TANK CONNECTOR CONSTRUCTION

• Main Author: LINDAHL, D. KENT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 08.12.1996
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; BLASTING; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HEATING; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVINGMATERIAL; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PIPES; PUNCHING METAL; STORING; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS ORPROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL

A tank connector assembly for mounting in the wall of a steel tank. A metal spudmember having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion is welded to the tank. A sub-assembly comprised of an insert member made from a polymer material and having an internal groove therein and an expandable band member positioned in the groove. The sub-assembly is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. The expandable band is in the groove of the insert member is expanded to force the insert member into tight sealing contact with the spud member. A polymer material is introduced into the interior of the steel tank and the tank is then subjected to a rotational casting movement in the presence of heat to cause the polymer material in the tank to be uniformly distributed over the internal surface of the tank. The heat applied during the rotational casting step serves to cause the inner tank of polymer material to become bonded to the insert member.