Floating roof emergency draining system sealing valve

• US 20100230409A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Alajlani, Ibrahim L., Banjar, Mohammed S., Oufi, Ahmed Al
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/203.230
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/38 with surface water receiver, e.g. drain

Abstract

A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system for draining fluid accumulated atop the floating roof, including:

• • a. a valve body having:
    • i. a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter,
    • ii. a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from the top part and defines within the wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than the first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of the top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat,
  • b. the circumferential wall of the bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of the fluid from the valve,
  • c. a valve seal element axially movable in the bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position where it abuts the shoulder, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from the upper closed position, and
  • d. a spring mounted in the bottom part and constantly biasing the valve seal element toward the upper closed position,
  • e. the valve seal element in the open position being at least partially below the fluid discharge passage in the bottom part bore, thus providing a passageway, when the valve seal element is in the open position, for fluid to flow through the top part bore, past the shoulder and to exit the valve via the fluid discharge opening.

Claims

1. A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system for draining fluid accumulated atop said floating roof, comprising:

a. a valve body having;

i. a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter,

ii. a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from said top part and defines within said wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than said first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of said top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat,

b. said circumferential wall of said bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of said fluid from said valve,

c. a valve seal element axially movable in said bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position where it abuts said shoulder, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from said upper closed position, and

d. a spring mounted in said bottom part and constantly biasing said valve seal element toward said upper closed position,

e. said valve seal element in said open position being at least partially below said fluid discharge passage in said bottom part bore, thus providing a passageway, when said valve seal element is in said open position, for fluid to flow through said top part bore, past said shoulder and to exit said valve via said fluid discharge opening.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein said upper and lower parts of said valve body comprise a continuous one piece molded element.

3. A valve according of claim 1 wherein said valve body and valve seal element have a common central longitudinal axis, and said spring extends generally coaxially with said central axis.

4. A valve according to claim 3 further comprising a spring support bar extending transversely of said central longitudinal axis at an elevation below said valve seal element, and wherein said spring is an axial compression spring having a top end engaging said valve seal element and an opposite bottom end engaging said spring support bar.

5. A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system, comprising:

a. a valve body having;

i. a top part with a downward extending bore therethrough,

ii. a bottom part comprising a set of at least two legs which extend downward from said top part and are circumferentially spaced apart to define between them two transversely extending fluid discharge passages extending radially outward from said bore, said legs having facing surfaces that define a downward extending lower bore therebetween, and

iii. a downward facing valve seat situated in said lower bore,

c. a valve seal element axially movable in said bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position where it abuts said valve seat, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from said upper closed position, and

d. a spring mounted in said bottom part and constantly biasing said valve seal element toward said closed position,

e. said valve seal element in said open position being at least partially below said fluid discharge passages in said bottom part bore.

6. A valve according to claim 5, wherein said legs extend circumferentially with generally equal distances between adjacent sides of each two legs, defining the widths of said fluid discharge passages.

7. A valve according to claim 5 wherein said valve body further comprises a spring support bar extending transversely across and fixed to said annular base part, said spring extending from said spring support bar upward to the bottom of said disk, constantly urging said valve seal element upward against said shoulder for closing said valve.

8. A valve according to claim 5, wherein each of said legs extends circumferentially an amount in the range of about 10 to 90 degrees.

9. A valve according to claim 7, further comprising first spring engagement means on the top of said spring support bar, and second spring engagement means at the bottom of said valve seal element.

10. A valve according to claim 5, wherein said set of at least two legs comprises two legs circumferentially spaced apart 180 degrees.

11. A valve according to claim 10, wherein each of said two legs extends circumferentially about 90 degrees.

12. A valve according to claim 5, wherein said set of at least two legs comprises three legs circumferentially spaced apart with generally equal distances between them.

