Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02746687 2016-01-25
LIQUID CONTAINMENT SYSTEM
This invention relates to a containment system for containing within a
specified area a spilled liquid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many prior patents and other disclosures show various constructions of
a temporary berm or bin system which can be easily transported, erected
without
tools, and easily dismantled. Typically this comprises a set of panels or
planks joined
with sliding clips to form a bin having vertical or near vertical sides. The
bin can be
lined with an impervious sheet to form a containment for use in controlling
the
dispersal of hazardous material spilled from storage or work facilities. In
some
cases, spring loaded clamps hold the liner securely to a top edge of the panel
or in
other cases the liner can be attached to a position adjacent the bottom edge.
In all
cases it is preferred that the panels are assembled and the liner installed
without
nailing, sewing, or other labor consuming and/or tear prone methods. The berm
is
particularly suited to protect oil well drilling sites in environmentally
sensitive
environments such as arctic tundra.
It is desirable that no excavation or other disturbance of the soil is
required to erect the protective berm. The berm can be secured to the ground
and
supported by triangular support gussets at spaced positions around the outside
of
the panels. The complete system including the panels, gussets and liner is
preferably arranged so that it is easily transported by ordinary truck.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid
containment barrier comprising:
a plurality of panels, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, an inner
surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end such that the panels
can be
arranged with the first end of one panel connected to the second end of a
second
panel to form a peripheral wall surrounding an area to be confined;
the top edges of the panels being arranged at a common height to
define a common top edge of the peripheral wall;
wherein each panel has the common top edge as a raw edge of a
single upstanding metal sheet standing upwardly from the panel without any
additional flange portion where the common top edge defines the inner surface
and
the outer surface spaced by a thickness of the panel;
a plurality of support bracket members arranged to stand vertically at
spaced positions around the peripheral wall outside the peripheral wall for
connection to the panels to hold the panels and the peripheral wall vertical;
and a plurality of elongate extruded plastics spring channel members
each engaged over the common top edge at positions along the common top edge;
each of the extruded spring channel members comprising a cylindrical
portion having a hollow interior engaged over the common top edge with the
common top edge entering into the hollow interior of the cylindrical portion;
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the cylindrical portion of each channel member having at least three
longitudinal parallel ribs extending inwardly from an inside surface thereof
defining
the hollow interior;
the parallel ribs including a central rib aligned with the pair of legs and
a first rib on one side of the central rib and a second rib symmetrically with
the first
rib on an opposed side of the central rib;
said first and second longitudinal ribs being spaced apart relative to the
central rib so as to define therebetween first and second parallel grooves on
the
inside surface of the cylindrical portion thereof so that the common top edge
is
received and located in the first groove where the common top edge is inclined
inwardly and in the second groove where the common top edge is inclined
outwardly;
wherein each bracket member includes an upstanding brace portion
with an inner vertical edge engaging and supporting the outer surface of one
of the
panels;
and wherein each bracket member includes a rod member;
the rod member having a lower hook end defined by a first bent portion of the
rod
member engaging onto the brace portion at a position thereon outward of the
inner
edge;
and the rod member having an upper arcuate hook defined by a
second bent portion of the rod member end engaging over the cylindrical
portion of
the extruded spring channel member at the common top edge of the panel;
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the extruded spring channel member being held captured by the upper
arcuate hook so that lifting movement of the extruded spring channel member
causes upward pulling forces on the rod member to resist the lifting;
the upper arcuate hook being free from connection to components
inside the peripheral wall so that all upward puling forces are communicated
to the
rod member.
Optionally there is provided a plurality of additional clamp collars each
shorter than the channel members and arranged to surround the part cylindrical
portion of the channel members.
When provided, the clamp collars can be used to bridge between an
end of one channel member and an end of a next adjacent channel member, for
example where the channel members end at an end of the panels and the clamp
collars are arranged to bridge between an end of one panel and an end of a
next
adjacent panel.
