Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Fluent material hopper or storage container with material port – Elevated container – leg-supported
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2001-11-20
Safavi, Michael (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Fluent material hopper or storage container with material port
Elevated container, leg-supported
C052S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318034
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to elevated storage tanks, such as those used by municipalities for storing drinking water, In particular, the invention relates to water tanks that have a pedestal section made of reinforced concrete.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,201, two kinds of elevated storage tanks have been in common use in the United States. WATERSPHEROID® tanks, such as those built by Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, have a slender steel pedestal supporting the reservoir. The use of steel for the pedestal permits the lower section of the pedestal to be readily formed into a bell shape that flares outwardly at the base to provide the stability needed in such tanks. Composite elevated storage tanks, on the other hand, are generally built with cast-in-place concrete pedestals to reduce costs. For ease of construction, concrete pedestals are generally cylindrical (that is, the cross-section does not vary with height). In order to provide the necessary stability for such tanks, two alternative designs for concrete pedestals have found general acceptance. One alternative design features a relatively wide pedestal, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,201. An alternative design features multiple pedestals (or “legs”) spaced about the central axis of the tank. While either of these kinds of concrete pedestals can be less expensive than a comparable steel pedestal, current designs for concrete pedestals are believed to be unnecessarily costly to build.
What is needed is a more cost-effective design for a concrete pedestal for a composite elevated storage tank that meets the strength and stability requirements demanded for such tanks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an elevated water tank with a concrete pedestal having a pyramidal bell portion that has a polygonal cross-section. The bell portion can be efficiently constructed using a series of upstanding precast concrete segments. Each upstanding segment has an outer surface with a relatively long lower edge, a relatively short upper edge, and a pair of converging side edges. The upstanding segments have a minimum thickness of between about 5 and 12″, and slope upwardly and inwardly at a slope of about 3 to 1. Metal plates may be embedded on the side edges of the upstanding segments and connected to lateral tensile reinforcement in the segments. The metal plates of adjacent upstanding segments may then be welded together, connecting the tensile reinforcement in adjacent upstanding segments and securing the bell portion of the pedestal.
The upper edge of the bell portion supports a relatively-narrow, slender, shaft section that extends upwardly to the reservoir. The shaft section is cylindrical (that is, it has an outer profile that does not vary with height), and may be faceted. In one embodiment of the invention, the shaft section is no more than one-fourth the diameter of the reservoir, and may be made of rows of integral precast concrete ring sections. Reinforcement extends downwardly from the shaft section and projects through and is secured to interior shoulders on the upstanding segments.
When the shaft section is polygonal, a transition ring having a polygonal lower inner edge may be used to connect the upper edge of the shaft section to a lower edge of the reservoir.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3363795 (1968-01-01), Stuart, III
patent: 4155210 (1979-05-01), de Leaumont
patent: 4327531 (1982-05-01), Cazaly et al.
Brock Steven R.
Czaska William J.
Tysse James B.
Zavitz Bryant A.
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
Safavi Michael
Tindall Corporation
LandOfFree
Elevated storage tank does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Elevated storage tank, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Elevated storage tank will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2577751