IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0032813
(2011-02-23)
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등록번호 |
US-8430263
(2013-04-30)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Jordan, David L.
- Michaud, William E.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
28 |
초록
▼
Embodiments of the invention relate to support arrangements for semi-membrane tank walls and, more particularly, to a universal support assembly for tanks that experience thermal expansion and contraction. One embodiment of the invention may include a tank assembly having at least one tank wall, a s
Embodiments of the invention relate to support arrangements for semi-membrane tank walls and, more particularly, to a universal support assembly for tanks that experience thermal expansion and contraction. One embodiment of the invention may include a tank assembly having at least one tank wall, a support structure at least partially adjacent to the wall, and a link member coupling the tank to the support structure. The link member may be configured to accommodate relative movement between the tank and the support structure through rotation. The link member may be coupled to the tank wall by a ball and socket joint and coupled to the support structure with another ball and socket joint, allowing substantially unlimited in-plane movement of the tank wall relative to the support structure.
대표청구항
▼
1. A tank assembly comprising: a tank having at least one wall, the at least one wall having an external surface;a first support block coupled to the external surface of the at least one wall, the first support block having at least one first socket;a support structure at least partially adjacent to
1. A tank assembly comprising: a tank having at least one wall, the at least one wall having an external surface;a first support block coupled to the external surface of the at least one wall, the first support block having at least one first socket;a support structure at least partially adjacent to the external surface of the at least one wall;a second support block coupled to the support structure, the second support block having at least one second socket;a link member having a first end received by the at least one first socket, the first end being configured to rotationally move in the first socket relative to the at least one wall, the link member having a second end received by the at least one second socket, the second end being configured to rotationally move in the second socket relative to the support structure;a first plate coupled to the the first support block, the first plate having a first rectangular hole aligned with the first socket, the first end of the link member extending through the first rectangular hole into the at least one first socket, the first plate being configured to retain the first end of the link member within the first support block and to allow the link member to rotationally move in a first plane substantially aligned with a first length of the first rectangular hole; anda second plate coupled to the second support block, the second plate having a second rectangular hole, the second end of the link member extending through the second rectangular hole into the at least one second socket, the second plate being configured to retain the second end of the link member within the at least one second socket and to allow the link member to rotationally move in a second plane substantially aligned with a second length of the second rectangular hole. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall includes a substantially horizontal wall and the link member includes a first plurality of link members coupled to a respective first plurality of sockets arranged on at least a portion of the substantially horizontal wall of the tank, the first plurality of link members configured to couple the at least a portion of the substantially horizontal wall to the support structure. 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one wall further includes a substantially vertical wall and the link member further includes a respective second plurality of link members arranged on at least a portion of the substantially vertical wall of the tank, the second plurality of link members configured to couple the at least a portion of the substantially vertical wall to the support structure. 4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one T-shaped stiffening member coupling the first end of the link member to the at least one wall. 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first plate is parallel to the at least one wall; andthe first plate has a contoured surface around the first hole configured to match a shape and a size of the first end of the link member to retain the first end of the link member in the at least one first socket. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one first socket is rectangular shaped. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first end of the link member and the at least one first socket is rectangular shaped. 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the link member extends at an angle substantially normal to the at least one wall. 9. A support arrangement for a tank comprising: a tank having a first wall;a support structure at least partially adjacent to the first wall, the support structure having at least one first socket in at least one first support block;a link member having a first end received by the at least one first socket and the first end being configured to rotationally move in at least one direction relative to the support structure, the link member having a second end coupled to the first wall and the second end being configured to rotationally move in at least one direction relative to the first wall;a first plate coupled to the support structure, the first plate having a first rectangular hole aligned with the at least one first socket, the first plate allowing rotation of the first end of the link member along a first plane substantially aligned with a first length of the first rectangular hole, the first plate configured to retain the first end of the link member extending through the first rectangular hole into the at least one first socket; anda second plate coupled to the first wall via at least one second support block, the second plate having a second hole, the second end of the link member extending through the second hole into the at least one second socket, the second plate configured to retain the second end within at least one second socket of the second support block. 10. The support arrangement of claim 8, further comprising: a first plurality of support members at least partially bordering the first wall of the tank; anda first plurality of link members configured to couple the first wall to the first plurality of support members and accommodate relative movement between at least a portion of the first wall and the first plurality of support members. 