Drain for collapsible spill containment structure
AssigneeHalenHardy LLC
InventorsDonald L. Beaver, Jr., Troy L Beaver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A secondary containment structure includes: (i) a base; (ii) impermeable, collapsible sidewalls that surround the base to form a containment area; and (iii) a drainage outlet. A bottom boundary of the outlet is positioned at an intersection of the base with a first sidewall. A top boundary of the outlet is formed in the first sidewall. A drainage channel that is formed of a flexible, impermeable material has a first end that is sealed around the drainage outlet, and a second end that includes a fitting that is configured to connect to a hose or filter. The drainage channel may be tapered from the first end to the second end. The drainage channel, and methods of affixing a drainage channel to an existing containment structure, are also disclosed.
Claims18
A secondary containment structure comprising:
- a base;
- one or more impermeable, collapsible sidewalls that surround the base to form a containment area;
- a first drainage outlet having an opening with a top boundary and a bottom boundary, wherein:
- the first drainage outlet is positioned at an intersection of the base with a first sidewall of the one or more sidewalls;
- the bottom boundary is positioned to extend along the intersection of the base with the first sidewall of the one or more sidewalls,
- the top boundary is formed above the intersection and in the first sidewall;
- and
- a drainage channel having a first end that is sealed around the opening of the first drainage outlet, wherein the drainage channel:
- is formed of a flexible, impermeable material that, when placed on a downward slope will extend along the slope to an elevation that is below the base,
- extends from the first end to a second end that is opposite the first end,
- is tapered so that the first end is larger than the second end, and
- includes a fitting that is attached to the second end and that is configured to connect to a hose or filter;
- and
- flexible connecting members that connect one of the sidewalls to adjacent sidewalls to allow the connected one of the sidewalls to be raised to a position that is perpendicular to the base and lowered to a position that is parallel to the base.
A drainage system for a collapsible secondary containment structure, the drainage system comprising:
- a drainage channel having:
- a first end that is configured to be sealed around an opening of a first drainage outlet in a sidewall of the collapsible secondary containment structure, wherein the opening is positioned at an intersection of the base with a first sidewall of the one or more sidewalls;
- and
- a second end that is opposite the first end, wherein the second end includes or is connected to a filter;
- wherein the drainage channel is formed of a flexible, impermeable material, and
- wherein the drainage channel is configured to, when placed on a downward slope, extend downward along the slope to an elevation that is below the sidewall.
A method of forming a drainage channel in a collapsible secondary containment structure, the method comprising:
- cutting an opening into a sidewall of the collapsible containment structure so that the opening is positioned at an intersection of the base with the sidewall and includes a top boundary that is formed in the sidewall and a bottom boundary that is positioned to extend along an intersection of the sidewall and a base of the collapsible containment structure, wherein the collapsible containment structure comprises:
- a plurality of sidewalls, and
- flexible connecting members that connect one of the sidewalls to adjacent sidewalls to allow the connected one of the sidewalls to be raised to a position that is perpendicular to the base and lowered to a position that is parallel to the base, in which the lowered position is configured to allow a vehicle or storage tank to enter a containment area of the containment structure;
- and
- attaching a drainage channel to the sidewall by:
- positioning a first end of the drainage channel at the opening of the sidewall, and sealing a flap that includes the first end to the sidewall around the opening;
- wherein:
- the flap and the drainage channel are formed of a flexible, impermeable material, and
- when positioned on a slope, the drainage channel will extend away from the sidewall and downward to an elevation that is below the sidewall,
- wherein the drainage channel is tapered so that the first end is larger than the second end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.