13. A valve according to claim 5, further comprising a shaft extending from the bottom of said valve seal element downward to and through said spring support bar and slidable therethrough when said valve seal element is moved downward, said shaft helping to guide said with said legs when said valve seal element is moved downward.

14. A valve according to claim 7, wherein said spring support bar comprises a beam having opposite ends, and said legs each includes a circumferential groove extending radially outward, said beam being movable axially upward such that said opposite ends thereof move between said legs of said valve, said being then being rotatable about the central longitudinal axis of the valve base with said opposite ends of said beam being insertable and securable into said grooves.

15. A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system to drain fluid accumulated atop said floating roof, comprising:

a. a valve body having;

i. a top part having a downward extending bore therethrough, and

ii. a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from said top part and defines within said circumferential wall a bore that is generally coaxial with said top part bore and defines at the junction of said top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat,

b. said circumferential wall of said bottom part having at least one fluid discharge opening extending transversely therethrough and communicating with said bottom part bore,

c. a valve seal element axially movable in said bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position abutting said valve seat, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from said upper closed position, said valve seal element being automatically opened when a predetermined head of fluid accumulates on said floating roof above said valve,

d. valve drive means carried by said valve body for automatically moving said valve seal element between said open position to said closed position after said accumulated fluid has flowed and been discharged through said valve.

16. A valve according to claim 15, wherein said valve seal element in said open position being at least partially below said fluid discharge opening in said bottom part bore.

17. A valve according to claim 15, wherein said top part bore has first cross-section, said bottom part bore has cross-section that is generally coaxial with and greater than said first cross-section, thereby defining as the junction of said top and bottom part bores said downward facing shoulder.

18. A valve according to claim 15 wherein said bottom part bore is circular and said valve seal element has a corresponding circular shape for sliding axially in said bottom part bore.

19. A valve according to claim 15 wherein said valve drive means comprises a spring mounted in said bottom part and constantly urging said valve seal element toward its closed position.

20. A valve according to claim 15 wherein said spring comprises an axially extending coil spring and said valve body further comprises a bar mounted below said spring and extending transversely thereof.

21. A valve according to claim 20 wherein said valve seal element is a disk.

22. A valve according to claim 15, further comprising roof-engagement means on said valve base for securing said valve to said floating roof.

23. A floating roof and emergency drain assembly for draining fluid accumulated atop said floating roof, comprising:

a. a floating roof for covering the top surface of fluid in said storage tank, and

b. an emergency drainage valve secured to said floating roof and adapted to discharge to a drainage duct below said valve, said valve comprising;

(1) a valve body having;

i. a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter,

ii. a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from said top part and defines within said wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than said first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of said top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat,

(2) said circumferential wall of said bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of said fluid from said valve,

(3) a valve seal element axially movable in said bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position where it abuts said shoulder, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from said upper closed position, and

(4) a spring mounted in said bottom part and constantly biasing said valve seal element toward said upper closed position,

(5) said valve seal element in said open position being at least partially below said fluid discharge passage in said bottom part bore, thus providing a passageway, when said valve seal element is in said open position, for fluid to flow through said top part bore, past said shoulder and to exit said valve via said fluid discharge opening.

24. A liquid petroleum storage system, comprising:

a. a storage tank having enclosing walls, a bottom, a floating roof, fluid inlet and outlet means, and

b. a valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system for draining fluid accumulated atop said floating roof, comprising;

a valve body having;

i. a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter,

ii. a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from said top part and defines within said wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than said first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of said top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat,

c. said circumferential wall of said bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of said fluid from said valve,

d. a valve seal element axially movable in said bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position where it abuts said shoulder, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from said upper closed position, and

f. a spring mounted in said bottom part and constantly biasing said valve seal element toward said upper closed position,

g. said valve seal element in said open position being at least partially below said fluid discharge passage in said bottom part bore, thus providing a passageway, when said valve seal element is in said open position, for fluid to flow through said top part bore, past said shoulder and to exit said valve via said fluid discharge opening.