Tank support

May 7, 1940.

E. L. CHAPPELL

2,199,481

TANK SUPPORT

Filed May 14, 1938

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GEixyerteh. Ch&amp;jjpetl

Patented May 7, 1940

2,199,481

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

8,199,481 TANK SUPPORT Eugene L. Chappell, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 14, 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a support for tanks such as range boilers.

Range boilers have heretofore been supported on a footed ring stand. Despite certain objec5 tions to this type of tank support, it has been widely used, for lack of something better. The shortcomings of the footed ring stand have become even more apparent through the adoption of cement lined range boilers having convex heads 10 at both ends, made in accordance with the disclosure of my Patent No. 2,106,828. Such tanks, because of their cement lining, are considerably heavier than ordinary range boilers. Because of their rounded ends, furthermore, they require a 15 crate to support them on end in storage. The weight is too· great for the ring stand used heretofore and it is not practical for one man to install a cement lined tank on a loose stand.

I have invented a novel form of tank support 20 which is specially adapted for a cement lined tank having convex heads, satisfactorily meeting the requirements of such tanks, and avoids the objectionable features of the old ring stand. In a preferred form, the invention consists of a plu25 rality of brackets secured to the bottom head of the tank in spaced relation circumferentially thereof, having sockets adapted to receive supporting legs. The sockets may conveniently take the form of short threaded sleeves such as half 30 couplings and the legs may be short lengths of pipe threaded at one end for insertion in the sleeves.

The following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and certain 35 modifications thereof refers to the accompanying dr awing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a range boiler having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view with the supporting 40 tegs removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line HI—ΙΠ of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modification;

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing further 45 modifications.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a range boiler 10 comprises a cylindrical body portion 11 having convex heads i 2 secured to each end as by welding. The entire inner surface of the tank 50 is covered with a cement lining C, preferably in accordance with the method covered by the aforementioned patent. The body and heads of the tank or boiler are provided with pipe connections 13.

A plurality of bracket members 14 are secured

1938, Serial No. 207,974 (CI, 248—146) to the bottom head 12, preferably by welding as at 15 and (6, in circumferentially spaced relation. The brackets 14 may be stamped or cupped from fiat stock of suitable gauge. The bracket members are preferably designed to have less strength 5 and rigidity than the bottom head 12 for a purpose which will appear later. Sockets IT are secured to the brackets as by a weld indicated at IT'. The sockets are preferably threaded internally and may conveniently be constituted by 10 half couplings. As shown in Fig. 3, the sockets extend downwardly below the connection 13 on the bottom head 12 whereby the tank will stand erect when placed on end, thus avoiding the necessity of a crate to support the tank in storage. 15

Legs 18 are inserted in the sockets IT and may conveniently be constituted by short lengths of pipe threaded at one end for insertion into the sockets IT. After insertion any leg may be screwed inwardly or outwardly for the purpose 20 of plumbing the tank to a precisely vertical position. The legs 18 may be provided with suitable feet 19.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification wherein sockets

I Ta extend upwardly from the bottom of the 25 bracket members 14α. The bracket members have holes formed therein and the sockets are secured to the members in alinement with these holes. It will be noted that the bottoms of the bracket members lie in a plane below the bottom 30 of the connection 13 for the purpose already indicated.

Fig. 5 illustrates a further modification in which the bracket members shown at 20 are in the form of flat straps bent to suitable shape, 35 instead of cupped stampings.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of bracket member 21 which is suitable for welding to tanks having concave bottom heads such as that shown at 22. The invention, in other words, may be ap- 40 plied to conventional range boilers as well as to those having convex heads at both ends.

The numerous advantages of the invention will be readily apparent. The fact that the bracket members provide means for supporting on end a 45 tank having a convex bottom head, without the necessity for a crate, before the legs have been inserted, has already been mentioned. The bracket members and supporting legs constitute a simple and relatively inexpensive support for 50 the tank. The bracket members are preferably secured to the tank at-the factory and the supporting legs may be formed from scrap pipe lengths picked up on the job. The invention also makes it possible for one man to erect a tank on 55

2,109,481 its support, despite the considerable weight thereof. By inserting the supporting legs while the tank is lying down, it may readily be set up by lifting on the upper end. Since the bracket members have less strength and rigidity than the bottom head, excessive stress will cause a failure of the bracket members before the tank head bends. This protects the lining against cracking.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred form of the invention with certain modifications, numerous changes in the construction disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.