Internal Floating Roof for Covering Fluid Bodies in Storage Tanks

Abstract

An internal floating roof for use in large volatile or hazardous liquid storage tanks constructed of a plurality of open-top panel systems including C-shaped sidewalls having flanges extending inward along the top and bottom of the sidewall and another flange extending downward from the bottom. The panel systems are secured together using top and bottom bracket means to construct a rigid, non-flexing roof structure to contain the hazardous gases and vapors beneath the floating roof.

1 . A full contact internal floating roof comprising:
 a plurality of panel systems, each panel system comprising at least three or more C-shaped sidewalls having an upper inwardly extending flange, a vertical section, a lower inwardly extending flange, and a downwardly extending flange and a flat bottom panel extending across the space defined by the C-shaped sidewalls leaving the internal space upwardly open to the atmosphere;   a plurality of bracket means for securing together adjacent panel systems at their respective top and bottom corners so that the adjacent panels are held in an abutting array, said bracket means consisting of an upper bracket overlying and secured to the upper inwardly facing flange of the C-shaped sidewall of each adjacent panel and a lower bracket overlying and secured to about the downwardly extending flange of the C-shaped sidewall of each adjacent panel;   wherein the plurality of panel systems are retained in sealing engagement against each adjacent panel system along their common sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 1 , wherein said upper bracket overlies the junction of three or more adjacent panel systems securing the panel systems together in abutting array along their respective sidewalls by securing means extending through the upper bracket and the upper inwardly extending flanges of the adjacent panel systems. 
     
     
         3 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 1 , wherein said lower bracket overlies the junction of three or more adjacent panel systems securing the panel systems together in abutting array along their respective sidewalls by securing means extending through the lower bracket and the downwardly extending flanges of the adjacent panel systems. 
     
     
         4 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 1 , further comprising panel systems along the perimeter of the floating roof that includes one C-shaped sidewall having a curvature that matches the curvature of the container in which the floating roof is being used. 
     
     
         5 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional sealing means positioned atop the abutting C-shaped sidewalls for further reducing any potential leakage of harmful gases or vapors. 
     
     
         6 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 5 , wherein the sealing means is a weld positioned along the top joint of the abutting sidewalls of adjacent panel systems. 
     
     
         7 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 5 , wherein the sealing means is a resilient caulk positioned along the top joint of the abutting sidewalls of adjacent panel systems. 
     
     
         8 . A full contact internal floating roof comprising:
 a plurality of panel systems, each panel system comprising at least three or more sidewalls having a lower inwardly extending flange and a flat bottom panel extending across the space defined by the sidewalls leaving the internal space upwardly open to the atmosphere;   a plurality of means for securing together adjacent panel systems at their respective top and bottom edges so that the adjacent panels are held in an abutting array;   wherein the plurality of panel systems are retained in sealing engagement against each adjacent panel system along their common sidewalls.   
     
     
         9 . The full contact internal floating roof of  claim 8 , wherein said means for securing together adjacent sidewalls is selected from the group consisting of welding and mechanical fastening. 
     
     
         10 . The full contact floating roof of  claim 8 , further comprising panel systems along the perimeter of the floating roof that includes one sidewall having a curvature that matches the curvature of the container in which the floating roof is being used.