Abstract: A reinforced plastic tank and method for producing the same, in which a steel plate base is provided for minimizing the bottom deflection of the tank under hydrostatic pressure when buried under ground. The base has a plate member with an annular flange extending outwardly from the top surface thereof. A plastic cup is disposed within the area surrounded by the flange, and an epoxy adhesive is injected between the cup and the steel plate and flange to adhere the cup to the steel. The side wall of the cup extends past the edge of the flange. The base assembly is then mounted on a mandrel and the fiberglass side wall is formed over the steel flange and the exposed side wall of the cup, and extends from the steel base to the desired height of the tank.

Abstract: A high-safety container more particularly intended for dangerous products or installations. A tank includes an inner sidewall, a floor and a top which define a storage enclosure. A continuous leak-proof foundation basement includes a downwardly bulging cupola having a convex undersurface exposed throughout to external upwardly directed hydrostatic-like thrust. The tank floor is disposed above and laterally spaced from the upper concave face of the downwardly bulging cupola to define a lower ventilating gap therebetween. The pillars extend between the tank floor and the upper concave face to support the tank over the cupola. An outer wall integral with the cupola forms an upwardly projecting peripheral extension of the cupola. An annular space is defined between the outer wall and the inner side wall around the tank. A filler material disposed in the annular space contributes to the stability of the container with respect to lifting effects caused by hydrostatic thrust, even when the container is empty.

Abstract: A heat insulating structure having a heat-resistant tube disposed in a tubular cylindrical body and defining a passage for a high temperature gas, a heat insulating material disposed between the tube and the tubular cylindrical body and adapted to prevent the heat possessed by the gas from being transmitted to the tubular cylindrical body, and a spring adapted to bias the heat insulating material toward the inner surface of the tubular cylindrical body, so as to prevent the formation of a bypass passage for the gas including the gap between the tubular cylindrical body and the heat insulating material. The heat insulating material consists of a plurality of fibrous heat insulating materials mainly consisting of bulky fibrous materials and a plurality of shaped fibrous heat insulating materials. These fibrous heat insulating materials and the shaped fibrous heat insulating materials are arranged alternatingly and independently in the axial direction.

Abstract: An elongate hollow structure with a plurality of reinforcements arranged in a pattern and acting as spacers between a pair of skins. The skins are of resin impregnated wound filaments with reinforcing strips of facing preimpregnated wound filaments that crisscross at the spacing reinforcements, abutting panels extend between adjacent reinforcing spacers to fill the space between the skins, and the structure is bonded with resin into a composite structure.

Abstract: A pressure vessel susceptible to high temperatures, especially for containment of a nuclear-reactor core, is constituted of a cylindrical shell from a cast material such as cast steel, cast iron or concrete, and is prestressed by vertical cables which extend parallel to generatrices of the shell. Peripheral (circumferential) prestressing cables are provided around the shell which can be externally insulated. The peripheral tensioning cables are exposed externally of the insulation material and bear upon the shell of the vessel with heat-resistant elements of high compressive strength which extend through the external insulation.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved construction of the reinforced ends of flexible sheet-metal panels used in defining the basic generally cylindrical wall to be lined with flexible material in the erection of a prefabricated swimming pool. The end-reinforcement structure uses substantially thinner-gage material than heretofore, and yet a secured joint of two lapped panel ends has the hoop-tension resistance of the best of previous constructions without presenting any ambiguity regarding the sense (i.e., overlapped relation of parts) at the overlap.

Abstract: A chimney comprises an external shaft and an inner lining sub-divided into several portions arranged one above the other, each portion having an inner and an outer shell with an annular space containing compressed air therein at a higher pressure than the flue gas, each portion of the inner lining being carried by a support construction so as to be spaced from the external shaft.

Abstract: A liner construction for stack-like structures, such as industrial and utility type chimneys and method for forming such a construction are disclosed. The liner includes a plurality of rods or cables supported at their upper ends to an upper portion of a chimney structure and extends downwardly within the chimney and over a substantial length of the height of the chimney. A plurality of hoops or the like are secured to the rods to form a framework of open sections. Mesh is secured to the framework. A body of non-metallic settable material such as concrete encases the mesh and framework. Tubular heat insulation may be secured to the framework to abut the outer surface of the concrete body. The method for forming the liner includes the initial step of suspending a tubular framework of open sections from an upper portion of a chimney to extend downwardly within the confines of the chimney and over a substantial length of the chimney height. Mesh is secured to the framework to define a generally tubular shell.

Abstract: A cryogenic liquefied gas tank composed of a gas-tight outer vessel, a heat insulating layer provided at the inside of the outer vessel and a liquid-tight inner vessel made of concrete and provided at the inside of the heat insulating layer, wherein the hydraulic pressure of the cryogenic liquefied gases loaded in the inner vessel is supported by the concrete inner vessel while the gas pressure of the cryogenic liquefied gases is supported by the gas-tight outer vessel.

Abstract: A wall structure and a method for producing the wall structure. The wall ucture is comprised of substantially standardized building elements which, one preferred embodiment, interlocks with adjacent elements along both the top and bottom and the vertical side surfaces. The surfaces of the building elements forming the interior and exterior surfaces of the finished wall are preferably reinforced along one such surface thereof. During the formation of the wall structure, horizontally and vertically aligned grooves are provided in the completed wall to facilitate the location at which severing should occur as well as to facilitate the severing of the reinforcing members to permit selected sections of the wall to be simply, readily and inexpensively removed. In one embodiment, the reinforcing members may be steel plates while in another alternative embodiment, the reinforcing members may be comprised of horizontally and vertically oriented elongated reinforcing rods.

Abstract: A wall structure for a nuclear reactor containment housing or pool is formed by at least two metal concrete forms or panels, each of which has a rectangularly shaped main or base plate of a stainless steel material constituting inner liner portions of the wall structure. Projected laterally from the base plate is a peripheral flange that includes an outer portion, of a dimensional size substantially equal to the dimensional size of the base plate, and an inwardly inclined inner leg portion that is fixed to the base plate inwardly from the side edges of the base plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for applying preformed cellular glass insulation blocks to the exterior surface of a spherical metallic storage vessel by the steps of:(a) cleaning the exterior surface of the vessel;(b) maintaining the vessel at a temperature of 80.degree.-100.degree. F.;(c)(1) beveling the side walls of a preformed cellular glass insulation block,(2) dishing the inner surface of the preformed block to correspond to the contour of the spherical vessel to which the block is to be adhered,(3) applying uncatalyzed urethane-modified asphalt adhesive stored at 35.degree.-50.degree. F.

Abstract: The lining of conically narrowing or widening walls with brick is facilitated by laying the brick in courses which are closed rings, the bricks subtending an angle of about 5.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the horizontal.

Abstract: Liquefied gas is stored in a large rigid or semirigid cylindrical container. Between the walls and floor of this container and the walls and floor of an outer container, which may be an earthen cavity in which the container rests, is distributed a continuous layer of insulating material such as perlite or vermiculite in granular form. This insulating material serves as the sole means of support for the rigid or semirigid container and the liquefied gas stored therein. An impediment is included in the construction near the intersection of the floor and side wall of the rigid or semirigid container, the impediment completely encircling the container to substantially limit the cross-sectional area through which the granular insulation material may flow upward. By confining this cross-sectional area, the creep or migration of insulation material from beneath the container during initial filling, repeated filling and emptying of the liquefied gas contents of said container is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An improved prestressed concrete tank having a core wall comprising elongated panels of precast concrete having on their outer faces a sheet of sheet metal presenting parallel, longitudinal, undercut channels is shown. The panels include lateral sheet metal flanges which extend parallel to the elongated sides of the panels and laterally outward therefrom. The flanges have a flange lip on the outermost edge of the flange. The lip extends outwardly from the tank in a direction substantially perpendicular to the panel. The panels are assembled in spaced, side-by side- relationsip such that the flange lips of adjacent panels are spaced from one another. A sheet metal splice member having a channel shape is interposed in the space between the flange lips of the adjacent panels. The splice member has upstanding sides which abut the lips of the adjacent flanges. The upstanding side and the flange lip adjacent to it are seamed together in a tight fold, thus locking the adjacent panels together.

Abstract: A jacketing system for cylindrical storage tank structures of the type used for oil, water, etc., wherein vertically disposed insulated panel sections are affixed to wire cable members or the like on the outside walls of the tank structures and improved articulated fasteners are provided for securing the panel sections to the wire cable members.

