U.S. patent application number 15/284993 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-05 for floating cover system for large open containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is ABC Canada Technology Group, LTD.. Invention is credited to Donald Adams, Bobby Hack, Gregory Plett, Paul Yausie.
Application Number | 20180093824 15/284993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61757770 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180093824 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Plett; Gregory ; et
al. |
April 5, 2018 |
FLOATING COVER SYSTEM FOR LARGE OPEN CONTAINERS
Abstract
A floating cover system for a container with an open top
includes a plurality of floating cover sections with cover
connector devices spaced along a periphery of each at a connector
spacing. A ballast tube has tube connector devices spaced along the
exterior thereof at the same connector spacing. The ballast tube is
open at each end and longer ballast tubes also define access holes
along a length thereof. Water enters an interior of the ballast
tube through the open ends thereof and the access holes, if any.
When all the cover sections are installed in the container, the
open top of the container is substantially covered by cover
sections joined together at seams where adjacent cover connector
devices are connected together, and the tube connectors are
connected to the cover connectors along a ballast seam such that
the ballast tube is located under the ballast seam.
Inventors: |
Plett; Gregory; (Saskatoon,
CA) ; Hack; Bobby; (Aberdeen, CA) ; Adams;
Donald; (Saskatoon, CA) ; Yausie; Paul;
(Saskatoon, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ABC Canada Technology Group, LTD. |
Saskatoon |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
61757770 |
Appl. No.: |
15/284993 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 88/34 20130101;
B65D 88/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 88/34 20060101
B65D088/34 |
Claims
1. A floating cover system for a container with an open top, the
system comprising: a plurality of cover sections, each cover
section adapted to float on a water surface; a plurality of cover
connector devices attached to, and equally spaced along, a
periphery of each cover section at a connector spacing; a ballast
tube and a plurality of tube connector devices attached to, and
equally spaced along, a length of an exterior of the ballast tube
at the connector spacing; wherein the ballast tube is open at each
end thereof such that water enters an interior of the ballast tube
through the open ends thereof; wherein the cover sections are
configured such that when all the cover sections are installed in
the container, the open top of the container is substantially
covered by cover sections joined together at seams where adjacent
cover connector devices are connected together, and the tube
connectors are connected to the cover connectors along a ballast
seam such that the ballast tube is located under the ballast
seam.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ballast tube further defines a
plurality of access holes spaced along a length thereof such that
water enters the interior of the ballast tube through the open ends
thereof and through the access holes.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cover connector devices are
provided by connector rings, and wherein adjacent connector rings
on adjacent cover sections are connected together by a tie
member.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein each cover section comprises a
fabric strip attached along the periphery thereof, and wherein the
connector rings are attached to the fabric strips.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein an inner edge of each fabric strip
is attached along the periphery of the corresponding cover section,
and the connector rings are attached in proximity to the inner
edges of the fabric strips such that the fabric strips extend
outward from the connector rings.
6. The system of claim 5 comprising a weight member attached along
an outer edge of at least one fabric strip.
7. The system of claim 4 comprising a plurality of rectangular
cover sections with the same dimensions, and wherein each
rectangular cover section has a width dimension and a length
dimension substantially equal to twice the width dimension, and
wherein each fabric strip is attached along each edge of each
rectangular cover section such that a connector ring is located at
each corner of each rectangular cover section, and wherein the
connector spacing is an even multiple of the width dimension.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the width dimension is 18 feet,
the length dimension is 36 feet, and the connector spacing is three
feet.
9. The system of claim 3 wherein the tube connector devices are
provided by a flap extending from the ballast tube and a connector
hole defined in the flap and wherein the connector holes are
connected to adjacent connector rings by the tie member.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the flap is continuous along the
exterior length of the ballast tube and wherein the holes are
spaced along the flap at the connector spacing.
11. The system of claim 3 wherein the tie member is provided by a
carabiner.
