PORTABLE CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A portable containment system has a flexible liner sheet and a plurality of leg assemblies attached to the edge portions of the liner sheet. Each leg assembly consists of two legs connected by a fabric hinge and movable from a collapsed transport position to an upright operating position where the legs slope upward toward each other to form a triangle. The edge portions of the liner sheet are attached to the top of the triangle. The bottom ends of the leg assemblies are connected to a flexible leg sheet such that the leg assemblies are evenly spaced. Moving all the leg assemblies to the operating position supports the edge portions of the liner sheet in a raised position sloping upward from the surface at an angle less than about 75 degrees, such that a containment area is formed inside the sloping edge portions of the liner sheet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to the field of containment systems for liquid storage facilities and in particular a portable containment system for temporary use.

BACKGROUND

Protection of the environment from spilled hazardous liquids such as contaminated water or the like is provided by containment structures. In a typical situation the hazardous liquid is located in a primary vessel or container, and then the containment structure surrounds the primary vessel and contains any liquid that might spill from the primary vessel.

Such a containment structure is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,920 to Hallsten which describes a modular containment system where a series of berm members are interlocked together to form a desired containment perimeter. A liner of flexible plastic material is laid over the containment area, and extends up over the top of the perimeter structure and is secured to the top of the perimeter structure. U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,445 to Williams and U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,825 to Kroger disclose similar containment structures with portable frame sections supporting a liner.

Often such containment structures are required for temporary use. The containment structure is set up at a work site, for example a petroleum well, and then the primary vessel is placed inside the containment structure. Often the primary vessel will be a tanker trailer on wheels such as disclosed by Williams, thus requiring the containment structure to have a wall that can be erected after the trailer is driven into the structure.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,233 and 6,880,720 to Van Romer disclose a portable containment structure where leg assemblies support the edges of the liner vertically to form a containment area within the vertical edges of the liner. The leg assemblies are shown in various forms inside and outside the containment area, and have a first vertical leg attached to the edge of the liner. A second inclined leg is hinged to the top of the first leg and is movable from a folded position, generally flat against the first leg, to an operating position supporting the first leg in the vertical position. A third leg is hinged to the bottom of the second leg, and maintains the second leg in the inclined position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a portable containment system that overcomes problems in the prior art.

In a first embodiment the present disclosure provides a portable containment system for transporting to a desired location for temporary deployment on a surface. The system comprises a flexible liner sheet with first and second side edge portions and first and second end edge portions. A plurality of side leg assemblies is attached to the side edge portions of the liner sheet, and a plurality of end leg assemblies is attached to the end edge portions of the liner sheet, each leg assembly consisting of two legs connected by a fabric hinge and movable from a collapsed transport position where the legs of each leg assembly lie substantially flat against the liner sheet, to an upright operating position where bottom ends of the legs rest on the surface separated by a base distance, and the legs slope upward toward each other to form a triangle. The corresponding edge portion of the liner sheet is attached to the leg assemblies in proximity to a top of the triangle. The bottom ends of the leg assemblies on each edge of the liner sheet are connected to a flexible leg sheet configured such that when the bottom ends of the legs are separated by the base distance, the leg sheet is tight between the bottom ends of the legs, and such that the leg assemblies are substantially evenly spaced along each edge portion of the liner sheet when the leg sheet is tight.

Moving all the side and end leg assemblies to the operating position supports the edge portions of the liner sheet in a raised position sloping upward from the surface at an angle less than about 75 degrees, such that a containment area is formed inside the sloping edge portions of the liner sheet.

In a second embodiment the present disclosure provides a method of providing a temporary containment system for a tanker vehicle on a surface at a work site. The method comprises providing a flexible liner sheet with first and second side edge portions and first and second end edge portions; attaching a plurality of side leg assemblies to the side edge portions of the liner sheet, and attaching a plurality of end leg assemblies to the end edge portions of the liner sheet, each leg assembly consisting of two legs connected by a fabric hinge and movable from a collapsed transport position where the legs of each leg assembly lie substantially flat against the liner sheet, to an upright operating position; wherein the bottom ends of the leg assemblies on each edge portion of the liner sheet are connected to a flexible leg sheet configured such that when the bottom ends of the legs are separated by a base distance, the leg sheet is tight between the bottom ends of the legs, and such that the leg assemblies are substantially evenly spaced along each edge portion of the liner sheet when the leg sheet is tight; folding the liner sheet, leg sheet, and leg assemblies to form a folded liner sheet; transporting the folded liner sheet to a desired location, and unfolding the liner sheet to a working position on the surface; moving the tanker vehicle onto the liner sheet between the side and end edge portions thereof; moving the leg assemblies to the operating position where bottom ends of the legs rest on the surface separated by the base distance, and the legs slope upward toward each other to form a triangle, and wherein the corresponding edge portion of the liner sheet is attached to the leg assemblies in proximity to a top of the triangle, such that the edge portions of the liner sheet are in a raised position sloping upward from the surface at an angle less than about 75 degrees and form a containment area inside the sloping edge portions of the liner sheet.

The leg assemblies of the disclosed containment system have only two legs, both of which are sloped in the operating position to provide stability and support for the edge portions of the liner sheet in the raised position. The system is economical to manufacture, and convenient to deploy, fold for transport, and transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the containment system of the present disclosure,

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional side view showing a leg assembly in the operating position supporting edge portions of the liner sheet in a raised position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the leg assembly and liner sheet of FIG. 2, showing the legs in the operating position and enclosed in fabric leg pockets;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the leg assembly and liner sheet of FIG. 3, showing the legs in the collapsed transport position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the leg assembly and liner sheet of FIG. 4, showing the legs in the collapsed transport position folded onto the liner sheet;

FIGS. 6A-6E are schematic end views of the containment system of FIG. 1 being folded in steps;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the folded liner sheet;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a vehicle mounted roller of the containment system with the folded liner sheet of FIG. 7 partially wound onto the roller;

FIG. 9 is a schematic end view of the roller of FIG. 8 without the folded liner sheet showing the cross bars of the roller which support the folded liner sheet;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the system of FIG. 1 deployed on a surface enclosing a tanker vehicle;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a folded liner sheet with a suspension tape hanging by hooks to the tanker vehicle for transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a portable containment system 1 of the present disclosure for transporting to a desired location for temporary deployment on a surface, typically the ground. The system 1 comprises a flexible liner sheet 3 with first and second side edge portions 5A, 5B and first and second end edge portions 7A, 7B.

A plurality of side leg assemblies 9A are attached to the side edge portions 5 of the liner sheet 3, and a plurality of end leg assemblies 9B are attached to the end edge portions 7. Each leg assembly consists of two legs 11 connected by a fabric hinge 13 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. In the illustrated system 1, each leg assembly 9 comprises a sheet leg 11A oriented substantially perpendicular to the peripheral edge 3A of the liner sheet 3 and adjacent to the sheet 3, and a support leg 11B pivotally connected at an upper end thereof to an upper portion of the sheet leg 11A by the fabric hinge 13 such that the support leg 11B can pivot outward in a direction D substantially perpendicular to the peripheral edge of the liner sheet 3.

The legs 11 are movable from a collapsed transport position, where the support leg 11B is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, and where the legs 11A, 11B of each leg assembly 9 lie substantially flat against the liner sheet 3, to an upright operating position where the support leg 11B is shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and where bottom ends of the legs 11 rest on the surface 15 separated by a base distance BD, and the legs 11 slope upward toward each other to form a triangle. The corresponding edge portion of the liner sheet is attached to the leg assemblies 9 at least in proximity to a top of the triangle, and the edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 rest on the sloping sheet leg 11A when in the raised position.

The bottom ends of the leg assemblies 9 on each edge portion 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 are connected to a flexible leg sheet 17 configured such that when the bottom ends of the legs 11 are separated by the base distance BD, the leg sheet 17 is tight between the bottom ends of the legs 11, and such that the leg assemblies 9 are substantially evenly spaced along each edge portion 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 when the leg sheet 17 is pulled tight. Moving all the side and end leg assemblies 9 to the operating position supports the edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 in a raised position sloping upward from the surface 15 at an angle N less than about 75 degrees, such that a containment area is formed inside the sloping edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3. In the illustrated system 1 the edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 slope upward from the surface 15 at an angle N of about 70 degrees.

Thus the presently disclosed containment system 1 uses a leg assembly 9 that has only two legs 11, instead of three as is known in the art. The sheet legs 11A slope at an angle downward from vertical, in contrast to the prior art systems where the walls of the containment area are substantially vertical. The weight of the edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 rests on the sloping sheet legs 11A, which in turn are supported by the opposite sloping support legs 11B. The connection of the bottom of the legs 11 by the tight leg sheet 17 prevents the bottom of the support leg from sliding away, and the structure is stable when empty, and when filled with liquid, the weight of the liquid is likewise supported on the sloping sheet legs 11A.

In the illustrated system 1, the sheet legs 11A and support legs 11B are enclosed in fabric leg pockets 19, as seen in FIG. 3. The sheet leg pocket 19A containing the sheet leg 11A and the support leg pocket 19B containing the support leg 11B are connected together to form the fabric hinge 13, and the bottom ends of the leg pockets 19 are attached to the leg sheet 17. The illustrated fabric hinge 13 is somewhat below the top end of the sheet leg 11A, so the support leg 11B can be somewhat shorter than if the fabric hinge 13 was at the top of the sheet leg 11A.

Although it is contemplated that the edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 could be fastened to the leg assemblies 9 only at the top of the sheet leg, as schematically illustrated by the connection point 21 in FIG. 2, the illustrated system 1 more conveniently has the sheet leg pockets 19A containing the sheet legs 11A are fastened to the edges 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 along the entire length thereof, shown by a plurality of connection points 21 in FIG. 3. The inner edge of each leg sheet 17 is also attached to the liner sheet 3 adjacent to the bottom end of the leg pockets 19A. In practice the attachment of the pockets and sheets will typically be done by sewing or fabric welding as is known in the art

With the sheet leg pockets 19A fastened along their length to the edge portions 5, 7, and the leg pockets 19 fastened to the leg sheet 17, and the leg sheet 17 fastened to the liner sheet 3, and given the flexible nature of the liner and leg sheets 3, 17, all the parts of the system 1 are connected in their proper orientation when the sheets 3, 17 are pulled tight.

The system 1 can thus be folded by moving the legs 11A, 11B of each leg assembly 9 to the collapsed transport position of FIG. 4 with the leg sheet 17 typically pulled up between the legs 11, and then laying the legs 11 thereof on the liner sheet 3 with upper ends 31 of the legs 11 toward the center of the liner sheet 3, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 5. The leg assemblies 9 and liner sheet 3 can then be folded in a variety of configurations for transport, and then be quickly installed at a desired location by laying the liner sheet 3 out and pulling the liner sheet 3 and leg sheets 17 tight.

For example a flexible suspension tape 23 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 extending from a mid-point of a bottom surface of at least one of the leg sheets 17 substantially along a length of the leg sheet 17. The suspension tape 23 folds flat against the leg sheet 17 when deployed on the surface 15 as seen in FIG. 3, but extends as shown in the phantom lines in FIG. 3 when raised from the surface 15. The suspension tape 23 defines tape apertures 25, seen in FIG. 11, spaced along a length thereof and the liner sheet 3 can be folded such that the suspension tape 23 is exposed along the folded liner sheet 3F and the folded liner sheet can be hung for transport on a tanker vehicle 29 with hooks 27 through the tape apertures 25, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 11.

For transport on a vehicle mounted roller, the liner sheet 3 can be folded for transport to a folded position shown in FIG. 7, as schematically illustrated in the end views of FIG. 6A to 6E. The end leg assemblies 9B on the first and second end edges are moved to the collapsed transport position and laid on the liner sheet 3 with upper ends 31 of the legs 11 toward the center of the liner sheet 3, and similarly the side leg assemblies 9A on the first and second side edges 5A, 5B are moved to the transport position and laid on the liner sheet 3 with upper ends 31 of the legs toward the center of the liner sheet 3.

The side edge portions 5A and 5B and attached side leg assemblies 9A are folded to the center of the liner sheet 3 through the steps schematically illustrated in FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D to the position of FIG. 6E such that the side leg assemblies 9A on the first side edge 5A are on top of the side leg assemblies of the second side edge 5B, and such that the liner sheet lies generally vertically aligned with the side leg assemblies 9A. In the folded position shown in the side view of FIG. 7 it can be seen that the end leg assemblies 9B and end edge portions 7A, 7B of the liner sheet 3 form a bulge at each end of the folded liner sheet 3f.

FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate a roller 33 rotatably mounted on a vehicle 35, typically a trailer, and a drive 37 is operative to rotate the roller 33. The end leg assemblies 9B and the liner sheet at a first end 3A of the folded liner sheet 3F are attached to the roller 33, and the drive 35 is activated to rotate the roller 33 to wind the folded liner sheet 3F onto the roller 33 for transport. To avoid an excessive bulge in the wound liner sheet, the end leg assemblies 9B and the liner sheet 3 at the first end 3A of the folded liner sheet 3F are inserted into a recess in the roller 33.

The illustrated roller 33 comprises a plurality of right and left spokes 39 extending radially from the rotational axis RA of the roller 33, and a cross bar 41 connecting a mid-point of each right spoke 39 with a mid-point of a corresponding left spoke 39, such that the folded liner sheet 3F lies on the cross bars 39 as seen in FIG. 8, and the end leg assemblies 9B and the liner sheet at the first end 3A of the folded liner sheet are inserted between the cross bars 39, which provides the desired recess and avoids winding the entire folded liner sheet 3F over the bulging first end 3A thereof.

The present disclosure provides a method of providing a temporary containment system for a tanker vehicle 29 on a surface 15 at a work site. The method comprises providing a flexible liner sheet 3 with first and second side edge portions 5A, 5B and first and second end edge portions 7A, 7B; attaching a plurality of side leg assemblies 9A to the side edge portions 5A, 5B of the liner sheet, and attaching a plurality of end leg assemblies 9B to the end edge portions 7A, 7B of the liner sheet, wherein the bottom ends of the leg assemblies 9 on each edge portion 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 are connected to a flexible leg sheet 17; folding the liner sheet 9, leg sheet 17, and leg assemblies 9 to form a folded liner sheet 3F; transporting the folded liner sheet 3F to a desired location, and unfolding the liner sheet to a working position on the surface; moving the tanker vehicle 29 onto the liner sheet 3 between the side and end edge portions 5, 7 thereof; and then moving the leg assemblies 9 to the operating position, conveniently by pulling the leg sheet 17 away from the liner sheet 3, such that the edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3 are in the raised position sloping upward from the surface at an angle less than about 75 degrees and form a containment area inside the sloping edge portions 5, 7 of the liner sheet 3, with the tanker vehicle inside the containment area of the containment system 1 as seen in FIG. 10. The leg assemblies 9 on three sides of the liner sheet 3 could be moved to the upright operating position, leaving just one wall lowered to allow the tanker vehicle 29 to move onto the liner sheet 3.

The disclosed containment system is economical to manufacture, requiring only two legs for each leg assembly. The simplified system 1 is also convenient to install, fold, and transport.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A portable containment system for transporting to a desired location for temporary deployment on a surface, the system comprising: a flexible liner sheet with first and second side edge portions and first and second end edge portions;a plurality of side leg assemblies attached to the side edge portions of the liner sheet, and a plurality of end leg assemblies attached to the end edge portions of the liner sheet, each leg assembly comprising two legs connected by a fabric hinge and movable from a collapsed transport position where the legs of each leg assembly lie substantially flat against the liner sheet, to an upright operating position where bottom ends of the legs rest on the surface separated by a base distance, and the legs slope upward toward each other to form a triangle, and wherein the corresponding edge portion of the liner sheet is attached to the leg assemblies in proximity to a top of the triangle;wherein the bottom ends of the leg assemblies on each edge of the liner sheet are connected to a flexible leg sheet configured such that when the bottom ends of the legs are separated by the base distance, the leg sheet is tight between the bottom ends of the legs, and such that the leg assemblies are substantially evenly spaced along each edge portion of the liner sheet when the leg sheet is tight;wherein moving all the side and end leg assemblies to the operating position supports the edge portions of the liner sheet in a raised position sloping upward from the surface at an angle less than about 75 degrees, such that a containment area is formed inside the sloping edge portions of the liner sheet that slope upward and outward from an interior of the containment area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each leg assembly comprises a sheet leg oriented substantially perpendicular to a peripheral edge of the liner sheet and adjacent to the liner sheet, and a support leg pivotally connected at an upper end thereof to an upper portion of the sheet leg by the fabric hinge such that the support leg can pivot outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the peripheral edge of the liner sheet, and wherein the edge portions of the liner sheet rest on the sloping sheet leg when in the raised position.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the sheet legs and support legs are enclosed in fabric leg pockets connected together to form the hinge, and wherein bottom ends of the leg pockets are attached to the leg sheet.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the leg pockets containing the sheet legs are fastened substantially along a length thereof to the edge portions of the liner sheet.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein an inner edge of each leg sheet is attached to the liner sheet adjacent to the bottom end of the leg pockets.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the fabric hinge is below a top end of the sheet leg.

7. The system of claim 1 comprising a flexible suspension tape extending from a mid-point of a bottom surface of at least one of the leg sheets substantially along a length of the at least one leg sheet, the suspension tape defining apertures spaced along a length thereof.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the liner sheet is folded such that the suspension tape is exposed along the folded liner sheet.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the liner sheet i-s-folded for transport comprises: the end leg assemblies on the first and second end edge portions moved to the transport position with the legs thereof lying on the liner sheet with upper ends of the legs toward a center of the liner sheet;the side leg assemblies on the first and second side edge portions moved to the transport position with the legs thereof lying on the liner sheet with upper ends of the legs toward the center of the liner sheet;the side edge portions and attached side leg assemblies folded to the center of the liner sheet such that the side leg assemblies on the first side edge portion are on top of the side leg assemblies of the second side edge portion, and such that the liner sheet folded for transport lies generally vertically aligned with the side leg assemblies.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a roller rotatably mounted on a vehicle, and a drive operative to rotate the roller, and wherein the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at a first end of the folded liner sheet are attachable to the roller such that when the drive is activated to rotate the roller-to the folded liner sheet winds onto the roller for transport.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at the first end of the folded liner sheet are attachable to the roller by inserting same into a recess in the roller.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the roller comprises a plurality of right and left spokes extending radially from a rotational axis of the roller, and a cross bar connecting a mid-point of each right spoke with a mid-point of a corresponding left spoke, such that the folded liner sheet lies on the cross bars, and the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at the first end of the folded liner sheet are inserted between the cross bars.

13. A method of providing a temporary containment system for a tanker vehicle on a surface at a work site, the method comprising: providing a flexible liner sheet with first and second side edge portions and first and second end edge portions;attaching a plurality of side leg assemblies to the side edge portions of the liner sheet, and attaching a plurality of end leg assemblies to the end edge portions of the liner sheet, each leg assembly comprising two legs connected by a fabric hinge and movable from a collapsed transport position where the legs of each leg assembly lie substantially flat against the liner sheet, to an upright operating position;wherein the bottom ends of the leg assemblies on each edge portion of the liner sheet are connected to a flexible leg sheet configured such that when the bottom ends of the legs are separated by a base distance, the leg sheet is tight between the bottom ends of the legs, and such that the leg assemblies are substantially evenly spaced along each edge portion of the liner sheet when the leg sheet is tight;folding the liner sheet, leg sheet, and leg assemblies to form a folded liner sheet;transporting the folded liner sheet to a desired location, and unfolding the liner sheet to a working position on the surface;moving the tanker vehicle onto the liner sheet between the side and end edge portions thereof;moving the leg assemblies to the operating position where bottom ends of the legs rest on the surface separated by the base distance, and the legs slope upward toward each other to form a triangle, and wherein the corresponding edge portion of the liner sheet is attached to the leg assemblies in proximity to a top of the triangle, such that the edge portions of the liner sheet are in a raised position sloping upward from the surface at an angle less than about 75 degrees and form a containment area inside the sloping edge portions of the liner sheet that slope upward and outward from an interior of the containment area.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising moving the leg assemblies to the operating position by pulling the leg sheet away from the liner sheet.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising folding the liner sheet by: moving the leg assemblies on the first and second end edge portions to the transport position and laying the legs thereof on the liner sheet with upper ends of the legs toward a center of the liner sheet;moving the leg assemblies on the first and second side edge portions to the transport position and laying the legs thereof on the liner sheet with upper ends of the legs toward the center of the liner sheet;folding the side edge portions and attached leg assemblies to the center of the liner sheet such that the leg assemblies on the first side edge portion are on top of the leg assemblies of the second side edge portion, and such that the liner sheet lies generally vertically aligned with the leg assemblies.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising rotatably mounting a roller on a vehicle, attaching the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at the first end of the folded liner sheet to the roller, rotating the roller to wind the folded liner sheet onto the roller, and transporting the folded liner sheet to the desired location on the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising attaching the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at the first end of the folded liner sheet to the roller by inserting the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at the first end of the folded liner sheet into a recess in the roller.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the roller comprises a plurality of right and left spokes extending radially from a rotational axis of the roller, and a cross bar connecting a mid-point of each right spoke with a mid-point of a corresponding left spoke, such that the folded liner sheet lies on the cross bars, and the end leg assemblies and the liner sheet at the first end of the folded liner sheet are inserted between the cross bars.

19. The method of claim 15 comprising transporting the liner sheet by attaching a flexible suspension tape extending from a mid-point of a bottom surface of at least one of the leg sheets substantially along a length of the at least one leg sheet, the suspension tape defining apertures spaced along a length thereof, folding the liner sheet such that the suspension tape is exposed along the folded liner sheet, and attaching the folded liner sheet to the tanker vehicle with hooks through the apertures.