Abstract: Multiple insulation barrier layers are held against the interior of a tank by plastic fasteners. Preferably three insulation component layers are used with a layer of fiberglass between the first and second layers to provide independent movement. Two composite membranes, one in contact with the tank and one in contact with the liquid cryogen, provide a barrier to liquid/vapor passage through the system.

Abstract: Wall structure of a hot fluid chamber, comprisingAn inner metal wall;A plurality of support pins regularly arranged on and projecting outward from the surface of the inner metal wall;A plurality of coupling members fixed to the inner metal plate by the support pins, each coupling member being of a truncated quadrangular pyramid shape and made of a heat-insulating refractory material;A plurality of heat-insulating refractory blocks mounted between the coupling members, each block having the underside portion provided with a cushioning layer formed of an elastic refractory material;A heat-insulating layer formed of an elastic refractory material and covering the surfaces of the coupling members and of the heat-insulating refractory blocks; andAn outer metal wall covering the heat-insulating layer.

Abstract: An underground storage tank installation. The excavation is to a predetermined depth to permit placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level. At least a pair of opposing side walls of the excavation are sloped to minimize the danger of collapse. The excavation is provided with a base layer of footing material by appropriate backfill and a double shell storage tank is rested on the base layer in the excavation. Double shell piping conduits and a leak detector is installed between the shell and ground level. Backfill material is placed into the excavation to cover the tank and piping and leak detector structure to a height adjacent ground level. A solid slab is positioned over the tank and the backfill layers with appropriate apertures to permit access to the underground piping conduits and the leak detector. The excavation, backfilling, placement of the tank, piping and detector and pouring of the slab are accomplished without the necessity of personnel entering the excavation.

Abstract: The cylindrical body of a pressure vessel for use as a reaction vessel, is built up from courses of flat circularly arcuate segmental plates, the courses being located with respect to each other by locating means passing through aligning openings in the plates. To facilitate construction the openings in each plate are disposed in a symmetrical pattern or array. The locating means may be pins or preferably sleeves, and prestressing means for holding the courses together may be provided by tie-rods or cables passing through such sleeves and also possibly through openings not taken up by locating means. The floor and/or cover of the pressure vessel may be double-walled, and prestressing means provided within the double walls for tightly securing the floor and/or cover to the inside of the cylindrical wall.

Abstract: There is provided a method of constructing a chimney, which includes the steps of providing an inner precast lining composed of interfitting segments stacked vertically, providing a precast concrete outer wall composed of interfitting segments in stacked relationship surrounding the lining but spaced outwardly therefrom to define an interstitial gap, providing longitudinal reinforcing steel bars within the interstitial gap, and pouring in situ concrete into the interstitial gap and allowing the concrete to harden.

Abstract: A characteristic feature of the wall according to the invention consists in that it is composed of two parts of which the outer part defining the shape of the tank is prestressed, and the inner part is supported by the outer part and composed of arcuate portions adjoining each other, the surface of each portion, which faces the internal space of the tank, comprising a portion of a convex surface of revolution.

Abstract: Safety wall for a storage tank containing liquids which are dangerous to the environment, such as liquid natural gas, acrylonitrile, ethylene, hydrocyanic acid compounds etc., which wall, made of concrete, surrounds the storage tank with an interspace and is freely mounted on a supporting floor, while it is tensioned circumferentially by means of tensioning wires which do not bond to the concrete.

Abstract: Load bearing insulation for the base of liquefied gas storage tanks comprises a plurality of courses of cellular glass blocks having horizontal cut faces with open hemispherical cells thereon. A layer of irreversably compressible inorganic particulate material, such as vermiculite, is applied by rolling or screeding on and between each course of cellular glass blocks. The vermiculite particles penetrate the plurality of open hemispherical cells to completely fill the cells. During the application of the vermiculite capping layer, particles are precompressed to bring the vermiculite particles into intimate contact with the open cells. The precompression of the vermiculite capping layer mechanically adheres the particles to the cellular glass block cut face to thus form an irreversibly compressible capping layer on and in between the cellular glass blocks having a compressive strength in the range between about 90 p.s.i. to 180 p.s.i.

Abstract: Storage tank for liquids presenting a danger to the environment, such as liquid natural gas, ethylene, propylene and the like. The tank comprises an inner tank and a concrete outer tank, an insulating material, the wall of the outer tank being a rigid prestressed concrete wall adjoining other structural parts.

Abstract: A cylindrical steel vessel for nuclear reactors having a cover and a bottom wall is provided with a protective device against axial rupture of the vessel that includes tensioning members which connect a second cover and a second bottom or base one to the other. Also included are a plurality of rings, respectively formed of a sheet metal wrapping, wound around the cylindrical part of the vessel. Between the sheet metal wrapping and the vessel there is a filler of removable light concrete for thermal insulation and shock absorption in the event of a rupture of the vessel. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the protective device.

Abstract: An above-ground pool has a pool wall made up of a series of upright, adjoining wall panels situated in end-to-end relation along an endless path so that the panels surround a given space in which water for the pool may be located. A plurality of upright rods are situated between the adjoining panels. Each panel has opposed upright end edge regions, and at each end edge region each panel has a plurality of substantially rigid fastener portions distributed along each end edge region. These fastener portions include inner fastener portions and outer fastener portions which alternate in elevation with the inner fastener portions along each end edge region of each panel.

Abstract: An improved jacketing system for storage tank structures wherein insulated panels are attached to modular tracks mounted in horizontal courses on the outside walls of the tanks. The individual tracks are made up of modular segments secured together both by splice plates and take-up devices in an improved pretensioned fashion to provide for an efficient mounting of the panels on a tank wall.

Abstract: A pressure tank construction for nuclear reactors includes a steel tank which is inserted into a concrete enclosure. A clearance is provided between the steel tank and concrete enclosure when the steel tank is unpressurized and at ambient temperature. Under operating conditions, the steel tank expands and bears against the concrete enclosure. A support and insulatory means is also provided between the steel tank and the concrete enclosure.

Abstract: A anchorage of a lining to a pressure vessel in which T-shaped anchors are connected to the lining. The anchors extend along the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical sections with which the linings are associated. The anchors extend into cutouts in these sections, with clearance provided around the anchors. The spaces between the anchors and the cutout, and between the pressure vessel and the lining, are filled, e.g. with concrete or a mixture of cement with steel balls.

Abstract: A heat-insulating construction element adapted to be interposed between two substantially parallel walls of a low temperature, high pressure fluid-containing vessel to maintain the walls a predetermined distance apart. The element has a perforated tubular body formed of a winding of heat-insulating filamentary material reinforced by a cured resin, and an annular element forming an end abutment for the body attached to each end of the body.

Abstract: A composite casing voussoir of the type constituted by a mass of concrete or like material and a metal reinforcement. The latter comprises a web having the general shape of a portion of a cylinder and a peripheral radially-extending fixing frame which has a curvilinear rectangular shape. The mass of concrete occupies a cavity of the reinforcement which cavity is open at least partly in a radial direction. According to the invention, the reinforcement has means for hooking the mass of concrete constituted by a projecting flange located over said cavity.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor metal pressure vessel is surrounded by a concrete wall forming an annular space around the vessel. Thermal insulation is in this space and surrounds the vessel, and a coolant-conductive layer is also in this space surrounding the thermal insulation, coolant forced through this layer reducing the thermal stress on the concrete wall. The coolant-conductive layer is formed by concrete blocks laid together and having coolant passages, these blocks being small enough individually to permit them to be cast from concrete at the reactor installation, the thermal insulation being formed by much larger sheet-metal clad concrete segments. Mortar is injected between the interfaces of the coolant-conductive layer and concrete wall and the interfaces between the fluid-conductive layer and the insulation, a layer of slippery sheet material being interposed between the insulation and the mortar.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor containment vessel faced internally with a metal liner is provided with thermal insulation for the liner, comprising one or more layers of compressible material such as ceramic fiber, such as would be conventional in an advanced gas-cooled reactor and also a superposed layer of ceramic bricks or tiles in combination with retention means therefor, the retention means (comprising studs projecting from the liner, and bolts or nuts in threaded engagement with the studs) being themselves insulated from the vessel interior so that the coolant temperatures achieved in a High-Temperature Reactor or a Fast Reactor can be tolerated with the vessel.The layer(s) of compressible material is held under a degree of compression either by the ceramic bricks or tiles themselves or by cover plates held on the studs (in which case the bricks or tiles are preferably bedded on a yielding layer (for example of carbon fibers) rather than directly on the cover plates.

