Abstract: A closure head for a nuclear reactor includes a stationary outer ring integral with the reactor vessel with a first rotatable plug disposed within the stationary outer ring and supported from the stationary outer ring by a bearing assembly. A sealing system is associated with the bearing assembly to seal the annulus defined between the first rotatable plug and the stationary outer ring. The sealing system comprises tubular seal elements disposed in the annulus with load springs contacting the tubular seal elements so as to force the tubular seal elements against the annulus in a manner to seal the annulus. The sealing system also comprises a sealing fluid which is pumped through the annulus and over the tubular seal elements causing the load springs to compress thereby reducing the friction between the tubular seal elements and the rotatable components while maintaining a gas-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: Adjustable flexible sealing members for the peripheral edge of a floating deck are disclosed. At least two sealing members are attached to the peripheral edge of the floating deck in such a manner that both vertical and horizontal movement of the members may be adjusted from the surface of the floating deck. Such sealing members greatly reduce or eliminate the evaporative loss from volatile liquids protected by the floating deck in a storage tank.

Abstract: A tank roof seal is provided for use in the sealing of tanks, such as for example, those used in the oil refinery industry. The tank roof seal comprises a mounting bracket and a shoe resiliently secured thereto. The mounting bracket is attachable about a periphery of a tank roof, which roof floats on the liquid contained in the tank. A flexible fabric seal interconnects the top of the shoe with the top of the bracket. The tank seal includes a turnbuckle for selectively restricting the extension of the resiliently secured shoe from the bracket. Thus, as the tank seal is mounted to the floating roof, as for example occurs for in situ retrofitting, the shoe can be restrained from contacting the tank wall until the retrofitting has been completed. Further, for in situ retrofitting, the bracket of the tank roof seal is adapted to mount directly to the mounts provided on the floating roof for an original seal. In addition, the tank roof seal can itself be included as original equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a material handling device that is adapted to have utility in both a greenhouse operation and a bulk tobacco curing and drying structure. More particularly, in use with a greenhouse, the material handling device of the present invention is adapted to support plant seedlings or pots of soil with seeds appropriately planted therein. The same material handling device of the present invention can also be utilized in a bulk tobacco curing and drying operation as a support and handling medium for bulk tobacco disposed within the curing and drying structure.

Abstract: An annulus of individual seal sections mounted in sealed end to end abutment is disposed between coextensive side wall portions of a liquid storage tank and a floating roof, the seal sections being individually removably mounted on the roof side wall.

Abstract: A variable-volume storage tank, or the like, of the type having a floating roof, including an upright cylindrical shell, a circular roof within the cylindrical shell and adapted to float on the surface of a liquid within the shell, a circular metallic-shoe seal ring encircling and spaced outwardly from the roof and slidably engaging the shell, circumferentially spaced, outwardly concave, bowed leaf spring hangers extending between the roof and the seal ring, means connecting each of the hangers to the roof intermediate the ends of the hanger, means permitting horizontally circumferential movement of the ends of each of the hangers relative to the seal ring for connecting the ends of the hanger to the seal ring, and a flexible annular seal extending between the roof and the seal ring and having its inner periphery secured to the roof and its outer periphery secured to the seal ring.

Abstract: In a vertical cylindrical liquid storage tank having a circular floating roof, an improved sealing means including an elastomeric composite strip impermeable to vapor connected at its inner edge by an essentially vapor tight joint to the roof edge and extending as an annulus outwardly to the tank inner side wall, the elastomeric composite strip comprising a plurality of flexible resilient elongated stiffeners laterally positioned and embedded in elastomeric material, and the elongated stiffeners extending from the strip edge joined to the roof and terminating short of the strip edge at the tank wall.An elastomeric composite strip, impermeable to petroleum vapor, having a plurality of flexible resilient elongated stiffeners laterally positioned and embedded in elastomeric material, with the elongated stiffeners extending from one strip edge and terminating about at the other strip edge.

Abstract: A filing system features a novel compressor in combination with a three rod filing tray. The compressor includes a first compressor part having a first bearing means adapted to releasably engage a centralmost of the rods and mounting an anti-tilt bar removably disposed above and to bridge across the rods; a second compressor part pivotally connected to the first compressor part and having a second bearing means normally biased for engagement with the centralmost rod for releasably retaining the compressor in desired position lengthwise of the rods. The compressor parts may be employed to alternately engage with file material arranged adjacent front and rear ends of the tray.

