Abstract In a ship having a cargo tank, with a circular horizontal crosssection, which expands and contracts in service, supported therein, the improved tank support system comprising a plurality of spaced-apart support keys mounted on and located around the periphery of the tank in a substantially horizontal arrangement, each support key having a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical key contact faces positioned to lie in a vertical plane radial to the vertical axis of the tank, a plurality of spaced-apart support keyways joined by connecting means to a ship hold, said support keyways being located around the periphery of the tank with a support keyway opposite each support key, each support keyway having a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical keyway contact faces positioned at about the same radial angle as the key contact faces and positioned to have a keyway contact face in mating contact with a key contact face, a plurality of load bearing surfaces on the ship hold around the periphery of the tank, and a plurality of load applying surfaces on and around the periphery of the tank in slidable pressure contact with the load bearing surfaces, whereby upon expansion and contraction of the tank with temperature change uniform slidable support contact is maintained between mating key contact and keyway contact faces, and between the load bearing and load applying surfaces.
In a ship having a cargo tank, with a circular horizontal cross-section, which expands and contracts in service, supported therein, the improved tank support system comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart support keys mounted on and located around the periphery of the tank in a substantially horizontal arrangement; each support key having a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical key contact faces, with each key contact face lying in a vertical plane radial to the vertical axis of the tank; a plurality of spaced-apart support keyways joined by connecting means to a ship hold, said support keyways being located around the periphery of the tank with a support keyway opposite each support key; each support keyway having a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical keyway contact faces positioned at about the same radial angle as the key contact faces and positioned to have a keyway contact face in mating contact with a key contact face; a plurality of load bearing surfaces on the ship hold around the periphery of the tank; and a plurality of load applying surfaces on and around the periphery of the tank in slidable pressure contact with the load bearing surfaces; whereby upon expansion and contraction of the tank with temperature change uniform slidable support contact is maintained between mating key contact and keyway contact faces, and between the load bearing and load applying surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a ship having a cargo tank, with a circular horizontal cross-section, which expands and contracts in service, supported therein, the improved tank support system comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart support keys mounted on and located around the periphery of the tank in a substantially horizontal arrangement; each support key having a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical key contact faces, with each key contact face lying in a vertical plane radial to the vertical axis of the tank; a plurality of spaced-apart support keyways joined by connecting means to a ship hold, said support keyways being located around the periphery of the tank with a support keyway opposite each support key; each support keyway having a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical keyway contact faces positioned at about the same radial angle as the key contact faces and positioned to have a keyway contact face in mating contact with a key contact face; a plurality of load bearing surfaces on the ship hold around the periphery of the tank; and a plurality of load applying surfaces on and around the periphery of the tank in slidable pressure contact with the load bearing surfaces; whereby upon expansion and contraction of the tank with temperature change uniform slidable support contact is maintained between mating key contact and keyway contact faces, and between the load bearing and load applying surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tank support system according to claim 1 in which the tank support system includes thermal insulation to retard heat flow from the ship through the tank support system to the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tank support system according to claim 1 in which the load bearing and load applying surfaces are horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tank support system according to claim 3 in which both of the load applying and load bearing surfaces are metallic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tank support system according to claim 1 in which the load applying and load bearing surfaces are between a pair of opposing spaced-apart vertical key contact faces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tank support system according to claim 1 in which at least one of the load applying and load bearing surfaces is a nonmetallic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tank support system according to claim 1 including means to hold the load applying surface in contact with the load bearing surface against vertical uplift load on the tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tank support system according to claim 1 in which the support keys have freedom of displacement in the radial direction of the tank but are restricted from displacement in the tangential direction.