CONCRETE RESERVOIR FOR UNDERWATER USE

• US 3,708,987 A
• Filed: 07/23/1971
• Issued: 01/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Armand Cimadevilla, Jean Roulet
• Original Assignee: Armand Cimadevilla, Jean Roulet
• Inventors: Roulet, Jean, Cimadevilla, Armand
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, J. Karl
• Application Number:
  US05/165,060
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 61/.5,46,46.5 52/223,296 114/.5R,.5T 9/8P
• US Class Current: 405/210
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/78 for use in or under water manholes, inspection openings, covers therefor B65D90/10
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 23/16 Jointing caissons to the foundation soil, specially to uneven foundation soil
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/38 Foundations for large tanks, e.g. oil tanks

Abstract

A reservoir of prestressed reinforced concrete preferably for storing hydrocarbons, adapted so that it can be submerged in the sea so that it rests freely on the bottom thereof, said reservoir comprising a series of cylindrical walls into which radiating partitions fit so that they bear on a central pillar formed by two circular slabs fitting into the walls and the partitions. The bottom of the reservoir has a reinforcement designed to receive a supporting pad or cushion, and the top of the reservoir carries at least one columnar support having a working platform at its upper end. This platform remains above the surface of the sea after the reservoir has been submerged. Each support is in the form of a hollow shaft and serves to carry means connecting the tank with safety elements on the work platform. Further, each shaft is provided with first means which allow the tank to be submerged in the sea so that it can rest freely on the bottom thereof and second means which allow the tank to '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'breath'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' by enabling the safety elements to be brought into communication with the free atmosphere. Preferably each shaft has a number of cells therein which can be successively flooded with sea water to lower the reservoir to the sea bottom in stages and desirably the reservoir is made from prestressed reinforced concrete.

Claims

1. A concrete reservoir for hydrocarbons adapted to rest unanchored on the bottom of a body of water, said reservoir comprising in combination a plurality of vertical walls, a floor and a cover defining a plurality of adjacent compartments, each of said walls, floor and cover being made of concrete prestressed in two directions, at least some of said compartments being formed with a first group of apertures in their lower parts leading to the exterior of the reservoir for admitting ambient water to the bottom of said compartments, and at least some of said compartments being formed with a second group of apertures in their upper parts connecting adjacent compartments so that hydrocarbons stored in said compartments above said water may flow back and forth there between, a hollow shaft integrally connected to said cover and dimensioned to project above water when said reservoir is on the bottom of said body of water, and conduit means extending through said shaft Into said reservoir for introducing fluids into said reservoir through said shaft and for withdrawing fluids therefrom.

2. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for opening and closing said apertures.

3. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 1 in which said shaft is made of concrete and prestressed by means of cables extending into at least some of said reservoir walls.

4. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 3 in which said reservoir walls comprise partitions radiating from the longitudinal axis of said shaft and the lower ends of the cables prestressing said shaft splay radially outward in said partitions.

5. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 1 in which said shaft is divided into a plurality of superposed compartments by transverse partitions, said transverse partitions being provided with valved apertures which permit a selected liquid to be introduced into any desired number of said superposed compartments so as to regulate the buoyancy of the reservoir.

6. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 5 comprising means for introducing air into said superposed compartments.

7. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of cylindrical walls arranged concentrically about a vertical axis and interconnected by vertical radial partitions to define said compartments.

8. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 7 in which said floor comprises an external supporting ring which holds an annular cushion supporting said reservoir.

9. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 7 comprising three supporting members spaced at 120* from each other and integrated into said floor, which is reinforced adjacent each supporting member.

10. A concrete reservoir as claimed in claim 1 which is lined with a material selected from the group consisting of metals, synthetic resins, and a combination of pitch and epoxy resins.