US2370780A - Method and apparatus for banding tanks - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1945. 2,370,780

J. M. CROM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov'f4, 1942 6 sheexs-sheet1- March 6, 1945. J. M. cROM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 6, 1945. J. M. cRoM 2,370,780

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jo/M 0240231,

March 6, 1945. l J. M. CROM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lll J. M. CROM METHOD'AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 March 6, 1945.

foaz M 0240222,

Patented Mar. 6, 1945 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS f John M. Crum, Washington, D. C. Application November 4, 1942, Serial No. 484,508

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for banding tanks with steel reinforcement. Large tanks are ordinarily reinforced' by steel bands or rods extending annularly or spirally therearound and the application of these rods to the tanks is a considerable task since it requires not only extensive scaffolding but also a substantial amount of manual labor in threading rod lengths through the scaffolding, raising them to the necessary elevation and connecting, laying and tensioning the rods in continuous length on the vertical tank wall. The primary object of my invention is the production of an improved method and apparatus for banding tanks more eiciently and with less expenditure of time, labor and materials, the invention relating more especially to the application of continuous steel wire"circumferentially and spirally of the tanks and in taut condition placing the tanks under compression.

The invention contemplates the employment of a wire carrying and placing vehicle supported for movement around and adjacent to the outer face of the tank to be banded. An end of the wire reinforcement is anchored at a starting point adjacent to the base or top of the tank and the 4vehicle carries the free portion thereof and winds it into taut contact with the tank as the vehicle proceeds therearound. The vehicle is movable horizontally and circumferentially around the tank and means is provided for trailing the wire onto the tank and placing the succeeding convolutions progressively higher or lower and in predetermined proximity.

In the preferred construction vthe vehicle is pulled by and along a cable extending around and in frictional'contact with the tank, this cable being either an independent and closed or complete annulus or a continuous part of the wire reinforcement trailed into tight engagement'with the tank, all as hereinafter described. Means is also provided for holding and placing the reinforcement wire under a constant and uniform tension and for elevating the vehicle as it travels around the tank whereby to place the reinforcement convolutions at progressively higher elevations. Thev operations are substantially continuous and mechanical, involving little manual labor and resulting in a strong, uniform and superior reinforcement. The provision of my novel method and apparatus, all hereinafter more specifically described, for producing these results comprises a further object of the invention.

It is common practice to cover tank reinforcement with a cementitious composition bonded thereto and to the adjacent tank wall, this being heretofore an independent operation following the application of the reinforcement to the tank. A further feature of my invention contemplates the'proiecting of a suitable coating material from the wire wrapping vehicle onto and into bonding engagement with the previously placed wire convolutions beneath or above the vehicle as the vehicle passes the same in its wire wrapping travel. The placing of this coating material and thereby completing the entire operation all simultaneously and from the same vehicle comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will bel best understood and appreciated' from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a concrete tank being banded and treated in-accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the wire banding vehicle shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof together with other cooperating mechanism, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the vehicle,

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary view of the engine and the interlocked clutch-,brake control,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the banding wire supply being carried by the vehicle,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a modifled form of vehicle,

Fig. 10 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 3 butshowing a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

In the drawings, I0 indicates the cylindrical side wall of a concrete tank having a dome or `cover l2` thereon. vMy improved rmethod and apparatusare herein illustrated and described in connection with the banding of this tank with steel wire wound circumferentially around'and into tensioned contact with the side wall whereby placing the tank under predetermined compression.

The invention contemplates the employment of a vehicle for conducting the wire around the tank and laying it in contact with the side wall. The vehicle can be supported anddriven inany v convenient and desirable manner for performing this function, as by suspending the vehicle from above as illustrated in Figs. 1-6 or by supporting it on tracks at the base of the tank as illustrated in Fig. 9. In any event the vehicle is mounted to move around the tank and trail the banding wire therefrom and into predetermined tensioned contact with the tank.

Referring first to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, |4 indicates a vehicle or platform suspended from a boom I6 to a position overhanging the outer face of the side wall l (Fig. 1). The boom is supported on a carriage I8 in rolling contact with the top of the tank and anchored by a cable for swivelling movement about a fixed post 2| at the central vertical axis of the tank, the cable being connected to a pulley 22 engaging an endless band 28 looped around the post (Fig. 2). The carriage I8 is supported on wheels 25 resting on the tank cover I2 and rotatable on horizontal axes and also by wheels 26 carried on brackets 21 (Fig. 6), the wheels 26 being rotatable on vertical'axes and in contact with the side wall l0. The carriage is adapted to be driven by a motor 28 through a belt 30 to one of the wheels 25 as hereinafter more specifically described. The carriage I8 is adapted to ride on the top of an open tank of the type illustrated in Fig. 9 as well as on the closed tank shown in Fig. 4.

The vehicle or platform |4 is suspended from the boom I6 by three cables 32 and sheaf blocks 33 and 34. One end of each cable is secured to its fixed block 33 at 35 and the other ends of the cables are in wrapped contact with a drum 36. 'I'he movable blocks 34 are secured to the vehicle-4 at two inner corners 38 and at an outer intermediate point 40, providing a three-point support. Turnbuckles 4| in the connections serve to permit leveling of the vehicle which is also provided with wheels 42 rotatable on vertical axes and located to engage the side wall I0, the wheels providing rolling contact with the side wall in the direction of travel around the tank.

Both wheel supports are pvotally connected to the vehicle on horizontal axes at 44 whereby permitting the wheels to adjust themselves into flat contact with the side wall. The vehicle travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 and the front wheel is mounted in a yoke 45 adjustable on a stud 46 (Figs. 3 and 4). An arm 41 fixed to the stud has its outer end engaged by a screw 48 carrying a handwheel 49 by which the yoke and wheel can be adjusted to guide and steer the vehicle along the desired path. Y

An engine50 mounted on the vehicle is arranged (1) to drive the vehicle around the tank an'd (2) to elevate or lower the vehicle (Fig. 3). The engine shaft is operatively connected to a vertical shaft 52 through transmission gearing at 53 controlled by a gear shifting lever 54, A sprocket 56 loose on the shaft 52 is operatively connected by a chain 51 to a large sprocket wheel 58 hereinafter described. A clutch 60 splined to the shaft 52 can be shifted by a lever 6| into and out of engagement with the sprocket 56 (Fig. 7). A sprocket 62 fixed to the shaft 52 is operatively connected by a chain 64 to a large sprocket wheel 65 on a shaft 66 (Fig. 4).

In this form of the invention, the chain 51 is adapted to drive the vehicle around the tank in the manner hereinafter described, this drive being operative when the clutch is engaged and being inoperative when the clutch is disengaged. The chain 64 is adapted to rotate the drum 36 which, because of the clutch 60, can be operated with or independently of the vehicle movement. The shaft 66 is connected by bevel gears 61'to a shaft 68 having a worm 10 thereon in mesh with a large worm wheel 1| on a shaft 12. The shaft 12 is connected to the drum shaft 14 through reduc tion and change speed gearing in a box 15. This gearing further reduces the drum speed relative to the speed of the worm wheel 1| and the gearing within the box is such that by changing gears in well known manner the ratio of the speed reduction can be varied, all for purposes hereinafter described. Retrograde rotation of the drum is prevented by pawls 16 engaging the teeth of a ratchet wheel 16 fixed to the drum.

A brake drum is fixed to the shaft 52 adjacent to the clutch 60 (Fig. 7) and an interlocking connection including a rod 6| is provided between the clutch lever 82 and the brake shoes cooperating with the drum. The clutch lever is operated by a hand rod 83. When the clutch isin closed position the brake shoes are disengaged through the rod 8| and when the clutch is moved to open position the shoes are automatically engaged with the drum through the same connection. Thus when the shaft 52 is disengaged from the engine shaft the brake automatically prevents rotation of the shaft 52.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the banding wire 84 is drawn from a reel 85 supported on the ground at the base of the tank and mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis 86 to unwind the wire and torevolve about a vertical axis 88 to take the twist out of the wire as hereafter described. The wire passes from the reel upwardly over a sheave 89 supported on a pole 90 above the tank. From thence the wire passes downwardly and into and through a funnel-like guide 9| mounted to swivel on the post 2|, and from thence to the vehicle |4. It will be apparent that the travel of the vehicle around the tank, carrying the wire therewith, puts a twist in the wire. The reel 85 can occasionally be rotated on its vertical axis in a direction and to an extent removing this twist.

From the guide 9| (Fig. l) the wire 64 passes over a sheave 92 supported on the boom |6 and from thence to and through a series of grooved rolls 93 supported in lateral alignment between two plates 94 on the vehicle I4 (Fig. 4). The wire continues therefrom around a grooved wheel 95. fixed to the shaft of a brake comprising two brake drums 86 supported in a block 91, and from thence into contact with the tank wall l2. The base |02 of the brake rests atly on the frame 4 (Fig. 3) and is adjustable about a center clamping bolt |04, a clamping bolt |06 extending through an arcuate slot |08 permitting this adjustment. As the vehicle travels in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) the wire trails from the wheel 95 into contact with the tank. The rolls 93 serve to hold the wire tensioned on and about the wheel 95 and the tension of the wire as it is wrapped on the tank is determined by the brake under the control of a brake lever 98. r

The wire passes from the wheel 95 around and in frictional contact with the tank and back to the vehicle where it passes around a grooved Wheel 99 fixed to the bottom end of a vertical shaft |00, the sprocket 58 being fixed to the top end of this shaft (Fig. 3). From the wheel 99 the wire passes between and in contact with two grooved rolls |0| on a block |03 pivotally mounted on the frame at |05, from thence between and in contact with two grooved rolls |01 on a block |09 pivoted to the frame at I0, and from thence the wire trails into contact with the tank. The block |63 carries an index pointer movable over a graduated scale |I2 and also carries an arm ||3. A spring lll has one end anchored :,avopso nut II9 at its free end. A screw |2I, having an operating wheel |23, is lournaled for rotation'in a bearing |25 secured to the frame on a vertical pivot |21. 'I'he screw is threaded through the nut which is mounted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis |29 on the arm. Rotation of the screw is adapted to rock the block |09 about its pivotalsmounting III, rotation in one direction being adapted to increase the tension on the wire and rotation in the opposite direction being adapted to decrease the tension on the wire. The purpose and operation of the blocks |03 and |09 are hereinafter described.

In the Wire banding operation, the engine 50 .drives the vehicle around the tank through its connection with the sprocket 58 and grooved wheel99; the latter having a. loop of the wire 84 extending therearcund and holding the vehicle in traveling contact with the tank and from thence around and in frictional contact with the tank. It is desirable that the carriage I8 shall travel synchronously with the vehicle I4 and the following means, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, is provided for effecting this function. The carriage is driven by the engine 28 which can be of the internal combustion type if desired but, as illustrated, it is driven from compressed air received through a hose |3| which passes through a controlling valve |33. The valve has a controlling arm |35 extending downwardly and carrying two spaced pins |31. A cable |39 hung from the boom at |4| extends downwardlybetween these pins and from thence downwardly between two spaced pins |43 on the vehicle I4, the cable being held taut by a weight I 45. When the arm and cable are in vertical position the valve is closed. Movement of the vehicle I4 forwardly swings the cable forwardly and opens the valve whereby driving the carriage I8 forwardly, whereas any lagging of the vehicle behind the carriage swings the cable rearwardly and closes the valve. Thus the movement of the carriage is synchronized with the movement of the vehicle.

Concrete tanks preloaded by rod reinforcement are usually finished by placing` a coating of ce..

mentitious composition on and bonded to the reinforcement and to the tank wall. Heretofore this finishing operation has been performed independently of and following completion of the banding operation. A further feature of my invention herein contemplates the placing of this coating on the tank from the vehicle I4 simultaneously with the banding operation, the cementitious composition being projected onto the banded portion of the tank following and progressing with the 'banding thereof. The composition is projected from a cement gun |41 illustrated as mounted for pivotal movement on the vehicle I4 in position to project the composition onto the previously placed wire 84 (Fig. 1). As the vehicle travels around the tankthe cement gun can be operated continuously or at such time periods as is necessary to provide a coating |49 of the desired thickness. This banding-coating combination of operations completes the tank wall at one passage of the vehicle thereover as will be apparent.

I shall describe the banding-coating operations as being performed from the bottom of the tank upwardly. as illustrated in the drawings. al. though they can be performed from the top downwardly. Themechanismisinitlallyplacedonmd about the tank as illustrated in Fig. lwith the vehicle I4 at its base. The` wire 84 i's carried from the reel 88 tothe vehicle I4 and is threaded through the rolls 93, around the wheel Il, around the tank and back tothe vehicle, around the wheel .99, through the blocks |03 and |09, `and back to the tank where` its end is anchored at I8 I Before anchoring the wire at IBI, it is drawn up substantially to the desired and necessary tension for effecting the banding operation. The tensions employed will vary with the gauge of wire ued, its spacing on the tank, and the amount v of tank compression desired. I have placed wire of gauge No. 8 on the tank under a tension of 3,000 lbs.

It is desirable that the tensioning of the wire as it is placed permanently on the tank shall remain constant and the blocks |03 and |09 (Fig. 3) are employed for this purpose'. The'wire is brought up to the approximate tension required before its end is anchored at |5I. That portion of the wire which is to be wrapped permanently into contact with the tank is then brought up to the exact tension required by adjusting the nut I I8 to give a spring pull on the block |03 that will tension the wire to this degree. The corresponding position of the pointer III on the scale I I2 is noted. Thereafter, during the wire banding operation, this tension is maintained constant. The operator observes the position of the pointer and, should it move one way or the other from the required tension position noted, he rotates the hand wheel |23 in one direction or the other to bring the pointer back to and maintain it in said position. Use of the tensioning mechanism |09 is preferred sinceit acts directly on the wire portion being laid permanently on the tank, but it will be understood that such mechanism can be eliminated and the tension controlled by the brake lever 98 if desired.

. Whenv the banding operation is to be started the clutch 60 is closed whereby establishing a driving connection between the shaft 52 and the sprocket 58. When the engine clutch is closed by shifting the rod 83 the sprocket 58 is driven in a direction moving the vehicle in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The vehicle thereupon draws the wire from the reel 85, wraps the wire onto the tank from the wheel and wraps the wire permanently onto the tank from the wheel 99, the convolution of wire extending from and between these wheels into frictional contact with the tank serving as a pulling cable for the vehicle.

-Each convolution of wire wrapped permanently onto the tank from the wheel 99 is at an elevation higher than the previously placed convolution, this being effected by elevating the vehicle which, as illustrated in Figs. 1-7, is performed automatically and synchronously with the travel of the vehicle around the tank. The drive from the shaft 52 through the chain 94 and speed reducing connections to the drum 36 rotates the drum very slowly in a direction automatically or by suitable means giving a continued and gradual increase of vehicle elevation as the operation proceeds, or the vehic.: can-be elevated by means other than the engine 60. The engine can be employed to elevate or lower the vehicle independently of its movement around the tank byopening the clutch 60.l

When the vehicle IQ has banded a predetermined portion of the tank therebeneath, the cement gun |41 is placed in operation from the vehicle whereby to project cementitious composition into bonding engagement with the previously placed reinforcing bands. The gun is oscillated to project the composition evenly' over the rods and wall to be coated and is operated during such time period as is necessary to build up the coating |49 to the desired thickness.

The maximum length of continuous wire that can be provided in a roll is ordinarily limited to less than that required completely .to band a tank and it is therefore 'necessary either to anchor the ends of the wrapped and tensioned wire to the tank or splice one end of each new r-oll to the previously placed wire. Such operation can be performed in any convenient and suitable manner. I prefer however to splice the ends either before they pass to the rolls 93 or after they leave the block |09. In the latter case it will be necessary to hold under tension the end portion of the Wrapped .wire while the splice is being made. Suchholding can be effected by an expansion bolt tapped into the tank, similar to the anchoring illustrated at |5|, or the wrapped end can be held by the use of a toggle clamp engaging the wire and held by block and tackle.

While wire can be fed to the vehicle from above, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a simpler method of procedure is to carry the wire roll on the vehicle as illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the parts corresponding to those heretofore described are indicated by the same reference characters primed. Supported on and beneath the vehicle Il is a frame |53 for rotatably supporting a wire reel |55. The reel is, positioned to feed the wire upwardly to the rolls 93 and from thence to a grooved wheel corresponding to the grooved wheel 95. When a roll of wire has been exhausted from the reel, a full roll is raised to the frame |53 and mounted on the reel whereupon the two ends of the wires can be spliced and the banding operation continued. This construction is simpler than the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and eliminates twisting of the wire as the vehicle passes around the tank.

While the suspending of the vehicle I4 from the carriage riding on the tank has various advantages it will be apparent that the vehicle can be supported on a carriage riding on the ground as illustrated in Fig. 9. In this view the frame or platform I4" is suspended from the top of a tall carriage |51 riding on a single rail |59 on the ground. The rail is located beneath the outer side of the carriage which therefore tips toward and rides against the tank wall l" on wheels III. The platform is guided for vertical movement on the carriage and the wire banding and coating operations are eiected substantially as heretofore described.

The form of invention illustrated in Figs. and 1l employs a completely annular cable |63 extending around and in frictional contact with the tank and about a sheave |99 on the vehicle, the cable holding the vehicle in traveling contact with the tank, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and the asvaveo tank. The vehicle or platform |61 is-suspended from above in the manner heretofore ydescribed and rides against the side wall of the tank on wheels |69. The engine |50 and its driving connection to the vertical shaft |52 and through the chains |51 and |64 correspond to those parts illustrated in Fig. 3 and heretofore described. The chain |51 drives a sprocket |59 fixed to a vertical shaft 20.0 also having a grooved wheel |99 xed thereto. The endless cable |63 is looped around this wheel and serves to drive the vehicle around the tank.

The banding wire |84 passes through the series of grooved rolls |93 and around a grooved wheel |95 on the brake shaft, the brake construction |65 being substantially the same as that hereto'- fore illustrated and described. The Wire passes between and in engagement with two grooved rolls 20| supported for rotation on a block 203 pivotally mounted on the frame at 205, and from thence the wire passes into trailing contact with the tank. An index arm 2| carried by the 4block 203 is movable over a graduated scale 2|2. The arm 2|| is connected by a rod |94 to an arm |96 projecting downwardly from the brake drum lever v|98 so that pivotal movement of the block automatically moves the brake drum lever in corresponding directions.

Before starting the banding operation, the free end of the Wire is anchored to the tank, as at |5|, and during the banding operation the tensioning of the wire on the tank is under the control of the brake |65. A spring 2H is connected to the arm 2| at one end audits other end is connected to a threaded bolt 2|5 having a nut 2|6 thereon connecting itto the frame |61. The spring is arranged to rotate the block 203 in a direction tightening the wire and the rod |94 connection to the brake lever is such that such movement of the block also tightens the brake. The brake |65 and nut 2| 6 are initially adjusted to a position at which the wire will he drawn from the brake and wound onto the tank at the desired tension, and the construction and arrangement are such that this tension will be automatically maintained. Any decrease in the tension of the wire will permit the spring to rotate the block 203 anti-clockwise and this movement, through the connection |94, will tighten the brake. Likewise, any increase in tension of the wire will move the block 203 clockwise against the action of the spring whereby releasing the brake. Thus the wire is placed on the tank at a predetermined constant tension which is automatically maintained by the above described mechanism.

While I have herein illustrated and described my invention in connection with tanks it will be understood that the scope of the invention includes equivalent objects such as building structures, large pipes, etc., to which the invention is applicable. It will also be apparent that the invention contemplates the employment of a cable annulus extending horizontally around and in frictional contact with the tank, either as a convolution of the banding wire or as anindependent cable, and holding the vehicle ln traveling contact with the side wall of the tank, and in the preferred form of the invention the engine is provided with driving connections adapted to pull the vehicle around the tank `by and along this cable.

Having thus described and illustrated my invcept at one segmental portion thereof,support vention. what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent `of the United States is:

l. A' method of banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, which consists in moving a vehicle around the tank adjacent to its outer face by pulling the vehicle by and along an endless cable annulus extending around and in frictional contact with the tank, and trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tight contact with the tank as the vehicle Passes therearound.

2. A method of banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, which consists in suspending a vehicle from and in rolling contact with the top of the tank to a position adjacent to and in rolling contact with the outer side face of the tank, moving the vehicle around the tank on said rolling contacts by pulling it by and along a cable extendingaround and in frictional contact with the tank, paying out the cable into said frictional contact rearwardly of the vehicle as the advancing vehicle takes up the cable forwardly thereof, and trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tight contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound. 3. A method of banding and finishing a tank, which consists in moving' a vehicle around the tank adjacent to its outer face, trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tight contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound, moving the vehicle vertically in one direction during the banding operation, and projecting coating material from the vehicle into bonding engagement with the previously placed reinforcement as the vehicle passes the same.

4. Apparatus for banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a vehicle mounted for movement around the tank adjacent to its outer face, an endless cable annulus extending around and in frictional contact with the tank, an engine on the vehicle, means driven by the engine and engaging the cable for moving the vehicle around the tank, and means on the vehicle for trailing wire reinforcement therefrom into tight contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound.

5. Apparatus for banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a vehicle mounted for movement around the tank adjacent to its outer face, a roll of wire, said wire extending from the roll to the vehicle and from thence around and in frictional contact with the tank and back to the vehicle and from thence into trailing contact with the tank, and means including an engine operative on the frictionally contacting wire to pull the vehicle around the tank and trail the wire into tight contact therewith.

6. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a vehicle, means supporting the vehicle for movement around and adjacent to the outer face of a tank, means for driving the vehicle, means for trailing a wire from the vehicle and wrapping it tightly onto the tank, means for moving the vehicle vertically in one direction on the tank at progressively varying elevations in said direction, and means carried by the-vehicle for projecting coating material into bonding engagement with the previously placed wire as the vehicle passes the same.

7. A method of banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, which consists in placing a cable around and in frictional contact with the side wall of a tank exing said portion of the cable in spaced relation .from said wall on avehicle adjacent to the wall,

pulling the vehicle around the tank by and along said cable, paying out the cable into said frictional contact rearwardly of the vehicle as the advancing vehicle takes up the cable forwardly thereof, and trailing a banding wire from the vehicle in taut wrapping contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound.

8. A method of-'banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, which consists in anchoring oneend of the banding wire and wrapping at least one convolution thereof around and in frictional contact with the side wall of the tank,'supporting the end portions of said convolution on a vehicle adjacent to said wall, pulling the vehicle around the tank by and along said convolution, and trailing the wire from the vehicle in taut wrapping contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound 9. A method of banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, which consists in placing an elongated and endless member'horizontally around and in contact with the side wall of a tank, pulling a vehicle around the tank .by and along said member, trailing a banding wire -from the vehicle in taut wrapping contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound, moving the vehicle vertically in one direction 'a predetermined amount with each passage of the vehicle around the tank, and moving said member vertically with and by engagement of the Ivehicle therewith.

10. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising', a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on and aroun" the outer. Vertical face of the side wall of a t nk, means supporting the vehicle for movement orizontally and at sa predetermined elevation around the tank, means on the vehicle for supporting a wire and wrapping it circumferentially 1into contact with said face as the vehicle travels around the tank, an elongated member extending horizontally around and in contactwith said face of the tank, means including an engine carried by the vehicle and operative on said member for moving the vehicle around the tank and paying out the wire under tension in trailing relation to the vehicle, means for indicating the tension ofthe paid out wire, and means pivoted to the vehicle and operative on the paid out wire in one direction to increase its tension and in the other direction to decrease its tension.

11. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on and around the outer vertical face of the side wall of a tank, means supporting the vehicle for movement horizontally and at a predetermined elevation around the tank, means on the vehicle for supporting a wire and wrapping lt circumferentially into contact with said face as the vehicle travels around the tank, an elongated member extending horizontally around and in contact with said face of the tank, means inv cluding an engine carried by the vehicle -and operative on said member for `moving the vehicle around the tank and paying out the wire under a predetermined tension in trailing relation to the vehicle, and other means ,directly operative on the paid out wire for automatically maintaining it uniformly at said predetermined tension.

12. Apparatus for laying wire under predeter'- predetermined tension in trailing relation to the vehicle and into contact with the tank, two rolls engaging the paid out wire at spaced points, means on thevehicle supporting the two rolls and movable upon a pivotal axis in two directions for respectively increasing and decreasing the tension of the wire, and means Vincluding a connection to and between the secondy and third named means for automatically maintaining the wire in uniform tension by moving the third named means about said axis in accordance with the tension pull on the second named means.

13. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentiall;1 with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on and around the top margin of a tank, a second wheeledl vehicle adapted to ride on and around the vertical side wall of the tank, means suspending the second vehicle from the first vehicle, means on the second vehicle for supporting a wire and wrapping it oircumierentially into contact with said wall as the vehicles travel around the tank, means including an engine carried by the second vehicle for moving the vehicles around the tank and holding.fthe wire taut as itV is kept nl: predetermined n position relative to -the second vehicle.'

14. A method of banding tanks or the like cirV cumierntially with continuous wire reinforce--` ment, which comprises effecting movements(` af" vehicle around and in contact with the outer face of a tank through the medium of frictional contact of a complete annulus with said tace,

and trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tightcontact with the tank as the vehicle @passes therearound and holds the wire taut through said frictional contact.

' 15. Apparatus for handing tanks circumferentiaily with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on and around the outer vertical face of the side wall of a tank, means supporting the vehicle for movement around the tank about a vertical axis located centrally of the tank, means on the vehicle for supporting a wire and wrapping it circumferentially into contact with said tace as the vehicle travels around the tank, means including a sheave on the vehicle and a cable extending horizontally and endlessly about the sheave and around and in contact with said face of the tank and holding the vehicle in traveling contact with said side wall, and means including an engine and driving connections carried by the vehicle for moving the vehicle along the cable and around the tank and holding the wire taut as it is trailed from the vehicle and wrapped onto said face.

JOHN M. CROM.

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