When provided, the additional clamp collars can provide additional
and localized clamping force on the channel members, for example where the
additional clamp collars are located at a respective one of the bracket
members to
engage a component of the bracket members.
In one example, the liner extends over the channel members and the
additional clamp collars are arranged to clamp the liner on to the outer
surface of the
part cylindrical portion of the channel members.
Preferably the channel members are flexible to bend around a
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curvature when the peripheral wall is formed as a circle rather than as a
rectangle
with specific corners.
Preferably the channel members are of a length at least equal to the
length of the panels.
In one arrangement, the liner is connected at the bottom of the wall at
a position spaced from the channel members so that the channel members provide
protection of the raw steel edge for protection of personnel and items draped
over
the top edges of the panels. In this case, each channel member may have at
least
one extruded groove on an inside surface of the part cylindrical portion
thereof
arranged to receive the top edge of the panel.
In some containment confirmations such as those having straight sides
greater than a length which is self supporting, there is provided a plurality
of support
bracket members arranged to stand vertically at spaced positions along the
peripheral wall for connection to the panels to hold the panels and the
peripheral
wall vertical. In this case, each bracket member can include an upstanding
brace
portion with an inner vertical edge for engaging and supporting the outer
surface of
one of the panels and, in order to provide an assembly system which reduces
the
requirement for tools, each bracket member includes a rod member having a
lower
hook end for engaging onto the brace portion at a position thereon outward of
the
inner edge and an upper hook end for engaging over the channel members. This
acts to hold the panels in place until the assembly of the peripheral wall is
complete.
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Preferably the upper hook end of the rod is arcuate to partly surround
the part cylindrical portion of the channel member at the top edge.
In another assembly system which reduces the requirement for tools,
preferably the bracket member includes an upwardly extending flange which
defines
with the inner vertical edge of the brace portion a channel for receiving the
bottom
edge of the panel so that the bottom edge of the panel is prevented from
moving
outwardly by the inner vertical edge of the brace portion and is prevented
from
moving inwardly by the flange. This flange can be part of a plate member
clamped
underneath a bottom edge of the brace portion.
In another assembly system which reduces the requirement for tools,
preferably each of the panels has at the first end thereof a first connecting
plate
bolted to the panel and having a height substantially equal to the height of
the panel
and has at the second end thereof a second connecting plate bolted to the
panel
and having a height substantially equal to the height of the panel, each of
the first
and second plates being bent to form a series of coaxial sleeves along an
outer
edge of the plate so that the sleeves of the first plate engage between the
sleeves of
the second plate to receive a rod extending coaxially of the sleeves of both
plates to
hold the plates connected. The plates thus can form hinges which can
articulate for
circular systems or to form corners or can remain coplanar to connect panel
along
one side of the system.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid
containment barrier comprising:
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a plurality of panels, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, an inner
surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end such that the panels
can be
arranged with the first end of one panel connected to the second end of a
second
panel to form a peripheral wall surrounding an area to be confined;
the top edges of the panels being arranged at a common height to
define a common top edge of the peripheral wall;
and a liner arranged to extend across the ground inside the peripheral
wall and arranged to be connected to the peripheral wall;
wherein each panel has the common top edge as a raw edge of a
single upstanding metal sheet standing upwardly from the panel without any
additional flange portion where the common top edge defines the inner surface
and
the outer surface spaced by a thickness of the panel;
wherein the panels are horizontally corrugated to form horizontal ribs
and valleys and so that the common top edge is inclined inwardly or outwardly
depending on the position of the top common edge relative to the ribs and
valleys;
and a plurality of elongate extruded plastics spring channel members
each engaged over the common top edge at positions along the common top edge;
each of the extruded spring channel members comprising a cylindrical
portion having a hollow interior and a pair of legs extending downwardly from
the
cylindrical portion to an end thereof remote from the cylindrical portion;
the cylindrical portion being engaged over the common top edge with
the common top edge entering into the hollow interior of the cylindrical
portion;
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the pair of legs extending downwardly from the cylindrical portion at the
common top edge;
the pair of legs having inside surfaces thereof in engagement with the
inner and outer surfaces respectively of the common top edge;
the cylindrical portion of each channel member having at least three
longitudinal parallel ribs extending inwardly from an inside surface thereof
defining
the hollow interior;
the parallel ribs including a central rib aligned with the pair of legs and
a first rib on one side of the central rib and a second rib symmetrically with
the first
rib on an opposed side of the central rib;
said first and second longitudinal ribs being spaced apart relative to the
central rib so as to define therebetween first and second parallel grooves on
the
inside surface of the cylindrical portion thereof so that the common top edge
is
received and located in the first groove where the common top edge is inclined
inwardly and in the second groove where the common top edge is inclined
outwardly.
Thus the system described in more detail hereinafter provides a
protection system for the top edge of the panels which also can provide a
liner
clamping arrangement that is comprised of:
a) long
extruded clamp/edge protector which are long spring
channel members or pieces, which are flexible around corners, UV resistant,
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hot/cold compatible, etc
b) Mating
short pieces or clamp collars which clamp to the long
piece to bridge across joints in the long piece, provide additional and
localized
clamping force of the long pieces if required and can also clamp liner to the
long
pieces
This arrangement has application in existing primary and secondary
containment systems and are also an integral component of an assembly system
which reduces the requirement for tools.
Thus for bottom mount secondary containment systems, where the
liner is connected at the bottom of the wall rather than at the top, the
system
provides protection of the raw steel edge for protection of personnel working
around
or crossing over the system wall sheets or panels and also protects hoses,
cords, or
other items draped over the edges of the system. In this
application the long
channel members extend along and over the wall sheet edges and grip to the
steel
edge. The short clamp collars engage over the long channel members where
required to provide additional clamping force and to bridge across joints in
the
channel members. The clamp collars may or may not be a requirement.
in a top mounted liner systems, where the liner is connected at the top
of the wall rather than at the bottom, the parts will work in one of two ways.
The liner
can be laid over the raw steel edge and secured in place with the channel
members
which grip both the steel and the liner. The short clamp collars provide
additional
clamping force at strategic locations and also bridge across joints in the
channel
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members.
The outer bottom edge, at the outside surface of the wall panels, of the
channel members can be used as a guide edge to cut the excess liner so it can
be
removed. This provides a nice finish to the system. As well as clamping the
liner,
the system also provides protection to personnel as above. Again the short
clamp
collars may or may not be a requirement.
As an alternative, the channel members can also go over the raw steel
edge first and then the liner drapes over it. The short clamp collars then
secure the
liner to the channel members at strategic locations. In this manner the long
channel
members act to protect the liner from the raw steel edge and the clamp collars
act to
secure the liner. Here the clamp collars are required.
As part of an assembly system which reduces the requirement for
tools, the parts above can be used as described above as a liner clamp and in
addition they work as part of the wall sheet securing method in conjunction
with the
wire loops.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a containment barrier according to the
present invention showing the outside of the peripheral wall and providing an
assembly system which reduces the requirement for tools.
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Figure 2 is an isometric view of the containment barrier of Figure 1
showing the inside of the peripheral wall with the liner attached to the top
of the wall.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the containment barrier of Figure 1
showing one bracket member including a base plate and a brace member.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the containment barrier of Figure 1
along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the containment barrier of Figure 1
showing connection between two panels.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the containment barrier of Figure 1
along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of the containment barrier of Figure 1
showing connection between two panels and including the additional clamping
member and showing the bottom mount system of Figure 9.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of one channel member of the
containment barrier of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 but
showing a bottom mount arrangement where the liner is attached to the wall at
a
position adjacent the bottom.
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 6 but
showing the liner underneath the channel members.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The arrangement shown in the drawings comprises a set of parts for
assembly into a liquid containment barrier which in the figures are shown in
the
assembled position.
A peripheral wall 10 is formed by a plurality of panels 10A, 10B etc,
each having a top edge 10C (best shown in Figures 4 and 6), a bottom edge 10D,
an inner surface 10E and an outer surface 10F.
Each panel has a first end 10G and a second end 10H such that the
panels can be arranged with the first end of one connected to the second end
of a
second to form the complete peripheral wall surrounding an area to be
confined.
The panels are formed from the same material used in grain bins so as
to be horizontally corrugated for strength to form horizontal ribs 101 and
valleys 102.
The panels are of the same height so that the top edges 10C of the panels are
arranged at a common height to define a common top edge of the peripheral wall
with the bottom edge 10D resting on the ground.
The system further includes a plurality of support bracket members 20
(Figure 3) arranged to stand vertically at spaced positions around the
peripheral wall
for connection to the panels 10A to hold the panels and the peripheral wail
10.
vertical.
Each bracket member 20 includes a base plate 20A bridging the wall
with an inner piece 20B inside the wall and an outer piece 20C outside the
wall so
that the wall sits on the base plates at the brackets and sits on the ground
between
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the brackets. On the base plate at the outer piece 200 is mounted a generally
triangular upstanding brace portion 20D formed of a plate with a bottom flange
20E
bolted to the base plate. An inner vertical flange 20F defines an inner edge
for
engaging and supporting the outer surface of one of the panels 10A.
Each bracket member 20 further includes a rod member 200 having a
lower hook end 20H for engaging through a selected one of a plurality of holes
20J
in the plate forming the brace portion at a position thereon outward of the
inner edge
20F. At the upper end, the rod member 200 includes an upper hook end 20K for
engaging over the top edge of the wall.
Preferably each bracket member includes an upstanding brace portion
with an inner vertical edge 20F for engaging and supporting the outer surface
1OF of
one of the panels and, in order to provide an assembly system which reduces
the
requirement for tools, each bracket member 20 includes a rod member 20G having
a
lower hook end 20H for engaging onto the brace portion at a position thereon
outward of the inner edge and an upper hook end 20K for engaging over the
channel
members. This acts to hold the panels in a vertical orientation particularly
in respect
of long sides which have a tendency to be unstable unless restrained.
The bracket member 20 includes an upwardly extending flange 20L
which defines with the inner vertical edge 20F of the brace portion a channel
20N for
receiving the bottom edge 10D of the panel so that the bottom edge of the
panel is
prevented from moving outwardly by the inner vertical edge of the brace
portion and
is prevented from moving inwardly by the flange. This flange 20L is part of an
L-
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shaped plate 20M member clamped underneath the bottom flange 20E of the brace
portion 20D.
Each of the panels 10A, 10B has at the first end 10G thereof a first
connecting plate 30A bolted to the panel 10A and has at the second end thereof
a
second connecting plate 30B bolted to the panel 10B. Each of the first and
second
plates has a height substantially equal to the height of the panel and is
connected to
the panel by bolts 30C passing through the ribs 101 and by bolts 30D passing
through the valleys 102. Each plate is bent to form a series of coaxial
sleeves 30E,
30F along an outer edge of the plate so that the sleeves 30E of the first
plate 30A
engage between the sleeves 30F of the second plate 30B to receive a rod 30H
extending coaxially of the sleeves of both plates to hold the plates
connected. Thus
the rod 30H with an upper handle portion 30K can be dropped through the
sleeves
with the ends of the panels aligned to simply and quickly connect the panels
with the
panels being either in a common vertical plane or arranged at an angle to one
another at the axis defined by the rod 30H. Thus the panels can be arranged at
equal small angular differences to proscribe a circle or some can be in a
common
plane with others at right angles to form a rectangular containment.
As part of the assembly, a liner is provided in most cases and is
arranged .to extend across the ground inside the peripheral wall to be
connected to
the peripheral wall. The liner can extend over the top edge to ensure leak
protection
on the wall.
There is provided a plurality of elongate spring channel members 40
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each engaged over the top edge at positions along the top edge. Each channel
member 40 is extruded from a plastics material and is of the cross-section
shown in
Figure 8. This provides a part-cylindrical portion 40A engaged over the top
edge
and closing around the panel sides to contact the inner and outer surfaces of
the
panel. The channel 40 includes and a pair of legs 40B extending downwardly
from
the part cylindrical portion 40A arranged to engage the inner and outer
surfaces
respectively. At the bottom end of the leg is provided a flared edge portion
40C
allowing the user to grasp an end of the leg to manipulate the channel member
to a
required position and to facilitate ease of application, particularly when
applying over
the liner. The extruded channel members are supplied typically cut to a length
at
least equal or generally exactly equal to the length of the panels. The
channel
members are extruded from a material which is sufficiently deformable to be
flexible
to bend around corners when the peripheral wall is formed as a rectangle
rather than
as a circle.
Each channel member has a smooth outer surface but includes two
extruded grooves 40E on the inside surface of the part cylindrical portion 40A
thereof defined between a center rib 40F and two outer spaced ribs 40D. The
grooves are arranged to receive the top edge of the panel and there are two
either
side of the center rib 40F for symmetry in order to allow insertion of the
edge
inwardly or outwardly bearing in mind that the top panel edge is canted in one
direction by the corrugations. The grooves thus assist in locating the channel
member. The legs are located to provide a slight inward spring pressure on the
wall.
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The legs also prevent the channel member from rolling about its axis if a
lateral force
is applied such as a hose dragged across it.
There is therefore provided a plurality of additional C-shaped clamp
collars 50, again of an extruded plastics material, each shorter than the
channel
members and arranged to surround and grip the part cylindrical portion 40A of
the
channel members 40.
As shown in Figure 1 at 50A, the clamp collars are used to bridge
between an end of one channel member 40 on panel 10A and an end of a next
adjacent channel member on panel 10B. Thus the channel members 40 end at an
end of the panels 10A and 10B and the clamp collars 50 are arranged to bridge
between an end of one panel 10A and an end of the next adjacent panel 10B.
The additional clamp collars also provide additional and localized
clamping force on the channel members. Thus as shown in Figure 1 at 50B, the
additional clamp collars are located at a respective one of the bracket
members 20
to engage the hook 20K of the rod member 20G. The upper hook end 20K of the
rod
is arcuate at the same radius of curvature as the collar to partly surround
the part
cylindrical portion of the channel member and the collar 50B at the top edge.
As shown in Figure 6, the liner 60 extends over the part cylindrical
portion 40A of the channel members 40 and the additional clamp collars 50
clamp
the edge portion 60A of the liner 60 on to the outer surface of the part
cylindrical
portion 40A of the channel members.
Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10 the liner drapes over the panel top
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edge and is held in place by the channel member 40 which is pulled down from
the
top. If required additional clamping force can be strategically applied with
the clamp
collars 50.
As shown in Figure 9, the edge 60B of the liner 60 is clamped at a
bolted clamp bar 600 at the bottom of the wall at a position spaced from the
channel
members 40 so that the channel members 40 act to provide protection of the raw
steel edge for protection of personnel and items draped over the top edges of
the
panels. Thus for bottom mount secondary containment systems, where the liner
is
connected at the bottom of the wall rather than at the top, the system
provides
protection of the raw steel edge for protection of personnel working around or
crossing over the system wall sheets or panels and also protects hoses, cords,
or
other items draped over the edges of the system. Although the arrangement
shown
in Figure 9 includes the plate type coupling system between panels, typically
this is
not used in bottom liner mounting arrangements since such a plate type
coupling will
leak. Thus conventional bolted connections are provide between panels with
suitable gaskets as are well known to persons skilled in this art.
Each panel is formed of a sheet with the corrugations 101, 102
extending to a top edge of the sheet leaving the top edge as a raw edge
standing
upwardly from the panel without any additional flange portion. This avoids the
necessity for an additional machining process to form the typical horizontal
flange
which when used provides structural strength and protection against
presentation of
a sharp edge. Thus in
the present arrangement the raw edge is presented
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upwardly as a potentially dangerous sharp edge and is protected by the channel
members 40.
