US3623626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supporting means for independent tanks
Assignee: John J Mcmullen Associates Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for supporting tanks housed in the holds of ships, which tanks serve to transport cargo at relatively high or relatively low temperatures and which tanks, as a consequence, are subject to substantial contractions and expansions. The supporting system comprises a plurality of supporting arms positioned around the tank so that the length of each arm is substantially at a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between the arm and the center of contraction and expansion of the tank. In another embodiment of the invention, the length of each supporting arm increases as the distance between the arm and the center of contraction and expansion increases. In a further embodiment of the invention, the coefficients of expansion of the respective supporting arms are varied in such a manner that the arms nearest the center of contraction and expansion of the tank have a lower coefficient of expansion than do the arms most remote from the center of contraction and expansion. In still a further embodiment of the invention, the individual supporting arms are provided with insulation bushings between the arms and the tank, these bushings serving to regulate the thermal gradient across the arms and thus to regulate the contraction and expansion characteristics of same.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F Bridges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:59
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/08; F17C13/082; B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B25/02; B63B25/08; B63B25/12; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm movably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank and wherein the supporting arms on the sides and top of the tank are positioned and connected in such a manner that the tank may freely contract toward and expand from its center of thermal expansion and contraction as a result of thermal changes in the tank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm movably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank and wherein the supporting arms on the sides and top of the tank are positioned and connected in such a manner that the tank may freely contract toward and expand from its center of thermal expansion and contraction as a result of thermal changes in the tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said supporting arms are rigidly secured to the tank and to the structure of the ship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein each supporting arm is rotatably pinned to the tank and to the structure of the ship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the supporting arms contract and expand with the tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank; wherein the center of thermal expansion and contraction of the tank is at a point near the center of the tank bottom; wherein the supporting arms on the sidewalls of said tank are secured to the tank at a point higher than the point at which said arms are secured to the structure of the ship; and wherein the supporting arms at the top of the tank are connected to the tank at a point more outboard than the point at which the supporting arms are connected to the structure of the ship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the tank and supporting arms are associated in such a manner that the thermal growth and contraction of the tank and arms results in the movement of the junctions of the tank and arms in a straight line toward the center of contraction and expansion of the tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the lengths of the respective supporting arms increase as the distance increases between the arms and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of the tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the thermal coefficients of expansion of the respective arms are dissimilar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system as defined in claim 6, wherein each arm is connected both to the tank and to the structure of the ship, and wherein the tank is insulated from the structure of the ship and connected thereto by means of insulating bushings associated with at least one end of each arm.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks withiN the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm movably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank; wherein the tank and supporting arms are associated in such a manner that the thermal growth and contraction of the tank and arms results in the movement of the junctions of the tank and arms in a straight line toward the center of contraction and expansion of the tank; and wherein the lengths of the respective supporting arms increase as the distance increases between the arms and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of the tank.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks withiN the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm movably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank; wherein the tank and supporting arms are associated in such a manner that the thermal growth and contraction of the tank and arms results in the movement of the junctions of the tank and arms in a straight line toward the center of contraction and expansion of the tank; and wherein the lengths of the respective supporting arms increase as the distance increases between the arms and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of the tank.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm moveably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank and wherein the supporting arms on the sides and top of the tank are positioned and connected in such a manner that the tank may freely contract toward and expand from its center of thermal expansion and contraction as a result of thermal changes in the tank, wherein the tank and supporting arms are associated in such a manner that the thermal growth and contraction of the tank and arms results in the movement of the junctions of the tank and arms in a straight line toward the center of contraction and expansion of the tank; and wherein the thermal coefficients of expansion of the respective arms are dissimilar.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm moveably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank and wherein the supporting arms on the sides and top of the tank are positioned and connected in such a manner that the tank may freely contract toward and expand from its center of thermal expansion and contraction as a result of thermal changes in the tank, wherein the tank and supporting arms are associated in such a manner that the thermal growth and contraction of the tank and arms results in the movement of the junctions of the tank and arms in a straight line toward the center of contraction and expansion of the tank; and wherein the thermal coefficients of expansion of the respective arms are dissimilar.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
240 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm moveably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank and wherein the supporting arms on the sides and top of the tank are positioned and connected in such a manner that the tank may freely contract toward and expand from its center of thermal expansion and contraction as a result of thermal changes in the tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank; wherein the center of thermal expansion and contraction of the tank is at a point near the center of the tank bottom; wherein the supporting arms on the side walls of said tank are secured to the tank at a point higher than the point at which said arms are secured to the structure of the ship; and wherein the supporting arms at the top of the tank are connected to the tank at a point more outboard than the point at which the supporting arms are connected to the structure of the ship.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
240 words
A system for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a ship and comprising a plurality of supporting arms associated with the tanks and with the structure of the ship, each arm moveably connecting said tank to the structure of said ship, and each arm positioned so that its principal axis is at substantially a right angle with respect to an imaginary line drawn between said axis at the tank-connected end of said arm and the center of thermal contraction and expansion of said tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank and wherein the supporting arms on the sides and top of the tank are positioned and connected in such a manner that the tank may freely contract toward and expand from its center of thermal expansion and contraction as a result of thermal changes in the tank, wherein the supporting arms encompass the tank; wherein the center of thermal expansion and contraction of the tank is at a point near the center of the tank bottom; wherein the supporting arms on the side walls of said tank are secured to the tank at a point higher than the point at which said arms are secured to the structure of the ship; and wherein the supporting arms at the top of the tank are connected to the tank at a point more outboard than the point at which the supporting arms are connected to the structure of the ship.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |