Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
2 1 7 6 2 7 3 Indu~trie Industry
Canad~ Canada
~PIC ~P~
6 ~Al 10 t59c 6
LIQUID COLLECTION DECK
Dossier
File
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Remis à
The present invention provides a deck for use with a~v~nicle for
collecting and containing liquids therefrom, particularly when cleaning
hazardous liquids from farm spray vehicles or loading the liquid on such
vehicles.
BACKGROUND
Vehicles used to transport, cleanup, or spray hazardous liquids
particularly vehicles used to carry farm spray equipment need to be cleaned
of any residual hazardous liquids after use. Also the hazardous liquids need
to be cleaned from or loaded on the vehicle in an environmentally safe
manner without contaminating the ground or other supporting surface
The vehicle used to transport, cleanup, or spray hazardous
liquids is often a tractor, airplane, truck, or helicopter. When cleaning these
types of vehicles the operator usually to moves the vehicle to a designated
location and then rinses the vehicle clean with water. The water now
containing the hazardous liquid is often allowed to run off the vehicle onto
the ground or other supporting surface. This water may then make its way
to a sewer system, waterways or ground water. This creates a problem in
that hazardous liquids treated in this manner may over time become
concentrated in the ground or other end location and cause environmental
damage or pose a threat to people living or working in and around these
areas.
One example of a deck for collecting and containing liquid
when cleaning hazardous liquids is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,300,341
of the present inventor and this includes a plurality of deck sections
radiating outwardly from a central sump and supported on underlying
2 1 76273
support elements which are shaped cause the deck sections to slope toward
the sump. This device has achieved some success but leaves opportunity
for improvement in the construction of the device for ease and cost of
manufacture.
5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide
an improved deck which allows the collection and containment of hazardous
or contaminated liquid from a vehicle in an environmentally safe manner
without contaminating the ground or other supporting surface.
According to the present invention there is provided a deck for
use with a vehicle for collecting and containing liquid therefrom comprising:
a containment means; a plurality of impermeable deck sections arranged in
an edge abutting relationship thereby forming a continuous surface; a
plurality of elongate beam members arranged to support the deck sections
15 each with a top face and a bottom face arranged such that said top face
provides support for the deck along the length thereof, and said bottom face
rests upon a supporting surface; the beam members being arranged such
that the deck sections slope towards said containment means to drain liquid
on the deck into the containment means; at least some of beam members
20 being positioned under and longitudinally along abutting edges of adjacent
deck sections.
Preferably each one of said plurality of beams is tapered from a
first end remote from the containment means to a second end adjacent the
containment means. The beams may be of any appropriate material and
25 configuration. A few examples of appropriate beams are as follows. In one
arrangement each one of the plurality of beam members is a composite
beam comprised of a pair of beams each being T-shaped in cross section,
21 76273
and having arms at a top end and a stem projecting perpendicularly
therefrom. The arms of each of the pair of beams form a respective top and
bottom face of the composite beam. The T-shaped beams are arranged
such that one T-shaped beam is inverted with respect to the other, and the
5 stems of the T-shaped beams are arranged to lie side by side to one another
such that the stems are fixed to one another at points therealong.
The stem of each T-shaped beam is cut at an angle along its
length from a first end to a second end, thereby creating the taper of the
composite beam from the first end downwards to the second end. Each T-
10 shaped beam is comprised of a pultruded fiberglass composite material.
