US3905092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage tanks and methods of manufacturing such tanks
Assignee: Welding Institute England
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Filing: 1974-08-15
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-08-15
Abstract
Abstract To form a membrane tank, for example for liquified natural gas, a reel of strip material is positioned adjacent the required tank location and a frame defining the periphery of a slice of the tank is placed within the space to be occupied by the tank. The frame carries a track for guiding a traction device to which is affixed the outer end of the reel strip and the frame also supports and guides the strip of material pulled from the reel as the traction device moves round the track. When the traction device reaches the end of the track, a seaming device moves around the frame to weld the edge of the newly pulled strip to the previously pulled strip, after which a further strip is pulled from the reel, and so on. The seaming may be effected by welding rollers located on a trolley which forms the traction device, the trolley pulling the strip from the reel on its outward journey around the tank perimeter and welding the edges of adjacent strips on its return journey after releasing the end of the pulled strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter T Houldcroft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:09
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/06; B23K11/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of forming a membrane tank including the steps of: positioning a stand for a reel of strip material close to the required tank location; fixing the outer end of the reel strip to a traction device; guiding the traction device around a track defining the required tank perimeter and guiding the strip of material pulled from the reel by the device over a frame such that the pulled strip forms the perimeter wall of a section of the tank: subsequently guiding the traction device so as to pull a further length of strip material from the reel over a frame section such that the further length of strip material is laid at the side of the previously laid strip to form the perimeter wall of the next section of the tank; after a strip has been laid alongside a previously pulled strip, moving a seaming device around the frame to weld the edge of the newly pulled strip to the previously pulled strip; and continuing to pull further strips of material and to weld each to the side of the last pulled strip until the total width of the side-by-side strips is equal to the required tank dimension in this direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of forming a membrane tank including the steps of: positioning a stand for a reel of strip material close to the required tank location; fixing the outer end of the reel strip to a traction device; guiding the traction device around a track defining the required tank perimeter and guiding the strip of material pulled from the reel by the device over a frame such that the pulled strip forms the perimeter wall of a section of the tank: subsequently guiding the traction device so as to pull a further length of strip material from the reel over a frame section such that the further length of strip material is laid at the side of the previously laid strip to form the perimeter wall of the next section of the tank; after a strip has been laid alongside a previously pulled strip, moving a seaming device around the frame to weld the edge of the newly pulled strip to the previously pulled strip; and continuing to pull further strips of material and to weld each to the side of the last pulled strip until the total width of the side-by-side strips is equal to the required tank dimension in this direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which the pulling and seaming of each strip is carried out by a common traction and seaming device which pulls the strip around the required tank periphery on its outward journey from the reel and seams the strip to the last-laid sTrip on its return journey back to the reel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 2, in which the common traction and seaming device runs on a track on a frame of the same cross-sectional shape as the required tank but of smaller dimensions, the frame being located within the position to be occupied by the tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which flanges are formed on adjacent edges of strips to be joined and are seamed together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 4, in which the pulling and seaming of each strip is carried out by a common traction and seaming device which pulls the strip around the required tank periphery on its outward journey from the reel and seams the strip to the last-laid strip on its return journey back to the reel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which as a strip is pulled or seamed it is given a corrugation in which the ridges and grooves extend along the length of the strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which adjacent edges of strips to be joined together are overlapped and welded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 7, in which the overlapped strips are welded together along two parallel lines extending the length of the strips, leaving an unwelded space between the two welding lines, and in which a leak-detecting connection communicates with the space between the two welding lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which at each end of the tank the end strip is joined to an end frame of thicker material, the end faces of the tank being formed of parallel strips of the membrane material attached to the said end frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which as each reel of the membrane material is exhausted, its end is welded to the outer end of a fresh reel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, comprising: a reel stand for supporting a reel of strip material; a traction device for pulling strip material from a reel on the reel stand; a frame shaped in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the required tank and including a track for guiding the traction device around the frame and supports for supporting strip material extended around the frame by the passage of the traction device; and a seaming device movable around the said track for welding adjacent edges of side-by-side strips extended around the frame by the traction device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which the traction device and the seaming device are mounted on a common trolley and in which the frame includes rails for guiding the trolley.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which one of the rails is formed with a rack and the trolley is provided with a pinion co-operating with the rack.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which the seaming device includes a pair of welding rollers arranged for lap-welding the side-by-side strips, the seaming device having a ''''throat'''' space to accommodate the newly laid strip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which the seaming device includes a pair of welding rollers arranged for flange welding the upturned edges of side-by-side strips.
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) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |