1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of containment berms, and more specifically, to a containment berm with internal “L” braces that are removably coupled to a top rail extending around the upper perimeter of the berm and also to a flexible, durable and chemically resistant material that forms the body of the berm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Oil drilling rigs use large, portable secondary containment berms to contain tank farms consisting of multiple 400 BBL (16,800 gallon) upright tanks. These conventional containment berms are typically comprised of a heat-welded geomembrane liner that is configured to provide a three-foot sidewall supported by “A” braces on the exterior side of the berm. These “A” braces connect to segments of steel rod that run partially through the hem of the geomembrane liner and that are not connected to one another.
This type of system suffers from a number of disadvantages, however. With the braces on the outside of the berm, there is virtually no added weight on the geomembrane liner itself, allowing the walls of the berm to blow in and disfigure the berm. This leads to unnecessary man hours constantly pulling the “A” braces and berm walls back out and into place. Multiple sand/weight bags are required with these types of systems, which is yet another drawback. As noted above, the rods that run through the hem are not interconnected; therefore, there is no corner-to-corner support, resulting in weak spots in the event of a spill. Another problem with this type of system is the lengthy set-up and take-down times.
Yet another issue with the “A”/exterior brace-style berms arises in the winter months. With snowfall and freezing temperatures, the braces become frozen to the ground. If the braces are frozen hard enough, special equipment is required to remove them. Lastly, the outside edges of these containment berms are heavy human traffic areas. These exterior bracing systems create unwanted tripping hazards and the potential for injury to person or property.
The present invention overcomes all of the disadvantages of conventional secondary containment berms of the type described above. With the braces on the interior of the berm, all of the weight of the geomembrane wall structure and aluminum and steel framework that support the wall is on the berm itself. This prevents the berm walls/framework from blowing in and reduces the need for sand/weight bags. The present invention internal “L” berm has a framework system that consists of galvanized tubing that runs continuously through the hem and that connects to corner braces. This solid frame, which completely encompasses the wall perimeter, adds much needed strength and helps ensure a more solid and sound berm. Furthermore, set-up and take-down time are reduced considerably by having just one continuous tube for each wall length. Because the berm is braced on the inside, the potential for human/equipment damage is eliminated, and there is no possibility of the braces/framework freezing to the ground.
Prior art containment systems include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,775 (Kroger, 1988) entitled “Dike Assembly”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,300 (Pildysh, 1992) entitled “Containment System”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,175 (Van Romer, 1994) entitled “Foldable Spill Collector Container”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,233 (Van Romer, 1998) entitled “Foldable Spill Collector Container”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,091 (Van Romer, 1998) entitled “Configurable Containment System and Wall Strip”; U.S. Pat. No. RE39,971 (Van Romer, 2008) entitled “Portable Containment”; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2007/0278225 (Van Romer) entitled “All-Terrain Berm”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,920 (Hallsten, 1997) entitled “Modular Containment System for Hazardous Materials”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,461 (Shaw et al., 1999) entitled “Liquid Containment Apparatus With Flexible Side Wall”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,686 (Shaw et al., 2000) entitled “Collapsible Liquid Containment Device”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,495 (Starheim, 2001) entitled “Portable Environmental Containment System”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,391 (Starheim et al., 2006) entitled “Portable Environmental Containment System”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,721 (Barrett et al., 2005) entitled “Portable Containment Berm System”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,764 (Fossen et al., 2011) entitled “Secondary Containment System for an Above-Ground Petroleum Storage Tank”; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2012/0187119 (McAtarian et al.) entitled “Collapsible Containment Berm”; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2012/0193369 (Beak et al.) entitled “Liquid Containment Apparatus With Flexible Wall Supports”; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2013/0017018 (Allen et al.) entitled “Liquid Containment System”; U.S. Patent Application. Pub. No. 2013/0164082 (Stein) entitled “Modular, Dynamically Sized and Shaped, Industrial-Liquid-Containment System and Methods of Use”; and International Patent Application Pub. No. WO 02/092442 (Moffat et al.) entitled “Portable Berm Device With Snap-Foam Features.” Examples of prior art bracing systems include U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,676 (Christensen, 2006 entitled “Foldable Water Tank”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,291 (Christensen, 2011) entitled “Foldable Water Tank With Shielded Hinges”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,777 (Ramp, et al., 2009) entitled “Closable Containment Wall Berm Support”; U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,414 (Nelson, 2013) entitled “Swimming Pool Brace Assembly”; and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2010/0028081 (Barrett et al.) entitled “Containment Berm Bracket.” None of these inventions provides the structural and functional advantages of the present invention, as discussed more fully below.
The present invention is a containment berm comprising: a containment material that is durable, flexible and chemically resistant, the containment material configured to provide at least a floor and four walls of the berm, wherein each wall has an inside surface; a plurality of brackets positioned on the floor and adjacent to the inside surface of each of the four walls, each bracket comprising a vertical member, a connecting member, and a horizontal member, wherein a first end of the vertical member is pivotally connected to a first end of the horizontal member at a first pivot point, wherein a first end of the connecting member is pivotally connected to the horizontal member at a second pivot point between the first end of the horizontal member and a second end of the horizontal member; and a top rail, wherein the top rail extends around a top perimeter of the four walls of the berm; wherein each bracket comprises a clamp portion that is situated on a second end of the vertical member and that clamps onto the top rail.
In a preferred embodiment, each brace comprises a bottom end, and the bottom end of each brace fits into a pocket in the floor of the berm. Preferably, a second end of the connecting member comprises a hole that extends laterally through the connecting member, the vertical member comprises at least two holes that extend laterally through the vertical member between the first and second ends of the vertical member, and wherein a pin extends through the hole in the connecting member and one of the at least two holes in the vertical member. The clamp portion is preferably situated directly above the first pivot point.
In a preferred embodiment, the clamp portion comprises: a stationary bracket that is concave in shape and pivotally connected at a bottom end of the stationary bracket to a pivoting bracket that is concave in shape and that has a recess; a bolt with a pivoting end that is pivotally connected to a top end of the stationary bracket; and a wing nut; wherein to close the clamp portion, a top end of the pivoting bracket is pivoted toward the top end of the stationary bracket, the bolt is inserted into the recess in the pivoting bracket, and the wing nut is tightened on the bolt. Preferably, the invention further comprises a geotextile pad situated between the bracket and the containment material proximate to the first pivot point. The invention preferably further comprises at least one corner brace, wherein the at least one corner brace comprises two clamp portions and a cross-bar, wherein the clamp portions clamp onto the top rails of adjacent walls of the berm, and wherein the cross-bar extends between the two clamp portions.
In a preferred embodiment, the vertical member comprises a channel extending from the first end of the vertical member to the second end of the vertical member, and wherein the connecting member fits into the channel in the vertical member when the bracket is fully collapsed.
1 Containment berm
2 Containment material
3 Internal brace
4 Tank
5 Vertical member
6 Connecting member
7 Horizontal member
8 First pivot point (on horizontal member)
9 Second pivot point (on horizontal member)
10 Pin
11 First hole
12 Second hole
13 Clamp portion
14 Top rail
14
a Male end (of top rail)
14
b Female end (of top rail)
14
c Retractable pin
14
d Hole (in male end of top rail)
15 Stationary bracket (of clamp portion)
16 Pivoting bracket (of clamp portion)
17 First pivot point (of clamp portion)
18 Bolt
19 Pivoting end (of bolt)
20 Second pivot point (of clamp portion)
21 Washer
22 Wing nut
23 First hole (in connecting member)
24 Pocket
25 Pad
26 Corner bracket
27 Cross-bar
28 Second hole (in connecting member)
29 Recess (in pivoting bracket)
As shown, the second end of the connecting member 6 fits inside of a channel formed by the vertical member 5 and is secured in place by a pin 10 that extends through the first or second hole 11, 12 in the vertical member 5 and also through the second hole 28 in the connecting member 6 (the first hole 23 is discussed in connection with
In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the “L” brace is eighty-two degrees (82°) (measured from the vertical member 5 to the horizontal member 7), as shown in
Each internal “L” brace 3 preferably comprises a clamp portion 13 that is situated at the second end of the vertical member 5 on the outside-facing surface of the brace (i.e., the surface that faces the inside of the side/end wall of the berm). When the brace is at an 82-degree angle, as shown in this figure, the clamp portion 13 (and, therefore, the top rail 14) is positioned directly above the pivot point 9. This angle provides for the greatest stability of the brace and the berm.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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