Patent US4986436A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4986436A
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US
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Above ground liquid storage system with overfill reservoir
Assignee: CONVAULT Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1989-10-20
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Granted: 1991-01-22
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Expires: 2009-10-20
Abstract
Abstract An above-ground liquid storage system (2) includes a steel inner container (4) encased within a layer (6) of reinforced concrete. The steel container has an upper opening (12) in an upper wall (10) thereof. An overfill reservoir (14) is positioned within the container below the upper opening so that the contents of the overfill reservoir are protected by virtue of being within, rather than outside of, the container. A fill pipe (18) extends through the overfill reservoir to permit user to introduce a liquid, such as gasoline or fuel, into the container. The fill pipe has an upper end (26) positioned above the upper opening and a lower end (22) positioned below the upper opening. An upper barrier (40), including a cylindrical wall (30) covered by a removable cover (34) to define an operating region (43) above the upper opening, is used to seal the upper opening. The overfill reservoir has a normally sealed drain (44); overfill liquid within the overfill reservoir is drained into the interior (16) of the container by the user opening a normally closed drain valve (46).
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Bambacigno
- 👤 Thomas R. Lindquist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:49
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/32; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/22; B65D90/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An improved above ground liquid storage system comprising: an above ground liquid storage container having an interior and an upper wall with an upper opening in the upper wall; an overfill reservoir positioned within the interior of the container and below the upper opening; a fill pipe extending upwardly from the overfill reservoir, the fill pipe having a lower end opening into the container interior and an upper end; an upper barrier secured to the upper wall at the upper opening, the barrier extending above the upper opening so to seal the upper opening; and the upper barrier including a removable member to provide user access to the upper end of the fill pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An improved above ground liquid storage system comprising: an above ground liquid storage container having an interior and an upper wall with an upper opening in the upper wall; an overfill reservoir positioned within the interior of the container and below the upper opening; a fill pipe extending upwardly from the overfill reservoir, the fill pipe having a lower end opening into the container interior and an upper end; an upper barrier secured to the upper wall at the upper opening, the barrier extending above the upper opening so to seal the upper opening; and the upper barrier including a removable member to provide user access to the upper end of the fill pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the fill pipe upper end is external of the container interior.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the container is a concrete encased steel tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the reservoir includes a low point and further comprising a drain at the low point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the fill pipe is about 9 inches long with the open lower end about 3 inches below the container upper opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the drain is a remotely actuated drain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 4 further comprising means for normally sealing said drain and user actuated means for selectively opening the sealing means so to permit overfill liquid in the overfill reservoir to drain into the container interior.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the sealing means include means for sealing the drain against fluid flow between the container interior and the overfill reservoir due to an overpressure in the container interior relative to the pressure in the overfill reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the overfill as a bottom and the lower end of the fill pipe is the bottom of the overfill reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the lower end of the fill pipe is positioned within the container interior at a chosen elevation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the chosen elevation passes through a horizontal plane which divides the container interior into an upper region and a lower region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the bottom of the overfill reservoir is generally coincident with said horizontal plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a fill pipe cap removably secured to the fill pipe upper end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the upper barrier includes a pressure/vent valve which limits the pressure differential between the inside of the upper barrier and the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the upper barrier includes a circumferential wall having an open upper end to which the removable member is pivotally secured.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
An improved above ground liquid storage system comprising: an above ground liquid storage container having an interior and an upper wall and an upper opening in the upper wall; an overfill reservoir housed within the interior and opening into the upper opening; a fill pipe having a lower end opening into the container interior and an upper end; and means for selectively sealing the upper opening and the upper end of the fill pipe from the ambient environment; whereby the container can be filled through the fill pipe, and whereby liquid which may overflow the upper end of the fill pipe passes into the reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
An improved above ground liquid storage system comprising: an above ground liquid storage container having an interior and an upper wall and an upper opening in the upper wall; an overfill reservoir housed within the interior and opening into the upper opening; a fill pipe having a lower end opening into the container interior and an upper end; and means for selectively sealing the upper opening and the upper end of the fill pipe from the ambient environment; whereby the container can be filled through the fill pipe, and whereby liquid which may overflow the upper end of the fill pipe passes into the reservoir.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The storage system of claim 16 wherein the fill pipe lower end is positioned a chosen distance below the upper opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The storage system claim 16 further comprising means for draining a liquid in the overfill reservoir into the container interior.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The storage system of claim 16 wherein the container is a thermally insulated container.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The storage system of claim 19 wherein the container includes a steel inner container and a reinforced concrete outer layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The storage system of claim 16 wherein the selectively sealing means defines an operating region above the container upper opening and wherein the upper end opens into the operating region, whereby the overflow liquid through the operating region, through the upper opening and into 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) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-07-23 | 1995-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-21 | 1998-07-23 | 1999-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-21 | 2002-07-23 | 2003-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |