Abstract: A lid is described for floating on the surface of a liquid in a storage tank. The lid spans the tank interior and includes an inflatable peripheral seal arrangement selectively operable to seal the liquid within the tank upon inflation and, on deflation, will allow the lid to float freely on the surface of the liquid. The lid is formed of two plates spaced apart by a circumferential rim defining a flotation cavity. Buoyance of the lid is such that the inflatable seal is carried above the liquid surface. The bottom plate is arched toward the top plate of the lid by a tension member extending between the two. The tension member is hollow and open to the area below the lid. The pressure relief valve is mounted in the hollow passageway to selectively allow escape of pressurized gas from below the lid. The seal arrangement is made so that the liquid level always remains below the sealed area between the lid and tank walls.

Abstract: A digestor includes a tank and an inverted dish-shaped cover, the lower end of which extends into sludge contained within the tank. The cover is ballasted by a number of ballast members which resemble tubs and which are integrally formed of concrete. Each ballast member is mounted with its cavity facing upwardly so that the ballast cavities automatically fill with sludge upon start-up of the digestor. When partially surfaced above the sludge, the predetermined total weight of sludge in the ballast members causes a substantial increase in the pressure exerted by the cover on the contained gas than would be exerted by the cover and unfilled ballast members.

Abstract: An improved anaerobic digester 10 includes a cylindrical concrete sidewall 16 having a plurality of guide channel assemblies 40 bolted thereto at uniformly spaced locations along its circumference. The digester further includes a cover 18 adapted to be buoyed upwardly above the surface of the liquid by the digester gas. The digester cover is guided by roller assemblies 70 that cooperate with the guide channel assemblies 40. When gas is not present within the digester, the cover is supported by the cooperation of a plurality of stop tubes 76 and 78 that project radially outwardly of the cover from a thrust ring 24 incorporated at its periphery and a plurality of stop members 60 and 62 that are affixed to the guide channel assemblies at readily accessible locations close to the top of the tank.

Abstract: In a dry seal gasholder cylindrical storage tank with a vertically-movable piston, an improved piston leveling system includes a vertically-movable weight outside the tank and connected by equal-length cables to spaced-apart support points on the piston at different distances from the weight. An array of guide sheaves on the tank define equal-length cable paths. The cables are pivotally coupled to spaced-apart points on a coupling plate to which a pair of attachment plates on the weight are also pivotally connected. Apertures in the attachment plates and the coupling plate are disposable in registry with one another for receiving a pin therethrough when the cable attachment points are in horizontal alignment, thereby to indicate equal tension in the cables.

Abstract: The means includes a layer which comprises a multiplicity of preferably spherical floating bodies with eccentric centers of gravity and which floats on the surface of the beer wort or the new beer or the beer.As a result of their eccentric center of gravity, the floating bodies maintain a stable floatation position and both the floatation foam which is formed during floatation of the beer wort and also the fermentation foam which is formed during fermentation and post-fermentation of the wort or the new beer are deposited on the floating bodies. In addition, this layer reduces damaging contact of the liquid with the oxygen component in the air space in the wort vessel.

Abstract: A splicing unit for integrally joining ends of seal strip material to form a continuous annular seal ring comprises two reinforced elastomeric ply strips with an unreinforced elastomeric gum interposed between them to form an H-section configuration, the length of the unit being substantially the width of the seal strip while the thickness of the gum between the ply strips is substantially the thickness of the seal material to be joined. The ends of the seal strip are inserted between the legs of the H-section on either side of the unreinforced gum and cured to form the integrally spliced seal ring.

Abstract: A splicing unit for integrally joining ends of seal strip material to form a continuous annular seal ring comprises two reinforced elastomeric ply strips with an unreinforced elastomeric gum interposed between them to form an H-section configuration, the length of the unit being substantially the width of the seal strip while the depth of the gum between the ply strips is substantially the thickness of the seal material to be joined. The ends of the seal strip are inserted between the legs of the H-section on either side of the unreinforced gum and cured to form the integrally spliced seal ring.

Abstract: Liquid storage tank containing a collapsible bag of flexible impervious sheet material supported by a collar within the tank which floats on the stored liquid and moves with the liquid thereby dividing the interior of the shell into an air and a liquid space. The bag has an external skirt of a similar flexible sheet material attached to the supporting collar which lies between the bag and adjacent tank side walls to reduce abrasion and catching of the bag and tank walls particularly during tank emptying and filling procedures.

Abstract: A container or other liquid holding means, e.g. a pipeline, for inflammable liquids is provided with a fire-extinguishing structure. This comprises a blanket of a porous, flame-permeable, heat-resistant material, e.g. expanded metal foil, which is supported for contact with the surface of the liquid e.g. on floats embedded in the blanket, so that the blanket extends in contact with substantially the whole of the liquid surface. In the case of a pipeline, the blanket may be supported adjacent the pipeline in a normally-empty catchment facility which is intended for retaining spillages or leakages of liquid from the pipeline. The blanket has large non-capillary interstices. On ignition of the vapor/air mixture above the blanket, the flame front recedes downwardly into the blanket and the flames become extinguished. This arrangement can reduce the fire hazard associated with large-capacity containers for inflammable liquids.

Abstract: A floating cover for a tank is characterized by a pivotal interconnection between confronting ends of longitudinally adjacent flotation pontoons such that one pontoon is pivotally movable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other pontoon when the deck of the cover flexes in response to turbulence in the liquid on which the cover is disposed or in response to any other non-uniform loading on the deck.

Abstract: An improvement in a storage tank for a liquid having a floating roof and at least one stationary vertical member penetrating the floating roof through a well defined by an opening therein surrounded by a well wall partially in and partially above the level of a liquid stored in the tank, with the improvement being a vapor seal, covering the area between the vertical member and the well wall, positioned about at but above the liquid level in the well to thereby reduce the space in which vapor from the liquid can first accumulate and then be dispersed with vertical movement of the floating roof.

Abstract: A cylindrical, open top, collapsible container is loosely fitted inside the tank. The bottom of this container floats on the liquid and its lateral surface folds or unfolds upon the rise or fall in the liquid level. The annular gap between the container and the tank's shell is connected to a bladder. The bladder is expanded or contracted in the required amounts by mechanical linkages between the floating bottom and said bladder.

Abstract: A polyhedrical shaped liner, mounted vertically inside a cylindrical storage tank, is fixed to the inner top of the tank.The lower portion of the liner is fixed to a rigid frame which is free to displace in the vertical direction.Means, located on equidistant horizontal narrow strips of the liner, restrain the strips from displacing radially inwards but allow them to move in the vertical direction.Means, that apply forces directed vertically upwards over the rigid frame and of sufficient magnitude to produce critical compressive stresses in the liner, are provided.These critical compressive stresses induce buckling of the portions of the liner comprised between successive narrow strips and folding of the liner in-situ is achieved.

Abstract: Structure mounted at the top edge of an open top tank having a floating roof covering the fluid contents. It is an airfoil that extends above the edge, and directs air flow due to wind, down onto the windward side of the roof to equalize the otherwise uneven pressure caused by wind that increases the undesirable vapor emissions from the contents of the tank and could tend to tip the roof.

Abstract: An automatic sealing device for containers for volatile or perishable liquids. The sealing device includes a substantially cylindrical chamber having a flexible side wall to make a sealing engagement with the container wall. The flexible side wall is secured to upper and lower circular closing members through a series of links which perform the two functions of causing the device to follow variations in the level of the liquid and hold the flexible side wall against the container wall.