US3938689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processing tank
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-08
•
Granted: 1976-02-17
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Expires: 1991-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A tank of relatively thin wall construction, and which is provided with a plurality of exterior reinforcing vertical and horizontal rib members, and in which the tank itself is of a generally rectangular shape in cross section, having a flat bottom, an upwardly arched roof, and inwardly arched side walls, the ribs extending completely around the tank at spaced intervals along its length, and being arranged in such a manner that the hydrostatic pressures developed in the tank will be resisted by bending stresses in the vertical ribs, and tensile stresses in the horizontal ribs, and in which provision is made for lengthwise expansion and contraction of the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas Marie de Munnik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/02; B65D88/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A tank for flowable material such as fluids, liquid, semi-liquid materials and the like creating substantial hydro-static pressures therein, said tank comprising; a bottom wall, opposite side walls extending upwardly therefrom and a top wall and two end walls defining an elongated enclosed chamber; means supporting said bottom wall at spaced intervals and extending from side to side thereof; side support braces extending upwardly along the exterior of said side walls and having upper and lower ends; top support braces extending across the exterior of said top wall from side to side thereof; lower corners joining the lower ends of said side support braces with at least some of said bottom wall supporting means; upper corners joining the upper ends of said side support braces with respective ends of said top support braces; said side walls being characterized by a shape which is inwardly curved along the length of said tank, and said side support braces being shaped to follow the inwardly curved shape thereof, and wherein a straight line passing through a said side support brace and a straight line passing through its respective top support brace intersect one another at right angles at a point lying within the respective said upper corner joining said side brace and top brace, and wherein no such straight lines intersect said side walls or said top wall of said tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A tank for flowable material such as fluids, liquid, semi-liquid materials and the like creating substantial hydro-static pressures therein, said tank comprising; a bottom wall, opposite side walls extending upwardly therefrom and a top wall and two end walls defining an elongated enclosed chamber; means supporting said bottom wall at spaced intervals and extending from side to side thereof; side support braces extending upwardly along the exterior of said side walls and having upper and lower ends; top support braces extending across the exterior of said top wall from side to side thereof; lower corners joining the lower ends of said side support braces with at least some of said bottom wall supporting means; upper corners joining the upper ends of said side support braces with respective ends of said top support braces; said side walls being characterized by a shape which is inwardly curved along the length of said tank, and said side support braces being shaped to follow the inwardly curved shape thereof, and wherein a straight line passing through a said side support brace and a straight line passing through its respective top support brace intersect one another at right angles at a point lying within the respective said upper corner joining said side brace and top brace, and wherein no such straight lines intersect said side walls or said top wall of said tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top wall has a shape which is outwardly curved along the length of said tank, and wherein the junctions between the respective side walls and top wall are formed in an outwardly curved shape along the length of the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tank as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top support braces are shaped to conform to the outwardly curved shape of said top wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tank as claimed in claim 3 including corner support braces extending aroung the outwardly curved shape of the junction between the bottom wall and the two side walls, intermediate the side support braces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tank as claimed in claim 4 including additional said corner support braces attached to said side support braces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tank as claimed in claim 3 wherein said upper corners joining a said top brace and its respective side braces extend outwardly from said tank sufficient distance to permit the intersection of said straight lines within said corners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side braces have inner and outer edges, the inner edges being curved, to follow the inwardly curved shape of the side walls, and the outer edges of said side braces being straight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1 including end wall brace means for strengthening the same, and access opening means in at least one said end wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A storage tank as claimed in claim 1 including heat exchanger jacket means extending along each side wall, and reinforcing plate means around said jacket means, said plate means being discontinuous to allow for expansion and contraction of said tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A storage tank as claimed in claim 9 wherein the reinforcing plate means incorporate adjacent overlapping interfitting sections, free of connection with one another, and supported from the exterior by at least some of said side support braces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1 including reinforcing plate means attached to the exterior of said side walls extending along the lower portions thereof, said plate means being discontinuous to allow for lengthwise expansion and contraction of said tank, and being inwardly curved to follow the contour of said side walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tank as claimed in claim 11 wherein said reinforcing plate means incorporate adjacent overlapping interfitting sections, free of connection with one another, and supported from the exterior by at least some of said support braces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1983355A
Cited
US2221470A
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US2313997A
Cited
US3047190A
Cited
US3310106A
Cited
US3688940A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |