System for securing covers within tanks

Abstract

A system for covering liquids stored within an open-topped liquid storage tank having a peripheral wall has a cover for extending across at least a portion of stored liquids, and two or more guide assemblies spaced about the peripheral wall for securing the cover to the peripheral wall and for permitting the cover to freely travel substantially vertically up and down within the interior space. Each assembly has a vertical guide, a clamping member, and an upper and a lower delimiting stop. The cover can be operatively secured to the assembly by a restraining tether.

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A system for covering liquids stored within an open-topped liquid storage tank having a peripheral wall defining an interior space comprising:
 a cover extending across at least a portion of the liquid; and   two or more assemblies spaced about the peripheral wall for securing the cover therebetween,   wherein each of the two or more assemblies permit the cover to freely travel substantially vertically up and down within the interior space.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more assemblies further comprises:
 a vertical guide having a top end and a bottom end;   a clamping member connected adjacent the top end for securing the vertical guide to the peripheral wall within the interior space of the tank;   an upper delimiting stop along the vertical guide; and   a lower delimiting stop along the vertical guide,   wherein the cover being secured for vertical movement between the upper and lower delimiting stops.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is buoyant and moves up and down corresponding with a depth of the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a restraining tether between each of the two or more assemblies and the cover for securing the cover across the interior space of the tank, the restraining tether freely moveable along the vertical guide and disposed between the upper and lower delimiting stops.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the restraining tether is secured to the cover at a first end and connected to the vertical guide at a second end, the second end comprising a ring moveable along the vertical guide. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the tether is secured to the cover at the first end using grommets. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the upper delimiting stops are positioned to retain the cover at a maximum elevation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower delimiting stops are positioned to retain the cover at a minimum elevation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the position of the upper and lower delimiting stops is automated. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the clamping member further comprises a lateral extension for spacing the vertical guide radially to and from the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical guide further comprises a plurality of openings therethrough for permitting liquids to travel therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly for securing at least a portion of a cover within an interior space of an open top liquid storage tank having a peripheral wall defining the interior space of the tank, comprising:
 a vertical guide having a top end and a bottom end;   a clamping member connected adjacent the top end for securing the vertical guide to the peripheral wall within the interior space of the tank;   an upper delimiting stop along the vertical guide; and   a lower delimiting stop along the vertical guide,   wherein the cover being secured for vertical movement between the upper and lower delimiting stops.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a restraining tether between the assembly and the cover for securing the cover across the interior space of the tank, the restraining tether freely moveable along the vertical guide and disposed between the upper and lower delimiting stops.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the restraining tether is secured to the cover at a first end and connected to the vertical guide at a second end, the second end comprising a ring moveable along the vertical guide. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the upper delimiting stops are positioned to retain the cover at a maximum elevation. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lower delimiting stops are positioned to retain the cover at a minimum elevation. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the position of the upper and lower delimiting stops are automated. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the clamping member further comprises a lateral extension for spacing the vertical guide radially to and from the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the vertical guide further comprises a plurality of openings therethrough for permitting liquids to travel therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . A method for securing a cover to an open-topped liquid storage tank having a peripheral wall defining an interior space comprising:
 providing a cover for covering liquids stored within the tank;   providing two or more assemblies for securing the cover therebetween, each assembly having a vertical guide, and upper and lower delimiting stops;   securing the two or more assemblies along the peripheral wall and adjacent thereto, within the interior space of the tank;   securing the cover to the two or more assemblies for up and down movement along the vertical guides;   adjusting the upper delimiting stop to retain the cover at a maximum elevation; and   adjusting the lower delimiting stop to retain the cover at a minimum elevation.