Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm J. Rolnicki
  • Patent number: 6408864
    Abstract: A silo type storage tank includes a clean-in-place system comprising a flush opening having an edge transition located at about four and one half inches below the weld seam joining the tank top to the sidewall and fed by an upwardly angled channel in the tank sidewall arranged at approximately 23 degrees from the interior surface of the tank sidewall. The edge transition comprises a chamfer along most of the circumference with an undercut formed along the upper portion of said edge transition. Alternately, a second spray or “helper” tube may be provided that has its opening aligned to spray cleaning fluid immediately beneath the flush opening so that cleaning fluid flowing through the tank sidewall opening and the helper tube washes the entire interior surfaces of the tank. In still another embodiment, a spike may be provided in the spray path instead of a helper tube to divert the spray so that a complete clean-in-place function is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Paul Mueller Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Brunson, Kevin W. Bartholomaus