Tank cover with composite cover panels

Abstract

A tank or other form of container or vessel for holding fluids being treated or the like is provided with a removable cover. The cover is formed of a number of panels of a composite material including a thermoset synthetic resin and a reinforcing fiber material typically fiberglass. The panels are formed by a pultrusion process and are of sufficient length to extend between the end walls of the tank as single units. The panels may be made of any suitable width and depth and require no welding or joining to form a single panel width.

1 . A fiberglass reinforced synthetic resin tank cover panel for covering an opening in a process tank, comprising: 
 a central span having a defined width and extending longitudinally a distance to span the opening from one end to another;    a side wall integrally formed extending downwardly from the central span on each side thereof;    each of the side walls having a transversely extending connector leg for a mating fit with a connector leg of another panel;    each side wall further having an inwardly extending shelf formed in an intermediate portion of its downward extent to receive a stiffener member to be mounted therein.    
   
   
       2 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall on each side of the central span is integrally formed with the central span.  
   
   
       3 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transversely extending connector leg on the side wall is integrally formed with the side wall.  
   
   
       4 . The cover panel of  claim 3 , wherein the connector leg extends outwardly from the side wall in a direction away from the central span.  
   
   
       5 . The cover panel of  claim 4 , further including a retainer ledge formed on the connector leg at an end opposite the side wall.  
   
   
       6 . The cover panel of  claim 3 , wherein the connector leg extends inwardly from the side wall in a direction beneath the central span.  
   
   
       7 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central span has a walking surface formed across an upper surface thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a step formed in the central span at each side thereof.    
   
   
       9 . The cover panel of  claim 8 , further including: 
 a sealing groove formed in the step at each side of the central span and adapted to receive a sealing member therein.    
   
   
       10 . The cover panel of  claim 9 , wherein the step and sealing groove are coextensive with the longitudinal extent of the central span.  
   
   
       11 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , further including: 
 at least one strut formed in a lower surface of the central span.    
   
   
       12 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the central span is co-extensive with the width of the panel.  
   
   
       13 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , further including: 
 end flashing mounted extending across the width of the central span for closing the space beneath the central span between the side walls.    
   
   
       14 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , wherein the end flashing has a mounting flange extending outwardly therefrom for mounting on a wall of the process tank.  
   
   
       15 . The cover panel of  claim 14 , further including a sealing groove formed in a lower surface of the mounting flange and adapted to receive a sealing member therein.  
   
   
       16 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , wherein the end flashing has a hand grip formed therewith.  
   
   
       17 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , further including: 
 side flashing mounted extending along one of the side walls for mounting the cover panel on a wall of the process tank.    
   
   
       18 . The cover panel of  claim 17 , wherein the side flashing has a mounting flange extending outwardly therefrom for mounting the cover panel on the process tank wall.  
   
   
       19 . The cover panel of  claim 18 , further including a sealing groove formed in a lower surface of the mounting flange and adapted to receive a sealing member therein.  
   
   
       20 . The cover panel of  claim 18 , wherein the side flashing has a hand grip formed therewith.  
   
   
       21 . The cover panel of  claim 1 , further including a stiffener beam mounted on the shelf of the side walls and extending therebetween for support of the central span.  
   
   
       22 . A tank cover for a process tank formed of a plurality of fiberglass reinforced synthetic resin panels, comprising: 
 each of said panels comprising:    a central span having a defined width and extending longitudinally a distance to span the opening from one end to another;    a side wall integrally formed extending downwardly from the central span on each side thereon;    the side wall having a transversely extending connector leg for a mating fit with a connector leg of another panel;    each side wall further having an inwardly extending shelf formed in an intermediate portion of its downward extent to receive a stiffener member to be mounted therein.