US3119511A

US3119511A - Sealing mechanisms for storage tanks

Info

Publication number: US3119511A
Application number: US201186A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony P Giannini
Original assignee: Gen Am Transport
Current assignee: General American Transportation Corp
Priority date: 1962-06-08
Filing date: 1962-06-08
Publication date: 1964-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-28

Description

Jan. 28, 1964 A. P. GIANNINI SEALING MECHANISMS FOR STORAGE TANKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1962 FIG./

INVENTOR.

ANTHONY R G/ANN/N/ Jan. 28, 1964 A. P. GIANNlNl 3,119,511

SEALING MECHANISMS FOR STORAGE TANKS Filed June 8. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 OIL LEVEL l INVENTOR. M ANTHONY P. GIANN/N/ QWC W40) ATTYS.

Jan. 28, 1964 A. P. GIANNINI I 3,119,511

SEALING MECHANISMS FOR STORAGE TANKS Filed June 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 im T I 0'7/4 ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,119,511 SEALING MECHANISMS FGR STGRAGE TANKS Anthony P. Giannini, Chicago Heights, 111., assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Filed inns 8, 1962, Ser. No. 251,186 Claims. (Cl. 22fl26) The present invention relates to sealing mechanisms for storage tanks for petroleum products, or the like, and more particularly to such a storage tank of the type having an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall and provided with a floating roof carrying the sealing mechanism with it arranged in sliding and sealing engagement with the side wall, thereby to minimize evaporation of the stored petroleum products from the storage tank and to protect the same from the elements of the weather.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a sealing mechanism of the type noted, that is of improved and simplified construction and arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing mechanism of the type noted, wherein constant and adequate surface contact is maintained by the sealing mechanism with the inner surface of the side wall of the tank, notwithstanding substantial irregularities in the side wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing mechanism of the type noted that is exceedingly versatile in adaptation to such a floating roof, whereby the same may be readily installed upon a new floating root incident to constructing a new storage tank, or upon an old floating roof incident to renovating an old storage tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a tank for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, ineluding upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure spaced radially inwardly from the tank side wall and defining a substantially annular space therebetween, improved sealing mechanism for the annular space comprising a substantially annular hermetically sealed casing arranged in the annular space, the upper portion of the casing being attached to the roof so that it is movable therewith with respect to the tank side wall, the casing being of hollow tubular configuration and formed of flexible nonmetallic sheet-like material that is impervious to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air, the casing including annular inner and outer side walls arranged in opposing spaced apart relation and also annular bottom and top walls arranged in opposed spacedapart relation, the casing inner side wall being disposed in engagement and fixed sealed relation with the wall structure and the casing outer side wall being disposed in engagement and sliding sealed relation with the tank side wall, the casing bottom wall being submerged in the stored liquid and the casing top wall being disposed well above the level of the stored liquid, a substantially annular body of self-supporting resilient material of cellular structure enclosed by the casing and extending between the casing inner and outer side walls and constituting a resilient cushion to urge the casing inner side wall into firm sealed relation with the wall structure and to urge the casing outer side wall into fir-m sealed relation with the tank side wall during both vertical movements and sidewise movements of the roof with respect to the tank side wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart strap-loop devices acting between the casing and the wall structure for positively preventing the casing from riding-up the tank side wall and out of the annular space during downward movement of the roof with respect to the tank side wall.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sealing mechanism of the type described, wherein each of the strap-loop devices includes a flexible strap element that is resistant to the constituents of petroleum products and ice to water and to air, the lower portion of the strap element being attached to the lower portion of the casing and the upper portion of the strap element being attached to the upper portion of the wall structure, and a loop element carried by the lower portion of the wall structure and receiving the intermediate portion of the strap element and drawing the same taut between the lower and upper portions thereof, whereby a first section of the strap element extends between the lower portion of the casing and the loop element and a second section of the strap element extend-s between the loop element and the upper portion of the wall structure, and whereby the second section of the strap element is arranged between the wall structure and the casing inner side wall. 7

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the sealing mechanism; whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the ac companying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view, partly broken away, of a tank for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, and provided with a floating roof petroleum products, and provided with'a floating roof carrying sealing mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of a portion of the side wall of the storage tank and an adjacent portion of the floating roof carrying the sealing mechanism mentioned, this view being taken generally in the direction of the arrows along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the top of the tank, illustrating weather hood mechanism carried by the top of the floating roof and projecting over the sealing mechanism mentioned;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the sealing mechanism, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the sealing mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is another enlarged vertical sectional view of the sealing mechanism, similar to FIG. 4, and illustrating the manner in which the strap-loop devices incorporated in the sealing mechanism are employed in locating the position of the sealing mechanism upon the adjacent upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure of the floating roof and in surrounding relation therewith.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a tank 10 for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, that includes an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall 11 and provided with an open top bounded by an annular rim 12 and carrying an annular catwalk 13 arranged about the upper portion thereof and disposed adjacent to and below the annular rim 12. Also, an annular roof 29 is arranged in the tank 10 in floating relation with respect to the stored liquid; whereby the floating roof 2% rises and falls with respect to the side wall :11 0f the tank 10 in accordance with the head of the body of liquid stored therein. As illustrated, the floating roof 2t) comprises inner structure defining a centrally disposed annular pontoon 21, enter structure defining an outer annular pontoon 22, and connecting structure defining an annular deck 23 disposed between the

pontoons

21 and 22. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the outer annular pontoon 22 comprises upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure 24 spaced radially inwardly from the tank side wall 11 and defining an annular space 25 therebetween.

Arranged within the annular space 25 and carried by thefioating roof 20, is sealing mechanism 30 embodying the features of the present invention. As indicated in FIG. 4, when the roof 26 is floating upon the body of liquid stored in the tank 10, the lower portion of the outer pontoon 22 is submerged therein, the normal liquid level in the tank It} being indicated by the broken line 26. The sealing mechanism 39 essentially comprises, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a hollow tubular hermetically sealed casing 31 formed of flexible nonmetallic sheetlike material that is impervious to the constituents of petroleum products and to Water and to air, the casing 31 including an annular inner side wall 32 secured in fixed sealed engagement with the wall structure 24 adjacent to the upper portion thereof, an annular outer side wall 33 disposed in sliding sealed engagement with the tank side wall 11, an annular bottom wall 34 submerged in the stored liquid, and an annular top wall 35 disposed above the liquid level. In the arrangement, the casing 31 is formed of flexible sheet-like synthetic organic resinous material; and preferably, this sheet material comprises the synthetic rubber composition sold commercially under the name Ensolite Type F by the US. Rubber Company. Specifically, this synthetic rubber composition comprises nitrile rubber modified by polyvinyl chloride resin, the composition containing by weight about 75% of the nitrile rubber; and, in turn, the nitrile rubber comprises copolymers of butadiene acrylonitrile, the butadiene content ranging from about 55% to 80% by weight. This synthetic rubber composition is of the closedrcell type and is of tough cellular construction having the gen eral apeparance of foamed rubber. Moreover, the corn position is capable of vulcanization in a manner entirely similar .to that of natural rubber, but shows superior resistance to oils and solvents in general, and withstands the effects of aging, abrasion and heat much better than natural rubber. Also, this synthetic rubber composition is superior to natural rubber with respect to minimizing swelling thereof in the presence of petroleum products.

Also, the sealing mechanism 30 comprises an annular body or ring 36 of resilient material that is enclosed within the casing 31, which body 36 is essentially formed of synthetic organic resin of open-cell structure; and preferably, the body 36 is formed of foamed polyurethane. In order to predetermine the compression of the body 36 of resilient material, a plurality of radially spaced-apart annular rows of upstanding openings 37 are formed therein, the individual openings 37 in each row being arranged in .circumferentially spaced-apart relation. In the arrangement, the body 36 occupies a major fraction of the volume of the casing 31; and specifically, the body 36 may occupy about 80% of the total volume of the casing 31. Furthermore, the total porosity of the body 36 is about 80%; whereby the. total gas space within the casing 31 is about 85% of the total volume thereof. In the arrangement, the body 36 extends between the inner upstanding annular wall portion 32 and the outer upstanding annular wall portion 33 and serves as a resilient cushion located therebetwcen, the inner and outer upstanding faces of the body 36 being suitably cemented to the adjacent faces of the

wall portions

32 and 33 by intervening layers of cement, not shown, whereby the opposed inner and outer upstanding faces of the body 36 are intimately united by the cement layers mentioned respectively to the adjacent surfaces of the

wall portions

32 and 33 of the casing 31. On the other hand, the bot-tom face of the body 36 is not secured to the adjacent bottom wall portion 34 of the casing 31, so that the bottom wall portion 34 is free to move with respect to the bottom face of the body 36; and likewise, the upper face of the body 36 is spaced Well below the adjacent top wall portion 35 of the casing 31. Accordingly, the principal gas pocket in the casing 31 is formed above the body 36 and directly communicating with the upper ends of the upstanding openings 37 provided through the body 36. The principal gas pocket mentioned defined in the casing 31 is ordinarily filled with air, which, of course, permeates the structure of the porous body 36 since it is of open-cell structure, as previously noted.

The sealing mechanism 30 is retained in its mounted position upon the adjacent outer surface of the upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure 24 of the floating roof 2t and within the annular space 25 and in surrounding relation with the outer pontoon 22 by an arrangement including an upstanding annular ring 38 rigidly secured to the extreme upper end of the upstanding wall structure 24, as by welding, as best shown in FIG. 5; and to this annular ring 38 the sealing mechanism 3b is detachably secured by an arrangement including another surrounding annular ring 39 and a series of circumferentially spaced-apart bolts 40 provided with cooperating nuts 41. In the arrangement, the extreme upper end of the inner wall 32 and the extreme upper end of the top wall 35 of the casing 31 are disposed in facing engagement with each other and positioned between the

clamping rings

38 and 39 and held securely together in clamped relation therebetween so that the hollow casing 31 is hermetically sealed, as previously noted.

Also, the sealing mechanism 3% is retained in place by an arrangement including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart strap-loop devices 50 acting between the casing 31 and the upstanding Wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, each of the strap-loop devices 59 includes a reinforcing pad 51, a first flexible strap element 52, a second flexible strap element 53 and a loop element 54. In the arrangement, the reinforcing pad 51 and each of the

strap elements

52 and 53 are formed of a material that is resistant to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air and may essentially comprise a rubberized woven textile fabric, such, for example, as rubberized canvas, While the loop-like element 54 may be formed of steel. More particularly, the reinforcing pad 51 is securely attached to the lower inner portion of the casing 31; while the loop-like element 54 is securely attached, as by welding, not shown, to the lower portion of the upstanding wall stucture 2d at a location positioned below the bottom wall 34 of the casing 31. Specifically, the reinforcing pad 51 includes an upstanding inner portion 51a positioned over the casing inner side wall 32 and securely affixed thereto, as by stitching, as indicated at 51b; and an outwardly directed outer portion 51c positioned over the casing bottom wall 34 and securely aflixed thereto, as by stitching, as indicated at 51d. The lower end of the first strap element 52 is securely attached to the inner portion 51a of the reinforcing pad 51, as by stitching, as indicated at 52a; and likewise, the lower end of the second strap element 53 is securely attached to the outer portion 51c of the reinforcing paid 51, as by stitching, as indicated at 53a. The intermediate portions of the

strap elements

52 and 53 are threaded through the loop element 54 and extend upwardly between the casing inner side wall 32 and the upstanding wall structure 24. The upper ends of the

strap elements

52 and 53 extend between the outer surface of the clamping ring 38 and the inner surface of the extreme top end of the casing inner side wall 32 and are retained in place by the clamping bolt 40 extending through cooperating holes respectively provided in the upper ends of the

strap elements

52 and 53.

Preferably, the first and

second strap elements

52 and 53 are formed with a single run of material folded upon itself with the fold 55 of the material connecting together the extreme upper ends of the

strap elements

52 and 53, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Accordingly, a first lower section of the first strap element 52 extends between the inner portion 51a of the reinforcing pad 51 and the loop element 54 and a first lower section of the second strap element 53 extends between the outer portion 510 of the reinforcing pad 51 and the loop ele- Inent 54, second upper sections of the

strap elements

52 and 53 extend upwardly between the loop element 54 and the clamping ring 38 carried at the top of the upstanding wall structure 24, and the fold 55 connecting together the extreme upper ends of the

strap elements

52 and 53 is disposed above the clamping arrangement including the

clamping rings

38 and 39 and the cooperating clamping bolt 40, as best illustrated in FIG. 5.

In view of the foregoing, it wil be understood that as the floating roof 2%? rises and falls in the tank 10, it carries therewith the sealing mechanism 30 filling a substantial portion of the annular space 25 between the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22 and the cylindrical side wall 11 of the tank and maintaining a seal therebetween, so as to minimize the evaporation of petroleum products from the body thereof stored in the tank 10. Moreover, the strap-loop devices 50 prevent the hollow casing 31 of the sealing mechanism 30 from rolling upwardly with respect to the upstanding wall structure 24 incident to downward movement of the floating roof with respect to the tank side wall 11 and maintain the inner annular wall portion 32 of the hollow casing 31 firmly pressed into fixed sealed engage ment with adjacent upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22. Also, the resilient body 37, sealed within the hollow casing 21 of the sealing mechanism 30, maintains the outer annular wall portion 33 in firm sliding sealed engagement with the tank side wall 11 in the vertical movement of the floating roof 2% with re spect to the tank side wall 11. Further, the securing of the inner and

outer wall portions

32 and 33 of the hollow casing 31 to the adjacent surfaces or faces of the body 36 prevents respective slippages therebetween incident to the vertical movements of the floating roof 20 with respect to the tank side wall 11. Furthermore, the resiliency of the body 36 maintains firm compression between the

opposed wall portions

32 and 33 of the hollow casing 31, notwithstanding substantial sidewise movements of the floating roof 2%) with respect to the tank side wall 11, that occur particularly during substantial wind storms. Also, it will be understood that the porous character of the body 36 accommodates free pumping action of the air hermetically sealed within the casing 31 between the principal gas pocket therein and the structure of the body 36 incident to expansion or contraction of a segment of the hollow casing 31 as a consequence of side wise movements of the floating roof 20 with respect to the tank side wall 11. In the arrangement, the bottom wall portion 34 of the hollow casing 31 is maintained in submerged relation with respect to the liquid stored in the tank 10, and regardless of the vertical movements and the sidewise movements of the floating roof 20 with respect to the tank side wall 11, thereby to prevent the formation of a gas pocket in the lower portion of the annular space disposed below the bottom wall portion 34 of the hollow casing 31, so as to minimize the fire hazard inherent in the storage of petroleum products.

In installing the sealing mechanism in the annular space 25 disposed between the tank side wall 11 and the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22, the annular casing 31 is prefabricated enclosing the resilient body 36 and carrying the circumferentially spaced-apart reinforcing pads 51 that, in turn, carry the corresponding pairs of

strap elements

52, 53. The floating roof 20 is supported within the tank 10 somewhat above the bottom wall thereof and spaced radially inwardly with respect to the tank side wall 11. The casing 31 of the sealing mechanism 30 is placed in the annular space defined between the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22 and the tank side wall 11. The fold or handle portions 55 of the

strap elements

52, 53 are threaded upwardly through the adjacent loop elements 54 carried by the lower portion of the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22. The loop or handle portions 55 of the

strap elements

52, 53 are then pulled upwardly between the casing inner side wall 32 and the upstanding wall srtucture 24 so as to cause the casing 31 to ride downwardly and inwardly into proper supported position with respect to the outer surface of the upstanding wall structure 24. In the arrangement, the holes that are provided through the outer end portions of each pair of the

strap elements

52 and 53 are prelocated so that these holes mentioned fall in alignment with the adjacent hole formed in the upper clamping ring 38, when the

strap elements

52, 53 are pulled taut locating the casing 31 in proper position with respect to the adjacent outer surface of the upstanding wall structure 24. At this time, the clamping bolt 40 may be drifted or inserted through the adjacent hole provided in the clamping ring 38 and thence through the aligned holes provided in the

strap elements

52 and 53 through the aligned holes provided in the upper edges of the

wall elements

32 and 35 of the casing 31 and through the aligned hole provided in the outer clamping ring 39; whereby the associated nut 41 may be located upon the outer threaded end of the clamping bolt 40 so as to retain together the assembly.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the strap-loop devices 50 not only retain the casing of the sealing mechanism 30 in proper position in the annular space 25 and secured to the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22 after the final assembly has been made of the sealing mechanism 30 upon the upstanding wall structure 24, but these strap-loop devices 50 facilitate ready field assembly of the sealing mechanism 30 in the annular space 25 between the tank side wall 11 and the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22 incident to installation of the sealed mechanism 30, as described immediately above.

Further, the floating roof 20 carries weather hood mechanism 64) that is preferably of the construction and arrangement of that disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,997,200, granted on August 22, 1961 to Anthony P. Giannini and Eli F. Smith; which weather hood mechanism 64 is of composite construction including an annular array of a plurality individual plate-like hood segments 61. The composite weather hood mechanism 60 is pitched radially upwardly and outwardly from the floating roof 20 and over the upper portion of the upstanding wall structure 24 of the outer pontoon 22 and over the annular space 25 in which the sealing mechanism 30 is arranged and with the outer circumferential edge thereof disposed adjacent to the tank side wall 11 and with the inner circumferential edge thereof disposed radially inwardly of the upstanding wall structure 24. More particularly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart and upwardly directed brackets 62 are carried by the annular clamping ring 38 just above the top of the upstanding wall structure 24 and receive the inner edges of the hood segments 61 mounting the same for individual vertical pivotal movements with respect thereto, as best shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, each of the brackets 62 may be of generally Z-shaped configuration, including an arm 63 disposed in direct engagement with the adjacent inner surface of the annular clamping ring 38 and secured in place by the adjacent clamping bolt 40 that is employed for the purpose of securing in place the sealing mechanism 30, as previously explained.

Also, each of the brackets 62 comprises an arm 64 disposed above the adjacent upper surface of the received hood segment 61, as well as a body 65 disposed below the adjacent lower portion of the received hood segment 61. In the arrangement, two of the brackets 62 may be employed for the purpose of mounting each one of the hood segments 61 upon the floating roof 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3; and moreover, the hood segments 61 are detachably secured in place by a plurality of locking pins 66 respectively carried by the brackets 62. More particularly, each of the locking pins 66 extends through a pair of aligned holes respectively provided in the

portions

64 and 65 of the associated bracket 62 and also through an aligned hole provided in the associated hood segment 61 adjacent to the inner edge thereof that is received between the

elements

64 and 65 of the bracket 62.

In the arrangement, the

elements

64 and 65 of each of the brackets 62 are disposed inwardly with respect to the annular clamping ring 38 so that the inner edge of the received hood segment 61 overhangs the floating roof 20 in order to accommodate shedding of rain water from the hood segments 61 onto the floating roof 20. The upper and

lower elements

64 and 65 of each of the brackets 62 are respectively disposed above and below the adjacent inner edge of the received hood segment 61, as previously noted, and cooperate therewith to limit the vertical pivotal movements of the hood segment 61 through an angle disposed well above the horizontal and well below the vertical, thereby 'to prevent the hood segment 61 from being trapped between the tank side wall 11 and the wall structure 24 incident to movement of the roof 20 sidewise into a position of maximum clearance with respect to the tank side wall 11 and to prevent the hood segment 61 from folding back onto the top of the roof 20 incident to movement of the roof 20 sidewise into a position of minimum clearance with respect to the tank side wall 11. Accordingly, it will be understood that the mounting arrangement including the brackets 62 limits the vertical pivotal movements of the hood segments 61; while the removable locking pins 66 accommodate ready removal of the individual hood segments 61 from the composite weather hood 60 for the purpose of inspection and repair of the sealing mechanism 39 disposed therebelow.

In the arrangement of the weather hood segments 61 in the composite weather hood 60, the end edges thereof are disposed in overlapped sliding relation to render the composite weather hood continuous while preserving relative vertical pivotal movements of the individual hood segments 61 about the inner edges thereof upon the brackets 62; and from a practical standpoint, each of the hood segments 61 may be substantially rectangular, although it is preferable that the outer edge thereof be slightly contoured so as substantially to conform to the corressponding arcuate segment of the adjacent portion of the tank side wall 11, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Further, the composite weather hood 60 comprises a composite bumper ring in the form of an annular array of a plurality of individual bumper segments 71 respectively carried by the outer edges of the individual hood segments 61 and disposed in sliding engagement with the tank side wall 11, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. More particularly, each of the bumper segments 71 includes a substantially tubular flexible outer casing 7-2 secured to the carrying hood segment 61 in embracing relation with the outer edge thereof and disposed in sliding engagement with the adjacent portion of the tank side wall 11, as shown in FIG. 4. Also each of the bumper segments 71 includes a yieldable inner element 73 enclosed by the outer casing 72 and imparting resiliency thereto so as to cause the outer casing 72 to conform to the engaged adjacent portion of the tank side wall 11. In the arrangement, the inner element 73 may have a tubular configuration that is slit longitudina'lly to receive the adjacent outer edge of the carrying hood segment 61 and the casing 72 is tightly wrapped around the inner element 73, the inner edges of the casing 72 being suitably secured in place upon the ad jacent outer portion of the carrying hood segment 61 by an arrangement including upper and lower substantially

arcuate clamping members

74 and 75 secured in place by a series of m'vets 76, or the like, as best shown in FIG. 4. This arrangement of the inner element 73 within the outer casing 72 renders the bumper segment 71 as a whole yieldable with respect to the adjacent portion of the tank side wall 11; and also the inner position of the inner element 73 within the casing 72 prevents knifing of the outer casing 72 by the extreme outer edge 8 of the hood segment 61 against the adjacent portion of the tank side wall 11, thereby contributing to a long useful life of the bumper segment 71.

