The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 06, 1996
Filed:
May. 10, 1995
Richard W Krajicek, Houston, TX (US);
Serv-Tech, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method for cleaning the interior of storage tanks of the type used for storing large volumes of crude oil wherein hydrocarbon sludge accumulates with the passage of time. The method includes circulating the crude oil from the tank to a pump and then through the nozzle of a circulator having a gear member mounted to the periphery of a hollow rotor supporting the nozzle. A shaft driven worm gear in operative engagement with the gear member is positioned within a tube extending from the circulator, through an opening in a side of the tank that is closeable with a valve, to a position outside the storage tank. The worm gear, the gear member, the hollow rotor and the nozzle are rotated simultaneously with circulation of the crude oil through the nozzle of the circulator until the worm gear falls. The worm gear is then pulled through the tube to a position just past the valve, and the valve closed. The worm gear is then withdrawn from the tube, repaired or replaced, and reinserted into the tube to a position adjacent the closed valve. The valve is then opened, and the worm gear in inserted further into the tube until it engages the gear member, whereupon circulation of the crude oil simultaneously with rotation of the worm gear, gear member, hollow rotor and nozzle is resumed.