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US4450855A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Removable condensate collector for elevated water storage facilities

Assignee: PITTSBURGH-DES MOINES Corp
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Filing: 1982-03-24
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Granted: 1984-05-29
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Expires: 2002-03-24
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Abstract

Abstract An improved removable condensate collector for elevated water storage facilities includes a membrane attached to the walls of such elevated water storage facility and positioned to prevent condensate from falling onto structures located at or near the bottom of the facility from a water storage container located at or near the top of the facility. The membrane can be frusto-conical in shape with the apex thereof located above or below the base, or can be horizontally disposed within the facility. The membrane is strengthened to support collected water thereon, until evaporation and ventilation remove that water from the storage facility.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard E. Hills

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 20:18
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03B; E03B11/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/5762; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6966; Y10T137/6969

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 208 words
An improvement in an elevated water storage facility comprising: a water storage tank supported on top of an enclosed column and a partition extending across the column dividing the enclosed column into an air space above the partition and a work area for offices, warehouses, and the like located beneath the partition with elements located in the work area which can be damaged by condensate falling thereonto from the tank; collecting means for collecting condensed water vapor which drips from the underside of said tank, the collecting means including attaching means mounted on a wall of the enclosed column above the partition, a membrane attached to said attaching means and mounted inside the column at a location between the tank and the partition for collecting any condensate falling from the tank prior to that condensate falling onto the partition; and membrane strengthening means for internally reinforcing and strengthening the membrane to permit water collected on the membrane to be retained on the membrane for a period of time until evaporation and ventilation can remove that collected water from the elevated water storage facility; and ventilation means being disposed with the column and open to the outside atmosphere for facilitating ventilation through the facility to remove said collected water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 208 words
An improvement in an elevated water storage facility comprising: a water storage tank supported on top of an enclosed column and a partition extending across the column dividing the enclosed column into an air space above the partition and a work area for offices, warehouses, and the like located beneath the partition with elements located in the work area which can be damaged by condensate falling thereonto from the tank; collecting means for collecting condensed water vapor which drips from the underside of said tank, the collecting means including attaching means mounted on a wall of the enclosed column above the partition, a membrane attached to said attaching means and mounted inside the column at a location between the tank and the partition for collecting any condensate falling from the tank prior to that condensate falling onto the partition; and membrane strengthening means for internally reinforcing and strengthening the membrane to permit water collected on the membrane to be retained on the membrane for a period of time until evaporation and ventilation can remove that collected water from the elevated water storage facility; and ventilation means being disposed with the column and open to the outside atmosphere for facilitating ventilation through the facility to remove said collected water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said strengthening means includes a rubberized fabric in the membrane, and said fabric having fabric reinforcing means therewithin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 67 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 2 wherein said attaching means includes a mounting base attached by welding to the column wall and having a membrane attaching face spaced radially inward from the column wall, said membrane being attached to said attaching face so that said membrane is attached to said attaching means at a location spaced from the column wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting base includes means for stiffening the column wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 1 further including an erection lifting lug mounted on said membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 188 words
An improvement in an elevated water storage facility which includes a water storage tank supported on top of an enclosed column, the column being divided into an air space and a work area for offices, warehouses, and the like with elements located in the work area which can be damaged by condensate falling thereonto from the tank,; collecting means for collecting condensed water vapor which drips from the underside of said tank, the collecting means including attaching means mounted on a wall of the enclosed column above the work area, a membrane attached to said attaching means and mounted inside the column at a location between the tank and the work area for collecting any condensate falling from the tank prior to that condensate falling into the work area; membrane strengthening means for strengthening the membrane to permit water collected on the membrane to be retained on the membrane until evaporation and ventilation remove that collected water from the elevated water storage facility; and ventilation means being disposed with the column and open to the outside atmosphere for facilitating ventilation through the facility to remove said collected water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 188 words
An improvement in an elevated water storage facility which includes a water storage tank supported on top of an enclosed column, the column being divided into an air space and a work area for offices, warehouses, and the like with elements located in the work area which can be damaged by condensate falling thereonto from the tank,; collecting means for collecting condensed water vapor which drips from the underside of said tank, the collecting means including attaching means mounted on a wall of the enclosed column above the work area, a membrane attached to said attaching means and mounted inside the column at a location between the tank and the work area for collecting any condensate falling from the tank prior to that condensate falling into the work area; membrane strengthening means for strengthening the membrane to permit water collected on the membrane to be retained on the membrane until evaporation and ventilation remove that collected water from the elevated water storage facility; and ventilation means being disposed with the column and open to the outside atmosphere for facilitating ventilation through the facility to remove said collected water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 6, wherein said strengthening means includes a fabric in the membrane, said fabric further including reinforcing means therefor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 7, wherein said fabric reinforcing means comprises stiffening means embedded in said fabric, said fabric furthermore being of rubberized construction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 7, wherein said ventilation means for facilitating ventilation through the facility includes louvers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 7, wherein said ventilation means for facilitating ventilation through the facility includes fans.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 7, wherein said ventilation means for facilitating ventilation through the facility includes heaters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 6, wherein said ventilation means for facilitating ventilation through the facility includes louvers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 6, wherein said ventilation means for facilitating ventilation through the facility includes fans.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improvement in an elevated water storage facility as defined in claim 6, wherein said ventilation means for facilitating ventilation through the facility includes heaters.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US212488A Cited
US1993982A Cited
US3213639A Cited
US3337418A Cited
US4313457A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-29 1987-11-28 1988-05-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-29 1991-11-28 1992-05-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-29 1995-11-28 1996-05-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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