In a first alternative arrangement each one of the plurality ofbeam members comprises a solid beam being frusto-conical in cross section
comprising a high density structural foam material core, and a fiberglass
composite skin surrounding the core. In a second alternative arrangement
15 each one of the plurality of beam members comprises a laminated beam
which is rectangular in cross section. In a third alternative arrangement
each one of the plurality of beam members is substantially M shaped in
cross section. Each one of the M beam members includes a lateral base
support member comprising an elongate member having upwardly extending
20 flanges, each flange being arranged to engage an outside face of a bottom
of each respective leg of the beam.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided a deck for use with a vehicle for collecting and containing liquid
therefrom comprising: a containment means; a plurality of impermeable deck
25 sections arranged in edge to edge abutting relationship thereby forming a
continuous surface; a plurality of elongate beam members for supporting
the deck sections, said plurality of beam members being arranged such that
21 76273
the deck sections slope towards said containment means to drain liquid on
the deck into the containment means; seal means between abutting edges
of adjacent deck sections to prevent liquid leakage therebetween; and a
secondary containment means including a plurality of liquid directing means
S each one being arranged along a top surface of a respective one of said
plurality of beams, and wherein the plurality of liquid directing means are
arranged below the seal means such that the liquid directing means
communicate any liquid penetrating the seal means.
Preferably the plurality of liquid directing means comprises a
10 flexible elongate strip having a channel arranged longitudinally along an
upper face thereof, and means for locating the strip on a respective beam.
The means for locating the strip comprise flanges projecting downwards
from each side of each flexible elongate strip for engaging a respective side
edge of the top face of a respective supporting beam. Alternatively each
15 one of the plurality of liquid directing means may comprise a channel
arranged longitudinally along an upper face of a respective beam.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is
provided a deck for use with a vehicle for collecting and containing liquid
therefrom comprising: a containment means positioned at a collection point;
20 a plurality of impermeable deck sections being arranged in an edge abutting
relationship thereby forming a continuous surface, and being arranged such
that the deck sections radiate outwards from the collection point; means for
supporting the deck sections arranged such that the deck sections slope
towards said containment means to drain liquid on the deck into the
25 containment means; and clamping means at the containment means for
clamping the deck sections in said edge abutting relationship comprising an
annular top plate above the deck sections and an annular bottom plate
21 76273
below the deck sections, and means for connecting the top and bottom
plates; wherein the top and bottom plates are aligned vertically and are
arranged to receive an inner end of each one of the plurality of deck
sections therebetween thereby holding the deck sections in place.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of the deck with a cut away
showing the underlying supporting beams.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional side view through A-A of Figure 1
showing a first embodiment of the seal between the panels, the flexible
elongate strip and the beam.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional side view through A-A of Figure 1
showing a second embodiment of the seal, flexible elongate strip and the
beam.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional side view through A-A of Figure 1
showing a third embodiment of the seal, flexible elongate strip and the
beam.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional side view through A-A of Figure 1
showing a fourth embodiment of the seal and the beam in which no
covering strip is required.
Figure 6 is an side view of the beam member of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is an isometric view showing the beam and the flexible
elongate strip of Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through B-B of Figure 1 of the
outer end of the deck showing the skirt and liner.
21 76273
Figure 9 is an isometric view of the portion of the outer end of
the deck of Figure 8 showing the bracket.
Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of the deck through C-C of
Figure 1.
Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of a portion of Figure 10
showing the clamping means.
Figure 12 is an isometric view of the clamping means of Figure
1 1 .
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the deck of Figure 1 which is
partly cut away for convenience of illustration.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 a preferred embodiment of the
deck is shown generally at 10. The deck 10 comprises, a plurality of
interconnected impermeable deck sections 12, seal means 14, a
containment means 16, a secondary containment means, a plurality of beam
members 20, and clamping means 22.
In the example shown the plurality of interconnected
impermeable deck sections 12 comprise sixteen triangular deck sections
arranged in an octagon radiating outwards from the periphery of the
containment means 16. In smaller embodiments, such as those having a
diameter of the order of 18 feet, only eight sections can be used. Each one
of the plurality of deck sections 12 slopes downwards and inwards to the
centre of the octagon to the containment means 16 to drain liquid on the
deck 10 into the containment means 16. Each deck section 12 has side
edges 24 and 26. The side edge 24 of each respective deck section 12
21 76273
- 7 -
abuts the side edge 26 of the deck section Iying adjacent to form a
substantially continuous surface.
A berm or lip 27, see Figures 8 and 9, is arranged along the
outer edge 29 of each deck section 12 extending upwards therefrom. The
lip 27 helps prevent liquid from inadvertently escaping from the outer edge
of the deck 10.
Each deck section 12 is comprised of a single piece of material.
The material used in this embodiment is a composite of plywood surrounded
by a skin of fiberglass. The composite material makes the deck section 12
impervious to water and most other liquids. As an alternative to the
plywood core, a polyurethane structural honeycomb foam can be used.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 the deck 10 includes seal
means 14 located between the abutting ed~qes 24 and 26 of each pair of
adjacent deck sections 12 and running alon~q the full length of the deck
sections 12 to prevent liquid leakage therebetween. The seal means 14
comprises two layers of protection. The first layer is a bead of flexible
sealant 28 extending between each of the adjacent deck sections 12
adjacent top surfaces 30 thereof and running longitudinally therealong. The
second layer is an elongate member of compressible sealing material 32
arranged between the adjacent deck sections 12 and below the flexible
sealant 28. The member of compressible sealing material 32 extends along
the length of the adjacent deck sections 12.
Referring to Figures 1, 10, and 11 the containment means 16
comprise a first container or sleeve 34 of double walled composite material
having an open top 36, closed sides 38, and a closed bottom 40. The first
container 34 is positioned in a cylindrical concrete pit 42 cast or located in a
2 1 76273
hole 42A in the ground or supporting surface 44. The concrete pit 42 thus
forms a catchment container.
The first container 34 includes connection means in the form of
an annular support flange 46 extending outwards from the top of the sides
38 of the container for fixing to the plate 99 and 100 of the clamping means
22 adjacent a lower end 78 of each of the plurality of deck sections 12.
A pump 50 is provided in the first container 34 for removal of
the liquids which have been collected therein so that these can be
transported and processed in a non-environmentally damaging manner at a
location remote from the deck 10.
To provide additional protection against leakage or a spill the
deck includes secondary containment means. The secondary containment
means comprises a second container 52, liquid directing means 54, and a
moisture detector 56.
The second container 52 is located in the hole 42 in the
supporting surface 44 arranged around the sides 38 and bottom 40 of the
first container 34 such that any leakage from the first container 34 with be
contained by the second container 52. The second container 52, like the
first container 34, is also made of a composite material.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 the liquid directing means
54 are arranged below the seal means 14 of the deck 10 for directing any
liquid which may penetrate the seal means 14 to the second container 52.
The liquid directing means 54 comprise a plurality of flexible elongate strips,
each one being arranged along the full length of a respective pair of abutting
edges 24 and 26 of one of the pairs of adjacent deck sections 12. The
liquid directing means 54 extend from the outer edge 58 of the deck to the
second container 52 located at the centre of the deck 10. This ensures that
21 76273
any liquid penetrating the seal means 14 is communicated to the second
container 52 thereby preventing it from contaminating the area under the
deck 10.
Each flexible elongate strip 54 has a channel 60 arranged
longitudinally along an upper face 62 thereof and has locating means in the
form of a flange 64 projecting downwards and extending along each side 66
of the strip 54 to engage one of the plurality of beams 20 supporting the
deck 10. In an alternative embodiment, see Figure 5, the liquid directing
means may comprise a channel 61 in the top face 68 of the beam member
20. The channel 61 is arranged longitudinally along the beam 20.
Referring to Figure 10 a moisture detector 56 including an
indicator is arranged within the second container 52 as part of the
secondary containment means. If the moisture detector 56 detects any
liquid in the second container 52 the indicator warns the operator that a leak
has occurred in the deck 10 or the first containment means 16, so that
appropriate measures can be undertaken.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 the plurality of beam
members 20 support the deck sections 12 in the edge abutting relationship.
Each one of the plurality of beam members 20 has a top face 68 and a
bottom face 70 arranged such that the top face 68 supports a lower surface
72 of the deck 10, and the bottom face 70 rests upon the supporting
surface 44. Each beam 20 tapers from a first end 76 downwards to a
second end 78. The first end 76 is arranged remote from the first container
34, and the second end 78 is arranged to lie adjacent the first container 34.
Referring to Figure 7 the beam members 20 support the flexible
elongate strips 54 from below and are therefore also arranged along the full
length of the abutting edges 24 and 26 of each pair of adjacent deck
21 76273
- 10-
sections 12. Each beam 20 supports the abutting edges 24 and 26 of an
adjacent pair of deck sections 12. The top face 68 of each one of the beam
members 20 supports one of the flexible elongate strips 54 and is arranged
such that the flanges 64 of the flexible elongate strips 54 engage respective
side edges 80 and 82 of the respective beam member 20.
The first end 76 of each respective beam member 20 is of one
of two types. The first type has a flat end 76a and is used to support the
edges 24 and 26 of the deck sections 12 which abut to form a side of the
octagon. The second type has an angled end 76b which corresponds to the
angle of each corner of the octagon, and is used to support the edges 24
and 26 of the deck sections 12 which abut to form a corner of the octagon.
Referring to Figure 2 the beam members 20 are comprised of a
pair of beams 84. Each beam 84 is T-shaped in cross section, and has arms
88 at a top end 68 and a stem 92 projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The
T shaped beams 84 are arranged such that one T-shaped beam is inverted
with respect to the other and the stems 92 of the T-shaped beams 84 are
arranged to lie side by side to one another. The stems 92 of the T-shaped
beams 84 are fixed to one another at points along the length of the beam
member. While the arms 88 of the T-shaped beams 84 form the top 68 and
bottom 70 faces of the beam member 20 respectively.
Referring to Figure 6 the stem 92 of each T-shaped beam 84 is
cut at an angle along its length from a first end 76 to a second end 78. The
angled stems 92 create the taper of the composite beam member 20 from
the first end 76 downwards to the second end 78. The T-shaped beams 84
are comprised of a pultruded fiberylass composite material.
Other beam constructions may be utilized to support the deck
12 and are shown in figures 3, 4 and 5. Referring to Figure 3 each beam
- 21 76273
- 11 -
member 20 may comprise a solid beam 90 being frusto conical in cross
section. The solid beams 90 may be comprised of a high density structural
foam core 93 and a fiberglass composite skin 94 surrounding the core 93.
A second alternative beam shape, see Figure 4, may be a beam
5 95 which is rectangular in cross section comprising of a plurality of
rectangular members 97 such as foam or wood fixed together longitudinally
to form the beam. This arrangement is particularly attractive since it is
inexpensive and can be supplied in long length and cut to length. In
addition, the beams can be cut to provide the required angle of the deck
10 that is tapering in height or can be of constant height when the underlying
footing can be sloped.
A third alternative, see Figure 5, may be a beam 101 which is
M shaped in cross section and includes a lateral support member 103. The
lateral support member 103 comprises an elongate tray member having
upwardly extending flanges 105, each flange 105 being arranged to engage
an outside face 107 of a bottom of each respective leg 109 of the beam
101 thereby preventing the bottom end of the legs 109 from tending to slide
outwards when under load from the deck 10.
Referring to Figure 13 the deck 10 may also includes a plurality
20 of additional beam members 111 for supporting the deck sections 12. The
additional beam members 111 are arranged such that they are positioned
under and longitudinally along the deck sections 12 spaced from and
between abutting edges of adjacent deck sections 12. The additional beam
members 111 each have a top face 68 and a bottom face 70 and are
25 arranged such that the top face 68 supports the deck 10, and the bottom
face 70 rests upon a supporting surface 44. The additional beam members
111 may be of any appropriate material and configuration.
-- 21 7~273
- 12 -
Referring to Figures 1, 8, and 9 arranged around an outer
peripheral edge 29 of the deck 10 are end skirts 96 projecting downwards
from the deck sections 12 thereby enclosing the outer peripheral edge 29 of
the deck 10. At the first end 76 of each one of the plurality of beams 20 is
a bracket 98 for joining the end skirts 96. The beams 20 of the type having
a flat end 76a have a straight bracket 98a located at the first end thereof,
and the beams 20 of the type having an angled end 76a have an angled
bracket 98b at the first end thereof. The deck 10 is held in contact with the
skirt 96 by a channel shaped bracket 115 arranged beneath the skirt 96
engaging the bottom and sides of the skirt 96 and a bolt 117 extending
from each bracket 115 upwards through a hole 119 in the end of the deck
10 .
A liner 114 of plastics material about 30 mil in thickness is laid
down under the full extent of the deck 10 and is arranged to lie under the
beams 20, to prevents any liquid which may escape the deck surface 30,
containment means 16, and the secondary containment means 18 from
contaminating the ground or other supporting surface 44. The inner end of
the liner 114 extends beneath the containment means 16 such that liquid
will drain into the second container 54. The outer end portion of the liner
114 extends under the bracket 115 and skirt 96 then upwards over the
outer surface 121 of the skirt 96 and finally inwards and over the top 123
of the skirt 96 between the skirt 96 and the bottom surface of the deck 10.
This secures the end of the liner 114 and prevents liquid from escaping from
the outer end portion of the liner 114.
Referring to Figures 11 and 12 the clamping means 22 include
retainer plates comprising a top plate 99 and a bottom plate 100 each
having an aperture 102 spaced inwardly from a periphery thereof. The top
21 76273
- 13 -
and bottom retainer plates 99 and 100 are aligned vertically with respect to
each other and are arranged to receive a lower end 78 of each one of the
plurality of deck sections 12 therebetween. The plates 99 and 100 are
fixed together by bolts 124 thereby holding the deck sections 12 in place.
S The bolts 124 extend through holes 127 in the plates 99 and 100 and
through cooperating notches 126 in the deck sections 12. The clamping
means 22 also include a seal member 106 arranged between one of the
retainer plates, preferably the top plate 99, and the lower ends 78 of the
deck sections 12 to prevent liquid leakage therebetween. A flange 108
extends from the top retainer plate 99 into the aperture 102 to provide a
support for the support flange 46 of the first container 34. A seal 113 is
arranged to lie between the annular flange 108 and the support flange 46
to prevent liquid leakage therebetween.
A cover grate 110 is located on top of the top plate 99 as a
safety feature to allow the first container 34 to by driven over and to
prevent anyone from accidentally fallin~ into the first container.
Referring to Figure 10 the hole 42 in the ground or supporting
surface 44 which receives the first and second containers 34 and 52 is
surrounded by a concrete pad 112 connected to the concrete sleeve 42 and
extending outwardly therefrom about 4 inches thick which extends
outwards to a distance of about three feet from the hole 42. The concrete
pad 112 supports the inner hub of the deck 10 and the inner ends of the
support beams. The composite liner 52 in the pit 42 is sealed to the liner
114 and rests in the pit. Thus any possible leak cannot escape through the
liners to the soil or concrete on top of the soil and prevents any liquid which
may escape the edges of the first and second containers 34 and 52 from
contaminating the ground or other supporting surface 44.
21 76273
- 14-
Although in the preferred embodiment composite materials are
extensively used any appropriate material may be used as an alternative.
The beams 20 used to support the deck 10 in the embodiment
described above are sloped to provide an inward slope to the deck 10. One
5 example of an alternative means of providing a slope to the deck is to
prepare the supporting surface at the site with the desired slope and to use
beams 20 of constant height, thereby achieving the same result.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been
described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments
10 are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be
considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
