US290559A - Safety oil-tank - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. J. FINNIGAN. SAFETY OIL TANK. No. 290,559. Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

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through the said tube.

NITED STATES JOHNJ. rnmIeAN, or SELMA, ALABAMA.

SAF ETY O l L-TAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,559, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed November 2, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may. concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. FINNIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Selma, in the county of Dallas and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Oil-Tanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tanks or holders for liquid hydrocarbons and other volatile and inflammable liquids; and it has for its objects to provide for the escape of the gases'or vapors generated from or arising from the liquid contents of the tank in such manner that if ignited on the outside the fire will not be communicated to the interior in case of a contained explosive mixture of air and gas or vapor, and also to prevent the tendency of such explosive mixtures by excluding the air, as more fully hereinafter specified. These objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which is represented a vertical sectional view of a tank or holder showing my invention applied thereto.

The letter A indicates a metallic tank of the usual construction, provided with a man-hole and cover, B, near its bottom.

The letters 0 and D indicate the induction and eduction pipes through which the liquid is supplied to and discharged from the tank. These pipes are provided with suitable valves, by means of which the flow of liquid may be regulated and controlled.

The letter 0 indicates a cylindrical chamber mounted upon the upper end of atube, D, secured to the top of the tank, the chamber and tank communicating with each other Vithin the lower part of the chamber over the upper end of the tube, is located a concave-convex disk, E, of perforated metal or wire-gauze, and above this a series of rings, F, with intervening perforated disks, G, the rings being flanged and secured together in any convenient manner, and upon the chamber is secured a flat perforated cap, H, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The spaces between the perforated disks are packed with granulated materialsuch as sand, gravel, broken stone, or other similar substance-for the purpose hereinafter explained.

I indicatesa cylindrical casing of perforated metal or wire-gauze, which sits loosely over the chamber, and which is provided with a flat top, K, and a conical hood, L, the latter being for the purpose of shedding rain. To the top of the hood is'secnred one end of a chain, M, which passes over a pulley, N, at the end of a standard, I, on top of the tank. The other end of the chain is carried down the side of the tank, and may be secured to a suitable fastening near the lower part.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The gases or vapors generated in the tank naturally escape at the top, passing through the packing in the chamber above and out through the openings in the cap. in case the gases should by any means take lire from the outside, the tire will be excluded from the chamber by the wiregauze c inder surround ing it, and maybe quickly e: ;tinguished by dropping the cylinder so that its fiat top will cover the perforated cap of the chamber and cut off the flow of -In case the fire should by any means reach the cap, the packing will prevent it passing through the chamber in case an explosive mixture should be contained in the tank. Such mixture, however, is not liable to be formed, as it is almost impossible for a sufficient volume of air to enter through the packing. The packing may consist. of sand, grayel, clay, charcoal, lime, furnaceslag, powdered coke, broken stone, sawdust,

asbestus, or other similar material, either singly or mixed, as may prove convenient.

It will thus be seen that by my invention all danger of explosion from the ignition of explosive gases by lightning or otherwise will be effectually prevented.

Having described 'my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with a tank for holding volatile liquids, of a chamber communicating therewith and provided with a series of perforated disks and rings and granulated packing, the perforated cap secured tosaid chamher, the perforated cylinder having a flat top and conical hood, and means for elevating and depressing said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHK J. FINNIGAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. McCoLLu A. G. PAnnisn.

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