External jacket system as secondary containment for storage tanks
OwnerBruce R. Sharpinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage tank system especially useful for storing liquid gasoline comprises a rigid inner tank encased by a flexible outer jacket with a leak detecting means associated with the closed space between the inner tank and jacket. The system results in a storage facility which is less likely to lose its stored liquid to the environment due to a slow leak or a sudden large leak such as is possible with an earthquake.
Claims21
An underground storage tank system for liquids having secondary containment capability and leakage detection capability utilizing detecting fluid, comprising:
- (a) a rigid inner tank for storing the liquid, having fill pipe and dispensing line;
- (b) a flexible jacket encasing the inner tank so as to form a closed space between the tank and the jacket;
- and
- (c) detecting means associated with the closed space between the inner tank and the flexible jacket for detecting leakage into or from either of said tank and jacket wherein the detecting means comprises a standpipe which extends from the flexible jacket to a point of observation and detecting fluid which fills the space between the tank and jacket such that any change in the level or color of the fluid occupying the closed space is readily observed through a sight glass associated with the standpipe.
An underground storage tank system for liquids having secondary containment capability and leakage detection capability utilizing positive air pressure, comprising:
- (a) a rigid inner tank for storing the liquid, having fill pipe and dispensing line;
- (b) a flexible jacket encasing the inner tank so as to form a closed space between the tank and the jacket;
- and
- (c) detecting means associated with the closed space between the inner tank and the flexible jacket for detecting leakage into or from either of said tank and jacket comprising air pressure means to maintain a positive pressure in the closed space and means capable of detecting any change in pressure in the closed space.
An underground storage tank system for liquids having secondary containment capability and leakage detection capability utilizing negative air pressure and spacing means, comprising:
- (a) a rigid inner tank for storing the liquid, having fill pipe and dispensing line;
- (b) a flexible jacket encasing the inner tank so as to form a closed space between the tank and the jacket;
- and
- (c) detecting means associated with the closed space between the inner tank and the flexible jacket for detecting leakage into or from either of said tank and jacket comprising gas pervious means positioned in the closed space to maintain a spaced relationship between the tank and flexible jacket, vacuum means to maintain a negative pressure in the closed space, and means capable of detecting any change in pressure in the closed space.
A double walled jacketed underground storage tank system for liquids having two means of confining a leak, comprising:
- (a) a rigid inner tank for storing the liquid, having fill pipe and dispensing line;
- (b) an inner flexible jacket encasing the inner tank;
- (c) an outer flexible jacket encasing the inner flexible jacket so as to form a closed space between the two jackets;
- and
- (d) detecting means associated with the closed space for detecting leakage into or from either of said tank and jackets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.