US4592846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and reservoir for in-ground containment of liquid waste
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-03
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Granted: 1986-06-03
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Expires: 2005-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A method for the containment of liquid-containing waste materials, such as drilling residues, in an earthen reservoir is described. The method comprises providing an in-ground reservoir opening upwardly to the surface of the ground and a sloping in-ground drainage area abutting one side of the reservoir, the bottom of the drain area being below the level to which the reservoir is filled. The reservoir and drainage area are lined with flexible liquid-impervious liners having extended sides. The extended sides of the reservoir lining are drawn, in part, over waste material in the reservoir leaving a center area of waste material uncovered with overlapped reservoir liner. The drainage area is filled with ballast material to provide a porous bed and is provided at its low end with a stand-pipe which extends from near the bottom of the drainage area to above the surface of the ground. Additionally, ballast material is placed on top of the extended side of the reservoir liner adjacent to the drainage area, thereby providing a liquid passageway from the reservoir to the drainage area. The reservoir and drainage area are covered with a flexible liquid-impervious liner cap and the space above the reservoir and drainage area filled with soil to the final grade of the surrounding terrain.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald D. Metzger
- 👤 Jeffrey E. Merriman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:36
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D31/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A method for the containment of liquid-containing waste material, comprising providing an in-ground reservoir having a bottom and defining walls opening upwardly toward the surface of the ground, providing an in-ground drain area proximate to a side of the reservoir, said drain area having a near wall adjacent to the reservoir, a sloping bottom and a distal wall, the top of the near wall and bottom of the drain area being below the top of the in-ground reservoir, installing continuous flexible liquid-impervious liners having extended sides on the bottom and against the defining walls of the reservoir and on the bottom and against the walls of the drain area, the adjacent sides of the reservoir and drain area liners being bonded together to form a liquid-impermeable seal, introducing liquid-containing waste material to the reservoir to a predetermined height, overlapping in part the waste material with the extended ends of the reservoir liner, thereby leaving a portion of the waste material uncovered, charging the drain area with ballast material, thereby to form a porous bed, and providing the drain area with a standpipe extending from near the bottom of the low end of the drain area to above the surface of the ground, covering the extended side of the reservoir liner adjacent to the drain area resting atop the waste material with ballast material, thereby providing a liquid passageway from the uncovered portion of the waste material to the drain area, covering the reservoir and drain area with a further flexible liquid-impervious liner cap, bonding together the extended distal side of the drain area liner with the adjoining liner cap to form a liquid-impermeable seal, and covering the reservoir and drain area with soil, whereby liquid exuded from the reservoir passes through the liquid passageway into the drain area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
298 words
A method for the containment of liquid-containing waste material, comprising providing an in-ground reservoir having a bottom and defining walls opening upwardly toward the surface of the ground, providing an in-ground drain area proximate to a side of the reservoir, said drain area having a near wall adjacent to the reservoir, a sloping bottom and a distal wall, the top of the near wall and bottom of the drain area being below the top of the in-ground reservoir, installing continuous flexible liquid-impervious liners having extended sides on the bottom and against the defining walls of the reservoir and on the bottom and against the walls of the drain area, the adjacent sides of the reservoir and drain area liners being bonded together to form a liquid-impermeable seal, introducing liquid-containing waste material to the reservoir to a predetermined height, overlapping in part the waste material with the extended ends of the reservoir liner, thereby leaving a portion of the waste material uncovered, charging the drain area with ballast material, thereby to form a porous bed, and providing the drain area with a standpipe extending from near the bottom of the low end of the drain area to above the surface of the ground, covering the extended side of the reservoir liner adjacent to the drain area resting atop the waste material with ballast material, thereby providing a liquid passageway from the uncovered portion of the waste material to the drain area, covering the reservoir and drain area with a further flexible liquid-impervious liner cap, bonding together the extended distal side of the drain area liner with the adjoining liner cap to form a liquid-impermeable seal, and covering the reservoir and drain area with soil, whereby liquid exuded from the reservoir passes through the liquid passageway into the drain area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the unbonded sides of the liner cap are anchored by placing a horizontally extended length of the liner in a shallow trench and filling the trench with soil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a slotted pipe is placed along the bottom of the drain area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the slotted pipe is connected to the bottom of the standpipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liners are selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the waste material comprises drilling residues.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the drain area is a trench along the side of the reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
272 words
An in-ground reservoir for containment of liquid-containing waste material comprising: (a) an in-ground reservoir having a bottom and defining walls opening upwardly toward the surface of the ground, and having liquid waste material therein, (b) an in-ground drainage trench proximate to one side of the reservoir, said trench having a sloping bottom, a near wall adjacent to the reservoir and a distal wall, the top of the near wall of the trench abutting the adjacent reservoir wall and the bottom of the drainage trench being below the level to which the reservoir is to be filled, (c) a flexible, liquid-impervious liner having extended sides lining the bottom and walls of the reservoir, said extended sides being folded over a portion of the waste material stored in the reservoir, (d) a flexible, liquid-impervious liner lining the bottom and walls of the drainage trench, the liner on the near wall of the drainage trench being bonded to the adjacent side of the reservoir liner, said drainage trench containing a porous bed of ballast and a standpipe extending from near the bottom of the low end of the drainage pit to above the surface of the ground, (e) a porous layer of ballast atop the folded side of the reservoir liner adjacent to the drainage pit, which layer of ballast defines a liquid passageway from the reservoir to the drainage trench, whereby liquid exuded from the reservoir passes through the liquid passageway into the drainage trench, and (f) a flexible liquid-impervious liner cap extending over the entire reservoir and drainage area, the distal portion of the drainage trench liner being bonded to said liner cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
272 words
An in-ground reservoir for containment of liquid-containing waste material comprising: (a) an in-ground reservoir having a bottom and defining walls opening upwardly toward the surface of the ground, and having liquid waste material therein, (b) an in-ground drainage trench proximate to one side of the reservoir, said trench having a sloping bottom, a near wall adjacent to the reservoir and a distal wall, the top of the near wall of the trench abutting the adjacent reservoir wall and the bottom of the drainage trench being below the level to which the reservoir is to be filled, (c) a flexible, liquid-impervious liner having extended sides lining the bottom and walls of the reservoir, said extended sides being folded over a portion of the waste material stored in the reservoir, (d) a flexible, liquid-impervious liner lining the bottom and walls of the drainage trench, the liner on the near wall of the drainage trench being bonded to the adjacent side of the reservoir liner, said drainage trench containing a porous bed of ballast and a standpipe extending from near the bottom of the low end of the drainage pit to above the surface of the ground, (e) a porous layer of ballast atop the folded side of the reservoir liner adjacent to the drainage pit, which layer of ballast defines a liquid passageway from the reservoir to the drainage trench, whereby liquid exuded from the reservoir passes through the liquid passageway into the drainage trench, and (f) a flexible liquid-impervious liner cap extending over the entire reservoir and drainage area, the distal portion of the drainage trench liner being bonded to said liner cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The in-ground reservoir of claim 8 wherein the bottom of the drainage trench contains a slotted pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The in-ground reservoir of claim 9 wherein the slotted pipe is connected to the bottom of the standpipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The in-ground reservoir of claim 8 wherein unbonded extended sides of the liner cap are anchored with soil in a shallow trench adjacent to the reservoir.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-02 | 1989-12-02 | 1990-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-02 | 1993-12-02 | 1994-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-02 | 1997-12-02 | 1998-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |