Fluid storage tank

A method for assembling a fluid storage tank, comprising:

• connecting a plurality of substantially rigid lower cross members to lower brackets of a plurality of vertical support members, each vertical support member comprising a substantially rigid substantially vertical frame member and upper and lower brackets secured thereto near respective upper and lower ends thereof, each lower cross member being connected at each end thereof to the lower bracket of one of the vertical support members so that the plurality of lower cross members thus connected form a lower closed polygon with one of the vertical support members positioned at each vertex thereof, each of the lower cross members being connected to the respective lower bracket so as to enable relative angular motion between the vertical frame members and the connected lower cross members;
• inserting each of a plurality of substantially rigid upper cross members into a corresponding liner sleeve of a tank liner, the tank liner comprising
• a polygonal bottom panel, substantially corresponding in size and shape to the lower polygon,
• a plurality of substantially vertical side panels, each side panel secured at a lower edge thereof to a side edge of the polygonal bottom panel, each side panel having a liner sleeve running along an upper edge thereof open at both ends and substantially corresponding to a side of the lower polygon, the liner sleeves being spaced apart by liner gaps therebetween, each liner gap corresponding to a vertex of the lower polygon;
• positioning the tank liner and upper cross members within the lower polygon with each of the liner gaps positioned at a corresponding one of the vertical support members;
• and
• connecting the plurality of upper cross members to the upper brackets of the vertical support members, each upper cross member being connected at each end thereof to the upper bracket of one of the vertical support members so that the plurality of upper cross members thus connected form an upper closed polygon with one of the vertical support members at each vertex thereof, the upper polygon substantially corresponding in size and shape to the lower polygon, each of the upper cross members being connected to the respective upper bracket so as to enable relative angular motion between the vertical frame members and the connected upper cross members.

A fluid storage tank, comprising:

• a tank frame, comprising
• a plurality of substantially rigid substantially vertical frame members,
• a plurality of substantially rigid lower cross members,
• a plurality of substantially rigid upper cross members,
• means for connecting each end of each lower cross member to a corresponding vertical frame member near a lower end thereof so as to allow a range of relative angular motion between the vertical frame member and the connected lower cross member, the lower cross members thus connected forming a lower closed polygon with one of the vertical frame members positioned at each vertex thereof,
• means for connecting each end of each upper cross member to a corresponding vertical frame member near an upper end thereof so as to allow a range of relative angular motion between the vertical frame member and the connected upper cross member, the upper cross members thus connected forming an upper closed polygon with one of the vertical frame members positioned at each vertex thereof, the upper polygon substantially corresponding in size and shape to the lower polygon;
• and
• a tank liner, comprising
• a polygonal bottom panel, substantially corresponding in size and shape to the upper and lower polygons,
• a plurality of substantially vertical side panels, each side panel secured at a lower edge thereof to an edge of the polygonal bottom panel, each side panel having a liner sleeve running along an upper edge thereof open at both ends and substantially corresponding to a side of the upper polygon, the liner sleeves being spaced apart by liner gaps therebetween, each liner gap corresponding to a vertex of the upper polygon,
• wherein each upper cross member is positioned within a corresponding one of the liner sleeves, and each of the vertical frame members is positioned at a corresponding one of the liner gaps.