Parts assembly, panel, and tank

Abstract

A parts assembly, a tank, and a panel discussed, including a first wall; a second wall, a first edge of the first wall facing a second edge of the second wall; a first flange connected to and extending outward from the first wall; a second flange connected to and extending outward from the second wall, the second flange being spaced from and disposed opposite the first flange; at least one fastener extending through and connecting the first flange and the second flange, the at least one fastener being pre-tensioned; and at least one rigid spacing member disposed between the first flange and the second flange, the rigid spacing member being spaced from the at least one fastener, the rigid spacing member being in contact with the first and second flanges, the at least one fastener being disposed between the rigid spacing member and the first and second walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A parts assembly comprising:
 a first wall;   a second wall, a first edge of the first wall facing a second edge of the second wall;   a first flange connected to and extending outward from the first wall;   a second flange connected to and extending outward from the second wall, the second flange being spaced from and disposed opposite the first flange;   at least one fastener extending through and connecting the first flange and the second flange, the at least one fastener being pre-tensioned; and   at least one rigid spacing member disposed between the first flange and the second flange, the at least one rigid spacing member being spaced from the at least one fastener, the at least one rigid spacing member being in contact with the first and second flanges, the at least one fastener being disposed between the at least one rigid spacing member and the first and second walls.   
     
     
         2 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge of the first wall abuts the second edge of the second wall. 
     
     
         3 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first flange is offset from the first edge;   the second flange is offset from the second edge; and   the first edge and the second edge are aligned with a space between the first flange and the second flange.   
     
     
         4 . The parts assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are disposed equidistant from a corresponding one of the first edge and the second edge. 
     
     
         5 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is a rigid shim connected to one of the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         6 . The parts assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid shim is welded to the first flange. 
     
     
         7 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is disposed between a first outward end of the first flange and a second outward end of the second flange, the first outward end and the second outward end being ends of the first and second flanges opposite the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         8 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is a single rigid spacing member extending along an entire height of the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         9 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first flange is welded to the first wall; and   the second flange is welded to the second wall.   
     
     
         10 . The parts assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sealing member disposed between the first edge of the first wall and the second edge of the second wall, the first edge and the second edge abutting the at least one sealing member. 
     
     
         11 . A parts assembly comprising:
 a first wall;   a second wall;   a first flange connected to and extending outward from the first wall;   a second flange connected to and extending outward from the second wall, the second flange being spaced from and disposed opposite the first flange;   at least one rigid spacing member disposed between the first flange and the second flange, the at least one rigid spacing member being in contact with the first and second flanges,   the first wall, the second wall, the first flange, the second flange, and the at least one rigid spacing member forming a closed perimeter defining a space; and   at least one fastener extending through the first flange, the space, and the second flange and connecting the first flange to the second flange, the at least one fastener being pre-tensioned, the at least one fastener being spaced from the at least one rigid spacing member.   
     
     
         12 . A parts assembly comprising:
 a first wall;   a second wall, a first edge of the first wall facing a second edge of the second wall;   a first flange connected to and extending outward from the first wall;   a second flange connected to and extending outward from the second wall, the second flange being spaced from and disposed opposite the first flange;   at least one fastener extending through and connecting the first flange and the second flange, the at least one fastener being pre-tensioned; and   at least one rigid spacing member disposed between the first flange and the second flange, the at least one rigid spacing member being spaced from the at least one fastener, the at least one rigid spacing member being in contact with the first and second flanges, the at least one rigid spacing member being disposed at at least one of:   above the at least one fastener, and   below the at least one fastener.   
     
     
         13 . A tank comprising:
 a first curved wall including a first edge extending vertically along the first curved wall;   a second curved wall including a second edge extending vertically along the second curved wall, the first edge facing the second edge;   a first flange connected to and extending vertically and radially outward from the first curved wall;   a second flange connected to and extending vertically and radially outward from the second curved wall, the second flange being spaced from the first flange;   at least one fastener extending horizontally through and connecting the first flange and the second flange, the at least one fastener being pre-tensioned; and   at least one rigid spacing member disposed between the first flange and the second flange, the at least one rigid spacing member being spaced radially outward from the at least one fastener, the at least one rigid spacing member being in contact with the first and second flanges, the at least one fastener being disposed radially between the at least one rigid spacing member and the first and second walls.   
     
     
         14 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein the first edge abuts the second edge. 
     
     
         15 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first flange is offset from the first edge;   the second flange is offset from the second edge; and   the first edge and the second edge are aligned with a space between the first flange and the second flange.   
     
     
         16 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are disposed equidistant from a corresponding one of the first edge and the second edge. 
     
     
         17 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is a rigid shim connected to one of the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         18 . The tank of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid shim is welded to the first flange. 
     
     
         19 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is disposed between a first outward end of the first flange and a second outward end of the second flange, the first outward end and the second outward end being ends of the first and second flanges radially outward of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         20 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is a single rigid spacing member extending along an entire vertical height of the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         21 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first flange is welded to the first wall; and   the second flange is welded to the second wall.   
     
     
         22 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein at least the first curved wall and the second curved wall form a first cylindrical wall assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The tank of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first cylindrical wall assembly includes a first horizontal flange extending outward from a top edge of the first curved wall and a second horizontal flange extending outward from a top edge of the second curved wall, the first horizontal flange and the second horizontal flange defining a first circumferential flange of the first cylindrical wall assembly; and   further comprising:
 a second cylindrical wall assembly, the second cylindrical wall assembly including a second circumferential flange extending outward from a bottom edge of the second cylindrical wall, 
 the second cylindrical wall assembly being disposed on top of the first cylindrical wall assembly, 
 the first circumferential flange abutting and being fastened to the second circumferential flange. 
   
     
     
         24 . The tank of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one fastener is a plurality of fasteners spaced vertically through the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         25 . The tank of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one sealing member disposed between the first edge and the second edge, the first edge and the second edge abutting the at least one sealing member. 
     
     
         26 . A panel comprising:
 a wall;   a first flange having a first end connected to a first end portion of the wall, the first flange being offset from a first side edge of the first end portion,   the first flange defining a first plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners therethrough;   at least one rigid spacing member connected to a second end of the first flange, the second end of the first flange being opposite the first end of the first flange;   a second flange having a first end connected to a second end portion of the wall, the second end portion being disposed opposite the first end portion, the second flange being offset from a second side edge of the second end portion,   the second flange defining a second plurality of apertures for receiving the fasteners therethrough,   the first plurality of apertures being defined between the first end portion of the wall and the at least one rigid spacing member; and   at least one third flange connected to at least one of a top edge and a bottom edge of the wall,   the first flange, the second flange, and the at least one third flange extending in a same direction away from the wall.   
     
     
         27 . The panel of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one third flange includes:
 a top flange connected to the top edge of the wall; and   a bottom flange connected to the bottom edge of the wall.   
     
     
         28 . The panel of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one rigid spacing member is a single rigid spacing member extending along an entire vertical height of the first flange. 
     
     
         29 . The panel of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the first flange is welded to the first end portion of the wall;   the second flange is welded to the second end portion of the wall; and   the at least one rigid spacing member is welded to the first flange.