Improved Means for Storing Hydrocarbon and other Liquids.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Storing Hydrocarbon and other Liquids.
I, JOHN SMITIT, of Upton Villa, Penge, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
My invention is chiefly designed to provide for the safe storage of liquid hydro-
carbons in such a manner as to prevent the formation of dangerous volumes of
inflammable vapour or gas in the storage-tank when the volatile liquid has been
wholly or partially withdrawn therefrom, and at the same time permit of the
said liquid being drawn off more free from dirt and other foreign matter than
is practicable with the ordinary storage-tanks.
In the case of the storage of such liquids on board a ship, my said invention
also obviates the liability to violent agitation of the said liquids by the rolling
and pitching of the ship after some of the liquid has been withdrawn from the
storage-tank.
By my said invention, moreover, I am enabled to provide simple and convenient
means for indicating the quantity of liquid contained in or that has been drawn
from the storage-tank.
I construct my improved storage-tank in such a manner that water will be
admitted thereto to replace any of the volatile liquid drawn off, so that the tank
will be kept at all times full of liquid, and the volatile liquid, being of less
specific gravity, will float on the surface of the water, leaving no space available
in the tank for the accumulation of inflammable vapour or gas.
For this purpose I make the storage-tank with a tube extending upward from
the bottom or near the bottom of the same to a suitable distance above the top
thereof, and which is provided with holes a short distance below the top of the
said tank to permit the flow of the volatile liquid from the tank into the said
tube. At a suitable distance above the top of the tank, the said tube is provided
with a cock or valve for drawing off the volatile liquid as required. I also provide
a tube for water, which extends upward from the bottom or near the bottom of
the tank to a suitable distance above the top thereof, and which is provided with
means whereby water can be admitted to it as and when required. As the volatile
liquid is drawn off,, water is admitted to this tube, and will descend to the bottom
of the tank and thus raise the volatile liquid to or maintain it at or above the
level of the aforesaid draw-off cock. I sometimes form a shallow well in the
bottom of the said tank, into which the two tubes open at their lower end.
It is evident that, as the tank is always full of liquid, no inflammable vapour
or gas can accumulate therein, and no violent agitation of the volatile liquid can
take place, for example by reason of the rolling or pitching of a ship, such as
would occur in an ordinary storage-tank after the drawing off of some of the
volatile liquid. And as the volatile liquid can only enter the first-named tube
through holes near the top of the tank, any heavy particles of dirt or other
foreign matter cannot enter therewith but will sink to the bottom of the tank.
For domestic use and in other cases where the storage-tank is stationary, the

page_text: water required to replace the volatile liquid drawn off, can be supplied as needed
from an ordinary cistern or other suitable source.
When my improved apparatus is fitted on board a ship, I sometimes connect the
aforesaid water-tube, by means of a pipe provided with a controlling valve or
cock, with a circulating or other pump, so that, when the said cock and the
aforesaid draw-off cock are opened, the said pump will force water into the tank
in a sufficient quantity to replace the volatile líquid being drawn off, the said
pipe entering the water-tube about on a level with the draw-off cock. The volatile
liquid, being of less specific gravity than the water, will rise in the first tube to a
higher level than the water in the second tube and therefore there will be a reserve
of the volatile liquid above the level of the draw-off cock, sufficient to compensate
for slight irregularities in the supply of water to the second tube. I sometimes
connect this tube with an over-flow-pipe opening sea-wards, which is provided
with a non-return valve to prevent entrance of the sea-water through it. The
tank can, if desired, be provided with a pipe extending from the top thereof to
the side of the ship for connection with a hose or other means for filling it with
the volatile liquid, which pipe is provided with a cock or valve.
In cases where the level of the water outside a ship is approximately constant,
and is on the same or a higher level than that of the draw-off cock,I can connect
to the lower end of the tank a pipe in communication with the water outside
the ship. In such cases I can dispense with the means herein before mentioned
for admitting water to replace the volatile liquid drawn off.
