Granted Patent B2

US 9,033,179 · App. 13/682,170 · Granted May 19, 2015

Inventors: Bruce Allen (Selkirk, CA); Yuqin Shan (Winnipeg, CA); Nhi Y Le (Winnipeg, CA)

Assignee: Vicwest Inc

B65D90/08B65D90/10B65D90/205

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A water tank comprising:

a plurality of rows of curved panels of corrugated sheet metal with horizontally extending corrugations where the panels of each row are bolted end edge to end edge to form a cylindrical wall portion and where the wall portions formed by the rows are stacked and bolted top edge to bottom edge to form a cylindrical wall extending from a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall mounted on a support surface to a top edge of the wall for containing water;

a liner extending over the cylindrical wall and support surface to contain the water within the tank;

and an access opening in the cylindrical wall comprising:

a frame welded into a hole formed in one of the curved panels;

wherein the frame includes a front planar flange onto which the access cover plate is fastened and a rearwardly extending flange which is welded to the panel at an edge of the hole and wherein the rearwardly extending flange of each of the connecting rails is deep enough in a direction into the hole such that a horizontal curved edge of the panel is welded onto the flange across its full width while being spaced from the front flange across its full width;

wherein the curved edge of the corrugated panel is welded on the inside surface and on the outside surface to the rearwardly extending flange;

a liner retention system surrounding the hole to fasten an edge of the liner around the hole;

and an access cover plate arranged to be fastened to the frame so as to be removable therefrom to allow access to the interior of the tank inside the liner by a person for service within the interior.

2. The water tank according to claim 1 wherein the curved edge of the panel is welded on the inside surface and on the outside surface to the flange.

3. A water tank comprising:

a plurality of rows of curved panels where the panels of each row are connected end edge to end edge to form a cylindrical wall portion and where the wall portions formed by the rows are stacked and connected top edge to bottom edge to form a cylindrical wall extending from a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall mounted on a support surface to a top edge of the wall for containing water;

a liner extending over the cylindrical wall and support surface to contain the water within the tank;

and an access opening in the cylindrical wall comprising:

a frame welded into a hole formed in one of the curved panels;

a liner retention system surrounding the hole to fasten an edge of the liner around the hole;

and an access cover plate arranged to be fastened to the frame so as to be removable therefrom to allow access to the interior of the tank inside the liner by a person for service within the interior;

wherein there is provided a hoop strength coupling plate extending across the hole at the frame for transferring hoop loads from the panel across the frame, the hoop strength coupling plate being removable;

the hoop strength coupling plate being attached to the access cover plate to be removed therewith.

4. The water tank according to claim 3 wherein the frame includes a front flange onto which the access cover plate is fastened and a rearwardly extending flange which is welded to the panel at an edge of the hole.

5. A water tank comprising:

a plurality of rows of curved panels where the panels of each row are connected end edge to end edge to form a cylindrical wall portion and where the wall portions formed by the rows are stacked and connected top edge to bottom edge to form a cylindrical wall extending from a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall mounted on a support surface to a top edge of the wall for containing water;

a liner extending over the cylindrical wall and support surface to contain the water within the tank;

and an access opening in the cylindrical wall comprising:

a frame welded into a hole formed in one of the curved panels;

a liner retention system surrounding the hole to fasten an edge of the liner around the hole;

and an access cover plate arranged to be fastened to the frame so as to be removable therefrom to allow access to the interior of the tank inside the liner by a person for service within the interior;

wherein there is provided a hoop strength coupling plate extending across the hole at the frame for transferring hoop loads from the panel across the frame, the hoop strength coupling plate being removable;

and wherein the frame includes a front flange onto which the access cover plate is fastened and a rearwardly extending flange which is welded to the panel at an edge of the hole and wherein there is provided a rear flange at each side of the frame extending inwardly across the hole and wherein the hoop strength coupling plate is connected to each of the rear flanges for transferring the hoop loads therebetween.

6. The water tank according to claim 5 wherein the hoop strength coupling plate is removable with the cover plate.

7. The water tank according to claim 5 wherein the hoop strength coupling plate is carried on the cover plate for removal therewith.

8. The water tank according to claim 5 wherein the hoop strength coupling plate is arranged to transfer hoop loads to the frame by studs connected between the hoop strength coupling plate and the frame.

9. The water tank according to claim 8 wherein the hoop strength coupling plate has holes at side edges thereof arranged to engage studs on the frame.

10. The water tank according to claim 8 wherein the studs comprise shear bolts where a hole in either the frame or the plate engages over a head of the shear bolt.

11. A water tank comprising:

a plurality of rows of curved panels where the panels of each row are connected end edge to end edge to form a cylindrical wall portion and where the wall portions formed by the rows are stacked and connected top edge to bottom edge to form a cylindrical wall extending from a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall mounted on a support surface to a top edge of the wall for containing water;

a liner extending over the cylindrical wall and support surface to contain the water within the tank;

and an access opening in the cylindrical wall comprising:

a frame welded into a hole formed in one of the curved panels;

a liner retention system surrounding the hole to fasten an edge of the liner around the hole;

and an access cover plate arranged to be fastened to the frame so as to be removable therefrom to allow access to the interior of the tank inside the liner by a person for service within the interior;

wherein the cover plate is sealed to the frame by a sealing strip to prevent escape of the water from the interior of the tank through the hole;

wherein there is provided a hoop strength coupling plate extending across the hole at the frame for transferring hoop loads from the panel across the frame, the hoop strength coupling plate being removable;

and wherein the hoop strength coupling plate is not sealed to the frame so that water enters between the hoop strength coupling plate and the cover plate.

Assignments (11)

Continuity (1)