US 5,312,012 AGranted

Vapor space water hammer eliminator system for liquid transport apparatuses

AssigneeMontana Sulphur & Chemical Co.

InventorDonald L. Zink

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Abstract

A liquid transport apparatus including an elongated liquid vessel for transporting compressible liquids, such as LPG. One or more longitudinal conduits having lower solid surfaces in the vapor space of compressible liquid are positioned within the liquid vessel. The compressible liquid within the conduits dissipates or eliminates the water hammer pressure resulting from the impact and prevents the walls of the liquid vessel from failing. The conduits can be in the form of one or more longitudinal pipes in the upper vapor space of the vessel with rupture discs at one or both ends thereof. A plurality of spaced apertures can be formed along the pipes. Further, a longitudinal baffle can be secured inside the vessel beneath the vessel top wall. The baffle can be used with or without the pipes, and if used with the pipes, it is positioned directly beneath them.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A liquid transport apparatus comprising:

a liquid transport vessel having a vessel interior, a vessel top wall, a vessel first end wall, a vessel second end wall, and a vapor space in said vessel interior and along said vessel top wall;
and
water hammer pressure dissipating tubular piping positioned in said vapor space and extending longitudinally between said vessel first and second end walls, said tubular piping being filled with a compressible fluid, said tubular piping being constructed, configured and positioned so that when said liquid transport vessel is impacted with such severity as to produce water hammer pressure, liquid in said vessel interior enters said tubular piping and compresses said compressible fluid thereby at least substantially dissipating the water hammer pressure in said vessel interior;
wherein said tubular piping has a plurality of small apertures such that said tubular piping serves as part of the vapor space in said liquid transport vessel and so that no differential pressure normally exists between the interior of said tubular piping and said vessel interior beneath said tubular piping with said vessel at rest;
wherein said tubular piping includes at least one rupture member, said rupture member, when said liquid transport vessel is impacted, being caused to rupture by the resulting surge of liquid in said vessel interior, thereby compressing said compressible fluid and dissipating the water hammer pressure in said vessel interior;
and
wherein said tubular piping has a piping end generally adjacent said first vessel end wall, and said rupture member is positioned and extends across said piping end.

4 more elements

A liquid transport apparatus comprising:

a liquid transport vessel having a vessel interior, a vessel top wall, a vessel first end wall, a vessel second end wall, and a vapor space in said vessel interior and generally along said vessel top wall;
and
water hammer pressure dissipating conduit positioned in said vapor space, and extending longitudinally between said vessel first and second end walls;
wherein said conduit has a first end generally at said first end wall, a second end generally at said second end wall, and conduit interior between said first and second ends;
wherein said conduit has a plurality of small apertures such that said conduit serves as at least part of said vapor space in said vessel and so that no substantial differential pressure normally exists between said conduit interior and said vessel interior immediately beneath said conduit with said vessel at rest;
and
wherein said conduit is constructed, configured and positioned and secured to said vessel so that when said vessel is impacted with such severity as to produce water hammer pressure, liquid in said vessel interior enters said conduit through said first end, passes through said conduit interior and exits out said second end, thereby substantially dissipating water hammer pressure in said vessel interior.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.