Floating Closure Patents (Class 220/216)
  • Patent number: 11067313
    Abstract: A floating platform for solar panels is provided. The floating platform may include a plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates may have a ballast chamber filled with a ballast material. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a float chamber disposed over the ballast chamber. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a channel passing through the ballast chamber and the float chamber. The channel may further have one or more openings to pass water into the ballast chamber and an opening to pass air from the channel. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a locking member. Each of the plurality of plates may further have one or more connection sections for placing one or more strap assemblies. The strap assemblies may be provided for disposing one or more solar panels on the plurality of plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SolarStrap Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Port
  • Patent number: 10905908
    Abstract: A dome-based cyclic inert sealing system for an external floating roof tank includes the external floating roof tank, a dome structure, an inert sealing pipeline, and a gas source servo device; wherein the dome structure is formed by a top portion of a tank wall of the external floating roof tank for sealing; the dome structure together with an internal wall of the external floating roof tank, a floating plate and a sealing device form a gas phase space which is isolated from atmosphere, so as to fill the gas phase space with an inert sealing medium; the inert sealing medium is a gas fire-fighting medium used in a suffocation fire-fighting method; the gas source servo device is connected to the gas phase space through the inert sealing pipeline and communicates through a valve for feedback-controlling states of the inert sealing medium in the gas phase space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Qiangdan Sun
  • Patent number: 10701871
    Abstract: A system for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight comprises hydrophilic balls distributed on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area. The balls have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15-1.0. The balls comprise recycled glass and air-entrapping pores. The hydrophilic surfaces of the balls provide a total wetted surface area after the distribution greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water, facilitating the cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Leslie A Field
  • Patent number: 10589827
    Abstract: A structure for stabilizing a barrel on a pontoon vessel includes a deck structure. First And second hull frame members are affixed to the deck structure and extend therealong. In spaced relationship to each other. A first and second conduit extends along a respective hull frame member; the first conduit being spaced from the second conduit by a distance to receive a portion of a barrel therebetween and each conduit contacting the barrel above a barrel central line. A strap having a first end anchored near the first conduit, and tracing a path from the anchor beneath, and in contact with, the barrel disposed between the first conduit in the second conduit, along the second conduit, and returning to the first conduit by tracing a path from the second conduit to the first conduit beneath and in contact with the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Cruisin' Tikis, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory B. Darby
  • Patent number: 10384866
    Abstract: A floating roof monitoring system and method. One or more sensors can be disposed atop a liquid storage tank having a floating roof covering liquid stored in the liquid storage tank. Each laser sensor measures the distance between the sensor and the floating roof. One or more liquid level gauges can be deployed, which measure a liquid position of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank. A computing system communicates electronically with the laser sensor(s) and the liquid level gauge(s) to calculate the difference between the liquid position and the distance between the sensor(s) and the floating roof to determine the exact position of the floating roof and activate an alarm or force a process associated with the liquid storage tank to halt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Joosten, Ard van Schie, Frank van Bekkum
  • Patent number: 10209008
    Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer device that is capillary-driven or gravity-driven, has a two-phase working fluid contained in a closed general circuit, including an evaporator, a condenser, a reservoir having an inner volume with a liquid portion and a gas portion, a first vapor communication circuit, and a second liquid phase communication circuit. The reservoir comprises a plurality of floating bodies separating the liquid portion from the gas portion, by means of which the heat exchanges between the liquid portion and the gas portion are slowed down, which allows to diminish the effect of movement of the liquid portion or of an influx of cold or warm liquid into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EURO HEAT PIPES
    Inventor: Vincent Dupont
  • Patent number: 10182492
    Abstract: An airtight structure includes a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a second plate mounted on the second surface of the first plate, a wick structure mounted between the first plate and the second plate, a first fixed pin welded with the first plate and the second plate, and a second fixed pin welded with the first plate and the second plate. The second plate bonds to form a cup portion. The cup portion and the first plate together define a cavity. The wick structure is received in the cavity, a bottom surface of the cup portion forms a first through hole for receiving the first fixed pin therein. An outer periphery of the cup portion forms a second through hole. The second through hole is spaced apart from the first through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: CHAMP TECH OPTICAL (FOSHAN) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiao-Yu Zhao, Chi-Yuan Lai, Meng Fu
  • Patent number: 10034483
    Abstract: An improved weight for use in fermenting vessels (e.g., glazed ceramic fermenting crocks) comprises a multi-sectioned weight made from a non-porous material. The non-porous material is preferably glass, and the glass is preferably non-leaded. In one embodiment, a number of sections of the multi-sectioned weight is 2, and in another embodiment, the number of sections is 4. Use of non-porous material renders the weight impenetrable by the fermenting liquid, and also by mold, harmful bacteria, and/or foul smells that may occur if something goes wrong during the fermentation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventors: Emily S. Kociolek, Krzysztof J. Kociolek
  • Patent number: 9926044
    Abstract: A full contact pontoon floating deck is revealed. An upper and a lower assembly grooves are disposed concavely on an upper and a lower ends of each of two sides of a pontoon respectively. A connecting rod is connected to the two pontoons by upper connecting members and lower connecting members. One end of the upper connecting member and one end of the lower connecting member are connected to the upper and the lower assembly grooves of the pontoon respectively by upper and lower assembly members while an upper and a lower connecting portions on the other end of the upper and the lower connecting members are connected to an upper and a lower connecting grooves of the connecting rod respectively. Thereby the tight connection forms a fully-sealed design with good support strength. No vapor space is formed so that environmental requirements are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Float-Tek International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Fa Su
  • Patent number: 9743463
    Abstract: An induction-heating device for heating and or melting a heat affected product zone of shaving or cosmetic products (6A) stored in a product container (6) which consists of a layer of the product immediately below a top product surface and heated by an electrically conductive metallic target member (7) having through-passages overlying the top product surface and energized by an induction coil (3) into which an electromagnetic field is generated by electronic circuitry for a predetermined time period into the product container, thereby permitting the heated and or melted product to flow through the through-passages onto the top surface of the target member to be collected by a user for shaving or cosmetic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Alps South Europe S.R.O.
    Inventors: Aldo A. Laghi, Eric Prast, Nate Vint
  • Patent number: 9694223
    Abstract: A fire safety protection evaluation system includes at least one horizontal collection device and at least one vertical collection device. The at least one horizontal collection device includes a liquid collection pan with a substantially horizontal opening, a first storage container in communication with the liquid collection pan, and a first measuring device to measure an amount of liquid in the first storage container and/or a rate of liquid entering the first storage container. The at least one vertical collection device includes a substantially vertical liquid collection surface extending between a top edge and a bottom edge, a trough located along the bottom edge to collect liquid from the substantially vertical collection surface, and a second measuring device to measure an amount of liquid and/or a rate of liquid collected by the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Factory Mutual Insurance Company
    Inventors: Hong-Zeng Yu, Stephen P. D'Aniello
  • Patent number: 9656800
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to subsea fluid storage systems that may automatically and/or continuously compensate for subsea pressure changes. A subsea fluid storage unit with passive pressure compensation may comprise a vessel and a deformable bladder disposed within the vessel. A vessel may comprise a top port, a bottom port, and an internal vessel volume. A deformable bladder may comprise a first end and a second end. A second end may comprise a bladder opening that may be fluidically connected to a top port or a bottom port of a vessel. A deformable bladder may define an internal bladder volume that may be suitable for storage of fluids and/or chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Donahue, Arthur Martin Kirkby, III, David Garcia, Don Hay, Jake Hennig
  • Patent number: 9631333
    Abstract: A reservoir shading structure made of multiple consumer beverage containers. The containers each have a bottle portion, and a top portion preferably with a collar. The top portion is removed, inverted, and replaced in the bottle portion to extend into the bottle portion. The top portion is hermetically sealed to the bottle portion and a cap is welded into the top portion to hermetically seal the consumer beverage container. The consumer beverage containers are UV resistant, made of NSF/ANSI Rule 61 compliant material, and may include carbon black in their construction. Multiple consumer beverage containers are placed in a uniform layer across the surface of the reservoir to form a shading structure that reduces evaporation and microbial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Sydney Chase
  • Patent number: 9586752
    Abstract: Floating roof tank for a volatile liquid have an outer roof and an internal floating roof with a primary seal with a support such that when the tank is empty, the floating roof will rest on the support whether the tank is in a vertical or horizontal position. The support enables the tank to be transported in a horizontal position without damage to the seal. The floating roof tank with support can be configured as a conical tank, flat bottom tank or slant bottom tank. The floating roof tank can also include a cleaning system and a flush mounted manway cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Vertical Tank, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley W Ellis
  • Patent number: 9399548
    Abstract: A production tank has at least one fluid outlet having a first flow area, an access port having a second flow area, and a fluid-containment space defined by a sidewall and a roof, the second flow area being larger than the first flow area. The fluid-containment space stories production liquids from a wellbore. A plurality of individual insulating elements are distributed across a horizontal section of the production tank, the insulating elements having a density that is less than the production fluids and having a size and shape that prevents passage through the first flow area and that permits passage through the second flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Trinity High-Tech Products Ltd.
    Inventor: John Lipinski
  • Patent number: 9359131
    Abstract: Floating roof tank for a volatile liquid have an outer roof and an internal floating roof with a primary seal with a support such that when the tank is empty, the floating roof will rest on the support whether the tank is in a vertical or horizontal position. The support enables the tank to be transported in a horizontal position without damage to the seal. The floating roof tank with support can be configured as a conical tank, flat bottom tank or slant bottom tank. The floating roof tank can also include a cleaning system and a flush mounted manway cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Vertical Tank, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley W Ellis
  • Patent number: 9242793
    Abstract: A wine decanter including a vessel having a bottom wall and a circumferential sidewall with a top rim including a pouring lip, a bottom wall and a circumferential sidewall surrounding an inner chamber, a sealing top fitting within the top rim of the vessel, the sealing top having at least one circumferential sealing ring, the inner chamber having a diameter which is approximately the same diameter of a standard 750 ml bottle of wine, the inner chamber having a bottom portion which retains an amount of wine. A floating sealing disc with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner chamber of the sel floats on top of the wine in the inner chamber, thereby preventing oxygen from coming into contact with a top portion of the wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: Gary Ross
  • Patent number: 9132303
    Abstract: Device for reducing the risk of fire or delaying the ignition of flames in preferably large open or roofed storage tanks for combustible liquid media covered by floats, such as crude oil or the like, comprising a fixed cylindrical cavity as a tank for receiving the liquid, which tank is provided with a further protective barrier surrounding it at a certain distance and serving as a collecting chamber in case of leakage. The device is characterized in that the tank, if applicable the collecting chamber, contains floating cover bodies made of rolled-up stretched material that rest in a fined-up manner floating on the surface of the liquid, whereby polyurethane foam is inserted into the interior of the cover bodies, serving as a floating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: VSAT Satellitenkommunikation GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Stuhlbacher, Markus Kraiczar
  • Publication number: 20150129591
    Abstract: A floating cover for covering a liquid storage comprises an inflatable bladder kept under continuous positive gas pressure. A preferred embodiment has a plurality of discrete inflatable bladder segments positioned on a common plane in abutting relation to form an inflatable bladder assembly. A gas communication conduit extends between the bladder segments for communication of positive gas pressure between the bladder segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Monte W. Hindbo
  • Publication number: 20150129590
    Abstract: A cover system for a storage pond formed using a liner is disclosed. A cover flap, a liner flap and an anchor flap are preassembled either off-site at a factory or on-site. The anchor flap is disposed in an anchor trench and the anchor trench is backfilled. The liner is deployed and the perimeter is welded to the liner flap. The cover is deployed and the perimeter is welded to the cover flap. The above welding is preferably fusion welding and could take place in any order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Industrial & Environmental Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Morgan, Michael Sean Gallant
  • Patent number: 8973771
    Abstract: A sealed floating roof for a storage tank, comprising a frame and roof panels, in which the frame provides a guide for directing an automatic welder along said structure to allow for automated welding of the roof panels to the frame, and a method of forming such a roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: HMT LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Doxey, Richard P. King
  • Patent number: 8925754
    Abstract: A floating tank blanket includes one or more floats. Each float includes upper and lower sheets that are chemically inert and coupled together such that a hollow interior or cavity is defined between the upper and lower sheets. A positively buoyant or floatable filler is within the hollow interior or cavity for imparting or increasing floatation or positive buoyancy. The one or more floats are arrangeable within a tank for covering at least a portion of a surface of a liquid within the tank. The one or more floats allow a part to be immersed into and removed from the liquid in the tank while the one or more floats which remain cover the at least a portion of the surface of the liquid and inhibit fumes from escaping the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: Curtis Goad, Tyler Goad
  • Patent number: 8863974
    Abstract: A column assembly for supporting a floating roof used with a storage tank for containing a volatile fluid, including an inner pipe, an outer pipe securable to the floating roof to extend below and generally perpendicular to the roof, the outer pipe surrounding and being movable axially on the inner pipe with a generally annular space defined between them, a pin extendable transversely through the overlapping walls of the inner and outer pipes to releasably fix the axial position of one pipe relative to the other, and a cylindrical sleeve seal having an upper part to slidably engage the inner pipe outer surface, a lower part bore surface to engage the top end outer surface of the outer pipe, and a radially inward extending rib situated axially between the upper and lower parts and extending transversely across and closing the top end of the annular space between the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed A. Ben Afeef
  • Publication number: 20140231431
    Abstract: An internal floating roof for use in large volatile or hazardous liquid storage tanks constructed of a plurality of open-top panel systems including C-shaped beams each having a vertical sidewall and flanges extending inward along the top and bottom of the beams with a bottom flange extending the vertical wall downward beyond the bottom. The panel systems are secured together using top and bottom brackets to construct a rigid, non-flexing roof structure to contain the hazardous gases and vapors beneath the floating roof without creating alternative escape pathways along the respective joints or seams between the panel systems. An additional seal in the form of a weld or resilient sealing member may be used along the joint between adjacent beams to further secure against leaking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: David Jon Rosenkrantz
  • Patent number: 8807383
    Abstract: A gasoline storage device, which is regulated to prevent gasoline from vaporizing, and is fabricated from a soft gasoline bag made from soft material that has been processed and coated on both sides so as to be resistant against gasoline and the majority of chemical liquids. The soft gasoline bag can be folded into a small size, directly disposed into a steel gasoline tank and allowed to unfold. Expandable hoses are used to respectively connect to the existing gasoline inlet pipe, gasoline-measuring pipe and manhole of the steel gasoline tank. The soft properties of the soft gasoline bag are used to isolate the gasoline stored within the steel gasoline tank from the air, thereby reducing vaporization of gasoline, pollution and wastage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Full Most Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chun Weng, Ming-Tsang Yu, Wen-Pin Pen, Yu-Chi Li
  • Patent number: 8763837
    Abstract: A gas collection receptacle includes a segmented top portion and one or more side portions creating a volume for collecting gases. The gas collection receptacle, configured to float on a pond, lagoon, or other area, also includes interlocking side and end portions enabling multiple receptacles to connect, thus forming a substantially continuous covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Salam Awada, Paul Manning, Rex Spendlove
  • Publication number: 20140103042
    Abstract: A liquid storage, isolation and dispensing assembly includes a container, which defines an axis and has an inner surface, top and float. The top is mountable to the upper end with a sealing element engaging the inner surface at a liquid sealing position. The open upper end is least partially unobstructed when the top is at the liquid pouring position. The float includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a sealing edge sized to create a minimal gap between the sealing edge and the interior surface when floating on the liquid surface with the axis generally vertical. Tilting the container creates a gap between the float and the inner surface permitting the liquid to pass the sealing edge and out of the open upper end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Tavenner, Michael Jonathan Liebowitz, Suzanne Janet Nason
  • Patent number: 8668105
    Abstract: A floating plug emergency drain valve for a floating roof used with a storage tank for volatile fluid, where the floating roof includes vertically spaced apart top and bottom surfaces and a duct having open top and bottom ends that extends through the roof for drainage through the roof of water accumulated atop the roof, the valve having an open state for allowing the accumulated water to drain downward through the duct and a closed state for blocking vapors from rising upward through the duct, the valve including a valve seat having an upper sealing surface, and a valve sealing element having a buoyant ball-like upper part, and a bottom part formed as a plug extending downward with a bottom sealing surface sealing with the valve seat upper sealing surface when the valve is in its closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Nassir S. Al-Subaiey
  • Patent number: 8646642
    Abstract: A floating cover roof for a storage tank has a frame assembly and multiple floating units. The frame assembly has a holding frame and an outer rim. The holding frame has multiple longitudinal beams and transverse beams. Each longitudinal beam has a connecting seat, a first holding segment and a second holding segment. Two of the transverse beams are connected to two adjacent longitudinal beams to form a locating area between the beams. The floating units are mounted in the locating areas of the frame assembly, are connected to the beams of the holding frame and each has an outer casing and a body. The outer casing is mounted in one of the locating areas of the holding frame, is connected to the adjacent beams and has a casing body and a top board. The body is mounted in the outer casing between the casing body and the top board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Float-Tek International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Fa Su
  • Patent number: 8640907
