Internal Floating Roof for Covering Fluid Bodies in Storage Tanks

摘要

An internal floating roof for use in large volatile or hazardous liquid storage tanks constructed of a plurality of open-top panel systems including C-shaped beams each having a vertical sidewall and flanges extending inward along the top and bottom of the beams with a bottom flange extending the vertical wall downward beyond the bottom. The panel systems are secured together using top and bottom brackets to construct a rigid, non-flexing roof structure to contain the hazardous gases and vapors beneath the floating roof without creating alternative escape pathways along the respective joints or seams between the panel systems. An additional seal in the form of a weld or resilient sealing member may be used along the joint between adjacent beams to further secure against leaking.

主权项

1. A full contact internal floating roof comprising:
a plurality of panel systems, each panel system comprising at least three or more C-shaped beams having an upper inwardly extending flange, a vertical wall section, a lower inwardly extending flange, and a bottom flange extending the vertical wall downward, a flat bottom panel extending across the space defined by the C-shaped beams of the panel system attached to the lower inwardly extending flanges of the at least three or more C-shaped beams leaving the remaining upwardly extending internal space open to the atmosphere; a plurality of brackets for securing together adjacent panel systems at each of their respective top and bottom corners so that the adjacent panels are held in an abutting array, said brackets consisting of an upper bracket overlying and secured to the upper inwardly facing flange of the C-shaped beams of each adjacent panel system and a pair lower brackets overlying and secured about the bottom flanges of the C-shaped beams of each adjacent panel; whereby the plurality of panel systems are retained in sealing engagement against each adjacent panel system along their common sidewalls.