Salt platform with hub having locking element

• US 20040022704A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donald B. Peddicord
• Original Assignee: Donald B. Peddicord
• Inventors: Peddicord, Donald B.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20040022704A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/02 Underframes
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0486 forming an abutting connection of at least one tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 422/902 Sodium chloride and potassium chloride dissolver

Abstract

A salt platform (780) is disclosed for use in a fiberglass tank (800) or other vessel with a curved transition portion (802) between a flat bottom (804) and the side wall (806) of the tank. Salt platform (780) incorporates a series of hubs (702), stub spokes (750) and pipe sections (710, 712) which are snap fit together by use of mating locking members (734) and locking slots (716). The top hubs (702) have a radially directed stub spoke (750) mounted thereon and the free end of the stub spoke (750) receives a pipe section (782) which extends against or near the side wall (806) to support the edges of the salt grid. The salt platform (780) also has extra outer circumferential braces (786) which assist in supporting the edges of the salt grid.

Claims

1. A salt platform for use in a tank having a side wall, comprising:

at least one top hub, said top hub having at least one locking element;

at least one bottom hub, said bottom hub having at least one locking element;

a vertical pipe section extending between said top and said bottom hub;

a stub spoke mounted to the top hub and extending in a radial direction; and

a pipe section received in the stub spoke and extending an additional distance in the radial direction to a position adjacent the side wall of the tank.

2. The salt platform of claim 1 further having a second top hub, a first circumferential brace extending between the first and second top hubs, and an outer circumferential brace extending between the first and second top hubs.

3. The salt platform of claim 1 for use in a tank having a curved transition portion between a flat bottom of first diameter and the side wall having a larger, second diameter, said top and bottom hubs lying within the first diameter, the stub spoke and pipe section extending radially from within the first diameter to proximate the second diameter.

4. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein the hubs each are provided with a plurality of locking elements formed by locking slots about an outer circumference thereof.

5. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein the hubs each define a cylindrical socket for receiving vertical pipe sections.

6. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein the locking element in the hub includes a T-shaped slot and the stub spoke having a locking element, the locking element in the stub spoke including a T-shaped portion received in the T-shaped slot.

7. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein the locking element in the hub includes a plurality of T-shaped slots distributed about an outer circumference of the hub.

8. The salt platform of claim 7 wherein the plurality of T-shaped slots are distributed about the circumference at 30 angles to adjacent T-shaped slots.

9. The salt platform of claim 8 wherein the hub further includes a locking bar at an end of said T-shaped slot.

10. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein said stub spoke has a locking member and a pipe holder, the pipe section received in the pipe holder.

11. The salt platform of claim 10 wherein the stub spoke further has a thinned section connecting the locking member and the pipe holder to permit pivotal motion therebetween.

12. A salt platform, comprising:

a plurality of hubs positioned in an annular arrangement at a first radius from a selected center, each said hub having at least one locking element;

a plurality of circumferential braces secured between adjacent hubs except between a first hub and an adjacent second hub;

a well hub positioned between the first and second hubs inside the first radius to define a well opening for a well; and

braces extending between the first hub and well hub and between the second hub and the well hub.