US4934866A — Secondary fluid containment method and apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of installing an underground storage tank comprising: excavating a pit having a predetermined depth sufficient for the placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level, said pit having side surfaces and a lower surface; installing a base covering said lower surface of said pit; lining the side surfaces of said pit with moisture absorbent generally rigid wall sections; depositing at least one substantially uniform layer of a mixture of liquid resin and glass fibers onto the interior surfaces of said wall sections and said base allowing said wall sections to absorb excess moisture from said mixture thereby promoting rapid hardening of said resin, whereby a fiberglass vault is defined by said layer of resin and glass fibers upon hardening of said resin; securing said underground storage tank to the floor of said fiberglass vault; installing piping between said underground storage tank and ground level; backfilling said fiberglass vault with covering material over said tank and piping to a height adjacent ground level; and forming a solid slab over said covering material.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of installing an underground storage tank comprising: excavating a pit having a predetermined depth sufficient for the placement of a storage tank of desired size therein below ground level, said pit having side surfaces and a lower surface; installing a base covering said lower surface of said pit; lining the side surfaces of said pit with moisture absorbent generally rigid wall sections; depositing at least one substantially uniform layer of a mixture of liquid resin and glass fibers onto the interior surfaces of said wall sections and said base allowing said wall sections to absorb excess moisture from said mixture thereby promoting rapid hardening of said resin, whereby a fiberglass vault is defined by said layer of resin and glass fibers upon hardening of said resin; securing said underground storage tank to the floor of said fiberglass vault; installing piping between said underground storage tank and ground level; backfilling said fiberglass vault with covering material over said tank and piping to a height adjacent ground level; and forming a solid slab over said covering material.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of lining side surfaces of said pit is performed by placing conventional sheetrock panels adjacent said side surfaces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of installing a base is performed by pouring a concrete slab onto the lower surface of said pit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of installing a base is performed by positioning conventional sheetrock panels adjacent the lower surface of said pit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of excavating a pit is performed by digging a generally rectangular hole having four vertical side surfaces and a horizontal lower surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: installing a plurality of vertical structural support members in the walls of said fiberglass vault, said support members being encased between adjacent layers of said mixture of resin and glass fibers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: backfilling said fiberglass vault with a layer of covering material prior to lowering said storage tank into said fiberglass vault, whereby said layer of covering material is disposed between said storage tank and the floor of said fiberglass vault.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of securing said underground storage tank is performed by placing cables circumferentially over said tank and attaching the opposite ends of said cables to anchors protruding upwardly from said floor of said fiberglass vault.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of backfilling said fiberglass vault with covering material is performed by filling said vault with pea gravel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of depositing at least one substantially uniform layer of a mixture of liquid resin and glass fibers is performed by spraying a mixture comprising 60% resin and 40% glass fibers, by volume, onto the interior surfaces of said wall sections and said base.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: installing at least one observation well outside said fiberglass vault, said observation well extending vertically from ground level to the lower surface of said pit such that, in the event of leakage of the contents of said storage tank through the floor of said fiberglass vault, said leakage is detectable from ground level through said observation well.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: installing at last one observation well within said fiberglass vault, said observation well extending vertically from ground level to the floor of said fiberglass vault such that, in the event of leakage of the contents of said storage tank, said leakage is detectable from ground level and may be withdrawn from said fiberglass vault through said observation well.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein: the step of excavating a pit is performed by digging a hole having side surfaces and a lower surface, wherein said side surfaces include lower and upper portions, said lower portions being generally vertical and said upper portions being angled outwardly away from the center of said pit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 89 words

A vault for containing one or more underground storage tanks comprising: a floor, comprising at least one hardened layer of a mixture of resin and glass fibers; and generally vertical walls contiguous with said floor and extending upwardly therefrom in a manner that defines separate interior and exterior surface for said vault, said walls comprising at least one hardened layer of a mixture of resin and glass fibers, said exterior surface including means being operative to absorb excess moisture from said mixture thereby promoting rapid hardening of said resin.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 89 words

A vault for containing one or more underground storage tanks comprising: a floor, comprising at least one hardened layer of a mixture of resin and glass fibers; and generally vertical walls contiguous with said floor and extending upwardly therefrom in a manner that defines separate interior and exterior surface for said vault, said walls comprising at least one hardened layer of a mixture of resin and glass fibers, said exterior surface including means being operative to absorb excess moisture from said mixture thereby promoting rapid hardening of said resin.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein: said floor includes anchor means for securing said storage tanks thereto.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein: said walls include vertical support ribs formed therein, said support ribs comprising support members embedded between consecutive layers of said mixture of resin and glass fibers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein: said support structures comprise generally V-shaped strips of cardboard.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein: said mixture of resin and glass fibers comprises approximately 60% resin and 40% glass fibers by volume.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising: at least one internal observation well extending from ground level vertically inside said vault, whereby any leakage of the contents of said storage tank into said vault is detectable from ground level.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein: said observation well includes an automatic leak detector.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising: at least one external observation well extending from ground level vertically outside said vault, whereby any leakage of the contents of said tank through said vault into the surrounding earth is detectable from ground level.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein: said observation well includes an automatic leak detector.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 112 words

A secondary containment apparatus for containing leakage from an underground liquid storage tank, said apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular shaped box having a base member and side members extending upwardly therefrom, said side members comprising generally rigid, moisture absorbent panels; a mixture of liquid resin and glass fibers deposited onto the interior of said box so that a substantially uniform coating of said mixture adheres to said base member and said side members, said moisture absorbent panels being operative to absorb moisture from said mixture thereby promoting rapid hardening of said resin; whereby a fiberglass vault is defined by said coating of said mixture of resin and glass fibers upon curing thereof.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 112 words

A secondary containment apparatus for containing leakage from an underground liquid storage tank, said apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular shaped box having a base member and side members extending upwardly therefrom, said side members comprising generally rigid, moisture absorbent panels; a mixture of liquid resin and glass fibers deposited onto the interior of said box so that a substantially uniform coating of said mixture adheres to said base member and said side members, said moisture absorbent panels being operative to absorb moisture from said mixture thereby promoting rapid hardening of said resin; whereby a fiberglass vault is defined by said coating of said mixture of resin and glass fibers upon curing thereof.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the walls of said fiberglass vault include vertical support ribs formed therein, said support ribs comprising support members embedded between consecutive layers of said mixture of resin and glass fibers.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising at least one internal observation well disposed within said fiberglass vault such that any leakage contained therein is detectable from ground level.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising an automatic leak detector disposed within side internal observation well.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising at least one external observation well disposed outside said fiberglass vault such that any leakage through said fiberglass vault is detectable from above ground.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising an automatic leak detector disposed within said external observation well.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said base member comprises a concrete slab.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said side members comprise sheetrock panels.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said base comprises sheetrock.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said side members are generally vertically disposed.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said side members comprise upper and lower sections, said lower sections being generally vertical and said upper sections being sloped outwardly away from the center of said box.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-06-18	1993-12-18	1994-06-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-06-18	1997-12-18	1998-06-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-06-18	2001-12-18	2002-06-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Secondary fluid containment method and apparatus

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