Claims:1. A removable fixture (100) for mounting a foam cylinder (170) on a foam dam plate (200) without hot work, said removable fixture (100) comprising:
a base frame (110) configured to rest on an operative top surface of the roof of a floating roof tank;
a clamping arrangement (120) connected to said base frame (110), said clamping arrangement (120) adapted to securely fasten said removable fixture (100) to said foam dam plate (200) of said floating roof tank;
a connecting element (130) extending from said clamping arrangement (120); and
a holding ring (150) fixedly connected to said connecting element (130), said holding ring (150) configured to securely hold said foam cylinder (170) therewithin.
2. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arrangement (120) securely fastens said removable fixture (100) with said foam dam plate (200) by means of a plurality of fasteners (122).
3. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame (110) comprises at least two channels (112) configured to facilitate mounting of said pedestal (160) thereon to support said foam cylinder (170).
4. The fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two channels (112) have a first plurality of holes (114) configured on an operative top surface thereof to facilitate mounting of said pedestal (160) on said at least two channels (112).
5. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arrangement (120) includes at least two clamping plates configured to be fixed on said foam dam plate (200).
6. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arrangement (120) includes a clamping plate having a recess (124) configured to facilitate a secure reception of said clamping plate (120) onto said foam dam plate (200).
7. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting element (130) is defined by a first portion (132), a second portion (134), and a third portion (136) such that said first portion (132) is fixedly connected to an operative upper portion of said clamping arrangement (120), said second portion (134) is removably connected to said first portion (132) and said third portion (136), and said third portion (136) is fixedly connected to said holding ring (150).
8. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixture (100) includes at least one U-clamp mounted on said clamping arrangement (120) to securely hold said foam dam plate (200) and said fixture (100) together.
9. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame (110) has a length in the range of 0.7 meter and 1.8 meter.
10. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arrangement (120) has a height in the range of 400 mm and 900 mm. , Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical engineering. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to the field of fixtures.
BACKGROUND
A floating roof tank is a storage tank specifically used to store petroleum products in the form of liquid therewithin. A roof of the floating roof tank floats on the stored liquid. As compared to fixed roof tank, the roof of the floating roof tank rises and falls as the liquid level within the tank rises or falls, thereby avoiding formation of vapors within the tank and reducing evaporative losses. The floating roof tanks are provided with a foam dam plate that is an integral part of the roof of the floating roof tank. The floating roof tank is required to provide with fire protection system in order to avoid any accident that may occur due to vulnerable nature of the stored liquid towards fire. A fixture is required to hold a foam cylinder of the fire protection system installed on an operative top surface of the floating roof. Conventionally, such fixtures are installed on the operative top surface of the floating roof using hot work which includes welding, riveting, flame cutting or any other flame producing operation. The hot work method requires more time to install the fixture on the roof. Further, the hot work method may initiate fire when used for the tank storing the flammable liquid therewithin. Another conventional approach includes use of enclosure to store the cylinders therewithin. Such enclosure is then attached to the foam dam plate of the tank. However, such enclosures have limited capacity to store the cylinders therewithin. Further, manufacturing of such enclosures requires more time. Another conventional approach uses a plurality of legs that are attached to the operative top surface of the roof of the tank using adhesives, which may not be sufficient to support this system when actuated. The cylinder of the protection system is supported by the plurality of legs. Additionally, riveting may be required to attach the plurality of legs with the operative top surface of the roof. However, such system involves more infrastructure cost.
Hence, there is felt a need of a fixture for mounting a foam cylinder of the fire protection systems installed on the floating roof tank that alleviates abovementioned drawbacks and can be installed without any hot work.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture that is installed without any hot work.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture that supports a foam cylinder of different dimensions.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture that aligns the cylinder and holds it vertical, thereby maintaining center of gravity of the fire protection system.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture that is easy to install.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure discloses a removable fixture for mounting a foam cylinder on a foam dam plate without any hot work. The removable fixture comprises a base frame, a clamping arrangement, a connecting element, and a holding ring. The base frame is configured to rest on an operative top surface of the roof of a floating roof tank. The clamping arrangement is connected to the base frame. The clamping arrangement is adapted to securely fasten the removable fixture to the foam dam plate of the floating roof tank. The connecting element extends from the clamping arrangement. The holding ring is fixedly connected to the connecting element. The holding ring is configured to securely hold the foam cylinder therewithin.
The base frame comprises at least two channels configured to facilitate mounting of the pedestal thereon to support the foam cylinder. The at least two channels have a plurality of holes configured on an operative top surface thereof to facilitate mounting of the pedestal on the at least two channels. The connecting element is defined by a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is fixedly connected to an operative upper portion of the clamping arrangement. The second portion is removably connected to the first portion and the third portion. The third portion is fixedly connected to the holding ring.
