US 5,664,696 AGranted

Installation of tanks for storing fuel or chemical products in service stations and the like

OwnerJose Luis Martinez Cangainventor

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Abstract

A battery of reservoirs for storing fuel, gas, contaminants and/or fluids, including external means for structurally protecting the tanks and providing stability to protect the surrounding environment from fluid leaks. The external means comprise a plurality of two-tiered containers, each sealed off below and all around its sides by a wall the inner surface of which is covered by a membrane of a impermeable and chemically resistent material. A concrete lid seals each tank and has at least one orifice communicating with the load inlet of the corresponding tank. The walls of the container have at least one orifice through which a respective pipe passes for dispensing fuel and means for coupling slings for hoisting and lowering the container. Such coupling means are later used for attaching deadweights after installation. The tank inside the container is substantially spaced underneath and at its sides from said membrane by binder material which fills the space between the tank and the container up to a level which at least practically covers the tank. Moreover, the height of the container may be selected by varying the height of the wall of said upper stage. Methods for building and installing the battery specified above and replacing a tank are also disclosed.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A battery of fluid reservoirs including at least one storage tank arranged inside a module comprising external means for structurally protecting the at least one storage tank and for chemically isolating the fluid contents thereof to protect the environment from eventual fluids leaking from one or more of said tanks;

said external means comprising:
a plurality of containers aligned in said modules beside one another, each structurally designed to support the weight of a tank and to contain one of said tanks;
each container including a bottom wall and a lateral wall closing each said container below and around the sides thereof;
said bottom wall and said lateral wall each having an inside surface substantially covered by a membrane of a material resistant to said fluid contents;
binder material filling a space between said tank and the bottom wall and the lateral wall of each said container up to a level which at least substantially covers said tank, wherein said tank is substantially spaced laterally and below said membrane by said binder material;
a lid sealing said tank and comprising a slab;
at least one orifice in said lid in fluid communication with a load inlet of the corresponding tank;
at least one opening in said lateral wall for passage of piping for discharging or dispensing said fluid, said opening connected by joining means to the tank;
and
means for coupling means for lifting and lowering said container extending laterally from said lateral walls.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.