As best shown in FIG. 3 and in conjunction with the entrally disposed hood segment 61 there illustrated, the left-hand end of the casing 72 terminates adjacent to the associated left-hand end of the centrally disposed hood segment 61, while the right-hand end of the casing 72 projects circumferentially somewhat beyond the adjacent right-hand end of the centrally disposed hood segment 61, whereby the right-hand end of the casing 72 of the centrally disposed bumper segment 71 overlaps in telescopic relation the left-hand end of the casing 72 of the adjacent right-hand bumper segment 71; and whereby the right-hand end of the casing 72 of the left-hand bumper segment 71 overlaps in telescopic relation the left-hand end of the casing 72 of the centrally disposed bumper segment 71. The above-described arrangement of the adjacent ends of the individual bumper segments 71 in the composite bumper ring rendering the same continuous, 'while preserving relatively vertical pivotal movements of the individual bumper segments 71 with the respective carrying ones of the individual hood segments 61, whereby the continuity of the composite weather hood and of the composite bumper ring are preserved, notwithstanding vertical p-ivotal movements of the individual hood segments '61 and of the individual bumper segments 71 incident to sidewise movements of the roof 20 with respect to the tank side wall 11.

In the construction of the bumper ring segment 71, the inner resilient element 73 may comprise an appropriate length of rubber hose or other suitable resilient material, while the outer casing 72 is formed of a suitable sealing fabric. For example, the casing 72 may essentially comprise a textile sheet that is impregnated with synthetic onganic resinou material, such, for example, as the previously mentioned synthetic rubber composition sold commercially under the trade name Ensolite Type F.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that in the composite weather hood, the continuity of both the hood segments 61 in the annular array thereof and the continuity of the bumper ring segments 71 in the annular array thereof are preserved, notwithstanding vertical pivotal movements of the individual hood segments 61 upon the cooperating pairs of brackets 62 incident to sidewise movements of the floating roof 20 with respect to the side wall 11 of. the tank 10. Of course, it will be appreciated that the composite weather hood mechanism 69 carrying the composite bumper ring in sliding engagement with the interior surface of the tank side wall 11 protects the annular space 25 containing the sealing mechanism 30 against the entry thereinto of rain and other elements of weather, as well as foreign materials; and moreover, the composite weather hood mechanism 60 insures that rain is shed downwardly thereover onto the underlying peripheral edge portion of the floating roof 20 and thus drained away from the protected annular space 25. The mechanism for draining the rain water from the floating roof 20 to the exterior is not disclosed in detail since this draining mechanism may be of any suitable conventional arrangement.

'In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided in a tank for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, and including a floating roof, an improved sealing mechanism for the annular space disposed between the upstanding side wall of the tank and the upstanding Wall structure of the floating roof, wherein the sealing mechanism is of the tubular seal type and comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart strap-loop devices of improved construction and arrangement acting between the casing of the tubular seal and the wall structure of the floating roof for positively preventing the casing from ridingup the tank side wall and out of the annular space during downward movement of p the floating roof with respect to the tank side wall; which strap loop devices are also useful in effecting easy assembly and installation of the sealing mechanism upon the adjacent upstanding annular wall structure of the floating roof.

While there has been described what is at present con sidered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tank for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, including an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall, and a floating roof arranged in said tank and including upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure spaced radially inwardly from said tank side wall and defining a substantially annular space therebetween; sealing mechanism for said annular space comprising a substantially annular hermetically sealed casing arranged in said annuler space, means for attaching the upper portion of said casing to said roof so that it is movable therewith with respect to said tank side wall, said casing being of hollow tubular configuration and formed of flexible nonmetallic sheet-like material that is impervious to the constituents of petroluem products and to water and to air, said casing including annular inner and outer side walls arranged in opposing spaced-apart relation and also annular bottom and top walls arranged in opposing spacedapart relation, said casing inner side wall being disposed in engagement and fixed sealed relation with said wall structure and said casing outer side wall being disposed in engagement and sliding sealed relation with said tank side wall, said casing bottom wall being submerged in the stored liquid and said casing top wall being disposed well above the level of the stored liquid, a substantially annular body of self-supporting resilient material of cellular structure enclosed by said casing and extending between said casing inner and outer side walls and constituting a resilient cushion to urge said casing inner side wall into firm sealed relation with said wall structure and to urge said casing outer side wall into firm sealed relation with said tank side wall during both vertical movements and sidewise movements of said roof with respect to said tank side wall, and means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart strap-loop devices acting between said casing and said wall structure for positively preventing said casing from riding-up said tank side wall and out of said annular space during downward movement of said roof with respect to said tank side wall; each of said strap-loop devices including a flexible strap element that is resistant to the constituents of petroleum prod nets and to water and to air, the lower portion of said strap element being attached to the lower portion of said casing and the upper portion of said strap element being attached to the upper portion of said wall structure, and a loop element carried by the lower portion of said wall structure and receiving the intermediate portion of said strap element and drawing the same taut between the lower and upper portions thereof, whereby a first section of said strap element extends between the lower portion of said casing and said loop element and a second section of said strap element extends between said loop element and the upper portion of said wall structure, and whereby the second section of said strap element is arranged between said wall structure and said casing inner side wall.

2. In a tank for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, including an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall, and a floating roof arranged in said tank and including upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure spaced radially inwardly from said tank side wall and defining a substantially annular space therebetween; sealing mechanism for said annular space comprising a substantially annular hermetically sealed casing arranged in said annular space, means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart fastening elements carried by the upper portion of said wall structure for attaching the upper portion of said casing thereto so that said casing is movable with said roof with respect to said tank side wall, said casing being of hollow tubular configuration and formed of flexible nonmetallic sheet-like material that is impervious to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air, said casing including annular inner and outer side walls arranged in opposing spaced-apart relation and also annular bottom and top walls arranged in opposing spaced-apart relation, said casing inner side wall being disposed in engagement and fixed sealed relation with said wall structure and said casing outer side wall being disposed in engagement and sliding sealed relation with said tank side Wall, said casing bottom wall being submerged in the stored liquid and said casing top wall being disposed well above the level of the stored liquid, a substantially annular body of self-supporting resilient material of cellular structure enclosed by said casing and extending between said casing inner and outer side walls and constituting a resilient cushion to urge said casing inner side Wall into firm sealed relation with said wall structure and to urge said casing outer side wall into firm sealed relation with said tank side wall during both vertical movements and sidewise movements of said roof with respect to said tank side wall, and means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart strap-loop devices acting between said casing and said wall structure for positively preventing said casing from riding-up said tank side wall and out of said annular space during downward movement of said roof with respect to said tank side wall; each of said straploop devices including a flexible strap element that is resistant to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air, means for attaching the lower portion of said strap element to the lower portion of said casing, means including one of said fastening elements for attaching the upper portion of said strap element to the upper portion of said wall structure, and a loop element carried by the lower portion of said wall structure and receiving the intermediate portion of said strap element and drawing the same taut between the lower and upper portions thereof, whereby a first section of said strap element extends between the lower portion of said casing and said loop element and a second section of said strap element extends between said loop element and the upper portion of said wall structure, and whereby the second section of said strap element is arranged between said wall structure and said casing inner side wall.

3. The sealing mechanism set forth in claim 1, wherein said strap element essentially comprises a woven fabric.

4. In a tank for storing liquids, such as petroleum products, including an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall, and a floating roof arranged in said tank and including upstanding substantially cylindrical wall structure spaced radially inwardly from said tank side wall and defining a substantially annular space therebetween; sealing mechanism for said annular space comprising a substantially annular hermetically sealed casing arranged in said annular space, means for attaching the upper portion of said casing to said roof so that it is movable therewith with respect to said tank side wall, said casing being of hollow tubular configuration and formed of flexible nonmetallic sheet-like material that is impervious to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air, said casing including annular inner and outer side Walls arranged in opposing spaced-apart relation and also annular bottom and top Walls arranged in opposing spaced-apart relation, said casing inner side wall being disposed in engagement and fixed sealed relation with said wall structure and said casing outer side wall being disposed in engagement and sliding sealed relation with said tank side wall, said casing bottom wall being submerged in the stored liquid and said casing top wall being disposed well above the level of the stored liquid, a substantially annular body of self-supporting resilient material of cellular structure enclosed by said casing and extending between said casing inner and outer side walls and constituting a resilient cushion to urge said casing inner side wall into firm sealed relation with said wall structure and to urge said casing outer side wall into finn sealed relation with said tank side wall during both vertical movements and sidewise movements of said roof with respect to said tank side wall, and means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart strap-loop devices acting between said casing and said wall structure for positively preventing said casing from riding up said tank side wall and out of said annular space during downward movement of said roof with respect to said tank side wall; each of said strap-loop devices including a reinforcing pad that is resistant to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air, said reinforcing pad being attached to the lower portion of said casing with an inner portion of said reinforcingpad positioned over said casing inner side wall and with an outer portion of said reinforcing pad positioned over said casing bottom wall, first and second flexible strap elements that are resistant to the constituents of petroleum products and to water and to air, the lower end of said first strap element being attached to the inner portion of said reinforcing pad and. the upper end of said first strap element being attached to the upper portion of said wall structure, the lower end of said second strap eleinent being attached to the outer portion of said reinforcing pad and the upper end of said second strap element being attached to the upper portion of said wall structure, and a loop element carried by the lower portion of said wall structure and receiving the intermediate portions of said strap elements and drawing the same taut between the respective lower and upper ends thereof, whereby a first section of said first strap element extends between the inner portion of said reinforcing pad and said loop element and a first section of said second strap element extends between the outer portion of said reinforcing pad and said loop element and second sections of said strap elements extend between said loop element and the upper portion of said wall structure, and whereby the second sections of said strap elements are arranged between said wall structure and said casing inner side wall.

