Abstract: In combination, a tank and a support system located about a circular horizontal section of the tank, the support system comprising a plurality of essentially identical composite supporting units spaced around the circular horizontal section, with each said supporting unit being joined to the tank and to a base, each supporting unit having a vertical key with radial contact faces located between and in slidable contact with a pair of opposing vertical faces of a keyway, each supporting unit having a vertical coupling comprising a sleeve with a cylindrical element located therein, with either the sleeve or the cylindrical element being stationary and the other being rotatable about a vertical axis during assembly of the support system, the vertical key or the keyway being joined to whichever of the sleeve or the cylindrical element is rotatable during assembly and the other of the vertical key or keyway is joined to the base.

Abstract: A spherical tank has at the equatorial plane a projection for cooperation with a supporting skirt, the projection and adjoining components forming a groove with a rounded bottom, the groove bottom area having a cross-section with neutral axes deflected toward each other.

Abstract: A vessel having at least one container for the transportation of cooled, liquefied gas or the like, the vessel having at least one cargo hold located below the deck of the vessel, side tanks below the deck extending transversely outwardly of the cargo hold, and the transverse cross-sectional area of the cargo hold being slightly less than the maximum cross-sectional area of the container so that the container is supported by the cargo hold whereby the lower portion of the container extends only slightly downwardly within an open top portion of the cargo hold.

Abstract: A low temperature liquified gas storage tank is supported in the hull of a ship by a plurality of chocks secured to and spaced peripherally around the tank and by chock engaging members carried by the ship's hull. Pressure resistant heat insulating pads disposed between the chocks and the chock engaging members are arranged to provide sliding surfaces which support the tank horizontally and vertically and permit thermal contracting and expanding movements of the tank relative to the ship's hull and which compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the chocks and the chock engaging members.

Abstract: Ship having heat insulating compartments built into the framework of the ship has successive first sealing, first insulating, second sealing and second insulating barriers forming the compartment wall. The second sealing barrier is held to the hull of the ship by a fastener passing through the second insulating barrier. This fastener comprises an elongated stud welded to the hull of the ship, a head carried by the stud and a member fixed to the second insulating barrier and fastened to the head. The arrangement is such as to permit relative movement between the second insulating barrier and the hull substantially parallel to the hull.

Abstract: A container for liquefied gas in which a vapor-tight sealing layer is placed on the inside of an outer layer of reinforced concrete. On the inside of the vapor-tight sealing layer, a heat insulating layer is deposited consisting of closed-cell synthetic resin foam.

Abstract: A double wall tank for the transportation of cryogenic materials such as liquefied natural gas by ship. The inner wall of the tank is the primary barrier and defines the cargo space. The primary barrier is substantially planar and is liquid and gas-impervious. A plurality of primary structural support webs are welded to the inner surface of the primary barrier and extend into the cargo space. The primary structural support webs preferably comprise a plurality of web rings extending between the centerline longitudinal bulkhead and the sides of the inner tank and having plurality of tension trusses extending transversely in the inner tank and connecting opposite sides of the web rings. A plurality of stiffeners are welded to the outer surface of the primary barrier and extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the primary structural support webs. The outer wall of the tank is the secondary barrier, is spaced from the primary barrier and is supported by the stiffeners.

Abstract: The tank ship is made of monolithic reinforced concrete and is formed with two symmetrical, longitudinal chambers for tanks, and an intermediate space for the operating mechanisms thereof. The massive reinforced concrete slabs which form the ship are reinforced partly by prestressed steel tendons and partly by mild (non-stressed) steel rods. The prestressed tendons running lengthwise of the ship are unspliced. The transverse bulkheads forming the ends of the tanks are curved in two directions, e.g. in the form of sections of hemispheres. Insulation is provided on the interior surface of the tank chambers and on both sides of the bulkheads.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for transporting a natural gas in the form of a hydrate. The method utilizes the pressure and temperature conditions of a submerged vessel to facilitate the formation and maintenance of natural gas as a hydrate during the subsea voyage and the subsequent reconversion of the hydrate to a natural gas when the destination of the vessel is reached.The submarine vessel can have: supplementary refrigeration, a hold or void in which a natural gas is hydrated, and a membrane pervious to gas and water within the hold. In the vicinity of the hold bottom are situated gas conductors with spargers through which the natural gas is pumped into the hold. Adjacent to them are cold-water distributor pipes through which water is pumped into the hold for forming a gas hydrate and for removing the heat of formation.The membrane is spaced from the interior wall of the hold so that a gap around and within the hold is formed.

