Walkway System and Method

Abstract

A walkway system and method. The system provides a walkway which can be used to traverse or access a tank or plurality of tanks. The walkway can have rails to increase safety. The walkway can be modular to allow construction of walkways of various sizes and configurations. The system has a walkway base coupled to a walkway. The system also has at least one walkway support which is coupled to the walkway base and a stairway.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and method for tank walkways.

Description of Related Art

Tanks, such as fracturing tanks “frac tanks” must be inspected, reviewed, etc. Consequently, there is a need for a way to maneuver and transverse over and between fracturing tanks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the walkway system in one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stairs in one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the stairs in one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the walkway in one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the walkway in one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the walkway base in one embodiment;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several embodiments of Applicant's invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, like elements will be identified by identical numbers throughout all figures. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the walkway system in one embodiment. As shown, the system is utilized on and around a tank 101. Various tanks can be utilized. In one embodiment a fracturing tank, or a frac tank, is utilized. Virtually any tank where a liquid or solid volume can or should be measured can be utilized. Often two or more tanks as positioned adjacent to one another. It is often necessary to inspect or access the top of the tanks 101 for various purposes. As noted, in certain embodiments the volume of a product, liquid or solid, within a tank needs to be visually inspected or otherwise measured. This often requires access to the top of the tank. It is beneficial, efficient, and safer to be able to access a single walkway which provides access to a plurality of tanks with a single walkway. Accordingly, the system and method discussed herein allows, in one embodiment, for a user to access the tank of one or more tanks 101. In some embodiments, as depicted, in FIG. 1, the system and method allows access to two or more tanks 101.

In one embodiment the system includes two or more tanks at varying height which can linked together with no issue due to the adjustable legs as discussed below herein.

As shown, the system includes stairs 103, walkway supports 106, a walkway 102, rails 104, and a walkway base 109. Some of these features are more visible in other figures.

The stairs 103 can comprise virtually any type of stairs known in the art. In one embodiment the stairs 103 comprise two generally parallel stingers. The steps couple to each stringer. The stairs 103 can comprise virtually any material. In one embodiment the stairs 103 comprise metal.

The walkway supports 106 provide support for the stairs and the walkway 102. The walkway supports 106 can comprise virtually any material. In one embodiment the walkway supports 106 comprise steel, but this is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting. They can rest upon the ground or be anchored into the ground, depending upon the terrain, weather, height, etc.

In one embodiment the walkway supports 106 are adjustable. This allows the height of the walkway to be adjustable. This provides for variations in heights of tanks, unlevel ground, etc. to be accounted for in implementation. The walkway supports 106 can be adjusted via any design or method known in the art including sliding and extending the length of the poles to the desired length. In one embodiment the walkway supports provide a height of about 10-12 feet in height. For comparison, the average frac tank is slightly taller than 11 feet. The height of the walkway supports 106 can be adjusted depending upon the desired application.

Turning to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stairs in one embodiment. The walkway 102 is the portion upon which the user will walk. The walkway 102 can comprise virtually any material. The walkway 102 can comprise metal, plastic, wood, etc. In one embodiment the walkway 102 comprises molded fiberglass grating. As depicted the walkway 102 comprises a series of voids to reduce the weight of the walkway 102.

Coupled to the walkway 102 is the walkway base 109. The walkway base 109 provides structure and support to the walkway 102. The walkway base 109 also couples to the stairs 103, the walkway supports 106, etc. The walkway base 109 acts as the skeleton for the walkway 102.

The walkway base 109 can couple to the walkway 102 via any method. The walkway 102 can rest within, sit atop, or otherwise couple to the walkway base 109. In one embodiment the two are coupled via a flanged plate secured with bolts. This is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting.

The walkway base 109 can comprise virtually any material. In one embodiment the walkway base 109 comprises metal.

In one embodiment, and as depicted, the walkway base 109 comprises one or a plurality of base couplers 110. The base couplers 110, in one embodiment, comprise a void which can receive other objects. As depicted, the base coupler 110 is coupled to a rail 104. The base of the rail 104, as shown, is received by the void in the base coupler 110. In this fashion, the rail 104 can be coupled and de-coupled with the walkway base 109. In some embodiments the rail 104 is secured simply by weight and friction. In other embodiments, however, the base coupler 110 comprises a tension void in which a screw, bolt, etc. can be inserted to secure the rail 104 in place in the base coupler 110.

The ability to quickly couple and decouple the base coupler 110 with the rail 104 or other features, such as a gate, is an advantage. This allows the system to be quickly installed, moved, transformed, and taken apart. This allows a modular approach, in some embodiments, which allows the same components to serve many different orientations and configurations.

The walkway base 109, as shown, is coupled to the stair coupler 108. The stair coupler 108 is attached to the stairs 103. The stair coupler 108 is what secures the stairs 103 to the walkway base 109. In one embodiment they are coupled with an adjustable flange plate with a C clamp style. However, this is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting.

Also coupled to the walkway base 109 are the walkway supports 106. The walkway supports 106 can be coupled via any method known in the art including, but not limited to, welding, bolts, screws, etc. In one embodiment the walkway base 109 has a void to receive the walkway supports 106.

Turning to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the stairs in one embodiment. As seen, the stairs 103 lead to the walkway 102. As shown, there is an absence of the rail 104 which allows the user to enter the walkway 102. While the stairs 103 are being shown as being parallel to the tank 101, this is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting. In other embodiments, for example, the stairs 103 are oriented perpendicular to the tank 101. This illustrates further versatility of the system.

Turning to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the walkway in one embodiment. This figure shows the stair coupler 108 and how, as depicted, it attaches to the walkway base 109. In the embodiment depicted, the walkway base 109 comprises a plurality of stair coupler voids 111. These are holes through which the stair coupler 108 and the walkway base 109 can be connected. As shown there are stair coupler voids 111 on both sides of the walkway base 109. This allows the stairs 103 to be attached on either side. In still other embodiments, the ends of the walkway base 109 comprises stair coupler voids 111. As noted above, this illustrates the versality of the system. This further illustrates how modular the components, in some embodiments, can be.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the walkway in one embodiment. In this embodiment, two walkways 102 are coupled. In this manner, the length of the walkway 102 can be adjusted by coupling two or more walkways 102. The walkways 102 can be coupled along the length, as depicted in FIG. 2, to make a longer walkway 102. In other embodiments, however, a second walkway 102 will be perpendicular to a first walkway 102.

Adjacent walkways 102 can be coupled in various ways. In one embodiment, adjacent walkways 102 are coupled via their walkway bases 109. The walkway bases 109 can be coupled via a base coupler 110, or by other devices.

FIG. 5 gives a view of what the user sees when walking on the walkway 102. Two adjacent walkways 102 are coupled via a walkway coupler 113. As shown the system has rails 104 for safety. The rails 104 can be placed anywhere along the periphery of the walkway base 109. In the embodiment depicted, a gate 105 is located at the far end of the walkway 102. A gate 105, unlike a rail 104, can open or pivot. Thus, in one embodiment, the gate 105 has a fixed end and a free end which can be opened to provide additional access. In other embodiments there are no gates 105. Instead, where the gate 105 is depicted, there will be an additional rail 104. The gate 105 can couple to the walkway base 109 in the same manner as discussed with the rail 104. The specific orientation of the tanks 101 will determine whether gates 105 are necessary.

As shown, the system also comprises tank supports 107. Tank supports 107 offer additional stability and support to the walkway base 109. Thus, rather than solely relying upon the walkway supports 106 to support the walkway base 109, the tank supports 107 offer an additional opportunity to support the structure.

As shown, the tank supports 107 touch the top of the tank 101. The system, as shown, also has a tensioner 112. This allows the length of the tank support 107 to be adjusted. This ensures there is proper tension and support provided by the tank support 107. If the tank support 107 was too short, it would not contact the top of the tank 101, and therefore, not offer support. By having an adjustable tensioner 112 which can shorten or extend the length of the tank support 107, the user can ensure the walkway base 109 contacts and is supported by the tank 109.

The adjustable tensioner 112 provides an additional opportunity to account for tank height variations, ground elevation changes, etc. As an example, if a first tank is 10 feet in height and an adjacent tank is 10.5 feet in height, the adjustable tensioner 112 allows the tank supports 107 to touch each tank even though they are different heights. This provides increased stability of the system while simultaneously increasing the versatility of the system.

In one embodiment the tank supports 107 simply contact the top of the tank 101—they are not connected or permanently attached. This is advantageous, in some embodiments, because the tank 101 need not be permanently altered. Instead, the tank supports 107 rest on the unaltered tank 101.

The ability to contact and rest upon the tank 101 provides additional structural security to the system. By increasing the number of points of contact, either with the ground, or with the tank 101, the walkway 102 is more stable. This increases the safety of the system.

Turning to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the walkway base 109 in one embodiment. This figure shows the base coupler 110 and how it can engage with the rail 104, or other insert. As shown, the walkway 102 is inserted into and supported by the walkway base 109.

As noted, the system and method allows one or more walkways 102 to be installed on or near tanks 101, such as frac tanks. The system discussed herein has a plurality of benefits.

First, the system results in increased safety. Rather than having an unsecured latter be used to reach the top of the tank 101, the disclosed system offers rails 104 and increased stability compared to a ladder.

Second, the system results in increased versatility. As noted, the configuration can be changed and altered as desired. Rather than having a custom design which will only fit with a specific tank or tanks, this system can be modified to account for various heights, orientations, distance between adjacent tanks, etc. As noted, in some embodiments, the system is height adjustable to account for height differences of various tanks.

Third, in some embodiments, the system is modular. This allows the components of the system to be modified as necessary to build various structures. In this manner, the system is similar to Legos. Once the basic components are obtained, the user can manipulate the system to fit the specific tank or tanks utilized.

Fourth, in embodiments wherein a plurality of tanks are used, the system allows the user to access a plurality of tanks with a single walkway. This is safer than having to climb a separate ladder for each tank. Instead, the user climbs a stairway once, and walks along the walkway for each tank. Because a single system can be used for a plurality of tanks, the necessary equipment is reduced compared to if each tank required its own platform, walkway, etc. A user can safety walk along a single walkway and inspect as many tanks which are coupled to the walkway.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for a walkway, said system comprising: a walkway base coupled to a walkway;at least one walkway support coupled to said walkway base;a stairway coupled to said walkway base.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising rails coupled to said walkway support.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a stair coupler, wherein the stairway couples to said stair coupler, and wherein said stair coupler couples to said walkway base.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said walkway base comprises a plurality of stair coupler voids to couple with said stair coupler.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a gate.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said walkway base further comprises tank supports which extend out from said walkway base.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said tank supports are coupled to a tensioner to adjust the length of said tank supports.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said walkway base comprises at least one base coupler, and wherein said base coupler couples to a rail.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said walkway support contacts the ground, and wherein said walkway is elevated above said ground.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said walkway is situated above and adjacent a tank.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said walkway is situated above and adjacent two tanks, and wherein said walkway provides access to a top of said two tanks.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said tank supports make contact with at least one tank.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein walkway base is modular such that additional walkway bases can couple and decouple with said walkway base.

14. The system of claim 11 comprising two walkway supports, one stair way, rails, and a gate.

15. The system of claim 15 wherein a user can access a top of both tanks by using said stairway.