Method of fabricating a tank and method of fabricating a tank connector therefor

• US 5,655,299 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: State Industries Incorporated (A O Smith Corporation)
• Original Assignee: State Industries Incorporated (A O Smith Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindahl, D. Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, PETER DUNG BA
• Application Number:
  US08/472,438
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 29/460, 29/522.1, 29/523, 29/890.03, 29/890.051, 29/890.14, 29/890.145, 220/4.06, 220/4.12, 220/465, 220/661, 228/184, 264/512, 285/109, 285/130, 285/286, 285/382.4
• US Class Current: 29/890.051
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/10 the extremity of the pipe being screwed into the wall
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/133 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/917 Corrosion resistant container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49387 Boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49437 Flue connector device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49888 Subsequently coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49938 Radially expanding part in cavity, aperture, or hollow body

Abstract

The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly comprising the steps of first providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion. Producing a sub-assembly comprised of an insert member having an internal groove therein and made from a polymer material and an expandable band member positioned in the groove. The next step is to assembly the sub-assembly of the insert member and expandable band member with the spud member. The sub-assembly is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. The next step is to apply an expansion force to the expandable band causing the band to deform slightly and thereby force the insert member into tight sealing contact with the depending wall portion of the spud member. The metal spud member is welded in an opening in the wall of a steel tank. A polymer material is introduced into the interior of the steel tank and the tank is then subjected to a rotational casting movement in the presence of heat to cause the polymer material in the tank to be uniformly distributed over the internal surface of the tank. The heat applied during the rotational casting step serves to cause the inner tank to become bonded to the insert member.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a tank connector assembly for mounting in an opening in the wall of a tank, said tank connector assembly having been fabricated by the following steps:

(a) providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion;

(b) producing a sub-assembly comprised of an insert member having an internal groove therein and made from a polymer material and an expandable band member positioned in said groove;

(c) assembling the sub-assembly of step (b) with the spud member of step (a), with the sub-assembly of step (b) positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of said spud member; and

(d) applying an expansion force to said expandable band causing said expandable band to deform slightly and thereby force said insert member into tight sealing contact with said depending wall portion of said spud member.

2. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said expandable band and said insert member are assembled to form a sub-assembly by sliding said expandable band member into said groove in said insert member.

3. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said expandable band is pre-molded into said groove in said insert member.

4. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said insert member is made of a thermoplastic plastic material.

5. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said insert member is made of a thermosetting plastic material.

6. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said insert member is made of a cross-linked polymer material.

7. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said expandable band is made of a noble-type metal material.

8. A method of fabricating a tank connector assembly for mounting on a tank having an outer shell of metal material and an inner shell of polymer material inside the outer shell, said tank connector assembly having been fabricated by the following steps:

(e) providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion;

(f) producing a sub-assembly comprised of an insert member having an internal groove therein and made from a polymer material and an expandable band member positioned in said groove;

(g) assembling the sub-assembly of step (b) with the spud member of step (a), with the sub-assembly of step (b) positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of said spud member; and

(h) applying an expansion force to said expandable band causing said expandable band to deform slightly and thereby force said insert member into tight sealing contact with said depending wall portion of said spud member.

9. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 8 in which said expandable band and said insert member are assembled to form a sub-assembly by sliding said expandable band member into said groove in said insert member.

10. The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly according to claim 8 in which said expandable band is pre-molded into said groove in said insert member.

11. A method of fabricating a tank and tank connector therefor comprising the steps of:

(i) forming a pair of top and bottom members by a metal deformation procedure;

(ii) welding at least one tank connector assembly in an opening in one of the members, said tank connector assembly having been fabricated by the following steps;

(a) providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion;

(b) producing a sub-assembly comprised of an insert member having an internal groove therein and made from a polymer material and an expandable band member positioned in said groove;

(c) assembling the sub-assembly of step (b) with the spud member of step (a), with the sub-assembly of step (b) positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of said spud member;

(d) applying an expansion force to said expandable band causing said expandable band to deform slightly and thereby force said insert member into tight sealing contact with said depending wall portion of said spud member;

(iii) fastening the top and bottom members together by welding to form an outer shell having an internal surface;

(iv) charging one half member of the outer shell with a polymer material before said welding step;

(v) subjecting the tank to a rotational movement in the presence of heat to thus cause the polymer material of step (iv) to be uniformly distributed over the internal surface of the outer shell to thereby form an inner shell of non-corrosive material inside the outer shell wherein the inner shell provides a substantially leak-tight liner for the outer shell to thus prevent contact between the contents of the tank and the outer shell, said outer shell serving as a mold for the inner shell wherein said mold becomes a permanent part of the completed tank.

12. A method of fabricating a tank and tank connector therefor according to claim 11 in which said inner shell becomes bonded to said insert member during the performance of step (v).

13. A method of fabricating a tank and tank connector therefor comprising the steps of:

(i) forming a pair of top and bottom members by a metal deformation procedure;

(ii) welding at least one tank connector assembly in an opening in one of the members, said tank connector assembly having been fabricated by the following steps;

(a) providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion;

(b) producing a sub-assembly comprised of an insert member having an internal groove therein and made from a polymer material and an expandable band member positioned in said groove;

(c) assembling the sub-assembly of step (b) with the spud member of step (a), with the sub-assembly of step (b) positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of said spud member;

(d) applying an expansion force to said expandable band causing said expandable band to deform slightly and thereby force said insert member into tight sealing contact with said depending wall portion of said spud member;

(iii) fastening the top and bottom members together by welding to form an outer shell having an internal surface;

(iv) charging one half member of the outer shell with a polymer material after said welding step;

(v) subjecting the tank to a rotational movement in the presence of heat to thus cause the polymer material of step (iv) to be uniformly distributed over the internal surface of the outer shell to thereby form an inner shell of non-corrosive material inside the outer shell wherein the inner shell provides a substantially leak-tight liner for the outer shell to thus prevent contact between the contents of the tank and the outer shell, said outer shell serving as a mold for the inner shell wherein said mold becomes a permanent part of the completed tank.

14. A method of fabricating a tank and tank connector therefor according to claim 13 in which said inner shell becomes bonded to said insert member during the performance of step (v).