US2446577A - Resilient gauging gate - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 RESILIENT (incantaem; 3 I Bhillips B. Drane and cram-ea D; Lainey,

Tulsa;- om. Application February, 13, mensemi "221,262

3 Claims. (01; 2 6 1.;

'lghe invention relates to gaging gates, particula r-152 adaptedfor use in conneqtien with oil storaeeitan s. and has for itsobie to provide a device of this kind wherein centrally engaging sections are confined within a casing, and the engaging surfaces adapted to conform to a plumb hob and line from which the bob is suspended when the bob is lowered into the tank for measuring purposes, thereby preventing upward escape of gas or vapors into the face of the operator, or from the tank, and at the same time wiping the hob and line when they are removed from the tank.

A further object is to provide a age gate comprising segmentally shaped sections confined within a casing and the transverse horizontal portions of said sections being bored inwardly into flat transverse engagement for conforming to the shaft of the object passing therebetween.

Also to provide the upper and lower end of the segmental sections with reinforcing ribs, connected together at opposite sides of the sections by vertical engaging ribs for stiffening the resilient sections and preventing upward and downward collapsin of the central portions of the sections when an article passes therebetween.

A further object is to provide upper and lower confining rings for anchoring the upper and lower ends of the segmental sections.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the resilient segmental sections.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of the segmental sections.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the gate, showing segmental sections distorted, incident to the passage of a plumb bob.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in normal position.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates a look box with a transparent window (not shown), and 2 the top opening therein. Bolted to the upper side of the look box I by means of bolts 3 is an upwardly extending cylindrical casing 4, the upper end of which is open and provided with a hinged closure 5, and interposed between .Z v closure 5 and the upper end of the leis-7a It-.-w;ill= be noted that: the casing misiafigfilhkk diameter, internally, than the opening 2,, to. form a, sheuldenon which the lower retaining,- ring li rests.

The retaining ring is provided with an upwardly extending annular flange 8, received in a similarly shaped groove 9 in the under side of the reinforcing ribs IU of the resilient segmentally shaped sections ll, confined within the casing 4. The upper ends of the segmentally shaped sections II are similarly confined by an annular ring l2, which ring engages in an annular channel l3 of the upper reinforcing ribs 14.

The inner sides of the ribs I0 and I4 are held in fixed space relation by means of segmental members l5, clearly shown in Figure 4, and all of the parts are held in assembled relation within the casing 4 by a split ring l6, which ring is received in an internal channel I! in the inner periphery of the casing 4.

It will be noted that opposite sides of the se mentally shaped sections II are bowed inwardly from opposite ends and decrease in thickness to the relatively large engaging surface or areas I8, to stiffen the device against the upward and downward drag when the plumb bob l9 passes therebetween. However, these parts are further,

stiiiened by the vertical ribs 20, which connect the ribs HI and M at opposite sides of the sections. Segmental sections II are preferably provided with breather vents 2| for allowing ready expansion and contraction of the sections at l8 when the device is in operation, as gas pressure from the tank will assist in forcing the thin portions of the resilient members at 18, into close engagement with each other and with the plumb bob passing therebetween.

In assembling the device, the ring I is dropped downwardly into the casing 4, and then the resilient segments are placed together as shown in Figure 1, with the segmental members [5 in place thereon, and the parts so assembled and placed in the casing 4. After the above operation, the upper retaining ring I! is placed in position and the split ring I6 is then placed in the annular groove I1.

From the above it will be seen that a gage gate is provided which is formed from resilient material, and will collapse outwardly as a plumb bob or other gaging implement passes therethrough. It will also be seen that the adjacent portions of the walls of the resilient segments will conform to the shape of the gaging implement, thereby preventing escape of gas from the tank, or into the face of the operator, preventing vapor loss and pressure, and at the same time will wipe excess oil from the line and plumb bob, and will eliminate fire hazards from the gaging operation.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A gaging gate for tanks, said gate comprising a rigid asing surroundinga tank opening, similarly shaped" reversibly positioned resilient members within said casing, the upper and lower ends of said resilient members being anchored within the casing, the outer sides of the resilient' members being inwardly bowed to transverse-en gagement thereby closing the tank and allowing the passage of a gaging implement between the.

engagement surfaces of the resilient members horizontal reinforcin ribs carried by the-upper and lower ends of the resilient members thein-i ner ends of the horizontal ribs bein connected together by vertical reinforcing ribs at opposite sides of the resilient members. a

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 including arcuate spacer members within the rigid casing, said'spacer members being interposed between the horizontal ribs and clamping meanswithin w p The following references are of record in the file of this patent:-'

f or the spacer members.

PHILLIPS B. DRANE. CLARENCE D. LAIDLEY.

' REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 175,144 Painter Mar. 21, 1876 568,669 Ellsworth Sept. 29; 1896 1,709,949 Rassmussen et a1. Apr. 23, 1929 2,212,588 Csanyi Aug. 27, 1940

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