Beam assembly and spacer elements

Abstract

The present invention provides an assembly of orthogonal tension beams ( 4 ) in alternate horizontal layers for use in a tank, wherein at least some of the intersection points between the orthogonal tension beams are interconnected by vertical spacer elements ( 5 ) with bending stiffness and torsional flexibility as well as spacer elements suitable for said assembly.

1 . A tank comprising an assembly of horizontal, orthogonally crossing tension beams the beams being interconnected at the crossing points, wherein at least at some of the crossing points, the orthogonal tension beams are interconnected by vertical spacer elements wherein the spacer elements permit relative angular displacement, while resisting shear and bending, between adjacent orthogonal beams. 
     
     
         2 . A tank comprising an assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the beams comprise webs and flanges. 
     
     
         3 . A tank comprising an assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the spacer elements are connected to the webs of the beams. 
     
     
         4 . A tank comprising an assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the spacer elements are connected to the flanges of the beams. 
     
     
         5 . A tank comprising an assembly according to  claim 1  anyone of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the spacer elements are connected to the beams by bolts or welds. 
     
     
         6 . A spacer element for use in a tank comprising an assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said element has two base-plates connected by a plurality of plates intersecting through a common axis and where this axis intersects both the two base-plates. 
     
     
         7 . A spacer element according to  claim 6 , wherein the plates intersecting are of a cruciform cross section and have a common axis perpendicular to the base plates.