Apparatus for suppressing sloshing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131497-B2
Application number	US-201214234736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2012
Priority date	Jul 26, 2011
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for suppressing sloshing. An apparatus for suppressing sloshing according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of buoyant blocks and connecting members connecting the buoyant blocks and can float on a liquid cargo in a liquid cargo storage tank, the buoyant block includes a buoyant body having buoyancy to float on liquid, a first foam member covering the buoyant body and absorbing the liquid, and a first cover covering the first foam member, and the first foam member has through-holes formed through the first foam member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for suppressing sloshing that includes a plurality of buoyant blocks and connecting members connecting the plurality of buoyant blocks and can float on a liquid cargo in a liquid cargo storage tank,
wherein a buoyant block of the plurality of buoyant blocks includes:
a buoyant body having buoyancy to float on liquid;
a first foam member covering the buoyant body and absorbing the liquid; and
a first cover covering the first foam member,
wherein each of the connecting members includes:
a pair of first connection belts disposed on the buoyant block, across a surface of the buoyant block, and passing centers of a top and a bottom of the buoyant block; and
a fastening member connecting adjacent first connection belts respectively disposed on the buoyant block and another buoyant block adjacent to the buoyant block, and
wherein first through-holes are formed through the first foam member, in a z direction which is a vertical direction perpendicular to a bottom of the liquid cargo storage tank, the first through-holes extending over a whole length of the first foam member,
a second through-hole is formed through the buoyant body in the z direction, the second through-holes extending over a whole length of the buoyant body,
one of the first through-holes and the second through-hole are connected to each other in a line, and
the second through-hole communicates with the one of the first through-holes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
third through-holes are formed through the first foam member, in an x direction perpendicular to the z direction, and a y direction perpendicular to the z direction and the x direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
at least one or more of the first through-holes are formed,
the one of the first through-holes is formed through a center of the first foam member, and
at least one of the third through-holes are formed through the center of the first foam member.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
fourth through-holes are formed through the buoyant body, in the x direction, and the y direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
first connection rings are formed at both ends of the pair of first connection belts.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the fastening member includes
a pair of unit fastening members bending such that both ends are inserted in a pair of adjacent first connection rings, and
the pair of unit fastening members are coupled to each other with both ends facing each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover member covering the fastening member to prevent contact between the fastening member and the liquid cargo storage tank.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the fastening member includes a rope passing through a pair of adjacent first connection ring and connecting the first connection rings.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the rope is a single rope formed by braiding a plurality of pieces.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
one end of the single rope sequentially or alternately passes through adjacent second-row first connection rings of any one buoyant block and then passes through adjacent second-row first connection rings of another buoyant block.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the rope is formed such that a plurality of first pieces between the second-row first connection rings of any one buoyant block and a plurality of second pieces between the second-row first connection rings of another buoyant block are fastened to each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the fastening member includes a thread connecting ends of a pair of adjacent first connection belt by sewing.

13. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the fastening member is formed in the shape of a circular ring.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the buoyant is a structure containing a gas or is made of a foam material having a closed cell structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
in at least one buoyant block of the plurality of buoyant blocks each having a side facing the inner wall of the liquid cargo storage tank,
a shock-absorbing block is coupled to the side facing the inner wall of the liquid cargo storage tank.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the shock-absorbing block includes
a second foam member that absorbs the liquid, and
a second connection belt fastened to the second foam member so that the second foam member is coupled to a side of the buoyant block by the fastening member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:
the shock-absorbing block further includes
a second cover covering the second foam member, and
the second connection belt is fastened to the second cover.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:
the second foam member is formed by filling the second cover with a foam member composed of a plurality of particles or by covering a foam member that is a single unit with the second cover.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the pair of first connection belts disposed on the buoyant block cross each other at the centers of the top and the bottom of the buoyant block.

Assignees

• Lee Sooho
• Yun Byenghee
• Kim Byeongsoo
• Chun Sangeon
• Kim Jonghak
• Lee Young Min
• Hwang Jeongoh
• Samsung Heavy Ind

Inventors

• Lee Sooho
• Yun Byenghee
• Kim Byeongsoo
• Chun Sangeon
• Kim Jonghak
• Lee Young-Min
• Hwang Jeongoh

Classifications

• F17C2223/033

  Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas · CPC title

• F17C2221/033

  Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG · CPC title

• F17C2223/0161

  cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG · CPC title

• B63B25/08

  fluid {(constructional features of bunkers B63B11/04; tanks for fuel or the like not forming bunkers B63B17/0027)} · CPC title

• F17C2270/0105

  Ships · CPC title