摘要 |
Methods of protecting an edge weld of a thin metal bladder, which is positioned within a rigid walled tank, against a cavitation-induced collapse where the configuration of the interior surface of the bladder at the edge weld is in the structural form of a cavity which is horn-like in shape. One of the inventive devices is a backing made of hard and ductile material (such as an epoxy, or a brazing compound, or the like) which is interposed between and is in contact with the exterior surface of the bladder and the interior surface of the rigid walled tank in which the bladder is positioned, at a location adjacent to the edge weld of the bladder. Another of the inventive devices is a T-shaped ring disposed internal of the bladder, with the normally vertical leg of the T-shaped ring inserted into the horn-like cavity, and with the normally horizontal leg of the T-shaped ring positioned across the cavity and in contact with the interior surface of the bladder at a location adjacent to the cavity. The T-shaped ring can, but need not be, welded to and integrated with the edge weld; and, if the T-shaped ring is not welded to the edgeweld, a soft material (such as metallic wool, or open cell sponge, or closed cell foam, or the like) can, but need not be, disposed in the horn-like shaped cavity between the legs of the T-shaped ring. Still another of the inventive devices is a hard material (such as a brazing compound or the like) which is fixedly positioned in the horn-like shaped cavity, thereby filling the cavity. Yet another of the inventive devices is a portion of the bladder having a void at the innermost terminus of the edge weld, and also having a passageway which interconnects the void and the liquid in the bladder.
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