    Abstract: Floating roof tanks typically have a leg-actuated pressure-vacuum vent to provide relief upon emptying or filling the space below the roof. This vent leg must hit prior to other legs requiring additional working capital inventory (heel). This retrofit non-leg actuated pressure vacuum (P-V) vent reduces inventory. This P-V vent retrofit provides necessary pressure or vacuum management and at less required tank bottom inventory. The retrofit vent also eliminates the leg-actuated P-V vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventor: Gary Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8640903
    Abstract: An oil tank floating roof device, includes a plurality of connecting bars and a plurality of floating units, which are respectively secured to the plurality of connecting bars by means a plurality of longitudinal and crosswise holding spaces collectively encircling the floating units. A plurality of locking members are fitted on the peripheries of the floating units, and two sides of the connecting bars respectively form at least one joining groove. The joining grooves respectively enable each of the floating units to longitudinally or crosswisely insert therein. The top portions of the connecting bars form at least one pressure resistant reinforcing plate, and the pressure resistant reinforcing plate is fitted with a plurality of locking portions. Bolts are used to respectively correspondingly pass through the locking portions and bolt into the locking members on the longitudinal or crosswise sides of the base of the floating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignees: Ming-Tsang Yu, Wen-Pin Pen
    Inventors: Ming-Tsang Yu, Wen-Pin Pen, Chin-Fa Su
  • Publication number: 20140027455
    Abstract: A method for removing sludge from a crude oil storage tank comprising a bottom and a moveable roof configured to float on the top of a quantity of crude oil disposed in said storage tank, where the method includes reducing a volume of crude oil in the storage tank to about a level of a sludge sediment in the storage tank, measuring a topology of the sludge disposed on said bottom, reliquefying asphaltene deposits, pumping the reliquefying asphaltene deposits out of the storage tank, wherein the method is performed without the entry of one or more persons into said storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Castellano, Matthew S. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 8616398
    Abstract: A vapor barrier for flammable liquid storage tanks provides a gas impermeable layer for covering the surface of a flammable liquid stored within a conventional flammable liquid storage tank, a tanker, a vessel, or the like. The vapor barrier is formed from a plurality of spherical buoyant members. Each spherical buoyant member has a heat-resistant core or shell, a heat-reactive intumescent or flame retardant layer formed on an outer surface of the heat-resistant core, an antistatic and oil-phobic layer formed on an outer surface of the heat-reactive intumescent layer, and an adhesive layer on an outer surface of the heat-reactive intumescent layer. The vapor barrier may further be used with liquid storage tanks in which separation between the liquid and vapor phases is beneficial to prevent oxidation or other undesirable reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Riordan
  • Publication number: 20130327773
    Abstract: An internal floating roof for use in large volatile or hazardous liquid storage tanks constructed of a plurality of open-top panel systems including C-shaped sidewalls having flanges extending inward along the top and bottom of the sidewall and another flange extending downward from the bottom. The panel systems are secured together using top and bottom bracket means to construct a rigid, non-flexing roof structure to contain the hazardous gases and vapors beneath the floating roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: David Jon Rosenkrantz
  • Patent number: 8579139
    Abstract: This gauge well mixer works off of the differential pressure in a storage tank and gauge well. Slot covers with dividers are installed in the gauge well. The slot covers and dividers are staggered for better mixing. The gauge well has a vertical interior space extending the length of thereof; wherein the slots open into the vertical, interior space. A first horizontal divider is located in the vertical, interior space below a first slot; and a second horizontal divider is located in the vertical, interior space above a second slot. The slot covers are installed on slots located between the first slot and the second slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventor: Steven A. Sablak
  • Publication number: 20130284740
    Abstract: A sealed floating roof for a storage tank, comprising a frame and roof panels, in which the frame provides a guide for directing an automatic welder along said structure to allow for automated welding of the roof panels to the frame, and a method of forming such a roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Michael J. Doxey, Richard P. King
  • Publication number: 20130284741
    Abstract: A floating body which is accommodated in a float chamber of a floating roof of a floating roof-type tank includes a main body made of a metal in which an opening is formed in at least one location and which has an internal space, and a lid made of a metal which covers the opening and has an edge portion attached to the opening by a seaming. Between the opening and the edge portion, a first gap which allows a communication between an external space and the internal space of the main body, and permits a movement of an approach and separation between the main body and the lid is provided, and a first contact portion which blocks the first gap when the lid is closest to the main body is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniharu Daigo, Toshio Senda, Akifumi Matsunae