The clamping arrangement is configured to clamp the fixture to the foam dam plate by means of a plurality of fasteners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A removable fixture for mounting a foam cylinder on a foam dam plate, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a photographic view of the removable fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the removable fixture of figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the removable fixture of figure 1;
Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the removable fixture of figure 1;
Figure 5 illustrates a front view of a clamping arrangement of the removable fixture of figure 1;
Figure 6 illustrates a rear view of the clamping arrangement of the removable fixture of figure 1;
Figure 7 illustrates a top view of a base frame of the removable fixture of figure 1;
Figure 8 illustrates a front view of a second portion of a connecting element of the removable fixture of figure 1; and
Figure 9 illustrates a top view of a holding ring of the removable fixture of the figure 1.
LIST OF REFERRAL NUMERALS USED IN DRAWING AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION
100 – Fixture
110 – Base frame
110a – First section of the base frame
110b – Second section of the base frame
112 – Two channels
114 – First plurality of holes
116 – First plate
117 – Second plate
120 – Clamping arrangement
120a – First surface of the clamping arrangement
120b – Second surface of the clamping arrangement
122 – Plurality of fasteners
124 – Recess
126 – Second plurality of holes
128 – Welded nuts
130 – Connecting element
132 – First portion
134 – Second portion
136 – Third portion
138 – Plurality of flanges
138a – Nut and bolt assembly
142 – Plurality of flanges
142a – Nut and bolt assembly
150 – Holding ring
150a, 150b – Two halves
152 – Nut and bolt assembly
160 – Pedestal (not a part of fixture)
170 – Foam cylinder (not a part of fixture)
200 – Foam dam plate (part of the tank roof)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Conventional techniques used to install a fixture for a foam cylinder of a fire protection system require more time. Further, hot work, e.g., welding, is required to install the fixture on a foam dam plate of a floating roof tank. Any flame producing method used to install the fixture may lead to accident as the floating roof tank may catch fire due to presence of highly flammable fluid stored therewithin.
The present disclosure envisages a removable fixture for holding a foam cylinder which is mounted on the foam dam plate of the floating roof tank without any hot work.
The removable fixture for holding a foam cylinder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, is now described with reference to figure 1 through figure 9.
Figure 1 illustrates a photographic view of a removable fixture 100 (hereinafter referred to as fixture 100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 5 illustrates a front view of a clamping arrangement 120 of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 6 illustrates a rear view of the clamping arrangement 120 of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 7 illustrates a top view of a base frame 110 of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 8 illustrates a front view of a second portion 134 of a connecting element 130 of the fixture 100 of figure 1. Figure 9 illustrates a top view of a holding ring 150 of the fixture 100 of the figure 1.
The fixture 100 comprises the base frame 110, the clamping arrangement 120, the connecting element 130, and the holding ring 150. The fixture 100 is configured to securely fasten onto a foam dam plate 200 of the floating roof tank without any hot work.
The base frame 110 is configured to rest on an operative top surface of the roof of the floating roof tank (not shown in figures). The base frame includes at least two channels 112. The channels 112 are configured to facilitate mounting of a pedestal 160 thereon. The pedestal 160, which is a part of cylinder 170, is removably connected to the base frame 110. The pedestal supports the foam cylinder 170 on an operative top surface thereof.
The channels 112 have a first plurality of holes 114 on an operative top surface thereof. The first plurality of holes 114 facilitates the mounting of the pedestal 160 on the channels 112 of the base frame 110.
In an embodiment, the pedestal 160 is connected to the channels 112 of the base frame 110 by means of fasteners that pass through holes configured on the pedestal 160 and the first plurality of holes 114 configured on the channels 112.
The channels 112 are configured to be parallel to each other. A first plate 116 and second plate 117 are welded onto the channels 112 to maintain constant distance therebetween.
In an exemplary embodiment, the base frame has a length in the range of 0.7 meter and 1.8 meter.
The clamping arrangement 120 is connected to the base frame 110. The clamping arrangement 120 is adapted to securely fasten the fixture 100 to the foam dam plate 200 of the floating roof tank. In a preferred embodiment, the clamping arrangement 120 fastens the fixture 100 with the foam dam plate 200 by means of a plurality of fasteners 122 that passes through a second plurality of holes 126 and fixed nuts 128 configured on the clamping plate 120. Further, U-clamps are mounted on the clamping arrangement 120 to securely hold the fixture 100 and the foam dam plate 200 together.
In an embodiment, the plurality of fasteners 122 is bolts that passes through welded nuts 128 configured on the plate 120b.
In another embodiment, an operative bottom portion of the clamping arrangement 120 is welded to the base frame 110.
In another embodiment, the clamping arrangement 120 includes at least two clamping plates. The two clamping plates are placed on either side of the foam dam plate 200. Further, the two clamping plates and the foam dam plate 200 are fastened together by means of the plurality of fasteners 122. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of fasteners 122 pass through nuts 128 which are welded on clamping plate 120b of the two clamping plates and tighten the foam dam plate 200 against the clamping plate 120a ,wherein U-clips are used to strengthen the fastening between the two clamping plates and the foam dam plate 200.
In yet another embodiment, the clamping arrangement includes a clamping plate 120 having a recess 124. The recess 124 is configured to facilitate secure reception of the clamping plate 120 onto the foam dam plate 200. The clamping arrangement 120 and the foam dam plate 200 are fastened together by means of the plurality of fasteners 122. U-clips are used to strengthen the fastening between the clamping arrangement 120 and the foam dam plate 200.
In an embodiment, the clamping arrangement 120 is fixedly connected to the base frame 110 such that the base frame 110 is divided into two sections, i.e., a first section 110a and a second section 110b. The first section 110a of the base frame 110 is connected to the clamping arrangement 120 at an operative first surface 120a of the clamping arrangement 120, and the second section 110b of the base frame 110 is connected to an operative second surface 120b of the clamping arrangement 120 which is operatively opposite to the first section 110a.
In an exemplary embodiment, the clamping arrangement 120 has a height in the range of 400 mm to 900 mm suitable to the foam dam height
The connecting element 130 extends from the clamping arrangement 120. The connecting element is preferably connected to an operative upper portion of the clamping arrangement 120. The connecting element 130 has three portions, i.e., a first portion 132, the second portion 134, and a third portion 136. The first portion 132 is fixedly connected to the operative upper portion of the clamping arrangement 120. In a preferred embodiment, the first portion 132 is welded to the operative upper portion of the clamping arrangement 120.
The second portion 134 is removably connected to the first portion 132 and the third portion 136. The second portion 134 is connected to the first portion 132 by means of a plurality of flanges 142 and a plurality of nut and bolt assembly 142a. The second portion 134 is connected to the third portion 136 by means of a plurality of flanges 138 and a plurality of nut and bolt assembly 138a. The second portion 134 is configured to be horizontal with respect to a spirit level indicator (not shown in figures). The removable connection of the second portion 134 with the first portion 132 and the third portion 136 facilitates any required change to be performed in order to make the second portion 134 horizontal while at the same time, provides a modular configuration to the connecting element 130. The horizontal placement of the second portion 134 provides stability to the foam cylinder 170 held by the fixture 100.
The third portion 136 is removably connected to the second portion 134, and fixedly connected to the holding ring 150. In an embodiment, the third portion 136 is welded to the holding ring 150.
The holding ring 150 is fixedly connected to the third portion 136 of the connecting element 130. The holding ring 150 is configured to securely hold the foam cylinder 170 therewithin.
The holding ring 150, as shown in figure 9, includes two halves 150a, 150b joined together by means of a nut and bolt assembly 152. The diameter of the holding ring 150 is selected depending upon the diameter of the foam cylinder 170. Therefore, the holding ring 150 can be configured to hold any size of the foam cylinder 170. The holding ring 150 aligns with the foam cylinder 170 perfectly, and holds it vertically, thereby maintaining the center of gravity of the foam cylinder 170 and the fixture 100.
In an operative configuration, the various parts of the fixture 100, i.e., the base frame 110, the clamping arrangement 120, the connecting element 130, and the holding ring 150 are connected to each other and then disposed onto the roof of the floating roof tank. The cylinder 170 having the pedestal 160 is connected to the base frame 110 after shifting the fixture 100 to the roof of the floating roof tank. The clamping arrangement 120 of the fixture 100 is then received on the foam dam plate 200. Further, the clamping arrangement 120 is connected to the foam dam plate 200 by means of the plurality of fasteners 122. The foam cylinder 170 is retrofitted within the holding ring 150 and supported by the pedestal 160.
The fixture 100, of the present disclosure, is connected to the foam dam plate 200 by means of the plurality of fasteners 122. Therefore, no hot work is required to accomplish the same. Further, the fixture 100 is easy to install and detach from the foam dam plate 200 as only the plurality of blots 122 are required to be removed. Further, the installation of the fixture 100 on the foam dam plate requires less time as compared to conventional hot work methods. Furthermore, the fixture 100 can be installed on the roof of the floating roof tanks which have a flammable fluid stored therewithin.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a removable fixture for mounting a foam cylinder on a foam dam plate that:
• is installed without any hot work;
• avoids the de-commissioning of tanks;
• supports a foam cylinder having different dimensions;
• aligns the cylinder perfectly and holds it vertical, thereby maintaining center of gravity of the fire protection system; and
• is easy to install.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.