Maritime chemical tanker having composite tanks for storing and/or transporting liquid organic and inorganic chemicals and the like

• US 6,167,827 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ascus Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Guaranteed Advanced Tank Technologies International Ltd.
• Inventors: Keehan, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,873
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 114/74.R, 114/74.A, 114/256, 220/901
• US Class Current: 114/74.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 11/04 Constructional features of bunkers, e.g. structural fuel tanks, or ballast tanks, e.g. with elastic walls tanks for fuel or the like not forming subdivisions of the hull B63B17/0027; cleaning of tanks B63B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/08 fluid constructional features of bunkers B63B11/04; tanks for fuel or the like not forming bunkers B63B17/0027
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/082 Arrangements for minimizing pollution by accidents associated with tanks for fuel or the like not forming bunkers B63B17/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/00 Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for fire-fighting in ships A62C3/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/901 Liquified gas content, cryogenic

Abstract

A maritime vessel is disclosed. The maritime vessel includes a hull and at least one cargo tank associated with the hull and having a multi-layered side wall construction. The side wall construction includes a first layer providing a corrosion barrier for the cargo tank, a second layer providing structural integrity for the cargo tank, a third layer providing impact energy absorption and buoyancy properties for the cargo tank, and a fourth layer providing fire-resistant properties for the cargo tank.

Claims

1. A maritime vessel, comprising:

a hull; and

at least one cargo tank associated with the hull and having a multi-layered side wall construction including a first layer providing a corrosion barrier for the cargo tank, a second layer providing structural integrity for the cargo tank, a third layer providing impact energy absorption and buoyancy properties for the cargo tank, and a fourth layer providing fire-resistant properties for the cargo tank.

2. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the first layer defines an inner layer of the cargo tank, the second layer surrounds the first layer, the third layer surrounds the second layer, and the fourth layer surrounds the third layer and defines an outer layer of the cargo tank.

3. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the first corrosion-resistant layer is formed from a resin material and a reinforcement material.

4. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the first corrosion-resistant layer is formed from a siloxirane resin material and a carbon fibers reinforcement material.

5. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the first corrosion-resistant layer includes a fluorinated thermoplastic material.

6. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the first corrosion-resistant layer includes a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film material.

7. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the second layer is formed from a resin material and a reinforcement material.

8. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the second layer is formed from a siloxirane resin material and a reinforcement material from the group consisting of fiberglass, aramid carbon fibers, graphite fibers, and organic fibers.

9. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the third layer is formed from at least one of a honeycomb-shaped material and a high-density foam material.

10. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the third layer is formed from a rigid phenolic foam material having a density of about 6.0 to about 9.0 pounds per square foot.

11. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the fourth layer is formed from a resin material and a reinforcement material.

12. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the fourth layer is formed from a phenolic resin material and a reinforcement material from the group consisting of fiberglass, aramid carbon fibers, graphite fibers, and organic fibers.

13. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the cargo tank is mounted to the hull by a plurality of shear pins.

14. The vessel of claim 1, further including a superstructure surrounding the cargo tank to facilitate transporting the cargo tank on a deck of the hull.

15. The vessel of claim 1, further including a parameter sensing device embedded within the sidewall of the cargo tank.

16. The vessel of claim 1, wherein:

the first corrosion-resistant layer is formed from a siloxirane resin material and a carbon fibers reinforcement material;

the second layer is formed from a siloxirane resin material and a reinforcement material from the group consisting of fiberglass, aramid carbon fibers, graphite fibers, and organic fibers;

the third layer is formed from a rigid phenolic foam material having a density of about 6.0 to about 9.0 pounds per square foot; and

the fourth layer is formed from a phenolic resin material and a reinforcement material from the group consisting of fiberglass, aramid carbon fibers, graphite fibers, and organic fibers.

17. The vessel of claim 16, wherein the first layer defines an inner layer of the cargo tank, the second layer surrounds the first layer, the third layer surrounds the second layer, and the fourth layer surrounds the third layer and defines an outer layer of the cargo tank.

18. The vessel of claim 17, further including at least one parameter sensing device embedded between the first and second layers.

19. The vessel of claim 18, wherein the cargo tank is mounted to the hull by a plurality of shear pins.

20. The vessel of claim 18, further including a superstructure surrounding the cargo tank to facilitate transporting the cargo tank on a deck of the hull.

21. An iso-tank having a multi-layer sidewall construction comprising:

a first layer providing a corrosion barrier for the iso-tank;

a second layer providing structural integrity for the iso-tank;

a third layer providing impact energy absorption and buoyancy properties for the iso-tank;

a fourth layer providing fire-resistant properties for the iso-tank; and

a protective super-structure surrounding the iso-tank.