For indicating the amount of liquid contained in or drawn off from the tank at
any time, I provide a device comprising a weight or float of sufficient buoyancy
to be supported by the water but heavy enough to sink in the volatile liquid, so
that, as the latter is withdrawn and replaced by water, the said buoyant weight
or float will be raised, and will operate suitable indicating mechanism the gradua-
tions whereof are visible through an aperture or window in the upper end of the
tubo through which the volatile liquid is withdrawn.
My improved apparatus is also applicable for the storage of other liquids,
and it is obvious that, if such liquids are of greater specific gravity than water,
a heavier liquid than water must be used for displacing them in the storage-tank.
Dated this 15th day of November 1898.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means for Storing Hydrocarbon and other Liquids.
I, JOHN SMITH, of Upton Villa, Penge, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention is chiefly designed to provide for the storage of volatile liquid
hydrocarbons in such a manner as to prevent the formation of explosive mixtures
of hydrocarbon vapour and air in the storage-tank when the volatile liquid has
been wholly or partially withdrawn therefrom, and at the same time to permit
of the said liquid being drawn off more free from dirt and other foreign matter
than is practicable with the ordinary storage-tanks.
In the case of the storage of such liquids on board of ship, or on a vehicle, my
said invention also obviates the liability to violent agitation of the volatile liquid

page_text: by the movements of the ship or vehicle when some of the said liquid has been
withdrawn from the storage-tank.
By my said invention, moreover, I am enabled to provide simple and convenient
means for indicating the quantity of liquid contained in or that has been drawn
from the storage-tank.
I construct my improved storage-tank in such a manner that a liquid, such as
water, of greater specific gravity than that to be stored will be admitted to the
said tank to replace any of the volatile liquid drawn off, and thus the tank will
be kept at all times full of liquid, leaving no space available in the tank for the
accumulation of inflammable vapour or gas, while the volatile liquid, being of
less specific gravity, will float on the surface of the water.
For this purpose I make the storage-tank with a delivery-tube extending
upward from the bottom or near the bottom of the same to a suitable distance
above the top thereof, which tube is provided with holes or perforations below
the top of the said tank to permit the flow of the volatile liquid from the tank
into the said tube and vice versu. At a suitable distance above the top of the
tank, the said tube is provided with a cock or valve for drawing off the volatile
Liquid as required. I also provide another tube opening into the lower end of
the said tank for the admission and discharge of the liquid of greater specific
gravity which is utilized for displacing and replacing the volatile liquid.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section, and
Figure 2 a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing one form of my improved
apparatus adapted for use on board a ship.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section showing another form or modification
of my improved apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the tank for storing the volatile liquid; b is the discharge-tube for the
said liquid. This tube opens at its lower end into a shallow well or depression c
in the bottom of the tank a. The said tube & extends upward to a suitable distance
above the top of the said tank and is closed at its upper end by a cap d, which
may, if desired, be provided with a glass window for the purpose hereinafter
explained. Perforations e are formed in the tube b for any suitable distance below
the top of the tank a to permit the flow of the volatile liquid from the said tank
into the said tube and vice versa. At a suitable distance above the top of the
tank, the said tube is provided with a cock or valve f for drawing off the volatile
liquid as required.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the well e also receives the open
lower end of a second tube g which serves for the introduction of water into und
its discharge from the tank a, and which extends up through the said tunk to
a suitable height above the top thereof. This water-tube g is connected by means
of a pipe provided with a controlling valve or cock, with a circulating or
other pump not shown in the drawings, so that, when the said cock i and the draw-
off cock fire opened, the said pump can force water into the tank in a sufficient
quantity to replace the volatile liquid being drawn off,, or to displace the volatile
liquid so as to permit of the desired quantity of the same being drawn off. The
volatile liquid, being of less specific gravity than the water, will rise in the tube b to
a higher level than the water in the tube y, and therefore there will be a reserve
of the volatile liquid above the level of the draw-off cock f, sufficient to compensate
for slight irregularities in the supply of water to the tube g.
The tube is also provided with an over-flow pipe j opening sea-ward, which
pipe is provided with a non-return valve to prevent entrance of the sea-water
through it. The tank a is, moreover provided with a pipe 7 extending to the side
of the ship for connection with a hose or other means for filling the said tank
with the volatile liquid, which pipe is provided with a cook or valve m.
