Apparatus for mounting low temperature liquid storage tanks

Claim 1

Apparatus for mounting a low temperature liquid storage tank for thermal expanding and contracting movements relative to structure supporting the tank and for restraining the tank from shifting movement relative to such supporting structure, comprising: pairs of cylinder units, each unit having a cylinder member and a piston rod member: means mounting the pairs of cylinder units between the tank and the tank supporting structure with one of the cylinder and piston rod members of each cylinder unit operatively associated with the tank, with the other of said members operatively associated with the tank supporting structure, and with the cylinder units of a pair spaced apart in a direction transversely of the tank and located on a common reference line at opposite sides of a line passing through the tank center; and, each pair of cylinder units being connected by hydraulic circuit means so arranged that the thermal expanding and contracting movements of the tank are permitted by fluid flow in said circuit means but a shifting movement of the tank is opposed by hydraulic pressure in the cylinder members of at least one pair of cylinder units, the hydraulic circuit means including a pair of connections between each pair of cylinder units, each connection extending between that portion of the cylinder member of one of the cylinder units which is pressurized In response to a thermally induced movement of the tank and that portion of the cylinder member of the other cylinder units which is unpressurized in response to such movement of the tank, each of said pair of connections enabling the portions of the cylinder members connected thereby to be simultaneously pressurized in response to a shifting movement of the tank in one of the directions of said common reference line on which a pair of cylinder units are located.