US4437577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double secondary seal for floating roof tanks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-09-03
•
Granted: 1984-03-20
•
Expires: 2002-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A double secondary seal for a floating roof type of liquid storage tank is disclosed. The secondary seal includes generally a weather shield of edge overlapping steel panels which extends upwardly and outwardly from the peripheral edge of the floating roof. The panels terminate upwardly in flexible wipers which are normally biased into sealing contact with the tank sidewall. A flexible vapor barrier underlies the steel panels to prevent the escape of vapors therethrough and defines a peripheral log space below the panels. A resilient foam log is positioned within the log space to provide a reserve seal. The dimensions of the foam log are designed to maintain the foam log away from contact with the tank sidewall when the wipers are in contact with the sidewall and assure sealing engagement of the foam log and the sidewall whenever the tank is filled sufficiently to raise the wipers above the top of the sidewalls.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Myers
- 👤 Lloyd C. Thoemke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/34; B65D88/42; B65D88/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A secondary seal for a liquid storage tank having a cylindrical sidewall and a floating roof comprising a weather shield means extending upwardly and outwardly from the floating roof to normally seal the peripheral junction between the roof and the sidewalls, the weather shield means terminating upwardly in a flexible wiper which is normally in contact with tank sidewall; a vapor barrier means extending about the weather shield means to prevent the passage of vapors through the weather shield means, the vapor barrier means defining a log space outwardly of the weather shield means; and a resilient reserve seal means positioned within the log space to provide a reserve seal between the weather shield means and the tank sidewall when the flexible wipers do not contact the tank sidewall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A secondary seal for a liquid storage tank having a cylindrical sidewall and a floating roof comprising a weather shield means extending upwardly and outwardly from the floating roof to normally seal the peripheral junction between the roof and the sidewalls, the weather shield means terminating upwardly in a flexible wiper which is normally in contact with tank sidewall; a vapor barrier means extending about the weather shield means to prevent the passage of vapors through the weather shield means, the vapor barrier means defining a log space outwardly of the weather shield means; and a resilient reserve seal means positioned within the log space to provide a reserve seal between the weather shield means and the tank sidewall when the flexible wipers do not contact the tank sidewall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein the weather shield means comprises a plurality of juxtaposed panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein each panel terminates upwardly in a bent lip and downwardly in a bent flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The secondary seal of claim 3 wherein the flexible wipers connect to the panels at the upward bent lips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The secondary seal of claim 4 wherein the panels connect to the floating roof at the respective bent flanges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the vapor barrier means comprises a length of vapor impervious, flexible material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The secondary seal of claim 5 wherein the vapor barrier means comprises a length of flexible material having a top and a bottom, the top being connected to the weather shield means at the flexible wiper connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The secondary seal of claim 7 wherein the bottom of the flexible material is connected to the weather shield means at the said connection to the floating roof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein the reserve seal means comprises a length of resilient foam material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The secondary seal of claim 9 wherein the material is foam rubber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The secondary seal of claim 9 wherein the material is foam plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein the reserve seal means is non-circular in cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein the reserve seal means is triangular in cross section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein the wiper contacts the sidewall when the tank is not full.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The secondary seal of claim 14 wherein the wiper extends above the tank sidewall when the tank is substantially full.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The secondary seal of claim 15 wherein the weather shield means defines a clearance space with the tank sidewall when the tank is not full.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The secondary seal of claim 16 wherein the reserve seal means is positioned within the clearance space.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The secondary seal of claim 17 wherein the reserve seal means is not in contact with the tank sidewall when the tank is not full.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
The secondary seal of claim 16 wherein the weather shield means defines a reduced space with the tank sidewall when the tank is substantially full, the distance between the weather shield means and the tank sidewall through the reduced space being less than the height of the reserve seal means, whereby the reserve seal means is squeezed between the tank sidewall and the weather shield means to effect a reserve seal when the wipers extend above the tank sidewall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2108380A
Cited
US2427171A
Cited
US2459178A
Cited
US2551403A
Cited
US2897998A
Cited
US2981438A
Cited
US3043468A
Cited
US3275183A
Cited
US3589549A
Cited
US3618813A
Cited
US4004708A
Cited
US4099643A
Cited
US4138032A
Cited
US4130217A
Cited
US4273250A
Cited
US4191303A
Cited
US4308968A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-20 | 1987-09-19 | 1988-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-20 | 1991-09-19 | 1992-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-20 | 1995-09-19 | 1996-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |