Patent ID: 7871500

Claim:
A coke drum skirt that provides a secure connection between a coke drum and a support base while simultaneously providing for reduced-stress thermal expansion and contraction of the coke drum comprising: a coke drum; a support structure for the coke drum attached to a support base; a substantially-horizontal center plate with an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the center plate is attached to the coke drum; a lower plate having a substantially-horizontal upper surface, the lower plate being attached to the support structure; and an upper plate having a substantially-horizontal lower surface, the upper plate being attached to the support structure, wherein the lower surface of the upper plate is separated from the upper surface of the lower plate, wherein the center plate is structured to be located in the space defined between the upper surface of the lower plate and the lower surface of the upper plate so as to slidingly engage the lower plate and upper plate.