The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.
The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:
a is a sectional top view of the corner structure of the flexible sheeting.
a is an exploded view of the retaining and support members engaged with the A-frame and brace member.
b is an exploded view of another arrangement of the support and retaining members engaged with the A-frame and brace member.
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.
Turning now to
Both retaining members 20 and support members 22 may comprise straps secured adjacent their opposed ends with end and side wall sections 14 and 16 forming loops which extend beyond edges 18. The straps are generally woven and are of a heavier material than the flexible sheet material. Alternatively, the support members may comprise an extension of the flexible sheet material extending between adjacent retaining members 20 and formed into a loop as shown at 23. See
The flexible sheeting material may comprise a fabric, woven, knitted or a non-woven which is coated with a synthetic material. The coating material must be resistant to degrading when contacted with petrochemicals or other contaminants which are desired to be retained. Polyurethane is generally a suitable coating. The flexible sheeting must be of sufficient strength to resist tearing under the pressure created by the contained fluid. The flexible sheeting must also resist undue wear due to the berm being set up and taken down repeatedly. Suitable fabrics are manufactured by several known manufacturers, two of which are the Seaman Corporation of Wooster, Ohio, and Cooley, Inc. of Pawtucket, R.I.
A plurality of braces 24 are provided to retain side and end wall sections 14, 16 in generally vertical positions. Each brace 24 preferably comprises an A-frame comprised of a pair of U-shaped metal beams 26 joined adjacent upper ends with a pin 28 forming a pivotal connection. Adjacent the lower ends of beams 26 there is provided a spacer 30 which, when engaged with spaced beams 26, maintains them in fixed position.
Beams 26, as shown in
Adjacent lower end of beam 26 an additional bore 34 is provided to receive an anchor which acts to secure brace 24 in fixed position with the ground or its supporting surface. The anchor may comprise a peg or screw pin passed through bore 34 and into the ground or support surface. Alternatively the anchor may comprise a cord or chain secured at one end with beam 26 and at its other end with peg or screw 35, which is then embedded in the ground as shown in
Adjacent the upper end of brace 24 is provided a hook 27 or other suitable retaining member. Also, adjacent the same upper end, overlapping parallel sides 32 of beams 26 form an enclosed opening 36.
Rods having down-turned opposed ends form stabilizers 38. Each stabilizer is preferably formed to be between 4 and 6 feet in length with the down-turned end being between 4 and 6 inches in length. The stabilizers, which are located at the corners of the containment, may be slightly shorter than the stabilizers extending along the end and side wall sections, i.e. about 3.5 feet depending on the placement of the braces 24.
The corner sections are slightly rounded and are shown in
Additionally, secondary bracing in the form of two straps 64, attached at each corner, may be necessary when large volumes of fluid are contained. These straps are connected over the upper pivoted end of braces 24 which are adjacent the corners. The straps are drawn downwardly and away from containment 16, where they are secured with the ground or support surface by spikes 66.
It is noted that the corner forming arrangement of the flexible sheet material forms no part of the instant invention and any known corner forming arrangement is acceptable.
Turning now to
In the described condition, the berm is arranged to receive fluid for storage. The berm also may act to retain fluid which is to be removed at desired times and in desired amounts.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.