Method of making storage tanks with secondary containment

Claim 1

A method of forming a storage tank system having secondary containment capability and sufficient integral structural strength to withstand external load forces, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of wax over a rigid inner storage tank in a manner such that the outside surface of the wax has an uneven surface with a random set of surface ridges; (b) applying a fibrous reinforcing material and a resinous material onto said wax-covered rigid storage tank, so that when cured a jacket is formed which is capable of containing any leaked liquid from the inner tank, said jacket having an irregular underside with force transfer supports resulting from the resinous material occupying areas between the surface ridges; (c) heating the jacketed rigid storage tank of step (b) to melt the wax; and (d) removing a substantial amount of the wax thereby creating a continuous closed space between the rigid storage tank and the formed jacket, wherein the force transfer supports cause the jacket to contact the rigid storage tank in a random pattern such that external forces applied to the jacket are transferred through the supports to the rigid storage tank while maintaining the continuous closed space for detection of leakage through the storage tank or jacket.

Claim 2

A method of forming a storage tank system having secondary containment capability and sufficient integral structural strength to withstand external load forces, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of wax over a rigid inner storage tank in a manner such that the outside surface of the wax has an uneven surface with a random set of surface ridges; (b) applying a fibrous reinforcing material and a resinous material onto said wax-covered rigid storage tank, so that when cured a jacket is formed which is capable of containing any leaked liquid from the inner tank, said jacket having an irregular underside with force transfer supports resulting from the resinous material occupying areas between the surface ridges; (c) heating the jacketed rigid storage tank of step (b) to melt the wax; and (d) removing a substantial amount of the wax thereby creating a continuous closed space between the rigid storage tank and the formed jacket, wherein the force transfer supports cause the jacket to contact the rigid storage tank in a random pattern such that external forces applied to the jacket are transferred through the supports to the rigid storage tank while maintaining the continuous closed space for detection of leakage through the storage tank or jacket.