Shoe seal for floating roof of storage tank, and method of installing same

An arrangement for mounting a sealing shoe on a floating roof in a tank containing a liquid product comprising the combination of:

• a plurality of shoe clips mounted in spaced-apart relation along the shoe;
• a plurality of rim clips, each mounted on the floating roof above the liquid product and opposite a different one of the plurality of shoe clips;
• a plurality of elongated plates, each having a first end pivotally coupled at opposite sides thereof to a different one of the shoe clips and an opposite second end extending to and uncoupled from the floating roof;
• a plurality of pairs of elongated bars, the bars of each pair having first ends pivotally coupled to a different one of the rim clips and intermediate portions pivotally coupled to an intermediate portion of one of the elongated plates pivotally coupled to the shoe clip opposite the rim clip;
• and
• means disposed between the shoe and the floating roof for resiliently urging the shoe away from the floating roof.

A sealing arrangement for installation between an inner wall and a floating roof within a tank in service with a liquid product therein, comprising the combination of:

• a shoe;
• a plurality of scissors hanger assemblies coupled to the shoe and each being coupled to the floating roof above the liquid product by bolts which constitute the sole effective attachment of the plurality of scissors hanger assemblies to the floating roof;
• a plurality of resilient members for bolting in place so as to extend between the shoe and the floating roof;
• and
• a vapor barrier coupled to the shoe and extending to and being bolted to the floating roof.

An arrangement for mounting a sealing shoe on a floating roof in a tank while the tank is in service and contains a liquid product, comprising the combination of:

• a plurality of shoe clips mounted in spaced-apart relation along the shoe;
• a plurality of rim clips, each being bolted to the floating roof above the liquid product and opposite a different one of the plurality of shoe clips;
• a plurality of elongated plates, each having a first end pivotally coupled at opposite sides thereof to a different one of the shoe clips and an opposite second end extending to and uncoupled from the floating roof;
• a plurality of pairs of elongated bars, the bars of each pair having first ends pivotally coupled to a different one of the rim clips and intermediate portions pivotally coupled to an intermediate portion of one of the elongated plates pivotally coupled to the shoe clip opposite the rim clip;
• a plurality of pusher bars disposed between the shoe and the floating roof for resiliently urging the shoe away from the floating roof, each of the pusher bars having a central mounting portion coupled to a different one of the plurality of shoe clips and an opposite pair of resilient leg portions extending into contact with the floating roof;
• and
• a vapor barrier extending between the shoe and the floating roof.