US 9,878,930 B1Granted

Systems and methods for installing digester ballast

AssigneeWesTech Engineering, Inc.

InventorsTyler D. Garr, Chad T. Allen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An enhanced apparatus system and method may be used to facilitate the construction of a processing tank such as an anaerobic digester. The kit may include a cover assembly that can be assembled to form a cover for the processing tank, a side wall assembly that can be assembled to form a side wall for the processing tank, and a plurality of ballast support assemblies. Each ballast support assembly may have a retracted configuration in which the ballast support assembly avoids significantly impeding vertical motion of the ballast block from an initial ballast location to a final ballast location, and a deployed configuration in which the ballast block can be supported by the ballast support assembly in the final ballast location.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for facilitating construction of a processing tank comprising a first ballast block, the system comprising:

a cover assembly that can be assembled to form a cover that defines an upper barrier for the processing tank;
a side wall assembly that can be assembled to form a side wall connectable to the cover;
and
a first ballast support assembly comprising:
a first arm connectable to the side wall such that, when the first arm is pivotably connected to the side wall, the first arm is pivotable between a first horizontal orientation and a first upwardly-angled orientation;
a second arm pivotably connectable to the side wall such that, when the second arm is pivotably connected to the side wall, the second arm is pivotable between a second horizontal orientation and a second upwardly-angled orientation, wherein, when connected to the side wall, the first arm and the second arm each are independently pivotable;
a first flexible member comprising a first proximal end connectable to the side wall and a first distal end connectable to the first arm, wherein, with the first arm in the first horizontal orientation when the first arm is connected to the side wall and the first proximal end of the first flexible member is connected to the side wall and the first distal end of the first flexible member is connected to the first arm, the first flexible member is tensioned to restrict pivoting of the first arm below the first horizontal orientation;
and
a second flexible member comprising a second proximal end connectable to the side wall and a second distal end connectable to the second arm, wherein, with the second arm in the second horizontal orientation when the second arm is connected to the side wall, and the second proximal end of the second flexible member is connected to the side wall, and the second distal end of the second flexible member is connected to the second arm, the second flexible member is tensioned to restrict pivoting of the second arm below the second horizontal orientation;
wherein, with the first arm in the first upwardly-angled orientation and the second arm in the second upwardly-angled orientation, the first ballast support assembly does not significantly block vertical motion of the first ballast block from an initial ballast location to a final ballast location;
wherein the final ballast location is offset substantially directly vertically from the initial ballast location;
wherein, with the first arm in the first horizontal orientation and the second arm in the second horizontal orientation, the first ballast support assembly is positioned to retain the first ballast block in the final ballast location.

9 more elements

A system for facilitating construction of a processing tank comprising a first ballast block, the system comprising:

a cover assembly that can be assembled to form a cover that defines an upper barrier for the processing tank;
a side wall assembly that can be assembled to form a side wall securable to the cover;
and
a first ballast support assembly movably connectable to the side wall such that, when the side wall is oriented vertically and when the first ballast assembly is connected to the side wall, the first ballast support assembly has, relative to the side wall, a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the first ballast support assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm being pivotably connectable to the side wall, and wherein, when connected to the side wall, the first and the second arms are each independently pivotable;
wherein, in the retracted configuration, the first ballast support assembly does not significantly block vertical motion of the first ballast block from an initial ballast location to a final ballast location;
wherein the final ballast location is offset substantially directly vertically from the initial ballast location;
wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first ballast support assembly is positioned to retain the first ballast block in the final ballast location.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A system for facilitating construction of a processing tank comprising a first ballast block, the system comprising:

a cover assembly that can be assembled to form a cover that defines an upper barrier for the processing tank;
a side wall assembly that can be assembled to form a side wall connectable to the cover;
and
a first ballast support assembly comprising:
a first arm connectable to the side wall such that, when the first arm is pivotably connected to the side wall, the first arm is pivotable between a first horizontal orientation and a first upwardly-angled orientation;
a second arm pivotably connectable to the side wall such that, when the second arm is pivotably connected to the side wall, the second arm is pivotable between a second horizontal orientation and a second upwardly-angled orientation, wherein, when connected to the side wall, the first arm and the second arm each are independently pivotable;
a first flexible member comprising a first proximal end connectable to the side wall and a first distal end connectable to the first arm, wherein, with the first arm in the first horizontal orientation when the first arm is connected to the side wall and the first proximal end of the first flexible member is connected to the side wall and the first distal end of the first flexible member is connected to the first arm, the first flexible member is tensioned to restrict pivoting of the first arm below the first horizontal orientation;
and
a second flexible member comprising a second proximal end connectable to the side wall and a second distal end connectable to the second arm, wherein, with the second arm in the second horizontal orientation when the second arm is connected to the side wall, and the second proximal end of the second flexible member is connected to the side wall, and the second distal end of the second flexible member is connected to the second arm, the second flexible member is tensioned to restrict pivoting of the second arm below the second horizontal orientation;
wherein, with the first arm in the first upwardly-angled orientation and the second arm in the second upwardly-angled orientation, the first ballast support assembly does not significantly block vertical motion of the first ballast block from an initial ballast location to a final ballast location;
wherein the final ballast location is offset substantially directly vertically from the initial ballast location;
wherein, with the first arm in the first horizontal orientation and the second arm in the second horizontal orientation, the first ballast support assembly is positioned to retain the first ballast block in the final ballast location.

9 more elements