Abstract: A heat insulation structure for a liquefied gas storage tank is disclosed which comprises a plurality of heat insulation sandwich structure units attached to the outer tank shell. Each sandwich structure unit comprises a plurality of core members or ribs arrayed in spaced apart relation and sandwiched by a top and bottom plate members, and insulating materials filled into the spaces defined by the core members and the top and bottom plate members, and each core member or rib comprises a pair of plywood sheet members spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance by spacers, and insulating materials filled into the space or spaces defined by the sheet members and spacers. The above construction not only gives much strength to the heat insulation structure in addition to the improved ability to interrupt heat conduction, but also reduces the fabrication cost.

Abstract: A ship having large, internally insulated, self-supporting spherical tanks for transport of liquefied gases is described. Different insulation materials are presented. Control systems for the insulation is provided. Also a method for applying the insulation is disclosed.

Abstract: A device for supporting a rigid tank for very cold or hot fluids in a vehicle comprising a continuous annular horizontal foot-plate surrounding and integral with a tank and freely resting on a continuous annular bed-plate forming the top of the resiliently bearing base secured to the vehicle structure and surrounding the tank, heat insulating material being interposed between said foot- and bed-plates and consisting of blocks juxtaposed to form a ring with the top surface of which the foot-plate is in sliding contact.

Abstract: A cryogenic fuel tank of a cylindrical design having toroidal surface ends, is suspended in aircraft structure through a central front mount member; and the rear of the tank is supported by rod elements which extend: from a mounting ring about the tank, to mount points rearwardly within the interior of the fuselage. The central front mount member has a baffles attached thereto, so as to prevent undue sloshing of the liquid within the tank. The front end of the tank suspension absorbs radial and axial loads, but no bending moments; and the aft linkage suspension arrangement takes primarily radial and torsional loads. Also the aft suspension provides for unrestrained axial and radial contraction and expansion of the outer shell of the tank.

Abstract: A wall structure of a low temperature liquefied gas tanker ship of a type which comprises a hull structure, a compression resistant heat insulating layer and an inner membraneous vessel, characterized by a dish-like secondary barrier wall which covers only a lower portion of the inner membraneous vessel, an upper edge portion of the dish-like secondary barrier wall being bent outwardly to form a flange-like portion which traverses the heat insulating layer and is fluid-tightly connected to the hull structure.

Abstract: A storage tank having a unique geometric shape and adapted to contain a liquid or a compressed gas at pressures above atmospheric pressure. The tank can be made of special materials for low temperature applications. The weight of the tank and its contents is carried on an integral supporting structure advantageously located at the lower corners of the tank. Since the tank is a single walled, pressure-type vessel, it can be utilized in the transportation of liquid natural gas without the need for a secondary liquid-tight barrier.

Abstract: Improved system for mounting an aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank within and integrating such tank to an outer ferrous metal envelope or hull structure wherein improved composite aluminum-ferrous metal transition insert elements are employed to interconnect the exterior surfaces of the aluminum tank to the interior surfaces of the ferrous metal envelope or hull structure.

Abstract: A ship having a hold with a bottom, and a vertically positioned tank with a top and bottom standing in gravity support on the hold bottom, said tank having a portion circular in horizontal section between the tank top and tank bottom, a circular restraining wall horizontally positioned around the tank, and equally spaced from, the circular portion of the tank, and a plurality of pairs of cross-braces joined to the cylindrical portion of the tank and extending therefrom and joined to the circular restraining wall, said cross-braces accommodating expansion and contraction of the tank with temperature change while providing support against lateral movement of the tank during pitching and rolling of the ship.

Abstract: An arrangement for the transport of low-temperature fluids, especially liquefied gases such as natural gas (i.e. methane) in a vehicle such as a sea-going vessel having a thermally insulated cargo compartment. The liquefied-gas storage container, composed of metal, has at least one side extending generally parallel to the wall of the compartment and is secured thereto against displacement perpendicular to this wall with at least one degree of freedom of movement relative to this wall in a direction parallel thereto. The storage container is constituted of a multiplicity of individual upright receptacles fastened together at theri outer peripheries at upper and lower portions into at least one group of receptacles capable of thermal expansion and contraction, the storage container being anchored to the juxtaposed wall of the cargo compartment at upper and lower portions enabling relative horizontal movement of the container parallel to the wall.

Abstract: An insulation system for marine tanker or land based liquid natural gas containers is formed in prefabricated modules bolted to an inner wall of the container. Adjacent modules are connected to provide a continuous insulation, liquid barrier and tension membrane. The confined liquid is in contact with a layer of closed cell polyurethane foam that incorporates means for relieving thermal stresses. The liquid tight primary foam layer is backed by a liquid tight fiberglass tension membrane and an additional layer of polyurethane foam. The fiberglass membrane is connected to cruciform fittings in the tank corners for reaction of contraction induced tensile forces. Handling and installation of the system is simplified by prefabricating the several layers of insulation and fiberglass membrane with a plywood panel supporting the system and providing an interface with the inner hull of the ship or inner tank surface. Damage and leak detection sensors are incorporated in the module at the membrane.