The upper

page_text: end of this pipe should be above the highest desired level of the liquid in the
discharge-tube 6 in order to prevent escape of the volatile liquid when the hose is
disconnected. In the filling of the tank with the volatile liquid, the water dis-
placed flows out through the tube 9 and overflow-pipe j.
In order to indicate the amount of volatile liquid drawn off from the lank a or
contained therein at any particular time, there is arranged in the tube b, a float n,
of such specific gravity that it will sink in the volatile liquid but will float on
the surface of the water beneath the same and will rise and fall with the level of
the water. This float is connected, by a cord or chain p, with a registering or
indicating device g of suitable known construction, which is visible through the
window in the cap d, and which will register either the quantity of volatile liquid
remaining in the tank or the quantity which has been drawn therefrom since is
was filled with such liquid.
It is evident that, as the tank a is always full of liquid, no explosive mixture
of hydrocarbon vapour and air can accumulate therein, and no violent agitation
of the volatile liquid can at any time take place, for example, by reason of the
rolling or pitching of a ship, such as would occur in an ordinary storage-tank after
the drawing off of some of the volatile liquid. And as the volatile liquid can
only be drawn off from the top of the tank, it will be free from any heavy par-
ticles of dirt or other foreign matter, which will sink to the bottom of the tank
and therefore cannot be drawn off with the volatile liquid.
In Figure 3 I have shown another form or arrangement of my improved apparatus
for use in cases where the level of the water outside a ship, barge or the like
is approximately constant, and is on about the same or a higher level than that
of the draw-off cock f. In this arrangement, the lower end of the tank a is in
communication with the water outside the ship, through a piper provided with a
suitable cock or valve s for controlling the flow of water through the said pipe
as desired. In this case I can dispense with the pump or the like hereinbefore
mentioned for forcing in the water which is to replace the volatile liquid drawn
off, since the water from the exterior will enter under the influence of gravity
and will raise the body of volatile liquid, as a portion thereof is drawn off through
the cock f, thus keeping the tank full of liquid notwithstanding the drawing off
of the volatile liquid, so that no space is left in which inflammable vapour or
gas can accumulate.
For domestic use and in other cases, the water required to replace the volatile
liquid drawn off from the storage tank can, if desired, be supplied as needed from
an ordinary cistern, or it can be supplied from any other suitable source.
My improved apparatus is also applicable for the storage of other liquids, and
it is obvious that, if such liquids are of greater specific gravity than water, a
heavier liquid than water must be used for displacing and replacing them in
the storage-tank.
It is evident, moreover, that the construction of my improved apparatus can
be somewhat modified without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An apparatus for storing liquids, provided with suitable means whereby,
in the drawing off of the stored liquid, the said liquid will be displaced and
replaced by a liquid of greater specific gravity, substantially as herein before
described.
2. A storage-tank for liquids, provided with a discharge-tube extending from
the bottom or near the bottom of the said tank to a suitable distance above the
top thereof and communicating with the said tank through lateral openings below
the top thereof, and a tube or pipe opening into the lower end of the said tank
for the admission and discharge of a liquid of greater specific gravity than the
liquid to be stored, for the purposes above specified.

page_text: 3. The combination, with a closed tank for storing liquid, of a discharge-tube
extending from the bottom or near the bottom thereof through the top and above the
same and provided with perforations below the top of the said tank, a draw-off cock or
valve on the upper part of the said tube, and another tube or pipe opening into
the lower end of the said tank, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
4. An apparatus for storing volatile liquids, comprising a discharge-tube which
extends from the bottom or near the bottom of the storage tank through and
above the top of the same and which is provided with perforations below the top
of the said tank and with a draw-off cock or valve above the same, another tube
or pipe opening into the lower end of the said tank for the admission and dis-
charge of a liquid of greater specific gravity than the liquid to be stored, and
suitable means for indicating the quantity of volatile liquid remaining in the
tank or the quantity which has been drawn therefrom, substantially as herein-
before described and for the purposes specified.
5. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 3 of the drawing and operating as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Dated the 5th day of May 1899.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.