Abstract: A concentric building including a foundation; a first substantially circular platform serving as a lower floor resting upon the foundation; at least one second substantially circular platform smaller in diameter than, and concentric with the first platform, the second platform serving as an upper floor. A plurality of vertically oriented poles are secured between the first and second platforms, and positioned to rigidly hold the second platform above the first platform. A lower wall is attached to the circumference of, and slopes outwardly away from the first platform. At least one upper wall is attached to the circumference of, and slopes outwardly away from the second platform. First and second tension cables are clamped around the uppermost outer perimeters of the lower and upper walls, respectively, for retaining the walls in an upright position. A roof is secured to the top edges of the lower and upper walls, the upper portion of the roof being truncated to provide a skylight.

Abstract: The invention relates to refractory shapes for use in the lowermost courses of the walls of ladles and the like where an adjustment for a taper may be necessary.

Abstract: A heat-insulation-lined tank for low-temperature liquids is composed of a foamed insulation layer secured to the inner wall surface of the tank to be insulated, a plurality of wires in layers assembled crosswise in a net-like fashion and embedded in the insulation, and a liquid tight layer or wall that covers the inner surface of the insulation, the spacings of the wires in net-like layers and of the layers themselves being made narrower on the low-temperature side or with the approach to the innermost layer of the lining. The tank has no possibility of cracking in the insulation layer due to thermal strains on exposure to low temperatures. A method of easily and satisfactorily manufacturing such an insulation-lined tank is also provided.

Abstract: A prestressed concrete container having a chamber therein and a removable concrete member closing the chamber and held in its chamber-closing position by primary and secondary hold-down means each comprising members held fast with the concrete of the container and with the secondary hold-down members passing through the concrete of the closure member.

Abstract: A refractory block particularly for lining furnaces intended for heating scrap or ore to be employed in steelmaking, comprises an envelope made of soft steel and a plate of stainless steel welded to the envelope and forming the block face directed towards the interior of the furnace. The envelope is filled with a refractory material, and the plate comprises means by which it is anchored in the refractory material.

Abstract: In a heat-insulating structure conisting of stacks of metallic modular elements placed in imbricated relation by means of overlapping edge portions, each stack is assembled by means of a single fastening member which is passed right through; and each modular element comprises a leak-tight chamber divided into two equal compartments having the shape of right-angled parallelepipeds, overlapping edge portions formed by the compartments which are relatively displaced along one diagonal, a spacer member fixed between the large bearing faces of the chamber and a filling structure within each compartment.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the useful life of a refractory lining of a substantially cylindrical metallurgical vessel is significantly increased by the use of T-shaped bricks disposed on their face surfaces in an intermeshing relationship wherein some of the adjoining surfaces of adjacent bricks are coincident with a radius of the vessel and the other adjoining surfaces are concentric therewith. This invention extends the life of the vessel by delaying the initial failure of the mortar and then delaying leakage of the molten metal through the refractory lining once the mortar has failed.

Abstract: Load bearing insulation for the base of liquefied gas storage tanks comprises a plurality of courses of cellular glass blocks having horizontal cut faces with open hemispherical cells thereon. A layer of irreversably compressible inorganic particulate material, such as vermiculite, is applied by rolling or screeding on and between each course of cellular glass blocks. The vermiculite particles penetrate the plurality of open hemispherical cells to completely fill the cells. During the application of the vermiculite capping layer, particles are precompressed to bring the vermiculite particles into intimate contact with the open cells. The precompression of the vermiculite capping layer mechanically adheres the particles to the cellular glass block cut face to thus form an irreversibly compressible capping layer on and in between the cellular glass blocks having a compressive strength in the range between about 90 p.s.i. to 180 p.s.i.

Abstract: Steel tanks are insulated by employing a plurality of material face foam plastic panels. Foam plastic panels have beveled edges and a number of slots formed in the panels. The panels are affixed to the tank by a plurality of studs welded to the tank.

Abstract: A duct for the circulation of a hot fluid under pressure and formed in a cold structure of concrete is lined with rigid heat-insulating material such as pumice concrete. A corrugated lining membrane is applied in close contact with the heat-insulating material by means of radial members which are disposed in uniformly spaced relation and anchored in the cold structure.