Abstract The present invention is a secondary sealing device for use in a storage vessel having a floating roof and a primary sealing structure that includes a set of steel shoes, each of which is disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and is mechanically coupled at one of its ends and adapted so that it can contact the inner sidewall of the storage vessel, a set of pushers, each of which is mechanically coupled to the floating roof and to one of the steel shoes and is adapted to apply a constant pressure against the steel shoe so that the side of the steel shoe contacting the inner sidewall of the storage vessel presses against the inner sidewall of the storage vessel. A fabric sealing material which is disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and secured thereto on one of its sides in a gas-tight manner and secured to the steel shoes contacting the inner sidewall of the cylindrical tank of each hanger in a gas-tight manner and a secondary sealing device has been described. The secondary sealing device includes a support member of an inelastic material having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a support member being mechanically coupled to the steel shoes of the primary sealing structure contacting the inner sidewall of the storage vessel and an elongated inner core member of elastic material having a rectangular cross-section with the core member being secured to the support member and adapted so that the fabric sealing material may be looped over the core member and secured on both sides of the loop to the supporting member.
In a liquid storage vessel which includes a cylindrical tank and a circular floating roof and which has a primary sealing structure that includes: a. a pontoon mechanically coupled to the floating roof and disposed about its perimeter; b. a set of hangers, each of the hangers having a first end and a second end with the first end being mechanically coupled to the pontoon so that the hanger may pivot about its first end; c. a set of sealing shoes, each of which is disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and adjacent to the sidewall of the cylindrical tank so that it contacts it and each of which is mechanically coupled to the second end of one of the hangers; d. a set of metal bands, each of which is mechanically coupled to one of the hangers; e. a set of counterweights, each of which is mechanically coupled to one of the metal bands so that it exerts a downward force on the hangers; and f. a fabric sealing material disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and secured thereto on one its sides in a gas-tight manner and mounted adjacent to the sealing shoes in the combination with a secondary sealing device comprising, said secondary sealing device: a. a support member of an inelastic material having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being of a particular length, said support member being mechanically coupled to the sealing shoe so that the fabric sealing material may contact the inner sidewall of the cylindrical tank; b. an elongated inner core member of elastic material having substantially a rectangular cross-section and being the same length as said support member, said core member being secured to said support member and adapted so that the fabric sealing material may be looped over said core member and secured on both sides of the loop to said support member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
In a liquid storage vessel which includes a cylindrical tank and a circular floating roof and which has a primary sealing structure that includes: a. a pontoon mechanically coupled to the floating roof and disposed about its perimeter; b. a set of hangers, each of the hangers having a first end and a second end with the first end being mechanically coupled to the pontoon so that the hanger may pivot about its first end; c. a set of sealing shoes, each of which is disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and adjacent to the sidewall of the cylindrical tank so that it contacts it and each of which is mechanically coupled to the second end of one of the hangers; d. a set of metal bands, each of which is mechanically coupled to one of the hangers; e. a set of counterweights, each of which is mechanically coupled to one of the metal bands so that it exerts a downward force on the hangers; and f. a fabric sealing material disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and secured thereto on one its sides in a gas-tight manner and mounted adjacent to the sealing shoes in the combination with a secondary sealing device comprising, said secondary sealing device: a. a support member of an inelastic material having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being of a particular length, said support member being mechanically coupled to the sealing shoe so that the fabric sealing material may contact the inner sidewall of the cylindrical tank; b. an elongated inner core member of elastic material having substantially a rectangular cross-section and being the same length as said support member, said core member being secured to said support member and adapted so that the fabric sealing material may be looped over said core member and secured on both sides of the loop to said support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a liquid storage vessel which includes a cylindrical tank and a circular floating roof and which has a primary sealing structure and a secondary sealing device according to claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a plurality of metal plates, each of which has a rectangular cross-section and is disposed adjacent to the inner sidewall of the cylindrical tank and all of which encircle the floating roof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a liquid storage vessel which includes a cylindrical tank and a circular floating roof and which has a primary sealing structure and a secondary sealing device according to claim 2 wherein said core member comprises a plurality of rectangularly shaped sections of a length equal to the length of each of said metal plates, each section being formed from a polyurethane material and having a rectangular cross-section and all of said sections encircling the floating roof in order to provide a gas-tight seal.