Multiple Storage Tank Fabrication Procedure

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus for constructing a tank farm in accordance with the invention, shown schematically.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a storage tank structure illustrating the severing of that structure and a lifting collar.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, to an enlarged scale and illustrating more details.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of large diameter storage tanks are constructed at a building site 10. Each of the tanks is fabricated from a continuous strip of material, such as strip steel, supplied from a reel 12. Each storage tank may be constructed in accordance with the procedures disclosed in the co-pending McFatter application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, as well as the McDonald and Reed patents, for example. Following the completion of the building of each storage tank at the site 10, that tank is severed from the strip, as described in more detail below, and moved through use of a crane 14 to any one of a number of use sites 16 within the same general area as the building site. The crane may be mounted upon a base pad 18 and guyed by support cables 20 in position.

Referring to FIG. 2, strip 12a of steel, for example, is supplied to the building site 10 and is supported by support roller assemblies 22 which may be of the type disclosed in the co-pending McFatter application. These support roller assemblies support the strip for production of a large diameter storage tank structure 24 that includes a plurality of helical convolutions 24a extending upwardly, with the edge portions of adjacent convolutions being secured together, such as by welding at a welding station 26. When a storage tank structure of sufficient size has been completed, that structure is severed along a severing plane 30 which is substantially horizontal and located above the support roller assemblies 22, such as by cutting of the storage tank. The storage tank advantageously includes a top structure 28 thereof, and a lifting collar 32 is employed to transport that portion of the storage tank structure located above the severing plane 30 from the building site 10 to one of the use sites 16.

The lifting collar 32 may take the form of an open-ended ring that includes a flanged upper portion 32a. The open ends of the ring may be closed by use of bolts 34. Rods 36 are pivotally attached to the collar 32 at spaced points along the collar. The rods 36 are connected by cables 36a to the lifting cable 14a of the crane 14 in FIG. 1. The lifting collar 32 is positioned about the storage tank 24 below the top structure 28, the open end of the ring is closed (as shown in FIG. 3), and the severed tank structure is lifted by use of the crane 14 and moved to a particular use site 16. From FIG. 3 it will be noted that the top structure 28 of the storage tank includes a flange 28a. The top flange 32a of the lifting collar engages the top structure flange 28a for the purpose of lifting the storage tank structure. After the storage tank structure has been transported to the use site, the bolts 34 are loosened, the lifting collar is removed from that storage tank, and the crane is pivoted to move another tank following its completion at the buildig site 10.

It will be noted that, when the storage tank structure is severed along the plane 30, the severing operation automatically completes the bottom edge 24b (FIG. 3) of one storage tank structure and the top edge 24c of the next tank to be built. Following the severing operation, the top structure 28 of the next tank may be secured in place, and that next tank completed by the feeding of strip 12a to the support roller assembly 22 and the securing together of adjacent convolutions of the strip, as described above.

The invention thus provides for the fabrication of storage tanks at a single building site, and their transportation from that site to various use sites. The dismantling of the apparatus for constructing the storage tanks is not required, along with the moving of that apparatus from one site to another, as is the present practice in the building of a plurality of storage tanks for use in a tank farm.

All though not specifically shown in the drawings, it should be noted that the completed storage tank as moved from the building site to the use site is placed upon a suitable and conventional base structure for permanent installation at the use site. Further, and as noted, the procedures described above are applicable to the construction of large diameter storage tanks. The typical size is 31 feet in diameter, with a circumference of about 98 feet. Sheet steel approximately 1/4 inch thick and 4 feet in width may be employed. These sizes are representative and in no way limiting of the invention.

The present preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is subject to modification by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention should be taken to be defined by the following claims.