Abstract: A novel peripheral seal for sealing a liquid storage tank of the type having welded, riveted, or bolted, cylindrically shaped side walls includes a floatable pontoon, and a plurality of seal support arms successively and radially disposed about the pontoon periphery. Each support arm is pivotally connected to a pontoon side. A plurality of arcuately shaped primary seals span from one support arm to the next successive support arm and are biased raidally outwardly to sealingly engage the riveted sidewalls. A fabric membrane spans from support arm to support arm and extends from a primary seal to the pontoon to form an annular cover. The support arms are interconnected by flexible connection means to provide stability, and limited circumferential movement thereof. The flexible connection means also allows each support arm to move radially inwardly and outwardly, by itself, to a certain degree.

Abstract: The improvement in a liquid storage tank having a floating roof, a plurality of shoes adapted to slidably contact the inner side wall of the tank, and means supported by the roof for pressing the shoes against the inner side wall, comprising an elastomeric body composite strip, impermeable to vapor, in the form of an annulus connected at its bottom edge portion by an essentially vapor tight joint to the top circumference of the shoes and its top edge portion in movable sealing contact with the tank inner side wall, said strip in radial vertical cross section being convexly arced when viewed from the roof, and the strip comprising a plurality of flexible resilient elongated stiffeners laterally positioned and embedded in the body of elastomeric material and extending from the bottom of the strip joined to the shoes to ends which terminate substantially short of the top edge of the strip thereby providing a strip having an upper portion more flexible and less stiff than the remainder of the strip body and which

Abstract: A file device includes a shelf member containing a plurality of dividers each removably attached to the shelf member in a selective longitudinal position by means allowing of pivotal displacement about its lower edge. A compressible pad upon the shelf floor constantly biases against the attached divider lower edges to form a tight seal therewith while each divider is provided with lateral tabs overlying the shelf member side walls and having a specified height selected to limit the degree of pivotal displacement of that divider. Additionally, removable label holders for the divider tabs form a close mating fit therewith. Improved support means for the shelf member includes a stand cooperating with the shelf side walls or hanger brackets engageable with the shelf and walls, both serving to retain the shelf member at a fixed transverse inclination.

Abstract: A spring-loaded drawer partition formed of plate members that slide along opposed side walls of a drawer, each including tab extensions extending therefrom toward the inside of the drawer and constituting spring members. A box member extends between the plate members, having open ends which house the tab extensions thereinside. Stop members are included inside the box member, bearing against the tab extensions, yieldably biasing the plate members against the side walls of the drawer.

Abstract: A floating roof of a tank for storing liquids consisting of a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm attached, leakproof fashion, all the way around its circumference to an annular seal and further attached to a floating chamber at the center which is fitted to an upright with provision for displacing along same when the level of liquid is changing. The resilient disc-shaped diaphragm is made hollow and is corrugated in the radial and circumferential directions so that the corrugations form a plurality of cells. The diaphragm rests on a series of radially disposed telescopic arms each attached with one of its ends to the floating chamber and resiliently connected at its free end to the annular seal. A rool of this type can practically be used with tanks of any shape.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is a secondary sealing device for use in a storage vessel having a floating roof and a primary sealing structure that includes a set of steel shoes, each of which is disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and is mechanically coupled at one of its ends and adapted so that it can contact the inner sidewall of the storage vessel, a set of pushers, each of which is mechanically coupled to the floating roof and to one of the steel shoes and is adapted to apply a constant pressure against the steel shoe so that the side of the steel shoe contacting the inner sidewall of the storage vessel presses against the inner sidewall of the storage vessel. A fabric sealing material which is disposed about the perimeter of the floating roof and secured thereto on one of its sides in a gas-tight manner and secured to the steel shoes contacting the inner sidewall of the cylindrical tank of each hanger in a gas-tight manner and a secondary sealing device has been described.

Abstract: Floating tank top pivotally carrying upwardly projecting weather shield plates around its periphery for biasing outwardly against inside surface of tank wall, has bias mechanism arranged to tilt the plates inwardly in response to fire to expose roof seal at site of fire and help direct fire-fighting foam into exposed location.

Abstract: A pressurized nuclear-reactor core is surrounded by a burst shield having a side wall formed with a plurality of longitudinal passages in which are received longitudinal prestressing elements whose upper ends extend beyond the upper edge of the side wall. The cover is formed with a plurality of holes that register with the passages in the side wall so that the cover can be set over top of the side wall with the upper ends of the prestressing elements projecting beyond the cover. Each prestressing element is provided at its upper end with an anchor body which can bear in force-transmitting relationship either with the side wall of the burst shield through a sleeve received in the cover and having a lower end standing on the upper edge of the side wall and an upper end adjacent the anchor body, or with the cover by means of a removable nut screwed on to the anchor body and engageable in force-transmitting relationship with the cover.