Salt platform with hub having locking element

Abstract

A salt platform ( 780 ) is disclosed for use in a fiberglass tank ( 800 ) or other vessel with a curved transition portion ( 802 ) between a flat bottom ( 804 ) and the side wall ( 806 ) of the tank. Salt platform ( 780 ) incorporates a series of hubs ( 702 ), stub spokes ( 750 ) and pipe sections ( 710, 712 ) which are snap fit together by use of mating locking members ( 734 ) and locking slots ( 716 ). The top hubs ( 702 ) have a radially directed stub spoke ( 750 ) mounted thereon and the free end of the stub spoke ( 750 ) receives a pipe section ( 782 ) which extends against or near the side wall ( 806 ) to support the edges of the salt grid. The salt platform ( 780 ) also has extra outer circumferential braces ( 786 ) which assist in supporting the edges of the salt grid.

1 . A salt platform for use in a tank having a side wall, comprising: 
 at least one top hub, said top hub having at least one locking element;    at least one bottom hub, said bottom hub having at least one locking element;    a vertical pipe section extending between said top and said bottom hub;    a stub spoke mounted to the top hub and extending in a radial direction; and    a pipe section received in the stub spoke and extending an additional distance in the radial direction to a position adjacent the side wall of the tank.    
     
     
         2 . The salt platform of  claim 1  further having a second top hub, a first circumferential brace extending between the first and second top hubs, and an outer circumferential brace extending between the first and second top hubs.  
     
     
         3 . The salt platform of  claim 1  for use in a tank having a curved transition portion between a flat bottom of first diameter and the side wall having a larger, second diameter, said top and bottom hubs lying within the first diameter, the stub spoke and pipe section extending radially from within the first diameter to proximate the second diameter.  
     
     
         4 . The salt platform of  claim 1  wherein the hubs each are provided with a plurality of locking elements formed by locking slots about an outer circumference thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The salt platform of  claim 1  wherein the hubs each define a cylindrical socket for receiving vertical pipe sections.  
     
     
         6 . The salt platform of  claim 1  wherein the locking element in the hub includes a T-shaped slot and the stub spoke having a locking element, the locking element in the stub spoke including a T-shaped portion received in the T-shaped slot.  
     
     
         7 . The salt platform of  claim 1  wherein the locking element in the hub includes a plurality of T-shaped slots distributed about an outer circumference of the hub.  
     
     
         8 . The salt platform of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of T-shaped slots are distributed about the circumference at  30  angles to adjacent T-shaped slots.  
     
     
         9 . The salt platform of  claim 8  wherein the hub further includes a locking bar at an end of said T-shaped slot.  
     
     
         10 . The salt platform of  claim 1  wherein said stub spoke has a locking member and a pipe holder, the pipe section received in the pipe holder.  
     
     
         11 . The salt platform of  claim 10  wherein the stub spoke further has a thinned section connecting the locking member and the pipe holder to permit pivotal motion therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . A salt platform, comprising: 
 a plurality of hubs positioned in an annular arrangement at a first radius from a selected center, each said hub having at least one locking element;    a plurality of circumferential braces secured between adjacent hubs except between a first hub and an adjacent second hub;    a well hub positioned between the first and second hubs inside the first radius to define a well opening for a well; and    braces extending between the first hub and well hub and between the second hub and the well hub.