Seal arrangement for floating roof storage tanks

A seal arrangement for a floating roof in a storage tank, wherein the roof is spaced from the tank side wall, thus defining an annular rim space, comprising:

• a primary seal of conventional construction for sealing the rim space;
• and a secondary seal above the primary seal and extending from the roof across the rim space into sealing engagement with the tank wall, said secondary seal also including weather-resistant means defining a weather shield protecting the primary seal, said secondary seal constructed to present a large contact area to the tank for minimum rim spaces and a small contact area to the tank for maximum rim spaces, whereby the contact pressure between the secondary seal and tank wall remains below a predetermined value and wear to the secondary seal is thus kept to a minimum while an effective seal is maintained.

A seal arrangement for a floating roof in a storage tank, wherein the roof is spaced at its periphery from the tank side wall, defining an annular rim space, comprising:

• a plurality of support members each having an inner edge, an outer edge and opposite side edges, and secured at their inner edges to the roof and extending in side-by-side relationship angularly outwardly from the roof into close proximity at their outer edges with the tank side wall, said support members being elastically bendable whereby they accommodate themselves to different rim spaces;
• and resilient means carried by the support members in a position to engage the tank side wall and effect a seal therewith, said resilient means including a foam polymeric core of predetermined configuration and a wear resistant surface, such that for minimum rim spaces the resilient means presents a large contact area to the tank, and for maximum rim spaces the resilient means presents a small contact area to the tank, whereby the contact pressure between the resilient means and tank remains below a predetermined value, and wear to the seal is kept to a minimum, while an effective seal is maintained.

A seal arrangement for a floating roof in a storage tank, wherein the roof is spaced at its periphery from the tank side wall, defining an annular rim space, comprising:

• a plurality of support members each having an inner edge, an outer edge and opposite side edges, and secured at their inner edges to the roof extending in side-by-side relationship angularly outwardly from the roof into close proximity at their outer edges with the tank side wall, said support members being resiliently yieldable whereby they accommodate themselves to different rim spaces;
• and resilient means carried by the support members in a position to engage the tank side wall and effect a seal therewith, said resilient means having width and length dimensions substantially the same as the plurality of support members and thickness less than about several inches and being made of a soft foam form of a polymeric substance, with a wear resistant surface in contact with the tank side wall, whereby the contact pressure between the resilient means and tank remains below a predetermined value, and wear to the seal is thus kept to a minimum, while an effective seal is maintained.

A seal arrangement for a floating roof in a storage tank, wherein the roof is spaced at its periphery from the tank side wall, defining an annular rim space, comprising:

• a plurality of support members each having an inner edge, an outer edge and opposite side edges, and secured at their inner edges to the roof and extending in side-by-side relationship angularly outwardly from the roof into close proximity at their outer edges with the tank side wall, said opposite side edges of adjacent support being substantially sealed against ingress of the sun, wind and the elements;
• said support members being resiliently yieldable whereby they accommodate themselves to different rim spaces;
• and resilient means carried by the support members in a position to engage the tank side wall and effect a seal therewith, said resilient means having a predetermined configuration and softness, such that for minimum rim spaces the resilient means presents a large contact area to the tank, and for maximum rim spaces the resilient means presents a small contact area to the tank, whereby the contact pressure between the resilient means and tank remains below a predetermined value, and wear to the seal is thus kept to a minimum, while an effective seal is maintained.