Secondary containment systems especially well suited for hydrocarbon storage and delivery systems

Claim 2

A secondary containment for a fuel delivery system, comprising means for bulk storing fuel, dispensing means in at least one area which is remote from said bulk storing means for delivering said fuel, a system of conduits for delivering fuel from said bulk storing means to said dispensing means, secondary containment means underlying said system of conduits and continuously communicating throughout said conduit delivery system where fuel might spill or leak for containing said spilled or leaked fuel, and means for draining said secondary containment means to a collecting point so that said contained fuel accumulates in at least one area of said containment means from which said contained fuel may be removed.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said bulk storing means comprises an underground fuel tank, said underlying means comprises a membrane passing under said tank and rising around the perimeter thereof to form a collection basin beneath said tank.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said bulk storing means comprises a tank having a fill port and double walls, whereby an outer of said double walls collects and contains any fuel leaking through an inner of said double walls, said underlying means comprises a membrane passing over said double walled tank in the area of and surrounding said fill port, and a rigid frame for holding the perimeter of said membrane in a raised position to form a collection basin.

Claim 5

The system of either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said underlying membrane passes under both said dispensing means and said conduits and couples into said basin, said membrane being graded to drain into said basin in order to collect fluids from all of said areas where fuel may spill or leak.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said membrane passes under and completely wraps around said conduits, said wrapped membrane being sealed to itself, thereby forming an unbroken sleeve completely surrounding said conduits.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said fuel delivery system is a gasoline filling station and said dispensing means include at least one filling station pump.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said contained fuel removal area is a pump formed in said collection basin.

Claim 9

A process for providing environmental protection for a fuel delivery system, said process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a fuel delivery area comprising a pit with at least one trench extending from said pit to an area which is remote from said pit; (b) lining said pit, trench, and remote area with a continuously unbroken membrane for collecting fluids which might spill or leak in said pit, trench and remote area, said membrane being graded to drain said collected fluids into a removal area, (c) locating a fuel tank, delivery conduits, and at least one fuel pump over said membrane whereby said membrane collects any fuel spilled or leaked by said tank, conduits, and pump, and (d) back filling said pit, trench and remote area with ballast whereby said ballast provides a substantially smooth exposed surface covering the fuel delivery area lined by said membrane, said exposed surface of ballast being substantially the same as the level of the earth throughout said fuel delivery area.

Claim 10

A process for providing environmental protection for a fuel delivery system, said process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a fuel delivery area comprising a pit with at least one trench extending from said pit to an area which is remote from said pit; (b) lining said pit, trench, and remote area with a continuously unbroken membrane for collecting fluids which might spill or leak in said pit, trench and remote area, said membrane being graded to drain said collected fluids into a removal area, (c) locating a fuel tank, delivery conduits, and at least one fuel pump over said membrane whereby said membrane collects any fuel spilled or leaked by said tank, conduits, and pump, and (d) back filling said pit, trench and remote area with ballast whereby said ballast provides a substantially smooth exposed surface covering the fuel delivery area lined by said membrane, said exposed surface of ballast being substantially the same as the level of the earth throughout said fuel delivery area.

Claim 11

The process of claim 8 wherein the perimeter of said membrane is raised to form a substantially continuous basin throughout said pit, trench and remote area, the raised perimeter being supported in a raised position by said ballast, and at least part of said perimeter of said membrane being anchored independently of said ballast.

Claim 12

The process of claim 9 wherein said membrane encircles said conduits and is sealed upon itself to form a fluid containing sleeve completely surrounding said conduits.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein said fuel tank is a single wall tank located over said membrane.

Claim 14

The process of claim 10 wherein said fuel tank is a double walled tank located under said membrane.

Claim 15

The process of claim 12 wherein said membrane is mounted on and attached to a frame for forming said membrane into a basin, said membrane and frame being buried with said membrane in said ballast.