Apparatus for entombment of tanks in concrete

Apparatus for encasing a rigid hollow tank having at least one access tube in a homogeneous layer of concrete when the tank has buoyancy with respect to fluid concrete comprising:

• a base plate;
• wall forms combinable to create a circumferential sidewall form;
• means for securing the wall forms to one another;
• means for laterally positioning the sidewall forms on the base plate, the sidewall form and base plate defining an enclosure;
• a hold-down member having a tank engaging element, wherein the hold-down member includes an elongate bar with a strong-back reinforcing member on an upper surface of the bar, the bar having ends at opposite sides of the sidewall form, the strongback strengthening the bar against upward bending caused by any buoyant force of the tank while the concrete is fluid;
• means for mounting the hold-down member over the enclosure, the tank engaging element adapted to engage said rigid hollow tank within the enclosure;
• means, coupled to the base plate, for forcing the hold-down member against the rigid hollow tank to counteract said buoyancy of the tank caused when concrete is poured into a portion of the enclosure surrounding the tank, wherein the forcing means includes chain means having a first end connected to the base plate at a first point, a length passing over the bar and over the strongback and a second end connected to the base plate at a second point;
• and
• wherein the concrete completely surrounds and encases the rigid hollow tank leaving no portion of the tank exposed and only said access tube protruding from the concrete.