  • Publication number: 20130092688
    Abstract: Paint in a container is inhibited against skinning by providing a layer of a barrier material comprising an non-VOC inhibiting composition and optionally water on the upper surface the bulk paint in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Kennedy Walker, Donald Lee Betz, James Michael Cameron, Norbert Erwin Graff
  • Patent number: 8393486
    Abstract: A floating modular cover for a water storage consisting of a plurality of modules in which each module includes a chamber defined by an upper surface and a lower surface there being openings in the upper surface to allow ingress of water into said chamber and openings in the upper surface to allow air to flow into and out of said chamber depending on the water level within said chamber to provide ballast for each module floats. The modules prevent water evaporation from the area covered and the shape and size is selected to ensure that the modules are stable in high wind conditions and don't form stacks. The modules may be made from identical hexagonal or octagonal halves by blow molding or thermoforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Aqua Guardian Group Ltd.
    Inventors: George Jaroslav Cap, Ross Woodfield
  • Publication number: 20120304372
    Abstract: A cover suitable for use on a liquid containing reservoir. The cover is composed of an envelope of porous material. The envelope is subdivided into discrete independent compartments. The compartments each have access to the internal volume for purposes of receiving a charge of hollow spheres. A centrally disposed collection member is positioned at the intersection of the independent compartments. This position is effectively the centre of mass of the cover once charged with spheres and permits expedited positioning and adjustment of the cover on the surface of the liquid container. The independent compartments facilitate controlled consolidation of the spheres therein and allow for simple positioning and removal of the cover which was challenging with prior art arrangements. The latter typically had to be folded or rolled causing manipulation difficulties and causing potentially hazardous situations during manipulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: POSEIDON CONCEPTS PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
    Inventor: Cliff Wiebe
  • Patent number: 8302797
    Abstract: A floating roof and emergency overflow drainage system for water accumulated on the floating roof covering liquid in a storage tank, including: a. a water collection sump formed as a downward extending recess in the top surface of the roof, b. a first drainage duct having an inlet within the water collection sump, an outlet for draining water below the sump, and an intermediate portion, c. a second drainage duct having an inlet above the top surface of the roof, an intermediate portion, and an outlet in fluid communication with the intermediate portion of the first duct in the sump, and d. an emergency overflow duct including: (1) an inlet in fluid communication with the second duct, and (2) a distal portion extending downwardly and terminating in an outlet below the sump and in the stored liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed A. Ben Afeef
  • Patent number: 8297460
    Abstract: The vapor barrier for flammable liquid storage tanks provides a gas impermeable layer for covering the surface of a flammable liquid stored within a conventional flammable liquid storage tank, a tanker, a vessel or the like. The vapor barrier is formed from a plurality of spherical buoyant members. Each spherical buoyant member has a heat-resistant core or shell, a heat-reactive intumescent or flame retardant layer formed on an outer surface of the heat-resistant core, and an antistatic and oil-phobic layer formed on an outer surface of the heat-reactive intumescent layer. The vapor barrier may further be used with liquid storage tanks in which separation between the liquid and vapor phases is beneficial to prevent oxidation or other undesirable reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Riordan
  • Patent number: 8281543
    Abstract: A method of ballasting a cover of a sludge digester that is comprised of a storage tank and the cover. The method includes placing a ballast into the storage tank in a first predetermined position, placing the cover onto the storage tank, lowering a lifting member of a lifting device through an access port in the cover and into the storage tank, securing the lifting member to the ballast, using the lifting device to lift the lifting member and the ballast until the ballast is in a second predetermined position that is substantially above the first predetermined position, engaging a support bracket attached to the cover with a support member; and securing the ballast to the cover with the support member while the ballast is in a third predetermined position that is substantially below the second predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn W. Cook, Steven R. Hough, Jeffrey L. Wight
  • Publication number: 20120211490