5, The sealing mechanism set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second strap elements are formed of a single run of material folded upon itself with the fold of the material connecting together the upper ends of said strap elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,033,413 Fino et al. May 8, 1962 3,043,468 Horner July 10, 1962 3,055,533 Reese et al Sept. 25, 1962 3,075,663 Reese Jan. 29, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 834,070 Great Britain Dec. 6, 1961

Claims

1. IN A TANK FOR STORING LIQUIDS, SUCH AS PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL, AND A FLOATING ROOF ARRANGED IN SAID TANK AND INCLUDING UPSTANDING SUBSTANIALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL STRUCTURE SPACED RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM SAID TANK SIDE WALL AND DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN; SEALING MECHANISM FOR SAID ANNULAR SPACE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR HERMETICALLY SEALED CASING ARRANGED IN SAID ANNULER SPACE, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CASING TO SAID ROOF SO THAT IT IS MOVABLE THEREWITH WITH RESPECT TO SAID TANK SIDE WALL, SAID CASING BEING OF HOLLOW TUBULAR CONFIGURATION AND FORMED OF FLEXIBLE NONMETALLIC SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL THAT IS IMPERVIOUS TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND TO WATER AND TO AIR, SAID CASING INCLUDING ANNULAR INNER AND OUTER SIDE WALLS ARRANGE IN OPOOSING SPACED-APART RELATION AND ALSO ANNULAR BOTTOM AND TOP WALLS ARRANGED IN OPPOSING SPACEDAPART RELATION, SAID CASING INNER SIDE WALL BEING DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT AND FIXED SEALED RELATION WITH SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND SAID CASING OUTER SIDE WALL BEING DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT AND SLIDING SEALED RELATION WITH SAID TANK SIDE WALL, SAID CASING BOTTOM WALL BEING SUBMERGED IN THE STORED LIQUID AND SID CASING TOP WALL BEING DISPOSED WELL ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE STORED LIQUID, A SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR BODY OF SELF-SUPPORTING RESILIENT MATERIAL OF CELLULAR STRUCTURE ENCLOSED BY SAID CASING AND EXTENDING BWTWEEN SAID CASING INNER AND OUTER SIDE WALLS AND CONSTITUTING A RESILIENT CUSHION TO URGE SAID CASING INNER SIDE ALL INTO FIRM SEALED RELATION WITH SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND TO URGE SAID CASING OUTER SIDE WALL INTO FRIM SEALED RELATION WITH SAID TANK SIDE ALL DURING BOTH VERTICAL MOVEMENTS AND SIDEWISE MOVEMENTS OF SAID ROOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID TANK SIDE WALL, AND MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED-APART STRAP-LOOP DEVICES ACTING BETWEEN SAID CASING AND SAID WALL STRUCTURE FOR POSITVELY PREVENTING SAID CASING FROM RIDING-UP SAID TANK SIDE WALL AND OUT OF SAID ANNULAR SPACE DURING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ROOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID TANK SIDE WALL; EACH OF SAID STRAP-LOOPDEVICES INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE STRAP ELEMENT THAT IS RESISTANT TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND TO WATER AND TO AIR, THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID STRAP ELEMENT BEING ATTACHED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CASING AND THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID STRAP ELEMENT BEING ATTACHED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID WALL STRUCURE, AND A LOOP ELEMENT CARRIED BY THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND RECEIVING THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID STRAP ELEMENT AND DRAWING THE SAME TAUT BETWEEN THE LOWER AND UPPER PORTIONS THEREOF, WHEREBY A FIRST SECTION OF SAID STRAP ELEMENT EXTENDS BETWEEN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CASING AND SAID LOOP ELEMENT AND A SECOND SECTION OF SAID STRAP ELEMENT EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID LOOP ELEMENT AND THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE, AND WHEREBY THE SECOND SECTION OF SAID STRAP ELEMENT IS ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND SAID CASING INNER SIDE WALL.