Insulated Tank Anchor Sliding Layer to Prevent Seizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing anchoring system in thermally insulated tanks for liquefied gases is prone to seizing due to high friction coefficients and inhomogeneous friction surfaces, leading to jamming and reduced lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A primary anchoring system with a movable part featuring a sliding layer and compressible material, where the sliding layer has a lower coefficient of friction and is made of polymer or treated to enhance sliding, and the compressible material allows for centered positioning and mobility, minimizing friction and stress on welds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal movable part is used in the anchoring system, then structural strength is improved, but the coefficient of friction increases causing seizing
Solution Approach 1:
The movable part combines metal body (for strength) with polymer sliding surfaces (for low friction). This composite structure allows the metal to provide structural integrity while the polymer layers prevent seizing by reducing friction coefficients at contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the movable part have different material properties: the body is metal for strength, while the sliding surfaces are polymer for low friction. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between needing strength overall and needing low friction at contact points.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the movable part is constrained in the housing, then positional stability is improved, but movement freedom decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing contains the movable part with sufficient clearance to allow longitudinal movement while maintaining transverse stability. The housing acts as a flexible constraint that permits necessary motion while preventing excessive displacement.
3Reliability
If the coefficient of friction is reduced with polymer sliding layer, then seizing is prevented, but stress concentration on welds increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer sliding layer acts as an intermediary between the movable part and housing, reducing friction and preventing seizing. By mediating the contact interaction, it allows smooth movement while the distributed stress design prevents excessive concentration on weld points.
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 reduces friction and ensures smooth movement of the movable part, preventing jamming and increasing the lifespan of the anchoring system by reducing stress on welds.
Implementation Method 1
the sliding layer being in contact with the retaining part and having a coefficient of friction lower than said body
Implementation Method 2
a compressible material inserted into gaps located between the retaining element and the moving part, or between the moving part and the walls of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, integrated into a load-bearing structure, having a secondary insulating block and a primary insulating block anchored to the secondary insulating block by a primary anchoring system (97) having a movable part (102) disposed in a housing formed in a cover plate (10), the movable part having an upper face flush with the support surface, a retaining part (101) fixed to the cover plate keeping the movable part in the housing in a thickness direction, the movable part being able to move at least parallel to a longitudinal direction of the welding flange, the movable part having a sliding layer (106) covering at least one surface of the body, the sliding layer being in contact with the retaining part and having a coefficient of friction lower than that of the movable part.