Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02597807 2007-09-14
COLLAPSIBLE MATERIAL CONTAINMENT VESSEL
This invention relates to a containment vessel for liquid and solids material
and which, for storage purposes can be kept in a collapsed condition, and
when needed, can readily rendered usable by inflating the coilapsed vessel.
A common problem of sizable storage containers or containment vessels is
that they are made from rigid materials and have the same cubic measure
empty as when filled. Further, due to their size, the handling and shipping of
large barrels such as rainwater storage containers is relatively expensive
given their volume to weight ratio. Additionally, in emergency situations such
as where hazardous materials must be contained as quickly as possible, the
fast transport of the required number of rigid storage containers to hazardous
collection site may not be possible.
The collapsible containment vessels of my invention, which can include
collapsible storage containers, greatly facilitate handling and shipping costs
since they can be transported in a collapsed condition. In a like manner, a
far
greater number of collapsed containment vessels can be transported on a
vehicle compared to only a limited number of empty rigid containers that can
be carried on the same vehicle.
In accordance with my invention, there is provided a collapsable containment
vessei which includes a central material receiving bladder having a
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surrounding sidewall, a top end and a closed bottom end. Inflation chamber
means is positioned about and attached to at least one of an interior or
exterior facing of the surrounding sidewall and which extends from the bottom
end to proximate the top end. A closable access port communicates with the
inflation chamber means in order to facilitate the inflation and deflation of
the
chamber. When deflated, both the surrounding sidewalls of the bladder and
the inflation chamber means are in a collapsed condition. When inflated,
both the surrounding sidewall of the bladder and the inflation chamber means
are rendered in a semi-rigid condition such that the bladder at its top end
can
be filled with liquid or solids material.
The bladder when the containment vessel is erected by inflation can be of
any suitable configuration but preferably is either tubular or conical in
shape.
If conical, it is preferred that the surface area of the bottom end of the
bladder
is larger than that of its top end.
The inflation chamber means can take several configurations so as to semi-
rigidify the vessel when in its inflated condition. For example, the chamber
means can completely envelope the exterior facing of the surrounding
sidewall regardless of the sidewall shape, and which as noted above and if
desired, can be either tubular or conical. Alternatively, the chamber means
can comprise at least 3 equally spaced apart tubular ribs positioned about
and attached to the exterior face of the surrounding sidewall. Where
inflatable ribs are employed, in order to maintain the top end of the bladder
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open when in the inflated or erected condition, the chamber means can
advantageously also include an inflatable torus or ring collar about the top
end and which communicates with each of the tubular ribs.
Depending upon the desired application, the top end can be open, thus
rendering the erected vessel suitable for the containment of rainwater or
other
materials which must be charged into the vessel without immediate concern
of spillage. Alternatively, the top end can be closed and be provided with a
removable closure cap so as to permit the passage of liquid or solids material
therethrough.
Erection of the collapsed containment vessel is achieved by passing a
compressed gas, such as air or nitrogen, or a pressurized liquid, such as
water through the closable access port and into the inflation chamber.
A rigid vessel built to contain 200 litres of liquids or solids material has a
measure of approximately 7 cubic feet which means that the container, if it
has a circular sidewall, requires 9 to 10 cubic feet of storage space. A
containment vessel of this invention which is capable of containing the same
200 litres, when in its collapsed or deflated state, take significantly less
storage volume and which can be in the order of 1 cubic foot.
It will be appreciated that the size of the inflatable containment vessel and
hence its central material receiving bladder can be varied to meet different
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circumstances or needs. Typically, where the bottom end of the bladder is
circular, the ratio of the height of the surrounding sidewall to the bottom
end
of the bladder when the vessel is in its erected or inflated condition is 4:1
or
greater and can be up to 13:1 or greater.
Advantageously, and if desired, a closable material discharge port can be
located in the surrounding sidewall of the bladder proximate its bottom end
for
the purpose of emptying material from the bladder.
While the collapsible containment vessel can be made out of any suitable
material depending upon the substance to be contained or stored within the
bladder, for general application purposes, it is preferred that the bladder
and
inflation chamber means be constructed from polyvinyl chloride.
If the inflation chamber means is to be charged with a gas, an outside supply
source of same can be connected to the closable access port for inflation
purposes. If the vessel is to be inflated employing a source of pressurized
liquid, such as water, the closable access port can be connected to a water
supply using a suitable connector hose. If desired, collapsed containment
vessels can have physically attached to their access ports, charged canisters
of a pressurized gas which can be manually opened so as to readily and
quickly inflate the inflation chambers making up the inflation means.
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In the accompanying photographs which illustrate working embodiments of
my invention wherein the inflation chamber means comprises a number of
tubular ribs and an annular collar surrounding the top end of the bladder:
Figure 1 illustrates the containment vessel when the inflation chamber means
has been inflated but the bladder portion of the vessel is empty;
Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1 but wherein the bladder has been
filled
with water.
Figure 3 illustrates a water-filled bladder similar to that of Figure 2, but
where
the tubular ribs are physically attached along their length to exterior wall
of
the bladder.
As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the containment vessel includes a material
receiving bladder I which has a surrounding sidewall 2, a top end 3 and a
closed bottom end 4.
The inflation chamber means is made up of four equally spaced apart tubular
ribs with only two ribs 10a. and 10b. being shown in Figure 1 and three ribs
10a., 10b. and 10c. being illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and which are in
communication with annular collar or torus 11 located about the top end 3 of
the bladder.
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As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the lower portion of the four inflatable
ribs
(only three ribs 10a, 10b, and 10c, being shown) are connected to the exterior
face of the surrounding sidewall proximate its bottom end by loop connectors
12. In the Figure 3 embodiment, inflatable ribs 10a, 10b, and 10c, are
physically attached along their length to the exterior face of sidewall 2
forming
part of bladder 1.
The top end 3 of the containment vessels as illustrated include opening 30
which, as noted previously, is surrounded by annular collar or torus 11
forming part of the inflation chamber which is made up of the collar and
tubular ribs. Opening 30, if desired, can be closed employing suitable
means, such as a cap, as is well known in the art. Provided in the annular
collar 11 is a closable access port, not shown but which is well known in the
art and which when opened, permits the inflation chamber means to be
charged with a gas or liquid for erection purposes and which, conversely, also
permits the discharge of the inflation gas or liquid when the containment
vessel is to be collapsed. When the inflation chamber means is inflated, the
access port is closed in order to maintain the vessel in its semi-rigid and
usable condition.
As also seen in the figures, the exterior face 5 of the surrounding sidewall
of
the bladder is provided with a closable spigot or tap 6 which permits liquid
contained in the bladder to be drained therefrom.
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While the figures iliustrate only two working embodiments of my invention, it
is
to be understood that variations in design as discussed earlier are possibfe
without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.
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