Diaphragm type breather system for sealed storage structure

A sealed storage vessel having an improved breathing system, comprising a vessel to contain a stored material and including a wall and a roof to enclose the upper end of the wall, an annular impervious platform secured in sealed relation to said wall a distance below said roof, a flexible impervious diaphragm disposed within the vessel and having an outer peripheral edge sealed to the inner edge of said platform, said platform and diaphragm constituting an impervious sealed structure dividing the vessel into an upper chamber and a lower storage chamber, inlet means for introducing a stored material into said storage chamber, and outlet means in the vessel providing communication between the upper chamber and the atmosphere, the pressure differential between the storage chamber and the atmosphere causing said diaphragm to flex to balance said pressure differential.

A sealed storage structure having an improved breather system, comprising a foundation, a vessel mounted on the foundation and adapted to contain a stored material, said vessel including a wall and a roof enclosing the upper end of the wall, an inlet feed tube disposed in the roof for introducing a stored material into the vessel, an annular impervious platform secured to the upper portion of said wall and spaced beneath said roof, first sealing means for sealing the outer peripheral edge of the platform to said wall, said platform extending generally horizontally and being of sufficient radial dimension to permit a workman to stand thereon, an annular flexible diaphragm disposed within the vessel, second sealing means for sealing the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm to the inner peripheral edge of said platform, third sealing means for sealing the inner peripheral edge of the diaphragm to said inlet feed tube, said platform and diaphragm dividing said vessel into an upper chamber and a lower storage chamber to contain the stored material, and outlet means in the upper portion of the vessel and providing communication between said upper chamber and the atmosphere, the pressure differential between the atmosphere and said storage chamber causing said diaphragm to flex within the vessel to thereby balance said pressure differential.

A sealed storage structure having an improved breather system, comprising a vessel to contain a stored material and including a wall and a roof enclosing the upper end of the wall, an impervious sealed structure extending transversely across the vessel and dividing the vessel into an upper chamber and a lower storage chamber, inlet means for introducing a stored material into the storage chamber, said sealed structure comprising a rigid impervious generally horizontal platform secured in sealed relation to said wall and a flexible diaphragm sealed to said platform, outlet means in the vessel providing communication between said upper chamber and the atmosphere, a greater pressure in said upper chamber than in said lower chamber moving said diaphragm to a lower position and a lesser pressure in said upper chamber than in said lower chamber moving said diaphragm to an upper position, and extendible support means interconnecting said vessel and said diaphragm for supporting said diaphragm in an intermediate position under balanced pressure conditions.