tank has inner and outer concentric walls, and including rigidifying spokes extending radially between said walls, the ends of each spoke being fixed to said inner and outer walls respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 2 wherein said second tank has inner and outer concentric walls, said inner wall serving also as the side wall of said first tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 5 including an equipment-supporting platform above said storage tanks, and columns supported on said inner wall supporting said platform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 including a hollow shaft supported on said first tank, the upper end of said shaft extending above the sea surface and the interior of said shaft communicating with the interior of said first tank, and said oil introducing and removing means being located within said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 7 including an equipment-supporting platform carried by said shaft above the sea surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said sludge-gathering means includes at least one perforated plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 9 wherein said sludge-gathering means are above said deposit tank, and including a pipe between said sludge gathering means and said deposit tank, said pipe having a first opening communicating with said plate, and a second opening communicating with said deposit tank, and siad plate being shaped to slope toward said first opening of said pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said sludge-gathering means includes a net.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 1 including a pump for discharging the contents of said deposit tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
An under-sea storage installation as defined in claim 12 including means for diverting a portion of the oil being discharged from said first tank into said deposit tank, said diverting means introducing oil into said deposit tank in the form of a jet for agitating the sludge therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 12 including blades within said deposit tank, and means for rotating said blades to agitate the sludge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An under-sea oil storage installation as defined in claim 12 including an oil and water separator, said pump discharging the contents of said deposit tank into said separator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2377875A
Cited
US2355875A
Cited
US3408971A
Cited
US3339512A
Cited
US3610194A
Cited
US3643447A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |