US3815367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating reservoir cover
Assignee: ROBERTSON W LOCKE
•
Filing: 1973-03-23
•
Granted: 1974-06-11
•
Expires: 1993-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Floating cover assembly having diaphragm which lies directly on surface of body of liquid. Edges of diaphragm extend beyond edge of liquid and have stiffening members which are resiliently secured by anchoring lines to ground anchors. Resilient anchoring lines or freely hanging weights hold diaphragm in place relative to liquid, and permit diaphragm to move in response to change in liquid level. Thus diaphragm is always supported by liquid, and tension in diaphragm is low.
Inventors
- 👤 J Collins
- 👤 F Farrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:03
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/06; E04H4/10; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A floating cover assembly for a body of liquid having a periphery defined by inner surfaces of surrounding containing walls, the assembly having: a. a flexible impermeable diaphragm having upper and lower faces, and an edge defining a periphery thereof, the lower face being adapted to lie on the upper surface of the liquid, the edge of the diaphragm being spaced outwards from the periphery of the liquid, b. a plurality of elongated stiffening members adjacent and cooperating with the periphery of the diaphragm, the stiffening members having outer ends, c. anchoring means secured relative to the containing walls and spaced outwards from the periphery of the diaphragm, d. anchoring lines of flexible tension links extending outwards from the periphery of the diaphragm, the lines having inner and outer ends, the inner ends cooperating with edges of the diaphragm, and the outer ends cooperating with the anchoring means, the lines being tensioned resiliently so as to apply an outwards force on the edge of the diaphragm, e. a sump fitted in the diaphragm at a lowest position thereof, so as to drain liquid collected on the upper face of the diaphragm, the sump having drain means to drain the liquid collected, so that the periphery of the diaphragm is anchored to the containing walls and can move in response to a change in liquid level from a predetermined high level to a predetermined low level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A floating cover assembly for a body of liquid having a periphery defined by inner surfaces of surrounding containing walls, the assembly having: a. a flexible impermeable diaphragm having upper and lower faces, and an edge defining a periphery thereof, the lower face being adapted to lie on the upper surface of the liquid, the edge of the diaphragm being spaced outwards from the periphery of the liquid, b. a plurality of elongated stiffening members adjacent and cooperating with the periphery of the diaphragm, the stiffening members having outer ends, c. anchoring means secured relative to the containing walls and spaced outwards from the periphery of the diaphragm, d. anchoring lines of flexible tension links extending outwards from the periphery of the diaphragm, the lines having inner and outer ends, the inner ends cooperating with edges of the diaphragm, and the outer ends cooperating with the anchoring means, the lines being tensioned resiliently so as to apply an outwards force on the edge of the diaphragm, e. a sump fitted in the diaphragm at a lowest position thereof, so as to drain liquid collected on the upper face of the diaphragm, the sump having drain means to drain the liquid collected, so that the periphery of the diaphragm is anchored to the containing walls and can move in response to a change in liquid level from a predetermined high level to a predetermined low level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stiffening members are disposed generally tangentially relative to edges of the diaphragm and cooperate with the edges of the diaphragm so that i. when the liquid level is somewhat above the predetermined low level, the edges of the diaphragm are in a low position and the ends of the stiffening members are spaced from ends of adjacent stiffening members, ii. when the liquid level approaches the predetermined high level, the edges of the diaphragm are in a high position and have sufficient length to reduce a chance of tearing resulting from excessive peripheral tension in the diaphragm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which i. a plurality of tangential pockets are spaced peripherally around the edges of the cover, the pockets accepting the stiffening members so as to distribute load applied to the stiffening members along the periphery of the cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which i. the outer ends of each stiffening member project beyond the respective pocket, ii. ground bearing means are secured to each outer end of each stiffening member to support the stiffening member above the inner faces of the containing walls, so that when the liquid level changes, resilience in the tension lines permits the ground bearing means to move over the inner surface of the wall, permitting the diaphragm to follow changes in liquid level so as to maintain the lower face of the diaphragm generally in contact with the surface oF the liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the ground bearing means include: i. rollers journalled for rotation about an axis parallel to the respective stiffening member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the anchoring means includes a tension distribution means having: i. a block and tackle having a first sheave coupled to the outer end of the anchoring line, and a sheave pair complementary to the first sheave, the sheave pair being coupled to a respective anchor on a side of the sheave pair remote from the first sheave, ii. a flexible tension link coupling line having first and second ends, the line extending from the first end, around one sheave of the sheave pair, around the first sheave and returning to the remaining sheave of the sheave pair, then extending to the second end, iii. a line tensioning means cooperating with the first end