US3785320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integral tank for transporting liquefied gas
Assignee: Gaz Transport SARL
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Filing: 1971-08-30
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-08-30
Abstract
Abstract Methane tanker comprises two heat insulating barriers and two fluid-tight barriers, positioned alternately with a fluid-tight barrier innermost and the outermost insulating barrier attached to the hull of the ship. The other fluid-tight barrier is positioned between the two insulating barriers and comprises vertical plates joined together by welding to horizontal metallic strips. One edge of each strip is slidably connected to the outer insulating barrier and the other edge is resiliently connected to the inner insulating barrier.
Inventors
- 👤 M Bourgeois
- 👤 P Jean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:24
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/025; B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B25/02; B63B25/08; B63B25/12; B63B25/16; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/03; F17C2203/0304; F17C2203/0337; F17C2203/0341; F17C2203/0354; F17C2203/0358; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0631; F17C2209/00; F17C2209/22; F17C2209/228; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/03; F17C2260/031; F17C2260/033; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0102; F17C2270/0105; F17C2270/0107; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
In a fluid-tight heat-insulated tank integrated with the hull of a ship, which tank comprises a secondary heat insulating barrier formed from a plurality of boxes of heat insulating material fastened to said hull, a primary heat insulating barrier formed from a plurality of boxes of heat insulating material and positioned inside said secondary heat insulating barrier, a secondary fluid-tight barrier positioned between said heat insulating barriers, and a primary fluid-tight barrier positioned inside said primary heat insulating barrier, the improvement according to which each fluid-tight barrier is made of a plurality of metallic plates of substantially the same height as said boxes and having bent back upper and lower edges, said tank comprising: horizontal metallic strips to which said bent back edges are welded, each strip having first catch means extending longitudinally along one edge thereof, which edge projects between the superposed boxes of the heat insulating barrier on the outer side of said strip, second catch means attached to the boxes of said heat insulating barriers and cooperating with the first catch means on said strips to form sliding joints which permit each fluid-tight barrier to slide longitudinally with respect to the heat insulating barrier immediately outside it, but prevent relative inward and outward movement therebetween, and resilient means connecting the strips welded to said secondary fluid-tight barrier to said primary heat insulating barrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a fluid-tight heat-insulated tank integrated with the hull of a ship, which tank comprises a secondary heat insulating barrier formed from a plurality of boxes of heat insulating material fastened to said hull, a primary heat insulating barrier formed from a plurality of boxes of heat insulating material and positioned inside said secondary heat insulating barrier, a secondary fluid-tight barrier positioned between said heat insulating barriers, and a primary fluid-tight barrier positioned inside said primary heat insulating barrier, the improvement according to which each fluid-tight barrier is made of a plurality of metallic plates of substantially the same height as said boxes and having bent back upper and lower edges, said tank comprising: horizontal metallic strips to which said bent back edges are welded, each strip having first catch means extending longitudinally along one edge thereof, which edge projects between the superposed boxes of the heat insulating barrier on the outer side of said strip, second catch means attached to the boxes of said heat insulating barriers and cooperating with the first catch means on said strips to form sliding joints which permit each fluid-tight barrier to slide longitudinally with respect to the heat insulating barrier immediately outside it, but prevent relative inward and outward movement therebetween, and resilient means connecting the strips welded to said secondary fluid-tight barrier to said primary heat insulating barrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which each metallic strip to which metallic plates of the secondary fluid-tight barrier are welded is secured for a portion of its width between two elongated battens which are inserted between two superposed heat insulating boxes of the secondary insulating barrier, which superposed boxes carry tenons positioned between said battens and secondary fluid-tight barrier to hold said battens and metallic strip against movement toward the interior of the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which those metallic strips to which the edges of the metallic plates of the secondary fluid-tight barrier are attached have an edge bent back on itself to form a hook which engages the hook formed by similar metallic strip means attached to one of the adjacent horizontal surfaces of each pair of superposed boxes in the secondary insulating barrier, and comprising a horizontal batten acting as a wedge for the interfitting sliding joint formed by said hooks interposed between said sliding joint and the other of said adjacent horizontal surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which the metallic strip to which the metallic plates of the fluid-tight secondary barrier are welded is made of a steel having a high percentage of nickel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Tank as claimed in claim 2 characterized by the fact that the battens secured to said metallic strips are wooden battens divided into sections of the same length, the sections of the upper and lower battens being exactly superposed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Tank as claimed in claim 2 in which the tenons attached to the boxes of the secondary insulating barrier which retain said battens extend the length of one edge of each heat insulating box.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Tank as claimed in claim 2 in which said battens are attached to said metallic strips by nailing them thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Tank as claimed in claim 3 in which the boxes of heat insulating material of the secondary insulating barrier comprise a reinforcing tenon therein along the horizontal edge to which the sliding joint is attached.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
Tank as claimed in claim 8 in which each of said similar strips constituting one part of the sliding joints of the secondary insulating barrier is attached to a box of insulating material by means of metallic fasteners passing through the wall of the box of heat insulating material and penetrating into the reinforcing tenons positioned inside the box.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
Tank as claimed in claim 3 in which each box of heat insulating material in the secondary insulating barrier comprises horizontal side walls which project beyond the ends of the box above the vertical faces thereof which are perpendicular to the double hull or the double partition of the ship to form extensions, each of said extensions carrying a supporting tenon near the hull of the ship.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
Tank as claimed in claim 10 in which the four adjacent supporting tenons of each four adjacent boxes of heat insulating material in the secondary heat insulating barrier are attached to the hull of the ship by a pair of tabs, each tab comprising two flanges at right angles to each other, one flange of each tab being attached to the hull of the ship and the other two flanges being connected to each other by a bolt and gripping said tenons therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Tank as claimed in claim 11 in which a free edge of each flange is bent back perpendicularly to the flange from which it extends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which said resilient means are attached to said metallic strips by yokes, each of which comprises two arms which grip the metallic strip therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
Tank as claimed in claim 13 in which each yoke is attached to a threaded rod, carrying a nut and a locking plate, said locking plate bearing on at least one box of heat insulating material in the primary insulating barrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
Tank as claimed in claim 14 in which the locking plate associated with each yoke bears simultaneously on the four recessed corners of four adjacent boxes of heat insulating material in the primary heat insulating barrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which said resilient means comprises a metallic ring which is elastically deformable and connected by one part to said metallic strip and the opposite part to said primary heat insulating barrier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
Tank as claimed in claim 16 in which each elastically deformable ring is connected to said metallic strip by yoke means and is positioned in the plane of the metallic strip to which it is attached.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which said resilient means comprises two metallic strips welded together at their ends, one of said strips being welded in its central part to a yoke connected to said secondary insulating barrier and the other strip to a threaded rod forming part of means connecting said resilient means to said primary heat insulating barrier, the plane of contact of said two metallic strips being parallel to the planes of the fluid-tight barriers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 in which said resilient means comprises a U-shaped leaf spring one arm of which is connected to said secondary fluid-tight barrier and the other arm of which carries a threaded stud to which the boxes of heat insulating material of the primary insulating barrier are attached.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
Tank as claimed in claim 19, in which the U-shaped spring is attached to yokes connected to the secondary fluid-tight barrier by means of rods passing through said yokes and one end of the U-shaped spring, said rods being locked in place by a steel pin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
Tank as claimed in claim 19, in which the U-shaped spring is attached to a yoke connected to the secondary fluid-tight barrier by means of rivets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
Tank as claimed in claim 1 which is integrally mounted in a ship.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3403651A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |