Patent Application
20110203192
1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to fiberglass enclosures with watertight accesses.
2. Description of Prior Art
Enclosures, such as fiberglass containers or tanks, are used for above-ground and underground storage of liquids, such as water, waste liquids, etc. Such containers often include one or more access openings with an access collar (typically 6 inches to 12 inches in height) to provide access to the container inside. The access openings are typically 24 inches or more in diameter. Such containers are often used underground and the access openings may be up to several feet below the surface, making such access openings inaccessible to human entry from the surface. In these and in other instances, it is desirable to install a watertight riser of sufficient height to permit access from the surface to the container interior.
Large storage tanks generally incorporate a collar on each access opening. The collar includes a top end that is generally flared inwards. A flared end is also referred to herein as a “flange.” A riser having a diameter equal to that of the collar is placed on the outside of such a flange. An epoxy or adhesive is placed in the channel created by the flange at the joint between the riser and the collar to secure the riser on top of the collar to provide a watertight connection between the riser and the collar. Such connections, however, do not always provide very reliable watertight connections. It also is often difficult to align the riser because the flared end does not provide a stable base. Also, the channel formed by the flared end is generally not wide enough to allow proper alignment of the riser on top of the collar or to accommodate variations in the riser diameter or the riser roundness.
In some sumps, the top end of the sump includes a flange that extends radially outward. A riser having the same diameter as that of the sump is placed on the sump. An adhesive is then placed in the channel created by the flange between the sump wall and the riser to secure the riser to the top of the sump and to provide a watertight connection between the sump and the riser. Some sumps include a dual-wall body that includes a Y-shaped channel on its top end. The riser is placed inside the Y-shaped channel. An adhesive is then placed on both sides of the channel to secure the riser. Structures similar to single wall sumps also have been utilized for installing manholes and/or wet wells in the field, wherein a top pipe section is joined on a bottom pipe section with an adhesive channel on the outside of the bottom pipe section.
The above-noted prior art access devices cannot accommodate a variety of commercially available risers, such as straight end risers, corrugated risers and risers with circular outer fins, ribbed-risers or risers with other protrusions. Additionally, aligning relatively large diameter risers and/or tall risers on collars often proves difficult, particularly when such risers are installed in the field.
The disclosure herein provides fiberglass structures that include watertight connections and methods of making such structures that address some of the above-noted problems.
In one aspect, a method for providing an enclosure is disclosed, which method in one embodiment may include: providing a container having an access opening; providing a channel around the access opening of a size and strength sufficient to retain therein a selected amount of an adhesive and to support a weight of a riser; placing the selected amount of the adhesive in the channel; placing an end of the riser in the channel after placing the adhesive in the channel; aligning the riser in the channel; and curing the adhesive in the channel to provide a watertight connection between the access opening and the riser.
In another aspect, an apparatus is provided, which apparatus in one embodiment may include a container having an access opening, a channel around the access opening having an adhesive therein and a riser having an end secured in the channel, wherein the end of the riser is placed in the channel after placement of an adhesive in the channel and secured and aligned while curing the adhesive on an inside and an outside of the end of the riser, thereby forming a watertight connection between the access opening and the riser. Examples of certain features of the apparatus and method disclosed herein are summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood. There are, of course, additional features of the apparatus and method disclosed hereinafter that will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
The present disclosure is best understood with reference to the accompanying figures in which like numerals generally refer to like elements and in which:
Although, the disclosure is provided in reference to certain exemplary riser types for ease of explanation, the channel according to this disclosure may be made to accommodate any type of riser, including, but not limited to, straight edges, corrugated surfaces, ribs, fins, and other types of protrusions. Further, the risers and/or collars may be made from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, fiberglass, plastic, polyurethane, any composite material, a combination of metal and non-metal material. Also, the channel may be made inside, outside or on both sides of the collar or the opening. Also, the channels in the figures are shown vertically placed. The channel may be configured inclined or horizontal depending upon the desired application. In another aspect, the channel may be at least one inch wide and at least one inch deep. In another aspect, the channel is about 2 inches wide and about one and a half inch deep.
Thus, in one aspect, a method for providing an enclosure is disclosed, which method in one embodiment includes the features of: providing a container having an access opening; providing a channel around the access opening of a size and strength sufficient to retain therein a selected amount of an adhesive and to support weight of a riser; placing the selected amount of the adhesive in the channel; placing an end of the riser in the channel after placing the adhesive in the channel; aligning the riser in the channel; and curing the adhesive with the riser aligned in the channel to provide a watertight connection between an inside of the access opening and the riser. In another aspect, the method may further include the feature of placing a watertight cover on an open end of the riser to provide a watertight access to the container.
In aspects, the riser may be: a straight-end riser; a riser having radial ribs around the riser body; or a riser having a corrugated surface. In one aspect, the channel is dimensioned (width, depth and wall thickness) to accommodate a variety of types and sizes of risers and to support the weight of such risers and the equipment placed on the installed riser. In one aspect, the container includes a collar and the channel is formed on a top end of the collar. In another aspect, the channel is configured to transfer the weight of the riser and any equipment placed therein onto the collar and then to the container. In another aspect, the method may include the feature of causing the adhesive to be placed on both sides of the riser portion inside the channel. The channel may be placed on an inside or outside the collar. In one aspect, placing the selected amount of the adhesive in the channel; placing an end of the riser in the channel after placing the adhesive in the channel; aligning the riser in the channel; and curing the adhesive with the aligned riser in the channel to provide a watertight connection between an inside of the opening and the aligned riser are performed at a field location or a factory.
In another aspect, an apparatus is disclosed, which apparatus in one embodiment includes a container having an access opening; a channel around the access opening having an adhesive therein; a riser having an end secured in the channel, wherein the end of the riser is placed in the channel after placement of an adhesive in the channel and secured and aligned while curing the adhesive on an inside and an outside of the end of the riser, thereby forming a watertight connection between the access opening and the riser. In one aspect, the access opening includes a collar and the channel is on an outside surface of the collar. In another aspect, the channel is on an inside surface of the collar. In one configuration, the channel includes a base or bottom section with an inner lip and an outer lip. In one aspect, the channel transfers substantially all the weight of the riser to the collar. The riser may be any type of riser, including a straight end, a riser with radial fins around the riser surface, a riser with a corrugated surface; a riser having selected protrusions from the riser surface; or a riser with another type surface suitable for a particular application. In one aspect the channel dimensions are selected to accommodate a variety of types riser types and shapes, including those that meet the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials) standards. In one aspect, the end placed in the channel includes a protrusion around at least on a part of the riser.
The foregoing disclosure is directed to certain specific embodiments and method for ease of explanation. Various changes and modifications to such embodiments, however, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such changes and modifications are considered to be a part of this disclosure and within the scope of any appended claims.
