Floating Roof Leveling Isolators for Tank Bottom Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack an efficient method to level support legs of internal floating roofs in storage tanks, leading to stress on the roof and damage to the tank's lining and coating due to uneven surfaces and repeated engagement with the tank bottom, resulting in corrosion and potential leaks.
Innovation Solution
A support leg leveling apparatus using isolators and spacers that can be adjusted to accommodate irregular tank floors, protecting the tank's coating and minimizing corrosion by creating a level, stress-free surface for the floating roof.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If support legs are fixed length to simplify the structure, then device complexity is reduced, but the floating roof cannot be leveled on irregular tank floors causing stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support leg structure is made adjustable by incorporating isolators and spacers that can be added or removed to change the effective length of the support leg, allowing the floating roof to be leveled on irregular tank floors while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The support leg is divided into modular components (isolator, spacer, strike pad) that can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired height and leveling, enabling flexible adaptation to irregular floors without complex custom fabrication
2Adaptability or versatility
If support legs are trimmed on site to adjust length, then adaptability to irregular floors is improved, but manufacturing precision is reduced and corrosion risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Isolators and spacers are pre-manufactured with precise dimensions and then added to the support leg assembly as needed, achieving accurate length adjustment without on-site trimming and avoiding corrosion from cutting operations
Solution Approach 2:
Isolators serve as intermediary components between the support leg and the tank floor, providing both corrosion protection and precise height adjustment through pre-manufactured elements with controlled dimensions
3Stability of the object's composition
If support legs directly contact the tank bottom for stability, then stability is improved, but the lining and coating are damaged due to repeated engagement and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
An isolator with strike pad is introduced as an intermediary component between the support leg and the tank bottom lining, absorbing the mechanical engagement during roof movement while protecting the coating from damage and preventing corrosion
Solution Approach 2:
The isolator material provides beforehand cushioning between the metallic support leg and the tank bottom coating, preventing direct contact and potential damage from repeated engagement during floating roof operation
Data Source
AI summary
A floating roof leveling and protection apparatus comprising a plurality of isolators having bases being formed of a protective material to prevent an internal metallic internal roof support leg from directly contacting a tank bottom, a body extending axially and centered therefrom, a tapered end for insertion into the roof support leg, a fluid passage, an engagement means engaging the inner perimeter of the roof support leg, and a drain and isolator spacers, whereby a user may place an isolator spacer on the isolator and insert isolators into the roof support legs of a floating roof system to adjust the height of the roof support legs to level the floating roof thereby reducing the stress placed on the floating roof as the fluid level lowers, thus preventing damage to the bottom of a tank when the fluid level is decreased and the roof support legs contact the tank's bottom.