Thermal insulation systems

(A). In a container for the bulk storage and transport of liquids at temperatures greatly differing from ambient temperature, comprising a storage tank adapted to hold a quantity of liquid, said tank surrounded and supported at least from below by thermal insulation which is (i) built up from a multiplicity of panels, (ii) sealed together and (iii) supported by a rigid outer shell, and means for providing a substantially level supporting surface for said panels spaced from said rigid outer shell, the improvement wherein said means for providing essentially comprises, (in place of wooden ground strips normally employed for such purpose):

• a. upstanding studs rigidly fixed to the inner surface of said outer shell in a predetermined spaced relationship determined by the shape and size of said panels;
• b. a fitting defining a seat mounted on each said stud, each fitting being capable of axial movement on its respective stud, said fitting comprising a sleeve defining a threaded bore for mating with a screw thread provided on said stud, and an external flange constituting said seat, axial adjustment of each sleeve being effected by appropriate rotation on its respective stud;
• c. locking means for locking each said fitting in an adjusted position on its respective stud;
• d. each edge of each panel defining an extended lip portion adjacent the outer face thereof;
• e. said panels being supported in edge to edge relationship with said lip portion thereof located on said seats defined by said fittings, the latter being individually adjusted to provide a level supporting surface for said panels spaced from said outer shell;
• f. first elongated sealing means located within the spaces defined between the edges of adjacent panels and bridging said lip portions of said respective edges to seal said outer faces of said panels;
• g. filling means filling said spaces;
• and
• h. second elongated sealing means bridging the inner faces of adjacent panels to seal said spaces.