11. The support arrangement of claim 9, further comprising: a second plurality of link members configured to couple a second wall of the tank to a second plurality of support members, each of the second plurality of link members having: a third end rotationally coupled to the second wall; anda fourth end rotationally coupled to a respective one of the second plurality of support members;wherein the second wall is substantially vertical and at least one of the third end or the fourth end is configured to accommodate relative rotational movement of the second link member substantially only about a single axis. 12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the second plurality of support members is coupled to a respective third plate configured to retain the third end coupled to second wall, the third plate defining a first substantially rectangular opening configured to allow the second link member to rotate in a first plane substantially aligned with the length of the first substantially rectangular opening. 13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the second plurality of support members is coupled to a respective fourth plate configured to couple to the fourth support block and retain the fourth end of the second link member to the fourth support block, the fourth plate defining a second substantially rectangular opening configured to allow the second link member to rotate in a second plane substantially aligned with the length of the second substantially rectangular opening. 14. The support arrangement of claim 10, wherein: a first set of the second plurality of support members is arranged substantially along a horizontal centerline of the second wall and configured to allow relative motion of at least a portion the second wall in a substantially horizontal plane only. 15. The support arrangement of claim 13, wherein a second set of the second plurality of support members is arranged substantially along a vertical centerline of the second wall and configured to allow relative motion of at least a portion of the second wall in a substantially vertical plane only. 16. The support arrangement of claim 9, wherein: the first plate is parallel to the first wall; andthe first plate has a contoured surface around the first hole configured to match a shape and a size of the first end of the first link member to retain the first end of the first link member in the at least one first socket. 17. The support arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first link member extends at an angle substantially normal to the first wall. 18. The support arrangement of claim 9, wherein the at least one first socket is rectangular shaped. 19. An assembly comprising: a tank having at least one wall;a first grid of stiffener members attached to the at least one wall;a plurality of first support blocks supported by respective stiffener members of the first grid, the plurality of first support blocks having a plurality of first rectangular openings;a plurality of link members having a first end and a second end;a plurality of first plates having a plurality of first rectangular holes extending through the plurality of first plates, wherein the first plates are coupled to respective first support blocks and are configured to retain the first ends of the link members in respective first rectangular openings, the first ends of the link members extending through the first rectangular holes into the first rectangular openings of the first support blocks;a support structure external to the tank;a second grid of stiffener members attached to the support structure;a plurality of second support blocks supported by respective stiffener members of the second grid, the plurality of second support blocks having a plurality of second rectangular openings; anda plurality of second plates having a plurality of second rectangular holes extending through the plurality of second plates, wherein the second plates are coupled to respective second support blocks and are configured to retain the second ends of the link members in respective second rectangular openings, the second ends of the link members extending through the second rectangular holes into the second rectangular openings of the second support blocks;wherein the first ends of the link members are configured to rotationally move along a first plane substantially aligned with a first plurality of lengths of the first rectangular holes and the second ends of the link members are configured to rotationally move along a second plane substantially aligned with a second plurality of lengths of the second rectangular holes relative to the support structure. 20. A method of supporting a tank wall comprising: coupling a first support block to a tank wall with a link member, the first support block having a first support block opening configured to receive a first end of the link member;coupling a second support block to at least one of support members of a supporting structure, the second support block having a second support block opening configured to receive a second end of the link member;retaining the first end of the link member within the first support block opening with a first plate, the first plate having a first rectangular hole extending through the first plate, wherein the link member passes through the first rectangular hole to the first support block opening of the first support block;retaining the second end of the link member within the second support block opening with a second plate, the second plate having a second rectangular hole extending through the second plate, wherein the link member passes through the second rectangular hole to the second support block opening of the second support block; andaccommodating movement of the tank wall relative to the supporting structure by allowing rotation of the first end of the link member within the first support block opening in at least one direction along a first plane substantially aligned with a first length of the first rectangular hole and by allowing rotation of the second end of the link member within the second support block opening in at least one direction along a second plane substantially aligned with a second length of the second rectangular hole. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein accommodating movement of the tank comprises accommodating thermal expansion and contraction of the tank wall. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein retaining the first end of the link member within the first support block opening with a first plate comprises matching a contoured surface around the first rectangular hole configured to a shape and size of the first end of the link member.
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