Above-ground fuel tank system

Claim 1

In an above ground fuel storage and dispensing apparatus, comprising, a rectangular support frame having an outer perimeter, said frame including vertical side walls around the perimeter and a bottom forming an open-top containment vessel, a fuel tank having a predetermined volume mounted on said frame within said side walls and bottom, said open-top containment vessel having a volume larger than said volume of the fuel tank for containing all the fuel from the fuel tank in the event of a fuel tank leak, said fuel tank having a horizontal perimeter formed by the maximum horizontal dimensions of the fuel tank, said vertical side walls of the frame being spaced outwardly from the horizontal perimeter of the fuel tank in all horizontal directions and being of a sufficient size and strength for protecting the fuel tank from horizontal external impacts by vehicles and similar objects against the vertical side walls of the apparatus, a fuel line connected to said tank, and means for dispensing fuel to a fuel-user, said means being connected to said fuel line, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: said open-top containment vessel being fabricated of materials selected to retain said vessel's conformation under extreme conditions of fire-induced heat and hydraulic pressure; any said fuel line being free of supporting contact with said vertical side walls for isolating said fuel line from shock induced by impact forces imparted to said side walls; any said fuel line and said means for dispensing fuel being positioned and mounted within said open-top containment vessel for containing within said vessel any fuel leaks or spills from said fuel line and said means for dispensing fuel; and means affixed to said support frame for reducing sun heating of said fuel tank, thereby reducing the emission into the atmosphere of volatile organic compounds from said fuel tank.