12. The system of claim 2 wherein the cover sections comprise a
sheet of foam material.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the sheet of foam material is
flexible and encased in a fabric material.
14. The system of claim 2 wherein the cover sections are
inflatable.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the each cover section comprises
a plurality of flexible air tight section tubes, each section tube
defining a closable air filling orifice.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the sections tubes are joined
together to form each cover section by a fabric shell comprising an
upper sheet of fabric shell material and a lower sheet of fabric
shell material.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the upper and lower sheets of
fabric shell material are joined together between adjacent section
tubes.
18. The system of claim 2 wherein the cover sections comprise a
flexible sheet with bubbles formed on one side thereof, and wherein
the bubbles are on a bottom surface of the cover sections such that
the bubbles are in contact with the water when the cover sections
float on the water surface.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a
substantially cylindrical wall and the open top is substantially
circular, and wherein the cover sections include a plurality of
rectangular cover sections, and a plurality of edge cover sections
configured to substantially cover edge areas of the open top
between the rectangular cover sections and the cylindrical wall
when the cover sections are installed.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the cover sections are
configured such that when the cover sections are installed, a space
is formed between the cover sections and the wall such that the
cover sections are movable up and down as a level of water in the
container moves up and down.
21. The system of claim 19 for use on a first container with a
circular top with a first diameter and for use on a second
container with a circular top with a second diameter smaller than
the first diameter, the system comprising: a plurality of
rectangular sections with the same dimensions, and wherein each
rectangular cover section has a width dimension and a length
dimension substantially equal to twice the width dimension; a
plurality of first edge cover sections configured to substantially
cover edge areas of the open top between the rectangular cover
sections and the cylindrical wall when the cover sections are
installed in the first container; a plurality of second edge cover
sections configured to substantially cover edge areas of the open
top between the rectangular cover sections and the cylindrical wall
when the cover sections are installed in the second container.
22. The system of claim 1 wherein the ballast tube is formed from a
flexible fabric material and comprising a stiff ring attached to
the ballast tube at each open end thereof, the stiff ring operative
to hold the fabric material open such that water flows into each
open end of the ballast tube.
Description
[0001] This invention is in the field of liquid storage and in
particular large liquid tanks, containers, reservoirs and the like
with open tops containing liquid such as are used for heating large
quantities of water for formation fracturing in the petroleum
recovery and like industries, and also for storing large quantities
of water in dry climates where evaporation is problematic.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In some mining, industrial, and agricultural applications,
very large quantities of liquid are required to be stored. For
example in petroleum oil and gas recovery operations, it is common
practice to fracture an underground formation by injecting liquid
at high pressure into the formation. Fracturing operations,
commonly called fracking, can require very large amounts of heated
liquid, which must be stored and heated in a temporary container
typically a tank or pit set up at the work site. Some of the these
tanks can be twelve to fourteen feet high, and 150 or more feet
across, and contain two million gallons of liquid.
[0003] Frack tanks are transported to the work site where they are
set up and filled with liquid that typically must be heated to a
desired temperature for use in the fracking operation. Because of
their large size, it is not practical to close the tops of the
tanks and so they are open, such that very significant heat loss
occurs from the large exposed top surface of the water as it is
being heated. Also in hot summer temperatures a significant amount
of water can be lost to evaporation.
[0004] The liquid used in fracking operations is water mixed with a
variety of chemicals. Once erected, the frack tank is filled by
hauling or pumping water from a river or the like, and this filling
operation can take three to four days. The water is heated during
and/or after filling by large mobile heating units, and once heated
the water is used within a day or so, unless there are operational
delays, which may result in needing to reheat the water. With the
significant heat losses from the open water surface, it may be
required to add heat constantly to maintain a satisfactory
temperature during use. The large mobile heating units are costly
and in demand so rentals costs are high and it is sometimes
difficult to schedule the filling of the tanks to coordinate with
the arrival of the heating units. The heating operation is
therefore costly.
[0005] To reduce heat loss and evaporation these tanks can be
covered with a flexible membrane however wind often makes this
process problematic. Canadian Patent Application Number 2836954 of
Bleile et al. discloses a system for securing such membrane
covers.
[0006] Floating insulated tank covers are also known. Canadian
Patent Application Number 2,832,802 of Hindbo discloses a cover for
large frack tanks comprising a plurality of inflatable bladders
that are shaped generally like pie slices, and tied together. The
bladders are also connected by an air channel such that pressurized
air can be continuously pumped into each of the bladders to keep
them inflated.
[0007] Other floating tank covers are disclosed for example in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,240,804 to King et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,956 to
Johnson, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,509 to Rosenkrantz.
[0008] In other industries, containers, reservoirs or open pits are
covered in dry climates to preserve water and substantially reduce
evaporation losses when it is used for livestock or industrial
uses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present disclosure provides a floating cover system for
tanks, open pits, or like containers that overcomes problems in the
prior art.
[0010] The present disclosure provides a floating cover system for
a container with an open top. The system comprises a plurality of
cover sections, each cover section adapted to float on a water
surface, and a plurality of cover connector devices attached to,
and equally spaced along, a periphery of each cover section at a
connector spacing. A ballast tube has a plurality of tube connector
devices attached to, and equally spaced along, a length of an
exterior of the ballast tube at the same connector spacing. The
ballast tube is open at each end thereof such that water enters an
interior of the ballast tube through the open ends thereof. The
cover sections are configured such that when all the cover sections
are installed in the container, the open top of the container is
substantially covered by cover sections joined together at seams
where adjacent cover connector devices are connected together, and
the tube connectors are connected to the cover connectors along a
ballast seam such that the ballast tube is located under the
ballast seam.
[0011] The presently disclosed floating cover system is highly
resistant to wind forces which can be significant depending on the
location of the container. The system is also convenient to
transport and can be readily installed on the floor of an empty
container, or can be installed on a filled container if. The system
is also readily transportable and adaptable to different sizes of
containers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions
hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying
detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction
with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a
floating cover system of the present disclosure installed in a
container with an open top;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional side view along line 2-2 in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a rectangular cover
section attached to an edge cover section in the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective end view of the open end of a
ballast tube of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the fabric strip,
connector rings and weight member attached along a periphery of a
cover section;
[0018] FIG. 5A is a schematic end view of the connector rings of
one cover section attached to the connector rings of an adjacent
cover section in the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the fabric strips
weighted down into the water by a cable, chain, or the like;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
installed in a container with a smaller diameter than the container
of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
installed in a container with a smaller diameter than the container
of FIG. 6;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic end view of an inflatable cover
section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the attachment of the
ballast tube;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view along line 9-9 in FIG.
8;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the resilient air
tight section tubes and fabric shell of the inflatable cover
section of FIG. 8;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing the
construction of a cover section made from a floating sheet material
covered by a fabric material; and
[0025] FIG. 12 is a schematic side sectional view of a cover sheet
comprising a flexible bubble sheet with air bubbles defined on the
bottom surface thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an embodiment of a
floating cover system 1 of the present disclosure installed in a
container 3 with an open top 5. The system 1 comprises a plurality
of cover sections 7, each cover section 7 adapted to float on a
water surface. Cover connector devices 9 are attached to, and
equally spaced along, a periphery of each cover section 7 at a
connector spacing CS, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0027] A ballast tube 11, as shown in FIG. 4, has a plurality of
tube connector devices 13 attached to, and equally spaced along, a
length of an exterior of the ballast tube 11 at the connector
spacing CS. The ballast tube 11 is open at each end thereof such
that water enters an interior of the ballast tube 11 through the
open ends 17 thereof longer ballast tubes 11 further define a
plurality of access holes 15 spaced along a length thereof such
that water enters the interior of the ballast tube 11 through the
open ends 17 thereof and the access holes 15. In these longer tubes
as well, the access holes 15 allow air to be pushed out of the
ballast tube 11 by water flowing into the ballast tube 11 from each
open end.
[0028] The cover sections 7 are configured such that when all the
cover sections 7 are installed in the container 3, the open top 5
of the container 3 is substantially covered by cover sections 7
joined together at seams 19 where adjacent cover connector devices
9 are connected together, and the tube connectors 13 are connected
to the cover connectors 9 along a ballast seam 19A such that the
ballast tube 11 is located under the ballast seam 19A.
[0029] The ballast tubes 11 fill with water and anchor the cover
sections 7 along the ballast seams 19A. As shown in FIG. 1, the
ballast seams 19A, with the ballast tubes 11 suspended below them,
are placed at locations that are selected depending on the strength
of winds expected, the direction of the prevailing winds, and like
considerations.
[0030] The cover connector devices are conveniently provided by
connector rings 21 as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5A.
Conveniently the connector rings 21 are attached to a fabric strip
23 and the fabric strip 23 is attached along the periphery of each
cover section 7. Adjacent connector rings 21 on adjacent cover
sections 7 are connected together by a tie member, such as a
carabiner 25 or like metal loop with a spring-loaded gate.
[0031] To reduce the occurrence of wind entering under the edges of
the cover sections 7 an inner edge 23A of each fabric strip 23 is
attached along the periphery of the corresponding cover section 7,
and the connector rings 21 are attached in proximity to the inner
edges 23A of the fabric strips 23 such that the fabric strips 23
extend outward from the connector rings 21. Conveniently the
connector rings 21 are attached to a fabric tape 23C which can be
readily sewn onto the fabric strips 23. When placed in the water
the outer edges 23B of the fabric strips 23 hang down in the water
where the wind cannot get under them. A weight member 23D, such as
a chain, cable, weighted rope, or the like, can be attached along
the outer edge 23B of the fabric strips 23 to ensure same sink into
the water.
[0032] Conveniently the system comprises a plurality of rectangular
cover sections 7A with the same dimensions, and wherein each
rectangular cover section 7A has a width dimension W and a length
dimension L substantially equal to twice the width dimension W. The
fabric strip 23 is attached along each edge of each rectangular
cover section 7A such that a connector ring 21 is located at each
corner 27 of each rectangular cover section 7A, and the connector
spacing CS is an even multiple of the width dimension W. It is
contemplated for example that a rectangular cover section 7A with a
width dimension of 18 feet, a length dimension of 36 feet, and a
connector spacing of three feet will allow for convenient covering
of a variety of tank sizes. Other dimensions can be used depending
on circumstances.
[0033] The container 3 comprises a substantially cylindrical wall
29 and the open top 5 is circular. The cover sections 7 include a
plurality of rectangular cover sections 7A, and a plurality of edge
cover sections 7B that are configured to substantially cover edge
areas of the open top 5 between the rectangular cover sections 7A
and the cylindrical wall 29 when the cover sections 7 are
installed. The cover sections 7 are also configured such that when
all the cover sections 7 are installed as shown in FIG. 1, a small
space 31 is formed between the cover sections 7 and the wall 29
such that the cover sections 7 not tight against the wall 29 and so
are able to move up and down as a level of water 33 in the
container 3 moves up and down.
[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the system 1 in use
on a first container 3 with a circular top 5 with a first diameter
D1. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the system 1 in use on a
second container 3' with a circular top 5' with a second diameter
D2 smaller than the first diameter D1. The system 1 thus comprises
a plurality of rectangular sections 7A with the same dimensions as
illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of first edge cover sections 7B
configured to substantially cover edge areas of the open top 5
between the rectangular cover sections 7A and the cylindrical wall
29 when the cover sections 7 are installed in the first container
3, and a plurality of second edge cover sections 7C configured to
substantially cover edge areas of the open top 5' between the
rectangular cover sections 7A and the cylindrical wall 29' when the
cover sections 7 are installed in the second container 3'.
[0035] FIG. 7 schematically illustrated a third container 3'' with
a circular top 5'' with a third diameter D3 smaller than the second
diameter D2. Here the system includes a plurality of third edge
cover sections 7D configured to substantially cover edge areas of
the open top 5'' between the rectangular cover sections 7A and the
cylindrical wall 29'' when the cover sections 7 are installed in
the third container 3''. It can be seen that by using a standard
rectangular sheet section 7A, virtually any diameter container can
be covered by providing edge cover sections configured for a
particular size open top.
[0036] As seen in FIG. 4, the tube connector devices 13 are
provided by a flap 35 extending from the ballast tube 11 and a
connector hole 37 defined in the flap 35. As can be seen in FIG. 8
the connector holes 37 are aligned with the cover connector devices
9, such as rings 21, attached along each cover section 7 at the
same connector spacing, such that the tie member passes through the
connector holes connected to adjacent connector rings 21 along the
ballast seams 19A by the carabiner 25. Conveniently the flap 35 is
continuous along the exterior length of the ballast tube 11 and the
holes 37 are spaced along the flap 35 at the connector spacing
CS.
[0037] The ballast tube 11 could be made of a rigid material
however to facilitate transport the ballast tube 11 is conveniently
formed from a flexible fabric material with a stiff ring 39
attached at each open end 17 thereof. The stiff ring 39 holds the
fabric material open such that water flows into each open end 17 of
the ballast tube 11. When filled with water the ballast tube 11
resists upward movement of the attached cover sections 7 and
prevents them from blowing away.
[0038] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate cover sections 7 that are inflatable.
Each cover section 7 comprises a plurality of flexible and
resilient air tight section tubes 41, as seen in FIG. 9, each
defining a closable air filling orifice 43. The sections tubes 41
are joined together to form each cover section 7 by a fabric shell
45 comprising an upper sheet of fabric shell material 45A and a
lower sheet of fabric shell material 45B that holds the tubes 41
together and also defines the diameter of the tubes 41 which will
stretch when inflated. The upper and lower sheets of fabric shell
material 45A, 45B are joined together between adjacent section
tubes 41, as shown in FIG. 10, s by sewing, adhesives, or the like.
The cover sections 7 can conveniently be deflated and folded for
transport at one work site, then unfolded and inflated at the next
work site. Inflation pressures are low, simply enough to maintain
the shape of the caver sections 7.
[0039] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a cover section 7'
comprising a sheet of flexible foam material 47 encased in a fabric
material 49 with connector rings 21 attached to the periphery
thereof. The flexible foam and fabric cover allows the cover
sections to be rolled into a compact shape for transport.
[0040] The cover sheets can also be provided by flexible bubble
sheets 51 with air bubbles 53 defined on the bottom surface 51A
thereof as schematically illustrated in FIG. 12. The bubbles 53
provide an enlarged surface area in contact with the water surface
when the bottom surface of the sheet 51 is laid on the water
surface. It is contemplated that this will increase the resistance
of the bubble sheets 51 to lifting off the water surface.
[0041] The inflatable cover sections 7 and sheet material cover
sections 7' are typically only 1/4 inch to one inch thick depending
on the material used, with a ballast tube diameter of for example
about one foot for cover sections that are 18 feet by 36 feet.
[0042] The floating cover system 1 of the present disclosure is
highly resistant to wind forces which can be significant depending
on the location of the container. The system 1 is convenient to
transport and can be readily installed on the floor of an empty
container, or can be installed on a filled container if necessary
by floating the cover sections out over the water surface as they
are attached, with some assistance likely required by a person
floating on the surface as well. The system 1 is also readily
transportable and adaptable to different sizes of containers.
[0043] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and
modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable
changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be
resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed
invention.
* * * * *