Drain Assembly Liner Compression Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cold weather conditions, the deployment of suction lines into containment tanks becomes difficult due to freezing, and traditional side-wall drain ports cause stress on flexible liners, leading to potential leakage and laborious assembly/disassembly processes, especially in large tanks where health hazards may be present.
Innovation Solution
A drain assembly with a drain intake near the bottom and a wall traversing conduit portion, including a hammer nut and stopper plate, which secures the drain assembly to the tank wall by compressing the liner against the interior surface, preventing leakage and eliminating the need for bolts through the liner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional side-wall drain ports with bolts are used, then the tank can be drained, but the bolts cause stress on the flexible liner leading to potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a foam material as an intermediary between the bolt and the flexible liner. The foam distributes the compressive force from the bolt over a larger area, preventing stress concentration that would cause liner tearing. This mediator allows the drain port to function while protecting the liner integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and distribution of force by using compressible foam material. The foam transforms the concentrated point load from the bolt into a distributed area load, changing the stress parameters on the liner from high-concentration to low-concentration distribution.
2Reliability
If bolts are used to secure the drain port, then the drain can be sealed, but assembly requires two individuals and is laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The drain port assembly is designed with a clamp mechanism that can be self-installed by a single operator. The clamp engages with the tank wall and secures the drain port without requiring coordination between multiple individuals, making the assembly process self-serviceable and simpler.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tank is disassembled for relocation, then the tank can be moved, but removal of the drain requires entering the tank which presents health hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The drain port is designed as an externally removable component that can be taken out from the outside of the tank without requiring entry into the tank interior. This extraction approach eliminates the health hazard of entering potentially contaminated tank spaces while maintaining tank relocatability.
4Ease of operation
If suction lines are deployed over tank walls in cold weather, then drainage is possible, but freezing conditions make deployment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drain port is pre-installed on the tank wall before cold weather conditions occur. This preliminary action ensures that the drainage pathway is already established and protected, eliminating the need to deploy suction lines over frozen tank walls in difficult cold weather conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure, leak-proof, and efficient drainage system that reduces liner stress and simplifies assembly/disassembly, eliminating the need for cranes and minimizing health hazards by distributing compressive forces and preventing unintentional leakage.
Implementation Method 1
tightening said hammer nut upon said threaded portion causes said hammer nut to engage the exterior of the tank wall causing said stopper plate to compress the tank liner against the interior surface of the tank wall
Data Source
AI summary
A drain assembly for a tank or containment vessel of the type having a flexible and removable interior liner. The drain assembly comprises a drain intake in fluid communication with a wall traversing portion. The drain intake is operatively deployable in proximity to the bottom of the tank and the wall traversing portion is operatively deployable through a wall of the tank. The wall traversing portion includes a conduit portion in fluid communication with the drain intake and with a location exterior to the tank. The conduit portion includes an interior stopper plate and a threaded portion. The drain assembly includes a hammer nut threadably receivable over the threaded portion when the conduit portion is received through the wall of the tank such that tightening the hammer nut upon the threaded portion causes the hammer nut to engage the exterior of the tank wall causing the stopper plate to compress the tank liner against the interior surface of the tank wall thereby securing the drain assembly to the tank wall and helping to prevent the unintentional leakage of the contents of the tank through the tank wall.