US4989750A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire resistant tank construction
Assignee: HALL PATENT GROUP LLC
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Filing: 1990-04-16
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Granted: 1991-02-05
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Expires: 2010-04-16
Abstract
Abstract Fire resistant tank apparatus is adapted for transportation and for installation above-ground to receive and dispense a liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons, or the like, and includes a metallic tank assembly having a lightweight, triple hulled, wall structure, defining inner, intermediate and outer walls which are spaced apart. Thermal barrier material is located in certain space between such walls, and in such manner that there is no direct heat conducting metallic path between such walls, as for example the intermediate and outer walls. In addition, fire resistant material may be applied to the outer side or sides of the outer walls and hardened to define a relatively lightweight shell enclosing the tank assembly. The structure resists severe heat invasion in the form of radiation, convection and conduction to maintain liquid hydrocarbon in the innermost tank isolated from such invasion. Also, the structure is bullet resistant.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. McGarvey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:55
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/12; F17C13/126; B; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/48; B65D90/50; B65D90/501; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/022; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0119; F17C2201/03; F17C2201/032; F17C2201/05; F17C2201/052; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/01; F17C2203/011; F17C2203/012; F17C2203/03; F17C2203/0304; F17C2203/0329; F17C2203/0358; F17C2203/0375; F17C2203/0383; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0607; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0631; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0639; F17C2203/0658; F17C2203/0663; F17C2209/00; F17C2209/22; F17C2209/221; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/04; F17C2250/0404; F17C2250/0408; F17C2250/0417; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/01; F17C2260/011; F17C2260/03; F17C2260/035; F17C2260/038; F17C2260/04; F17C2260/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In fire resistant tank apparatus adapted for transportation and for installation above-ground to receive and dispense a liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons, or the like, the combination comprising (a) a tank assembly having lightweight wall means defining inner walls means, intermediate wall means and outer wall means, there being primary space between the intermediate wall means and the inner wall means, and secondary space between the intermediate wall means and the outer wall means, (b) first means on the assembly adapted defining access porting to a tank interior defined by the assembly, (c) a bottom wall defined by the assembly to support the assembly at an installation site, (d) and thermal barrier material located in one of said first and second spaces to effectively define a shell about said tank interior.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In fire resistant tank apparatus adapted for transportation and for installation above-ground to receive and dispense a liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons, or the like, the combination comprising (a) a tank assembly having lightweight wall means defining inner walls means, intermediate wall means and outer wall means, there being primary space between the intermediate wall means and the inner wall means, and secondary space between the intermediate wall means and the outer wall means, (b) first means on the assembly adapted defining access porting to a tank interior defined by the assembly, (c) a bottom wall defined by the assembly to support the assembly at an installation site, (d) and thermal barrier material located in one of said first and second spaces to effectively define a shell about said tank interior.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said thermal barrier material substantially fills said second space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said space containing said thermal barrier material effectively encloses said tank interior at the top, bottom and sides thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said second space containing said thermal barrier material effectively encloses said tank interior at the top, bottom and sides thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the other of said first and second spaces is substantially free of said thermal barrier material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner wall means defines an inner tank forming said tank interior, and said intermediate wall means defines a intermediate tank extending about the inner tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said outer wall means defines a outer tank extending about the intermediate tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 1 including fire resistant material applied to said assembly at the outer side thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said fire resistant material is applied to the outer wall means, and has thickness between about 1/4 inch and 1 inch, said material characterized as charring when exposed to flame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said thermal barrier material substantially fills said second space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said thermal barrier material includes (i) pre-formed block or blocks transmitting weight applied by the intermediate tank, (ii) synthetic resin foam extending about said block or blocks in said second space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 11 including strut means in said first space and transmitting weight applied by the inner tank and the contents thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said fire resistant material is hardened in situ to define a relatively lightweight shell enclosing said apparatus, the shell having thickness between about 1/4 inch and 1 inch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said material has an intumescent epoxide resin base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 13 where said shell comprises: (a) a first sub-shell extending into contact with said tank outer wall means, and hardened in situ, the first sub-shell having an outer surface, and (b) a second sub-shell extending into contact with said first sub-shell outer surface and hardened in situ.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein the shell also includes at least one additional sub-shell hardened in situ about the outer surface of the next sub-shell closer to the tank walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 13 including a wire mesh embedding the shell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 13 including at least one upright pipe stub via which access may be gained to the tank assembly interior, the pipe stub connected to the assembly top wall, and said shell extending adjacent to and about the pipe stub.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said second means include tank supports projecting downwardly from the assembly, and having sides, the shell extending adjacent to said sides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said material consists of the product CHARTEK.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein each of the inner, outer and intermediate tank wall means consists of steel and has about 10 gauge thickness, said wall means extending in parallel at each of the following locations: (i) above the tank interior (ii) below the tank interior (iii) at the side or sides of the tank interior.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 1 including said liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons, or the like, are received in said tank interior protectively concealed by said inner wall means, intermediate wall means, and outer wall means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner and intermediate tanks are cylindrical and elongated horizontally.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the outer tank has generally vertical side walls or end walls.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the outer tank has a top wall that is upwardly tapered.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the thermal barrier material defines a saddle supporting the cylindrical intermediate tanks within the outer tank.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said thermal barrier material includes a silica-containing layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means defining access porting includes an elongated tube extending between two walls defined by said upper wall means to serve as a heat expanded hydrocarbon vapor reservoir.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said first means defining access porting includes at least two of the following connected through the tanks at upper walls thereof: a primary inner tank work vent duct, a vapor recovery duct, a fluid product fill duct, an elongated vapor reservoir duct connected between said work duct and said vapor receiving duct, a tank gauge unit duct, a fluid product spill drain duct, a product dispenser duct, liquid product return line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said first means defining access porting includes the following connected through outer and intermediate upper walls of the outer and intermediate tanks to access space between the inner and intermediate tanks: a secondary intermediate tank work vent duct a monitor port for monitoring vapor in said space.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said wall means comprises one of the following: metal and glass fiber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said tank assembly is at least about 2 inches thick to be bullet resistant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |