Underground storage vault

• US 6,637,976 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guardian Containment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Guardian Containment Corporation
• Inventors: Stanton, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Shackelford, Heather
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAGMAN, FREDERICK LYNDON
• Application Number:
  US10/054,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20020064425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 405/52, 405/53, 405/54, 405/55, 220/567.1, 220/567.2
• US Class Current: 405/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/24 Spillage-retaining means, e.g. recovery ponds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines

Abstract

A below-grade, modular cast concrete containment vault which contains one or more primary liquid storage tanks. Dispensing pumps and sundry conduits and support equipment are attached to or supported within a cast concrete base cover or a conduit and equipment chase and chase covers. The base cover or chase is supported on the vault base. The pumps can be coupled to a remote control and communications kiosk. A manhole permits access to a ventilated secondary containment and inspection space within a vault base. A remote fill base and a sealed conduit contain liquid and vent piping and couple to the chase. Spill and overflow containment assemblies surround fill and vent pipes in the vault base cover, chase cover and remote base and direct spillage to the secondary storage space. Tertiary and auxiliary containment is also provided for containing leakage and spillage and backup storage for the overflow containment assemblies.

Claims

1. Liquid containment apparatus comprising:

(a) a base having a plurality of sidewalls that project from a bottom wall to define an open cavity;

(b) tank means mounted within said open cavity for containing a liquid;

(c) means for defining secondary storage space between said tank means and the side and bottom walls of said base;

(d) an annular chase having raised sidewalls that border a through aperture that extends substantially the full length of said open cavity and that mounts to the sidewalls of said base, wherein said chase includes a plurality of pre-mounted conduits that couple to said tank means and wherein said chase includes an aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall and a fastener for securing said seal to a conduit having a bore aligned the aperture at the chase sidewall; and

(e) a plurality of cover that mount to said chase sidewalls to cover said open cavity.

2. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chase includes a conduit cast into the walls thereof and having an access port to said conduit.

3. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including an open topped fill enclosure having an aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall, a first conduit secured to said seal, a fill port coupled to a second conduit, a vent port coupled to third conduit, and wherein said second and third conduits extend through said first conduit and said first conduit terminates at said seal at the aperture through the chase sidewall and said second and third conduits couple to said tank means.

4. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base includes a continuous sheet liquid impermeable membrane mounted between said tank means and said sidewalls, which membrane defines said secondary storage space and terminates at a peripheral edge of said sidewalls to contain spilled liquid in said secondary storage space.

5. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the walls of said base beneath said impermeable membrane are lined with a thermal insulation, wherein the walls of said base are coated with a liquid impermeable material, and wherein the space between said membrane and coated walls of said base define a tertiary storage space.

6. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a liquid dispenser mounted to one of said plurality of covers and coupled to said tank means and a plurality of rigid stanchions that surround said dispenser.

7. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including control means coupled to said liquid dispenser for collecting and communicating data pertaining to pumped liquids.

8. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover includes a liquid impermeable an having a bottom that mounts beneath said dispenser and that contains a plurality of seals fitted to pipes that extend through the pan bottom.

9. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including sump means for directing liquid collecting in the base to a low point.

10. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for ventilating the secondary storage space.

11. Liquid containment apparatus comprising:

(a) a base having a plurality of sidewalls that project from a bottom wall to define an open cavity;

(b) tank means mount d within said open cavity for containing a liquid;

(c) means for defining a secondary storage space between said tank means and the side and bottom walls of said base;

(d) an annular chase having raised sidewalls that border a through aperture that extends substantially the full length of said open cavity and that mounts to the sidewalls of said base, wherein said chase includes a plurality of pre-mounted conduits that couple to said tank means, wherein said chase includes a conduit cast into the walls thereof and having an access port to said conduit, wherein said chase includes an aperture through a sidewall and a leakage containment conduit having a bore aligned to the aperture and sealed to the chase sidewall an wherein a conduit that couples to one of said plurality of pre-mounted conduits extends through said leakage containment conduit; and

(e) a plurality of cover that mount to said chase sidewalls to cover said open cavity and wherein one of said plurality of covers includes a liquid impermeable pan having a bottom and that contains a plurality of seals fitted to pipes that extend through the pan bottom.

12. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including an open topped fill enclosure having an aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall, a first conduit secured to said seal, a fill port coupled to a second conduit, a vent port coupled to a third conduit, and wherein said second and third conduits extended through said first conduit and said first conduit terminates at said seal at the a aperture through the chase sidewall and said second and third conduits couple to said pre-mounted conduits.

13. A Liquid containment apparatus comprising:

(a) a base having a plurality of sidewalls that project from a bottom wall to define an open cavity;

(b) tank means mounted within said open cavity for containing a liquid;

(c) a continuous sheet liquid impermeable membrane mounted between said tank means and said sidewalls, which membrane defines a secondary storage space and terminates at a peripheral edge of said sidewalls to contain spilled liquid in said secondary storage space;

(d) an annular chase having raised sidewalls that border a through aperture that extends substantially the full length of said open cavity and that mounts to the sidewalls of said base and wherein said chase includes a plurality of pre-mounted conduits that couple to said tank means;

(e) means mounted in liquid tight relation to said chase sidewalls and communicating with said secondary storage space for containing conduits penetrating the chase sidewalls and leakage from said conduits; and

(f) a plurality of covers that mount to said chase sidewalls to cover said open cavity.

14. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said chase includes an aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall and a fastener for securing said seal to a conduit containing the chase sidewall penetrating conduits.

15. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including an open topped fill enclosure having an aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall, a first conduit secured to said seal, a fill port coupled to a second conduit, a vent port coupled to a third conduit, and wherein said second and third conduits extend through said first conduit and said first conduit terminates at a seal at an aperture through the chase sidewall and said second and third conduits couple to said pre-mounted conduits and said tank means.

16. Liquid containment apparatus comprising:

(a) a base having a plurality of sidewalls that project from a bottom wall to define an open cavity;

(b) tank means mounted within said open cavity for containing a liquid;

(c) means for defining a secondary storage space between said tank means and the side and bottom walls of said base;

(d) an annular chase having raised sidewalls that border a through aperture that extends substantially the full length of said open cavity and that mounts to the sidewalls of said bases, wherein said chase includes a plurality of pre-mounted conduits that couple to said tank means, and a conduit mounted in liquid tight relation to the chase sidewalls and communicating with said secondary storage space for containing conduits penetrating the chase sidewalls and coupling to said pre-mounted conduits and directing leakage from said conduits;

(e) a plurality of covers that mount to the chase sidewalls to cover said open cavity; and

(f) a liquid dispenser mounted to one of said plurality of covers and coupled to said tank means.

17. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 16 including control means coupled to said liquid dispense for collecting and communicating data pertaining to pumped liquids.

18. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said chase includes an aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall and a fastener for securing said seal to a conduit containing conduits penetrating the chase sidewall and coupling to said re-mounted conduits.

19. Containment apparatus as set forth in claim 18 including an open topped fill enclosure having aperture through a sidewall and an elastomer seal cast into said sidewall, a first conduit secured to said seal, a fill port coupled to a second conduit, a vent port coupled to a third conduit, and wherein said second and third conduits extend through said first conduit and said first conduit terminates at said seal at the aperture through the chase sidewall and said second and third conduits couple to said tank means.

20. Liquid containment apparatus comprising:

(a) a base having a plurality of sidewalls that project from a bottom wall to define an open cavity;

(b) tank means mounted within said open cavity for containing a liquid;

(c) means for defining secondary storage space between said tank means and the side and bottom walls of said base;

(d) an annular chase having raised sidewalls that border a through aperture that extends substantially the full length of said open cavity and that mounts to the sidewalls of said bases wherein said chase includes a plurality of pre-mounted conduits that couple to said tank means;

(e) means mounted in liquid tight relation to said chase sidewalls and communicating with said secondary storage space for containing conduits penetrating the chase sidewalls and coupling to said pre-mounted conduits and directing leakage from said conduits and leakage from said conduits; and

(f) a plurality of cover that mount to said chase sidewalls to cover said open cavity.