US4110947A — Storage tank installation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

A method of installing an underground storage tank comprising: excavating to a predetermined depth sufficient for the placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level with at least one pair of opposing side walls of the excavation being shaped to minimize the danger of collapse; backfilling the excavation with a base layer of footing material; placing a double shell storage tank into the excavation resting on the base layer; installing double shell piping conduits and leak monitoring means between the shell and ground level; backfilling the excavation with covering material over the tank, piping and monitoring means to a height adjacent ground level; pouring a solid slab over the tank and backfill layers without closing access to the underground piping conduits and the monitoring means; and enabling the excavating, backfilling, placing of the tank, installing of piping and monitoring means and pouring of the slab to be accomplished without the necessity of personnel entering the excavation.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 160 words

A method of installing an underground storage tank comprising: excavating to a predetermined depth sufficient for the placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level with at least one pair of opposing side walls of the excavation being shaped to minimize the danger of collapse; backfilling the excavation with a base layer of footing material; placing a double shell storage tank into the excavation resting on the base layer; installing double shell piping conduits and leak monitoring means between the shell and ground level; backfilling the excavation with covering material over the tank, piping and monitoring means to a height adjacent ground level; pouring a solid slab over the tank and backfill layers without closing access to the underground piping conduits and the monitoring means; and enabling the excavating, backfilling, placing of the tank, installing of piping and monitoring means and pouring of the slab to be accomplished without the necessity of personnel entering the excavation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the backfill material is peastone gravel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sloped sides of the excavation have a 45° slope so as to minimize possibility of collapse of the excavation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the slab placed over the tank is a reinforced concrete slab.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the installation is continuously monitored by said leak monitoring means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the double shell storage tank is formed with the outer shell space from the inner shell so that the outer shell will catch any leakage from the inner shell and the leak monitoring means sensitive to leakage from the inner shell so as to be triggered thereby to signal any defect in the inner shell.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 72 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the double shell tank includes an outer shell spaced in surrounding relationship with an inner shell, air pressure means applying air pressure to the space between the tanks, the air pressure means determining any defect in the outer shell of the tank and the leak monitoring means detecting any leakage from the inner tank into space between the inner tank and the outer tank.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein substantially immediately after placement of the storage tank into the excavation the tank is encased with covering material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 155 words

An underground storage tank installation comprising: an excavation to a predetermined depth sufficient for the placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level with at least one pair of opposing side walls of the excavation being sloped to minimize the danger of collapse; a base layer of footing material backfilled into the excavation; a double shell storage tank positioned in the excavation and resting on the base layer; double shell piping conduits and leak monitoring means installed between the shell and ground level; covering material in the excavation surrounding the tank and piping and monitoring means to a height adjacent ground level; a solid slab positioned over the tank without closing access to the undersigned piping conduits and the leak monitoring means; and the excavation, filling material, positioning of the tank, piping and monitoring means installations, and positioning of the slab being accomplished without the necessity of personnel entering the excavation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 155 words

An underground storage tank installation comprising: an excavation to a predetermined depth sufficient for the placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level with at least one pair of opposing side walls of the excavation being sloped to minimize the danger of collapse; a base layer of footing material backfilled into the excavation; a double shell storage tank positioned in the excavation and resting on the base layer; double shell piping conduits and leak monitoring means installed between the shell and ground level; covering material in the excavation surrounding the tank and piping and monitoring means to a height adjacent ground level; a solid slab positioned over the tank without closing access to the undersigned piping conduits and the leak monitoring means; and the excavation, filling material, positioning of the tank, piping and monitoring means installations, and positioning of the slab being accomplished without the necessity of personnel entering the excavation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the base layer and surrounding material in the excavation is peastone gravel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the slope of the sloped side walls of the excavation is 45° .

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the top slab placed over the tank is of reinforced concrete.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the leak monitoring means continuously monitors the underground double walled tank system.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 53 words

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the outer shell of the double shell tank is spaced and in surrounding relationship to the inner shell so that any leakage from the inner tank will be captured between the inner and outer tank walls and the leak monitoring means will trigger an alarm.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 59 words

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein pressure supply means apply air pressure to the space between the inner and outer tank and air pressure indicator means in communication therewith to determine if there is any defect in the outer shell wall and consequent reduction in pressure between the inner shell and the outer shell of the tank.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-09-04	1982-03-06	1982-09-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-09-04	1986-03-06	1986-09-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-09-04	1990-03-06	1990-09-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Storage tank installation

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