Tank connector construction

• US 5,509,567 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• 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): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US08/465,671
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 220/465, 220/378, 220/459
• US Class Current: 220/601
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/00 Branching pipes; Joining pipes to walls F16L39/00 takes precedence ; characterised by couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/008; specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/26
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/082 Non-disconnectible joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints

Abstract

A tank connector assembly for mounting in the wall of a steel tank. A metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion is welded to the tank. A sub-assembly comprised of an insert member made from a polymer material and having an internal groove therein and an expandable band member positioned in the groove. The sub-assembly is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. The expandable band is in the groove of the insert member is expanded to force the insert member into tight sealing contact with the spud member. 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 of polymer material to become bonded to the insert member.

Claims

1. A tank connector assembly comprising:

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

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

the sub-assembly of the insert member and expandable band member is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of said spud member; and

said expandable band being expanded in said groove of said insert member to produce a tight sealing contact between the insert member and the depending wall portion of said spud member.

2. A tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said cylindrical wall of said spud member has a welding projection on the lower end thereof.

3. A tank connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said insert member has an upper cylindrical section and a lower cylindrical section of a smaller diameter than said upper section to thereby form a shoulder between said upper and lower cylindrical sections.

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

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

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

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

8. A tank and tank connector therefor comprising:

an outer steel tank having at least one opening therein;

an inner tank of polymer material mounted inside said outer steel tank;

a tank connector assembly to facilitate a connection between the interior of said inner tank and tile exterior of said outer tank, said tank connection assembly comprising;

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

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

the sub-assembly of the insert member and expandable band member is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of said spud member; and

said expandable band being expanded in said groove of said insert member to produce a tight sealing contact between the insert member and the depending wall portion of said spud member.

9. A tank and tank connector therefor according to claim 8 in which said inner tank of polymer material is bonded to said insert member.

10. A tank connector assembly according to claim 8 in which said insert member has an upper cylindrical section and a lower cylindrical section of a smaller diameter than said upper section to thereby form a shoulder between said upper and lower cylindrical sections, said shoulder being in snug engagement with said outer steel tank.