Tank construction having a floor formed of interconnected panels

• US 4,602,463 A
• Filed: 10/03/1984
• Issued: 07/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Holowatyj, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Murtagh, John E.
• Application Number:
  US06/657,141
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 99/646 R, 99/646 L, 99/646 LS, 220/5 A, 220/75, 52/197, 52/247, 52/246, 52/302, 52/266
• US Class Current: 52/197
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 7/30 mainly of metal

Abstract

A tank construction having a floor formed of interconnected panels. The tank includes a generally cylindrical shell which is supported on a footing and a floor encloses the lower end of the shell. A sump is located centrally of the floor and the floor consists of a plurality of generally pie-shaped panels which extend between the sump to the shell. Bolts connect the inner edge of the panels to the sump, as well as connecting the side edges of the panel together and connecting the outer edges of the panels to a foundation angle which supports the lower end of the shell of the tank. The lower ends of anchor bolts are embedded in the footing and the upper ends of the anchor bolts are located on the outside of the shell and are secured to generally hat-shaped anchor chairs that are mounted on the outer surface of the shell.

Claims

1. A tank construction, comprising a footing, a cylindrical shell supported on the footing, and anchor means for securing the shell to said footing, said anchor means comprising a plurality of anchor bolts embedded in said footing with the upper end portions of said bolts disposed radially outward of said shell, a plurality of anchor chairs secured to the outer surface of the shell, each anchor chair having a generally vertical opening to receive one of said anchor bolts, the bottom of each opening having a larger cross sectional area than the top of said opening, each bolt extending through the respective opening with the upper end of said bolt projecting above said anchor chair, and means connected to the upper projecting end of each bolt for securing each bolt to the top of the respective anchor chair, the cross sectional area of said top being substantially greater than the cross sectional area of the bolt whereby a misaligned bolt can be bent and passed through the opening in said anchor chair.

2. The tank construction of claim 1 wherein each of said anchor chairs includes an outer surface spaced from the exterior surface of said shell and a pair of side surfaces connecting said outer surface to said shell, said outer surface, said sides and said shell defining the opening.

3. The tank construction of claim 2, and including a plate disposed across the top of each anchor chair, said plate having an opening to receive the upper end of the respective anchor bolt, and a nut threaded on the upper end of the anchor bolt and bearing against said plate.

4. A tank construction, comprising a footing, a generally cylindrical shell supported on the footing, a floor enclosing the lower end of the shell, said floor including a plurality of panels, said panels having overlapping adjacent edges, the outer ends of the panels being connected to the shell, a foundation member having a horizontal leg connected to the outer ends of the panels and having a vertical leg connected to the shell, anchor means for securing the shell to said footing, a plurality of bolts interconnecting said overlapping side edges, and a strip of pressure sensitive tape covering the lower ends of said bolts and securing the bolts to the bottom surface of one of said pair of panels.

5. The tank construction of claim 4, wherein a group of said bolts is disposed above said footing, and said tank construction includes a layer of compressive material disposed on the upper surface of said footing, the lower ends of said group of bolts being embedded in said compressive mateiral.

6. The tank construction of claim 4, and including a plurality of second bolts connecting the outer end of each panel to said foundation member.

7. A tank construction, comprising a generally circular footing, a generally cylindrical shell supported on the footing, a foundation disposed within said circular footing, a floor enclosing the lower end of said shell and resting on said foundation, said floor including a central panel disposed at the center of said shell, said floor also including a first group of panels, each first panel having curved inner and outer edges and each first panel having outwardly diverging side edges, the inner edge of each first panel being disposed in lapping relation to said central panel, a plurality of first bolts disposed in aligned holes in said central panel and said inner edges, the side edges of each first panel being disposed in lapping relation with side edges of adjacent first panels, a plurality of second bolts disposed in aligned second holes in said lapping side edges, pressure sensitive tape means for securing the lower ends of said first and second bolts to the undersurface of the respective panels, and means for interconnecting the outer edges of said first panels to said shell.

8. The tank construction of claim 7, wherein each of said first and second bolts includes a head disposed beneath the respective panels, a stem extending through the respective aligned holes, and a nut threaded on the upper end of said stem and disposed on the outer surface of the respective panels.

9. The tank construction of claim 8, and including a corrosion resistant cover enclosing each nut and the upper end of the corresponding stem.

10. The tank construction of claim 7, wherein said panels include a steel base and a fused glass coating disposed on opposite surfaces of said base.