of the line, iv. an anchor cooperating with the second end of the line, so that tension in the coupling line is distributed to the first sheave and maintains an outwards force on the diaphragm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the anchoring means includes a tension distribution means having: i. a row of spaced diaphragm sheaves journalled for rotation and extending along a portion of the containing wall adjacent the diaphragm, each sheave being coupled to a stiffening member, ii. a row of spaced anchor sheaves journalled for rotation, the anchor sheaves being spaced along a portion of the containing wall adjacent anchors, each sheave being coupled to an anchor, the rows of sheaves being staggered relative to each other, iii. a flexible tension link coupling line having first and second ends, the line extending from the first end, around a sheave of one row, across to an adjacent sheave in the other row, and thence successively to alternate sheaves in each row, the coupling line describing a zig-zag along the surface of the containing wall towards the second end of the line, iv. a line tensioning means cooperating with the first end of the line, v. an anchor cooperating with the second end of the line, so that tension in the coupling line is distributed to the diaphragm sheaves and maintains an outward force on the diaphragm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the line tensioning means includes: i. a weight hanging freely from the first end of the line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the line tensioning means includes: i. a winch secured to the first end of the coupling line to apply tension to the line, the winch having a lock so as to be locked in position to maintain tension in the line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
205 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which i. a roller is journalled for rotation at each outer end of each stiffening member, adjacent outer ends of adjacent stiffening members being spaced to prevent interference between adjacent rollers, ii. a flexible tension link connector extends between the spaced adjacent outer ends of the adjacent stiffening members, iii. a first sheave is coupled to the connector extending between the outer ends of the adjacent stiffening members, iv. a sheave pair complementary to the first sheave is aligned with and spaced from the first sheave, the sheave pair being coupled to a respective anchor on a side of the sheave pair remote from the first sheave, v. a flexible tension link coupling line having first and second ends, the line extending from the first end, around one sheave of the sheave pair, around the first sheave and returning to the remaining sheave pair, thence extending to the second end, vi. a line tensioning means cooperating with the first end of the line, vii. an anchor cooperating with the second end of the line, so the tension in the coupling line is transferred to the first sheave and maintains an outwards force on the diaphragm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 further including: f. a mantle having spaced inner and outer edges straddling the stiffening member, the inner edge being secured to the upper surface of the diaphragm inwards of the edge of the cover, the outer edge of the mantle being spaced on a side of the stiffening member remote from the inner edge, spacing between the inner and outer edges providing sufficient slack in the mantle to permit movement of the stiffening member beneath the mantle, the outer edge of the mantle being supported on and restricted against movement relative to the containing wall, the mantle having clearance for the anchoring line to extend therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain means includes: i. a pipe extending from a sump to a position beyond the containing wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which: i. the anchoring line includes an elastic portion to provide resilience for securing the periphery of the diaphragm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the anchoring means includes: i. a pulley supported clear of the ground, one anchoring line passing over the pulley, ii. a weight secured to the outer end of the anchoring line so that the weight hangs freely from the pulley, and applies a tension to the anchoring line, which tension is transferred to the edge of the diaphragm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the anchoring means includes: i. a snatch block secured relative to the containing wall, ii. an elevated pulley supported clear of the ground; and the inner ends of the anchoring lines are coupled to the stiffening members, and the anchoring line passes under the snatch block and over the elevated pulley to the outer end; iii. a weight coupled to the outer end of the anchoring line, the weight hanging freely so as to tension the anchoring line, the anchoring line having sufficient length to accommodate movement of the periphery of the diaphragm from a low position to a high position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A floating cover assembly as claimed in claim 15 further including: i. a mantle having inner and outer edges defining a mantle width, the inner edge being secured adjacent periphery of the diaphragm, the outer edge being secured relative to the containing wall, mantle width being sufficient to accommodate the diaphragm in low position, ii. a mantle bar, parallel to the stiffening member and secured to and extending across the mantle at a position about mid-way between the inner and outer edges, the mantle bar together with the inner and outer edges defining inner and outer portions of the mantle respectively, iii. resilient mantle links connecting the mantle bar with the containing wall, so that when the diaphragm is in the high position the mantle bar is held by the resilient mantle links so that the inner portion of the mantle is essentially taut and the outer portion is slack, and when the diaphragm is in the low position the inner and outer portions are essentially taut and the resilient links are stretched.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |