Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
SUMP PIT HAVING DISASSEMBLABLE UPPER AND LOWER TANK
PORTIONS AND RELATED METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to collection tanks placed under a floor of a
building to collect water from an area under the floor, and in which a pump is
typically
disposed for transferring the water from inside the tank to a location beyond
a footprint
of the building. Such collection tanks are often termed in industry as sump
pits. The
present invention also relates to methods of using such a collection tank.
BACKGROUND
Commonly, sump pits comprise a unitary construction where a lower tank
portion, which defines a substantially imperforate base of the sump pit so as
to contain
the water collected therein, and an upper tank portion, which is perforated so
that water
can flow through its wall and into the tank, and which is conventionally open
at its top,
are formed unitarily thereby resulting in a fairly bulky and at times large
apparatus for
.. locating in a sump cavity beneath location of the floor during installation
of the sump
pit. Furthermore, the bulkiness and large size may not aid shipping of
multiple such
units together, whereby the units take up more space.
Additionally, a conventional sump pit is designed for only a single sump
pump to operate therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a collection tank
for mounting under a floor of a building for collecting water from an area
under the floor
comprising:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a bottom
.. wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from the
bottom wall
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to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
an upper tank portion for standing upwardly from the open top in a working
position of the tank having an outer wall extending upwardly from a bottom to
a top of
the upper tank portion;
the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the water
can flow into the collection tank;
the upper tank portion being removably securable to the lower tank
portion in the working position by cooperation of a tab projecting outwardly
from the
outer wall of the lower tank portion and a cavity defined on an inside of the
upper tank
portion such that by rotation of the upper tank portion relative to the lower
tank portion
said tab and cavity are mated in a locked condition of the upper and lower
tank portions.
This allows for the collection tank, often termed in industry as a sump pit,
to be disassembled for ease of installation, such that one portion at a time
may be
brought into a cavity in which the tank is being installed. Additionally,
disassembly may
allow for reducing the space occupied by a plurality of like tanks during
shipping.
Preferably the upper tank portion tapers in width from the bottom to the
top such that the upper tank portion and another one of the like can be nested
one in
the other.
Preferably a width of the top of the upper tank portion is smaller than a
width of the open top of the lower tank portion such that the upper tank
portion can be
received in the lower tank portion in an inverted orientation. In this manner,
an overall
height of the tank can be reduced for shipping.
Preferably the outer wall of the upper tank portion is frustoconical in shape
so that the upper tank portion and another one of the like can be stacked in
nested
condition.
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In an arrangement, the lower tank portion includes a rim defining a
support surface on which a bottom surface of the upper tank portion is rested
in the
working position.
In an arrangement, the lower tank portion defines a ledge surface spaced
below the tab such that a bottom edge of the upper tank portion is in contact
with the
ledge surface in the working position.
Preferably the cavity of the upper tank portion extends in a circumferential
direction of the upper tank portion from a closed end to a throat which opens
at the
bottom of the upper tank portion such that the upper tank portion is
positionable in the
working position by alignment of the throat and tab.
In an arrangement, the cavity comprises a pair of neck portions
terminating at closed ends that are spaced apart circumferentially of the
upper tank
portion and a throat communicating with the neck portions that is intermediate
the
closed ends such that the upper tank portion is rotatable in one of two
opposite
rotational directions for mating the tab and cavity in the locked condition.
Preferably the lower tank portion includes at an inside of the bottom wall
a pump platform.
In an arrangement, the pump platform is defined by a plurality of ridges
raised above the bottom wall forming therebetween a channel so that the water
is
collectable in the lower tank portion between the ridges.
Thus, more than one pump for pumping the water out of the tank may be
located on a portion of the pump platform, which is defined by one or more
ridges,
surroundable by water.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a collection
tank for mounting under a floor of a building for collecting water from an
area under the
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floor comprising:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a bottom
wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from the
bottom wall
to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
an upper tank portion having an outer wall extending upwardly from a
bottom connected to the lower tank portion to a top of the upper tank portion;
the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the water
can flow into the collection tank;
a pump platform defined by a plurality of ridges raised above the bottom
wall forming therebetween a channel so that the water is collectable in the
lower tank
portion between the ridges.
In an arrangement, at least some of the ridges are arranged in an array
following a shape of the periphery of the bottom wall.
At least some of the ridges may be arranged in a circular array.
In an arrangement, the plurality of ridges includes a central ridge and a
plurality of peripheral ridges each extending parallel to a portion of a
periphery of the
central ridge.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is a provided a
collection tank for mounting under a floor of a building for collecting water
from an area
under the floor comprising:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a bottom
wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from the
bottom wall
to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
an upper tank portion having an outer wall extending upwardly from a
bottom connected to the lower tank portion to a top of the upper tank portion;
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the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the water
can flow into the collection tank;
wherein the lower and upper tank portions are separable from one
another, and wherein a width of the top of the upper tank portion is smaller
than a width
of the open top of the lower tank portion such that the upper tank portion can
be
received in the lower tank portion in an inverted orientation, in which the
collection tank
is inoperable for collecting the water, so as to decrease a height of the
collection tank.
Preferably the upper tank portion tapers in width from the bottom to the
top.
The outer wall of the upper tank portion may be frustoconical in shape so
that the upper tank portion and another one of the like can be stacked in
nested
condition.
Furthermore, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a collection tank
for mounting under a floor of a building for collecting water from an area
under the floor
and for receiving a pump for transferring the water from inside the collection
tank to a
location externally thereof, the collection tank comprising:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a bottom
wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from the
bottom wall
to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
the lower tank portion being adapted to support the pump on the bottom
wall within an interior of the lower tank portion where the water is
receivable;
an upper tank portion for standing upwardly from the open top of the lower
tank portion in a working position of the collection tank, the upper tank
portion having
an outer wall extending upwardly from a bottom to a top of the upper tank
portion;
the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the water
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can flow into the collection tank;
the lower tank portion including a tab which is supported externally of the
lower tank portion on the outer wall of the lower tank portion and which
projects
outwardly from said outer wall;
the upper tank portion defining a cavity in communication with an outside
of the upper tank portion;
the cavity extending in a circumferential direction of the upper tank portion
and having opposite upper and lower walls which are interconnected in
vertically
spaced relation; and
the cavity being arranged to receive the tab between the upper and lower
walls upon rotation of the upper tank portion relative to the lower tank
portion around a
tank axis encompassed by the outer walls of the upper and lower tank portions
so as
to locate the tab between the upper and lower walls of the cavity, such that
the upper
tank portion is removably secured to the lower tank portion against lifting
movement
generally parallel to the tank axis when in the working position.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide a collection tank for
mounting under a floor of a building for collecting water from an area under
the floor
and for receiving a pump for transferring the water from inside the collection
tank to a
location externally thereof, the collection tank comprising:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a bottom
wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from the
bottom wall
to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
the lower tank portion being adapted to support the pump on the bottom
wall within an interior of the lower tank portion where the water is
receivable;
an upper tank portion having an outer wall extending upwardly from a
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bottom connected to the lower tank portion to a top of the upper tank portion;
the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the water
can flow into the collection tank;
the bottom wall including a plurality of ridges having top surfaces raised
above an inside surface of the bottom wall to collectively define a
substantially
horizontal plane spaced above the inside surface of the bottom wall for
supporting the
pump thereon;
the top surface of each one of the ridges being spaced inwardly from the
outer wall of the lower tank portion such that the water can collect
therebetween; and
each pair of adjacent ones of the ridges forming therebetween a channel
so that the water is collectable in the lower tank portion between the
respective pair of
adjacent ones of the ridges.
It is yet another aspect of the invention to provide a method of using a
collection tank for mounting under a floor of a building for collecting water
from an area
under the floor and for receiving a pump for transferring the water from
inside the
collection tank to a location externally thereof, the method comprising:
providing the collection tank having:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a
bottom wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from
the
bottom wall to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
the lower tank portion being adapted to support the pump on the
bottom wall within an interior of the lower tank portion where the water is
receivable;
an upper tank portion having an outer wall extending upwardly
from a bottom connected to the lower tank portion to a top of the upper tank
portion;
the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the
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water can flow into the collection tank;
wherein the lower and upper tank portions are separable from one
another;
wherein a width of the top of the upper tank portion is smaller than
.. a width of the open top of the lower tank portion and the upper tank
portion tapers in
width from the bottom to the top thereof; and
inserting the upper tank portion in an inverted orientation, in which the
bottom of the upper tank portion is above the top thereof, into the lower tank
portion so
that the collection tank is inoperable for collecting the water and so as to
decrease a
height of the collection tank.
It is yet another aspect of the invention to provide a method of using a
collection tank for mounting in a cavity under a floor of a building for
collecting water
from an area under the floor and for receiving a pump for transferring the
water from
inside the collection tank to a location externally thereof, the method
comprising:
providing the collection tank comprising:
a lower tank portion defining a base of the collection tank having a
bottom wall for resting on a support surface and an outer wall upstanding from
the
bottom wall to define an open top of the lower tank portion;
an upper tank portion for standing upwardly from the open top of
the lower tank portion in a working position of the collection tank;
the upper tank portion having an outer wall extending upwardly
from a bottom to a top of the upper tank portion;
the upper tank portion including at least one opening such that the
water can flow into the collection tank;
wherein the lower and upper tank portions are separable from one
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another;
providing the pump;
lowering the lower tank portion into the cavity with the upper tank portion
detached therefrom;
locating the pump within an interior of the lower tank portion; and
with the lower tank portion received in the cavity, connecting the upper
tank portion to the lower tank portion in the working position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of collection tank according to an
embodiment of the present invention from the top thereof.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the collection tank of Figure 1 from the
bottom.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the collection tank of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the collection tank of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of lower tank portion of the collection tank
of Figure 1 from the top thereof.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lower tank portion of Figure 5 from
the bottom.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the lower tank portion of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the lower tank portion of Figure 5.
Figure 9 is an elevational view of the lower tank portion of Figure 5 from
one side thereof.
Figure 10 is an elevational view of the lower tank portion of Figure 5 from
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another side 90 degrees from that in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of upper tank portion of the collection tank
of Figure 1 from the top thereof.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the upper tank portion of Figure 11 from
the bottom.
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the upper tank portion of Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the upper tank portion of Figure 11.
Figure 15 is an elevational view of the upper tank portion of Figure 11,
shown in inverted orientation, from one side thereof.
Figure 16 is an elevational view of the upper tank portion of Figure 11 in
inverted orientation from another side 90 degrees from that in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the collection tank of Figure 1.
Figure 18 is a bottom plan view of the collection tank of Figure 1.
Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the collection tank of Figure 1 taken
along line 19-19 in Figure 18.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
There is illustrated in the figures a collection tank 10 for mounting under
a floor 1 (schematically shown) of a building, typically in a cavity 3
(schematically
shown) formed beneath the floor, for collecting water from an area under the
floor. In
industry, such collection tanks are often termed 'sump pits'.
The collection tank 10 comprises an imperforate lower tank portion 12
defining a base of the collection tank, which is illustrated in isolation in
Figures 5-10.
The lower tank portion 12 includes a bottom wall 13 for resting on a support
surface,
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such as a bottom 3A of the sump cavity, and a circular cylindrical outer wall
15
upstanding at 90 degrees to the bottom wall to define opposite thereto an open
top 17
of the lower tank portion. The open top is delimited by an inner rim 18 which
extends
radially inwardly towards a center of the lower tank portion beyond the
cylindrical outer
wall 15 such that a diameter Di of the open top 17 from diametrically opposite
locations
on an inner peripheral edge 19 of the inner rim is smaller than an outside
diameter Do
of the bottom wall. Further, at an inside of the bottom wall 13 is a pump
platform 20 for
supporting a pump P1 or P2 (schematically shown) raised above the bottom wall
so
that the water which enters into the tank can collect below the pump P1 or P2.
Further to the lower tank portion, the collection tank or surnp pit 10
includes an upper tank portion 21 for standing upwardly from the open top 17
of the
lower tank portion 12 in a working position of the tank, with a bottom surface
22 of the
upper tank portion resting on a support surface 18A defined at the top of the
lower tank
portion by the inner rim 18. The upper tank portion is illustrated in
isolation in Figures
11-16. The upper tank portion 21 includes a frustoconical outer wall 23
extending
upwardly from a bottom 21A connected to the lower tank portion 12 in the
working
position to a top 21B of the upper tank portion, which when the tank 10 is
installed in
the cavity 3 is to be located at or proximal to the floor 1. The outer wall of
the upper
tank portion 21 locates a plurality of relatively small openings 24 such that
water can
flow into the collection tank therethrough. These flow openings 24 are
arranged in an
array of several inclined columns, like that indicated at 25A, each which
extends
upwardly and towards one side of the outer wall such that the respective
column
traverse both a height and a portion of the circumference of the outer wall
23. The array
of openings extends across a majority of a height of the frustoconical outer
wall 15 and
across a full circumference thereof such that the columns of openings such as
25A,
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25B, 25C are spaced each from the next in a circumferential direction of the
upper tank
portion.
The top 21B of the upper tank portion is open, the opening therein being
delimited by a support rim 26 extending radially inwardly from the
frustoconical outer
wall 15 at a position spaced below its top edge 23B so that the support rim is
recessed
slightly from the wall top edge 23B. The rim 26 carries a plurality of
elongated
receptacles 28, shown more clearly in Figure 19, depending downwardly beneath
the
rim to closed terminuses and spaced circumferentially about the rim, with
receptacle
openings 29 in an upper surface 26A of the rim for receiving fasteners such as
screws
(not shown) to attach a cap or cover to close the otherwise open top 21B.
Through the
open top 216 of the upper tank portion there is typically passed piping from
the pump
P1 or P2 situated on the pump platform 20 to a location externally of the tank
for
transferring the water collected in the tank out of same.
As will be appreciated, the collection tank 10 can be disassembled into
separated upper and lower tank portions, which may ease installation as one
portion at
a time may be brought into the cavity 3 and which may allow for reducing the
space
occupied by a plurality of like tanks during shipping.
Thus, when the upper tank portion 21 is positioned on the lower tank
portion 12 in the working position, they may be removably secured by relative
rotational
movement of one tank portion to the other. Typically, as the lower tank
portion 12 is
mounted first in the cavity 3, the upper tank portion 21 is that which is
rotated relative
to the lower tank portion, which is substantially stationary at the bottom of
the cavity, to
a locked condition of the upper and lower tank portions in which they cannot
be
separated in a lifting direction generally parallel to an tank axis T which
the outer walls
15, 23 encompass.
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In order to facilitate locked interconnection of the lower tank portion 12
relative to the upper tank portion, there is provided a pair of locking tabs
30 located
diametrically opposite one another at the top of the lower tank portion such
that tops
30A of the tabs lie in a common horizontal plane with the support surface 18A
defined
by the inner rim 18.
Each locking tab 30 projects radially outwardly from the cylindrical outer
wall 15 of the lower tank portion to a free end 31 which follows an arcuate
path from
one side 32 of the respective tab to the other 33, and in the illustrated
embodiment this
path follows the outer wall 15. As such, the respective tab 30 extends along a
portion
of the circumference of the outer wall 15.
Cooperating with the locking tabs on the lower tank portion 12 are a pair
of diametrically opposite cavities 38 for mating with the tabs 30 that are
formed in a
bottom periphery of the upper tank portion 21. That is, at the bottom 21A of
the upper
tank portion of the illustrated embodiment, a locking rim 40 projects radially
outwardly
from the frustoconical outer wall 23 to define an outermost periphery of the
upper tank
portion. Thus, the locking rim 40 comprises an upper wall 42, an outer
peripheral wall
43 depending downwardly from this upper wall to a bottom edge 44 of the
locking rim
spaced outwardly from a bottom 23A of the frustoconical wall, and in some
areas of the
rim 40 a lower wall 45 which is opposite the upper wall so as to form an
enclosure
closed at its bottom, as will be better appreciated shortly. The locking rim
also includes
an inner peripheral wall 46 depending from the lower wall 45 to the bottom
edge 44,
which is sized and shaped to follow the cylindrical outer wall 15 of the lower
tank portion
so as to locate the upper tank portion centrally thereon in the working
position.
The cavities 38, which are open from an inside of the locking rim 40 facing
radially inwardly as for example indicated at reference numeral 47, each
comprise a
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pair of neck portions 49, 50 extending circumferentially of the upper tank
portion from
a closed end defined by an end wall 51 to on an open end 52 of the respective
neck
portion which is communicated with a throat 54 located intermediate the neck
portions.
The throat 54 extends downwardly from the open ends 52 of the neck portions
and
opens at the bottom of the upper tank portion so as to be in communication
with an
outside of the upper tank portion so that the tabs 30 can be received in the
neck portions
49, 50 of the cavities in the working position.
In the illustrated embodiment, location of the bottom edge 44 relative to
the bottom 23A of the frustoconical outer wall 23 is different for the
different portions of
the cavities, and thus at the throat 54 the bottom edge 44 is located the
furthest away
from the bottom 23A following a path parallel thereto, and at the neck
portions 49, 50
the bottom edge 44 is located closer to the bottom 23A while still following a
path
parallel thereto. As such, the neck portions 49, 50 are defined by opposing
upper and
lower walls 42, 45, the outer peripheral wall 43, and the end wall 51 defining
a closed
terminus of the respective neck portion. Similarly, the throat 54 is defined
by the upper
wall 42 and the outer peripheral wall 43, which at the throat extends from the
upper wall
below the lower wall 45 to the bottom edge 44 so as to be open at the bottom.
The
throat includes side walls 55, 56 which extend radially between the outer and
inner
peripheral walls 43, 46 and meet the lower wall 45, generally in line with the
open end
.. of the respective neck portion 49, 50. The outer peripheral wall 43 follows
a path
parallel to the bottom 23A of the frustoconical wall so as to be uniformly
spaced
therefrom along the full length of the respective cavity from opposing end
walls 51.
Furthermore, the inner peripheral wall 46 follows a path parallel to the outer
wall 15 of
the lower tank portion, and spans between both the neck portions 49, 50 and
the throats
.. 54 of the opposite cavities 38. The inner peripheral wall 46 provides the
bottom edge
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for locating the upper tank portion centrally of the lower tank portion, as
the inner
peripheral wall 46 overlap a top of the outer wall 15 of the lower tank
portion in the
working position. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper wall
42 spans
a full circumference of the bottom 23A of the upper tank portion's outer wall
23.
Thus, in order to arrange the upper and lower tank portions in the working
position, the throat 54 and the respective tab 30 are aligned. More
specifically, the tabs
and throats of the cavities are aligned angularly of the central tank axis T.
As a typical
installation involves lowering the upper tank portion 21 into the cavity 3
from outside
the cavity, there are provided visual markings in the form of raised linear
bumps 57
(schematically shown in Figure 13, and in broken line in Figure 14), located
on the upper
wall 42 of the locking rim. The bumps 47 which are located centrally of the
throats 54
indicate centers of the throats from above, so that an installer can visually
monitor
position of the throats 54 as the upper tank portion is lowered into the
cavity 3 and onto
the lower tank portion already mounted therein.
Once in the working position, meaning that the bottom surface 22 defined
by an underside of the locking rim's upper wall 42 is received on the
supporting surface
18A of the lower tank portion's inner rim 18, possible only when the throats
54 and
locking tabs 30 are aligned, the upper tank portion 21 may be rotated in one
of two
opposite rotational directions, R1 or R2, for mating the tabs and cavities in
the locked
condition. When the throat and tabs are misaligned, the upper tank portion 21
will not
be seated on the lower tank portion 12 with the underside 22 of the upper wall
in
abutment with the inner rim's support surface 18A as the locking tabs 30 which
project
outwardly past the bottom edge 44 at the inner peripheral wall 46 thus engage
the
bottom edge 44 located further inwardly than the free end 31 of the respective
tab.
Thus, to dispose the upper and lower tank portions in the working position,
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each locking tab 30 is passed through an opening in a bottom of the locking
rim 40
formed by the respective throat 54 until the bottom surface 22 of the upper
tank portion
abuts the support surface 18A at the top of the lower tank portion, providing
the working
position of the collection tank 10. In the working position, the tab is
aligned with the
open ends 52 of the neck portions, but as long as the tab 30 remains in the
opening
defined by the throat 54 ¨ that is, in the illustrated embodiment, between the
side walls
55, 56 of the throat ¨ the upper and lower tank portions are in an unlocked
condition in
which the upper tank portion 21 can be freely separated from the lower tank
portion 12
by lifting movement in a direction generally parallel to the tank axis T.
Thus, to dispose
.. the upper and lower tank portions in the locked condition, the upper tank
portion 21 is
rotated around the tank axis T relative to the lower tank portion, which acts
to locate
the locking tab 30 in one of the neck portions 49, 50 of the respective cavity
so that the
tab is angularly offset from the throat 54. In some of the figures showing the
collection
tank in the working position, the location of the respective locking tab 30
within the
cavity 38 is indicated by the respective tab 30 represented in stippled lines.
In the neck
portions, the locking tab 30 is confined by the upper and lower walls 42, 45
so that the
upper tank portion 21 remains fixed in relation to the lower tank portion
along the tank
axis T. The upper tank portion 21 remains free to be rotated, the limits of
rotation being
defined by the opposite end walls 51 of opposing neck portions of a common
cavity 38.
Relative rotation of the upper and lower tank portions angular misaligns or
offsets the
tab and throat so as to dispose the upper and lower tank portions in the
locked
condition.
Further to the tabs, on the lower tank portion 12 there is provided a pair
of support ledges 60 projecting radially outwardly from the cylindrical outer
wall 15 at a
location below the locking tabs 30. Each support ledge 60 extends
circumferentially of
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the lower tank portion's outer wall 15 at a location angularly offset from the
tabs 30 such
that the tabs and support ledges do not overlap circumferentially of the lower
tank
portion. That is, ends 62, 63 of the respective support ledge are spaced from
ends of
the tabs in a circumferential direction of the outer wall 15. Furthermore, the
support
ledges 60 each define a ledge surface 65 spaced below the respective tab 30
such that
the bottom edge 44 of the upper tank portion's locking rim is guided on the
ledge surface
in rotation between the unlocked and locked conditions in the working
position. In the
illustrated embodiment, the support ledges 60 are wholly spaced below the tabs
30
such that the ledge surfaces 65 are spaced below bottoms of the locking tabs.
The upper and lower tank portions are sized so that in the disassembled
state of the collection tank, orientation of the tank portions may be
manipulated to
reduce size for shipping. For instance, the frustoconical outer wall 23 of the
upper tank
portion is tapered in diametric width from the bottom 21A to the top 21B of
the upper
tank portion, so that the top is narrower which width is indicated at Wt than
the bottom
indicated at Wb and, as such, the upper tank portion 21 and another one of the
like can
be nested one in the other and thus they can be stacked in nested condition
one on top
of the other.
Furthermore, the diametric width Wt of the top 21B of the upper tank
portion is smaller than the diametric width Di of the open top 17 of the lower
tank portion
12 such that the upper tank portion 21 can be received in the lower tank
portion in an
inverted orientation, such as is shown in Figure 15 or 16. In the illustrated
embodiment,
a portion of the height of the upper tank portion will still project beyond
the open top 17
of the lower tank portion because the upper tank portion is taller than the
lower tank
portion, but, even so, an overall height of the tank can be reduced for
shipping with the
upper tank portion received in inverted orientation in the lower tank portion.
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As previously mentioned, there is provided a pump platform 20, which in
the illustrated embodiment is defined by a plurality of ridges 68A and 68B
raised above
an inside surface 13A of the lower tank portion's bottom wall 13, with planar
top surfaces
70A and 70B lying in a common horizontal plane P spaced above the planar
inside
surface 13A of the bottom wall. The ridges comprise a central circular ridge
68A and
a plurality of peripheral ridges 68B arranged in a circular array following
the shape of
the periphery of the bottom wall 13 and the outer wall 15. Each peripheral
ridge 68B
extends parallel to a periphery of the central ridge 68A. In the illustrated
embodiment,
there are a plurality of circular annuli or circular rings 73 and 74 of the
peripheral ridges
68B each encompassing the central ridge 68A. The inner ring 73 encompasses the
central ridge 68A only, while the outer ring 74 encompasses both the inner
ring 73 and
the central ridge 68A. Within each adjacent pair of ridges, whether both are
of the
peripheral type or one is a peripheral ridge and the other the central ridge,
there is
formed a channel between the adjacent ridges so that water (not shown) can
collect in
the lower tank portion therebetween. As such, more than one pump can be
located
upon a portion of the pump platform 20 which can be substantially surrounded
by water
for subsequent pumping out of the tank 10 to a location beyond the footprint
of the
building.
As shown in Figures 7 and 19, the top surfaces 70A and 705 of the ridges
68A and 68B are spaced inwardly from the outer wall 15 of the lower tank
portion.
The upper and lower tank portions can be manufactured by extrusion
moulding from suitable plastics material.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
CA 2972715 2019-05-29
19
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
CA 2972715 2019-05-29
