Fluid apparatus with pressure-tight recessed well

A fluid apparatus comprising:

• a fluid tank having a tank shell and defining at least in part a fluid containment compartment, said tank shell having a tank shell opening therethrough and a shell outer surface;
• a recessed well connected to said tank shell, positioned at said tank shell opening and recessed into said fluid containment compartment, said recessed well including a well wall and a sealing surface positioned generally adjacent the end of said well wall and generally at said tank shell opening;
• a well cover removably securable to said sealing surface such that when said cover is closed the outer surface thereof is generally flush with said shell outer surface;
• and
• securing means for removably securing said well cover to said sealing surface to provide a pressure tight closure and protection for said recessed well.

A fluid containment apparatus comprising:

• a fluid tank having a tank shell and defining at least in part a fluid containment compartment, said tank shell having a tank shell port therethrough;
• an equipment well surrounding said tank shell port and defining a cavity generally distinct from said fluid containment compartment, said equipment well including a well wall and a well opening having a sealing surface;
• tank equipment positioned and fully recessed in said equipment well;
• a removable well cover securable to said well opening and having a mating sealing surface;
• attaching means for attaching said well cover to said well opening to close said equipment well and thereby forming a pressure tight cavity surrounding said tank equipment with no fluid communication between said cavity and said fluid containment compartment except through said tank shell port;
• and
• pressurizing means for pressurizing and depressurizing said equipment cavity with said cover closed in place;
• wherein said equipment well is at least partially recessed into and is attached to an opening in said fluid tank in a leak tight manner.

A fluid containment apparatus comprising:

• a fluid tank having a tank shell and defining at least in part a fluid containment compartment, said tank shell having a tank shell port therethrough;
• an equipment well surrounding said tank shell port and defining a cavity generally distinct from said fluid containment compartment, said equipment well including a well wall and a well opening having a sealing surface;
• tank equipment positioned and fully recessed in said equipment well;
• a removable well cover securable to said well opening and having a mating sealing surface;
• attaching means for attaching said well cover to said well opening to close said equipment well and thereby forming a pressure tight cavity surrounding said tank equipment with no fluid communication between said cavity and said fluid containment compartment except through said tank shell port;
• and
• pressurizing means for pressurizing and depressurizing said equipment cavity with said cover closed in place;
• wherein said tank shell defines a generally smooth protective shell envelope and said equipment well extends into and is enclosed within said shell envelope.