    Abstract: A floating cover roof for a storage tank has a frame assembly and multiple floating units. The frame assembly has a holding frame and an outer rim. The holding frame has multiple longitudinal beams and transverse beams. Each longitudinal beam has a connecting seat, a first holding segment and a second holding segment. Two of the transverse beams are connected to two adjacent longitudinal beams to form a locating area between the beams. The floating units are mounted in the locating areas of the frame assembly, are connected to the beams of the holding frame and each has an outer casing and a body. The outer casing is mounted in one of the locating areas of the holding frame, is connected to the adjacent beams and has a casing body and a top board. The body is mounted in the outer casing between the casing body and the top board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: FLOAT-TEK INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHIN-FA SU
  • Publication number: 20120211491
    Abstract: The present invention is an oil tank floating roof device, including a plurality of connecting bars and a plurality of floating units, which are respectively secured to the plurality of connecting bars by means a plurality of longitudinal and crosswise holding spaces collectively encircling the floating units. A plurality of locking members are fitted on the peripheries of the floating units, and two sides of the connecting bars respectively form at least one joining groove. The joining grooves respectively enable each of the floating units to longitudinally or crosswisely insert therein. The top portions of the connecting bars form at least one pressure resistant reinforcing plate, and the pressure resistant reinforcing plate is fitted with a plurality of locking portions. Bolts are used to respectively correspondingly pass through the locking portions and bolt into the locking members on the longitudinal or crosswise sides of the base of the floating units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Ming-Tsang Yu, Wen-Pin Pin, Chin-Fa Su
  • Patent number: 8235241
    Abstract: A liquid tank assembly for a motor vehicle includes a tank and an absorber assembly. The tank has an inner surface defining a cavity for receiving a liquid substance. The absorber assembly is disposed within the cavity for dampening liquid sloshing noises. The absorber assembly includes a plurality of connected dampener elements. End sections of the absorber assembly are attached to the inner surface of the tank. The absorber assembly is configured to float on a surface of the liquid when a volume of liquid within the tank is between a first critical volume and a second, lower critical volume. The absorber assembly is generally submerged when a volume of liquid within the tank is a generally greater than the first critical volume. The absorber assembly is generally suspended within the cavity when a volume of liquid within the tank is a generally lower than the second critical volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Ramsay
  • Publication number: 20120193363
    Abstract: A batten joint for an internal floating roof of a fluid tank. The floating roof has at least a first panel having a first panel edge and a second panel having a second panel edge. The batten joint comprises a first panel retainer or retaining means adapted for retaining the first panel edge, a second panel retainer or retaining means adapted for retaining the second panel edge, and at least one batten engaging the first and second panel retainer or retaining means in a spaced apart configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Robert James Baillie
  • Publication number: 20120091135
    Abstract: A support column assembly for supporting a floating roof used with a storage tank for containing a volatile fluid, including: a. an inner pipe formed by a cylindrical wall having top and bottom ends, b. an outer pipe securable to the floating roof to extend below and generally perpendicular to the plane of the roof, the outer pipe formed by a cylindrical wall having top and bottom ends, the outer pipe surrounding and being movable axially on the inner pipe with a generally annular space defined between the inner and outer pipes, the generally annular space having opposite top and bottom ends, c. a first set of coaxial holes extending transversely through opposite sides of the wall of the outer pipe d. a second set of coaxial holes extending transversely through opposite sides of the wall of the inner pipe, e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Mohammed A. BEN AFEEF
  • Publication number: 20120048855
    Abstract: A covering system for a body of water including a cover for covering a portion of the body of water, the cover having formed therein at least one hole, and a load bearing post that passes vertically through the at least one hole, an end of the load bearing post being anchored in a bottom surface of the body of water, wherein the cover moves up and down along the load bearing post as a level of the body of water rises and falls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: David Yekutiely
  • Patent number: 8061552
    Abstract: A storage tank with a full-contact floating roof is provided with automatic drains that have drain openings that are elevated above the top surface of the deck of the roof. Tilting mechanisms are used to tilt the deck toward the drains, causing liquid on the deck surface to pool at the drains, rising to the level of the drain openings. Cables connected to elevated portions of the tank can be used to tilt the deck from above, and landing supports can be used to tilt the deck from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventor: Larry Clifford Hiner