# US 10,371,321 B2 · Anchor structure and LNG storage tank including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,321 B2 - Document ID: US10371321B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/325,702 - Filed: 2015-07-09 - Published: 2017-06-08 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-11 - Assignees: KC LNG Tech Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Kc Lng Tech Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hae Chul Han; Ihn Soo Yoon; Kyo Kook Jin; Byung Taek Oh; Yong Bum Cho; Kun Hyung Choe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371321B2 ## CPC - F17C 13/08: Mounting arrangements for vessels - B63B 25/16: heat-insulated (insulating panelling B63B3/68; heating or cooling B63J) - B65D 90/06: Coverings, e.g. for insulating purposes - F16B 5/02: by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) - F17C 1/12: with provision for thermal insulation ({F17C1/14, F17C1/16 take precedence}; thermal insulation in general F16L59/00) - F17C 3/00: Vessels not under pressure - F17C 13/081: {for large land-based storage vessels (supports for large containers in general B65D90/12)} - F17C 13/082: {for large sea-borne storage vessels (load-accommodating arrangements for ships or waterborne vessels B63B25/12)} - F17C 13/083: {for medium-sized mobile storage vessels, e.g. tank vehicles or railway tank vehicles} - F16B 33/004: {Sealing; Insulation (by means of washers F16B43/001)} - F17C 2203/0333: Polyurethane - F17C 2203/0604: Liners - F17C 2203/0619: with two layers - F17C 2205/0119: Vessel walls form part of another structure - F17C 2205/0192: with external bearing means - F17C 2221/033: Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG - F17C 2225/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG - F17C 2225/033: Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas - F17C 2260/044: Avoiding pollution or contamination - F17C 2270/0105: Ships - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an anchor structure able to actively cope with hull deformation, and to a liquid natural gas storage tank and a production method for a liquid natural gas storage tank comprising the anchor structure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an anchor structure is provided wherein an anchor structure, for linking a sealing wall and an inner wall of a liquid natural gas storage tank, comprises: an anchor member adapted such that a joining part, which is joined to the sealing wall, can slide horizontally; and a thermally insulating material formed around the anchor member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anchor structure for connecting a sealing wall to an inner wall of an LNG storage tank, comprising: an anchor member having a joint joined to the sealing wall and horizontally slidable; and an insulator formed around the anchor member, wherein the sealing wall comprises a primary sealing wall directly contacting liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a secondary sealing wall disposed under the primary sealing wall, the primary sealing wall and the secondary sealing wall being joined to the joint of the anchor member, wherein the joint comprises a first joint joined to the secondary sealing wall and a second joint joined to the primary sealing wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anchor structure according to claim 1, wherein a support board is interposed between the primary sealing wall and the secondary sealing wall to maintain a constant distance therebetween. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The anchor structure according to claim 1, wherein the anchor member comprises an anchor support rod passing through the anchor structure and an anchor support plate perpendicularly connected to the anchor support rod and placed on the insulator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The anchor structure according to claim 3, wherein the first joint comprises a first cap portion joined to the secondary sealing wall and a first flange radially extending from a lower end of the first cap portion, and the first flange adjoins the anchor support plate without being secured to the anchor support plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The anchor structure according to claim 4, wherein the anchor member further comprises an anchor support cap composed of a second cap portion and a second flange radially extending from a lower end of the second cap portion, the second flange covers the first flange, and an edge of the second flange is secured to the anchor support plate by welding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The anchor structure according to claim 1, wherein the anchor member comprises an anchor support rod passing through the anchor structure, wherein the anchor structure further comprises an anchor support bolt cap disposed under the insulator, and wherein the anchor support rod can pass through the anchor support bolt cap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The anchor structure according to claim 6, wherein the anchor support rod has a threaded groove formed at a lower end thereof such that the lower end of the anchor support rod having passed through the anchor support bolt cap is coupled to an anchor member securing nut. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The anchor structure according to claim 6, wherein the insulator has a first through-hole through which the anchor support rod can pass, wherein the anchor support bolt cap composes of a cap portion having a second through-hole through which the anchor support rod can pass and a flange radially extending from a lower end of the cap portion, wherein the anchor support rod has a threaded groove formed at a lower end thereof such that the lower end of the anchor support rod having passed through the first through-hole and the second through-hole is coupled to an anchor member securing nut to be secured to the anchor support bolt cap, and wherein the anchor support rod is movable up and down. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The anchor structure according to claim 8, further comprising: a first anchor lower plate attached to a lower end of the insulator; and a second anchor lower plate disposed under the first anchor lower plate, wherein the anchor support bolt cap is inserted between the first anchor lower plate and the second anchor lower plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The anchor structure according to claim 9, wherein the first anchor lower plate has a third through-hole through which the anchor support rod can pass, and the second anchor lower plate has a fourth through-hole through which the anchor support rod can pass, the third through hole being sized to allow the anchor support rod and the first anchor lower plate to be spaced apart from one another, and the fourth through hole being sized to allow the anchor support rod and the second anchor lower plate to be spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The anchor structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a first anchor lower plate attached to a lower end of the insulator; a second anchor lower plate disposed under the first anchor lower plate; and a reinforcing plate interposed between the first anchor lower plate and the second anchor lower plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An LNG storage tank comprising the anchor structure according to claim 1, comprising: a heat insulating wall disposed on an inner wall of the storage tank to form a heat insulating layer; a sealing wall disposed on a surface of the heat insulating wall to seal the LNG storage tank in a liquid-tight manner; and the anchor structure connecting the sealing wall to the inner wall of the storage tank, wherein the anchor structure comprises an anchor member having a joint joined to the sealing wall and horizontally slidable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A ship comprising the LNG storage tank according to claim 12.