US5030033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Material containment system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-09-12
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2009-09-12
Abstract
Abstract An underground tank storage (UTS) system includes one or more storage tanks disposed within a vault. The vault may comprise a plurality of concrete sections arranged in mirror image about a horizontal mid-plane. Center sections are U-shaped, having a horizontal panel and end walls, and are arranged in upright and inverted pairs. End sections are also U-shaped with an additional wall extending between the legs of the section. These likewise are arranged in upright and inverted pairs. The vault sections are sealingly secured together with grout keys and joint tape. A suitable material resistant coating is disposed on the lower interior surface. An inert gas atmosphere is maintained within the vault. The inert gas provides an oxygen and moisture free atmosphere which improves the service life of the tanks, enhances safety and leak detection capability and inhibits the likelihood of combustion. Vapor or liquid leak sensors are provided to sense and respond to a tank leak which develops in the vault.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen D. Heintzelman
- 👤 C. Randolph Strauch
- 👤 William E. Montooth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a vault defining a substantially gas impervious interior volume, said vault comprising a plurality of sections in juxtaposition, said sections defining joints therebetween, means for maintaining said vault sections in juxtaposition, means for providing a substantially gas impervious seal at said joints of said sections, storage means disposed within said vault for receiving a quantity of a material, at least one access means for providing access to the interior of said vault, said access means including seal means for providing a substantially gas impervious seal between said access means and said vault, and means for providing inert gas to said interior of said vault.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a vault defining a substantially gas impervious interior volume, said vault comprising a plurality of sections in juxtaposition, said sections defining joints therebetween, means for maintaining said vault sections in juxtaposition, means for providing a substantially gas impervious seal at said joints of said sections, storage means disposed within said vault for receiving a quantity of a material, at least one access means for providing access to the interior of said vault, said access means including seal means for providing a substantially gas impervious seal between said access means and said vault, and means for providing inert gas to said interior of said vault.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The material containment system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sections include a first plurality of sections in a first, upright position and a second plurality of sections in a second, inverted position, said first and said second pluralities of sections abutting at a horizontal joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The material containment system of claim 1 wherein said access means includes an opening in one of said sections, a cover for sealing said opening and a seal disposed between said cover and said one of said sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The material containment system of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said vault sections in juxtaposition includes grooves disposed in abutting edges of said sections, said grooves defining a key and grout disposed in said key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The material containment system of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said vault sections in juxtaposition includes a plurality of plates extending between adjacent said sections and plurality of fasteners for securing said plates to said abutting sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The material containment system of claim 1 wherein said storage means further includes a leak collector disposed beneath said storage means and a leak detector operably coupled to said leak collector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The material containment system of claim 1 further including pipe means for providing and withdrawing material from said storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The material containment system of claim 1 wherein said inert gas providing means includes an atmospheric pressure sensitive regulator and said inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The material containment system of claim 1 further including a vapor sensor disposed within said interior volume of said vault.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a substantially gas impervious concrete vault including at least two sections, said sections abutting along joints, means for providing a substantially gas and liquid impervious seal at said joints; storage means disposed within said vault for receiving a quantity of material, inert gas charging means for providing an inert gas atmosphere within said vault at a pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure, and means for providing access to the interior of said vault including gas impervious seal means for sealing said access means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a substantially gas impervious concrete vault including at least two sections, said sections abutting along joints, means for providing a substantially gas and liquid impervious seal at said joints; storage means disposed within said vault for receiving a quantity of material, inert gas charging means for providing an inert gas atmosphere within said vault at a pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure, and means for providing access to the interior of said vault including gas impervious seal means for sealing said access means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The material containment system of claim 10 wherein said storage means defines at least one storage tank, a leak collector disposed beneath said tank and a leak detector operable communicating with said collector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The material containment system of claim 10 further including at least one vapor sensor disposed adjacent the floor of said vault.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The material containment system of claim 10 further including at least one vapor sensor disposed adjacent the ceiling of said vault.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The material containment system of claim 10 wherein said inert gas charging means includes an atmospheric pressure sensitive regulator and said inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The material containment system of claim 10 further including a fluid impervious coating on the inside surface of said sections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a vault defining an interior, said vault comprising at least two juxtaposed sections, said juxtaposed sections mating along opposed complementary joints, means for maintaining said juxtaposed sections in juxtaposition, means for providing a substantially gas impervious seal at said joints of said sections, means for providing access to said interior of said vault, said access means including a opening in said vault, a gas impervious cover for said opening and seal means for providing a gas tight seal between said opening and said cover, storage means disposed within said interior for receiving and storing a quantity of material, inert gas charging means in communication with said interior of said vault for maintaining said interior substantially free of oxygen, and leak detection means for detecting the egree of material from said storage means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a vault defining an interior, said vault comprising at least two juxtaposed sections, said juxtaposed sections mating along opposed complementary joints, means for maintaining said juxtaposed sections in juxtaposition, means for providing a substantially gas impervious seal at said joints of said sections, means for providing access to said interior of said vault, said access means including a opening in said vault, a gas impervious cover for said opening and seal means for providing a gas tight seal between said opening and said cover, storage means disposed within said interior for receiving and storing a quantity of material, inert gas charging means in communication with said interior of said vault for maintaining said interior substantially free of oxygen, and leak detection means for detecting the egree of material from said storage means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The material containment system of claim 16 further including grout filled keys and plates having fasteners for securement to said juxtaposed sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The material containment system of claim 16 wherein said inert gas charging means includes a regulator for maintaining said interior of said vault at a pressure less than one-half (0.5) p.s.i. above atmospheric pressure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The material containment system of claim 16 wherein said juxtaposed sections include at least one section in a first, upright position and at least one section in a second, inverted position, said first and said second sections abutting at a horizontal joint.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The material containment system of claim 16 wherein said section in said first position includes a groove about its lower edge and said section in said second position includes a projection about its upper edge and a deformable seal disposed between said groove and said projection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The material containment system of claim 16 wherein said seal providing means includes sealing tape disposed across said joints between said juxtaposed sections.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The material containment system of claim 16 wherein said means extending across said joints includes a plurality of positioning pins received within complementarily sized blind apertures disposed in aligned pairs in said juxtaposed sections.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The material containment system of claim 16 wherein said inert gas charging means includes a flowmeter for measuring the rate of flow of said inert gas into said vault.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The material containment system of claim 16 further including a fluid impervious coating on the inside surface of said sections.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The material containment system of claim 16 further including a seal on said joints in said interior, said seal including a first layer of a coating material, a fabric layer and a second layer of a coating material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a substantially gas impervious vault defining an interior volume, storage means disposed in said interior volume for receiving a quantity of material, inert gas charging means for providing an inert gas atmosphere in said interior volume at a pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure, means for providing access to said interior volume of said vault; and seal means operably disposed between said vault and said access providing means for providing a gas impervious seal therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
83 words
A material containment system comprising, in combination, a substantially gas impervious vault defining an interior volume, storage means disposed in said interior volume for receiving a quantity of material, inert gas charging means for providing an inert gas atmosphere in said interior volume at a pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure, means for providing access to said interior volume of said vault; and seal means operably disposed between said vault and said access providing means for providing a gas impervious seal therebetween.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The material containment system of claim 26 wherein said inert gas charging means includes an atmospheric pressure sensitive regulator and said inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The material containment system of claim 26 wherein said inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The material containment system of claim 26 further including a vapor sensor disposed within said vault.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The material containment system of claim 26 wherein said vault is concrete.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The material containment system of claim 26 wherein said vault includes at least two concrete sections and means for providing a substantially fluid impervious seal between said sections.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The material containment system of claim 26 further including a fluid impervious coating on the inside of said vault.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The material containment system of claim 26 further including a leak collector disposed beneath said storage means and a leak detector operably coupled to said leak collector.
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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) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |