SPILL CONTAINMENT SYSTEM AND SOFT CROSSING DEVICE
A reusable liquid containment system to capture and control spills or run-offs of hazardous liquids. The containment system consists of a reusable berm device which forms a perimeter dimension and conforms to various terrain elevations. The berm device consists of uniform elongated rectangular shaped foam units having an elastic memory, a rigid base, all encased in a fluid resistant protective cover with grommet protected openings to provide for horizontal and vertical connection. The berm devices are positioned in a single or multiple course to achieve appropriate elevation, with tapered berm devices to address varying topographic elevations. The containment system also consists of a draped containment liner or woven, knitted or braided fabric, or thermo-plastic material. The containment system allows wheeled vehicles and related equipment to cross without compromising the integrity of the perimeter berm and liner.
The following Utility Patent Application Specification is hereby submitted by the named inventors as a non-provisional utility application following the filing of a Provisional Utility Patent Application on Jul. 9, 2012, Application No. 61/669,172.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention generally relates to the field of devices used to contain liquids, and especially such devices used as a secondary containment system to capture and control spills or run-offs of hazardous liquids and other substances which are dangerous to the environment. More particularly, this invention relates to such devices which provide a portable, transportable and reusable berm device and containment liner to accommodate a potential hazardous spill and which can be assembled in a quick and easy manner forming a containment barrier of a desired perimeter dimension and adaptable to various terrain elevations experienced in the field. Further, this invention relates to devices which permit wheeled vehicles to cross while still maintaining the elevation necessary to protect the liquid containment characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are various circumstances which require the physical control and containment of certain hazardous liquids in work environments, including but not limited to the oil and gas industry. Various means have been developed for containing chemical spills. The objective of all such containment means is to both prevent such liquids from infiltrating the environment at the time of the initial spill, and to contain the offending liquids until such time as they are removed from the site using environmentally safe removal systems.
As a practical matter, most work sites do not have a permanent spill containment system in place at the time of the initial construction. Therefore, it is necessary to install such containment systems on either a permanent or temporary bases in size and height configurations specific to the site itself. While many sites are graded prior to installation of such containment systems, many times such grading is inferior, not level, or the surface issues require height variations not know until the time of installation. Various attempts have been made to address these recognized needs, all of which presume the need for an elevated berm, wall or dike device which forms the exterior perimeter boundary of the containment system. Such historic attempts also incorporate some type of liner which in most instances is permanently attached to the berm structure. However, all previous attempts fail to address the height and grade variations necessary to construct and efficient and workable containment system. In addition, the ability to recycle the berm material, as well as other economic and safety considerations, have historically not been taken into consideration.
In the past, containment systems were constructed utilizing a solid berm wall constructed of compressed earth or concrete which is then draped with a leak proof plastic or woven fabric material. However, such containment systems are permanent in nature, costly to construct, and do not allow for modification and relocation as the need arises. Later, the berm walls were constructed of railroad cross-ties, which were extremely heavy, bulky, and would not allow access to the containment site by wheeled vehicles without potential damage both to the containment membrane, or to the wheeled vehicle itself. In addition, the rail-road cross ties presented an independent environmental challenge based upon the chemical used to treat the wood upon initial manufacture.
It is also accepted that during times when no liquid spills exist, the containment mechanism must allow for day-to-day movement both in and out of the protected site location by wheeled devices such as automobiles, trucks, fork-lifts, dollies, and the like. Initially, efforts were made to allow for wheeled vehicle access to rigid containment devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,625 to Wright shows a rigid containment device with double-sided ramps at each end of the device to enable a vehicle to be driven into and out of the device. Attempts were also made to construct the dike itself out of non-ridged material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,312 to Schmitz, Jr. shows a pool-like apparatus having a floor and side walls made of a flexible sheet material. The exterior containment walls are supported by a rigid frame having a peripheral upper member and a gate at one end which can be lowered and raised to provide entry and exit means for a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,461 to Shaw, et al. shows another liquid containment apparatus with flexible side walls. The side walls themselves are resilient and collapsible as they are supported by rigid brace members that hold the walls in an upright position
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,492 to Gregory, et al. shows a containment device with walls supported by a hollow foam member which is compressed by the vehicle wheel and which rebounds to create the wall when the vehicle wheel has passed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,588 to Van Romer, et al. shows a device made of a flexible sheet material, where the wall is supported by a combination of vertical members adjacent the wall, a peripheral upper member, and internal brace members mounted to the floor of the device. Both the support members and wall flex when a wheel passers over, and the internal brace members pull the wall back into an upright position after the wheel has passed.
However, based on the prior art, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art both in scope and in function. It is the object of the present invention to provide a portable, easily configurable, economic, re-usable and transportable berm device and spill containment system which both contours to the site topography, and allows for height adjustment upon installation to insure that no potential for leakage occurs. Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide a berm device that is temporarily collapsible to allow wheeled vehicles to cross while still maintaining the elevation necessary to protect the liquid containment characteristics. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a berm device and spill containment system that is both easy to assemble, and to disassemble, for installation at various sites as needed. It is also an object of the present invention to allow for height adjustments to be made at the time installation to address uneven or unlevel surfaces at the site. Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safe berm device and spill containment system that is easily transportable, and will not shift or move as wheeled vehicles enter and leave the containment site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention, as described below, addresses the shortcomings of the prior confinement systems by providing a portable, easily configurable, economic, re-usable and transportable berm device which both contours to the site topography, and which temporarily compresses to allow wheeled vehicles to cross while still maintaining the elevation necessary to protect the liquid containment characteristics.
More particularly, a portable liquid spill containment system constructed according to a first aspect of the soft crossing device contains an elevated perimeter berm formed of uniform elongated rectangular shaped closed cell foam units having an elastic memory which is attached to a rigid base to provide stability. Both the foam unit and rigid base are then encased in a fluid resistant cover to protect the foam material and rigid base from atmospheric and chemical exposure. In addition, the cover of each soft crossing device may contain end, side, and top surface openings protected by grommets to allow the use of zip-ties, wire-ties or other such devices to connect, anchor and secure the soft crossing devices together, both end-to-end and horizontally when stacked to form either one, or multiple, courses as required to achieve appropriate elevation. The soft crossing devices described herein are in relative size proportion to a rail-road cross tie, but may be modified in both length, height and width dimension, dependent upon the need. The second aspect of the invention consists of a similar encased soft crossing device, which is horizontally tapered in shaped to topographic challenges of the placement site.
Both aspects of the invention, when utilized to construct a perimeter containment berm, then allow the application of a draped containment base sheeting which is attachable to the soft crossing devices by use of zip-ties or other similar methods. Another method of securing the containment base sheeting would involve placement of rock, gravel or screenings on the portion of the sheeting which is exposed at ground level on the exterior portion of the containment perimeter. Once installation is complete, the fixed berm created by the soft crossing devices and the containment base sheeting form a complete containment system which allows wheeled vehicular access during use, and also allows for a quick and efficient disassembly for re-use and re-assembly at another location. Based upon the flat surfaces utilized in the soft crossing device, the units are easily stackable and secure during transportation, and likewise horizontally and vertically secure upon installation at the site.
The novel features which are incorporated into and characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the drawings and description. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the accompanying descriptive matter.
The invention, the scope of which being defined herein, is not limited in this application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or assembled in various other ways. Also, it is to be understood that the terminology or phraseology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
The present invention shall generally be described with reference to
A soft crossing device constructed in accordance with the first aspect of the invention is indicated generally by reference (A) in the drawings. The device is constructed and assembled as follows. First, as shown in
As shown in
As illustrated in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
A second aspect of the soft crossing device is shown in
As can be seen in
In the construction of a multi-course berm as shown in
The containment base sheet (22) is used to provide a fluid impervious floor and fixed berm wall liner to insure that the hazardous liquid chemicals will not permeate into the ground, or escape through the fixed berm structure (C). The containment base sheet (22) is preferably made from continuous seamless sheet material consisting of a woven, knitted or braided fabric, or thermo-plastic material, which provides strength, durability and resiliency. The pliable nature of the containment base sheet (22) enables the sheet to conform to the unevenness of the site surface, and also fold upward to lay flat against the fixed berm wall (26). Once the containment base sheet is installed, the ends of the base sheet (27) are then wrapped over the top course of soft crossing devices (21) and folded downward on the outside edge of the top course of soft crossing devices, as illustrated in
The deformable characteristics of the soft crossing device, combined with the resilient nature of the containment base sheet, enable the fixed berm to flex downward to a generally flat profile enabling wheeled vehicles to pass over the fixed berm wall. As illustrated in
Once the need for the above described spill containment system is no longer recognized, the system may be dismantled by cutting the zip-tie, wire-tie or other similar connectors (12), which then allows the containment base sheet to be rolled up and removed for storage and transportation. For reuse, the punctures made in the containment base sheet, or any tears that may have otherwise occurred, can be sealed using a similar material affixed to the containment base sheet with an appropriate adhesive. The connectors (12) attaching the soft crossing devices can likewise be cut allowing a complete removal of the connectors through the openings (11). Once the connectors associated with the soft crossing devices are removed, the soft crossing devices can then be removed from the site for storage and transportation. Once the spill containment system is disassembled and removed, there is no residual trace of the system on the site.
Although the preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described in detail, it is recognized that the invention is not limited to the precise form and structure shown and various modifications and rearrangements as will occur to those skilled in the art upon full comprehension of this invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.
Applicants reserve the right to provide further detail regarding the invention if the need should arise.
Claims
1. A soft crossing device for use in creating an on site installed spill containment area for surrounding and containing hazardous materials comprising:
- a) an elongated rectangular shaped foam core having a first end and a second end with an elastic memory for placement on the ground at the site to create a containment barrier;
- b) a rigid base attached to the foam core to enable support and secure contact with the ground;
- c) said foam core and rigid base wrapped in a fluid and abrasion resistant cover to protect from contact with the elements;
- d) said wrapped foam core and rigid base being connected end-to-end to form a free standing perimeter berm wall to define the containment area;
- e) said wrapped foam core and rigid base being flexible in an upright configuration to contain the hazardous liquids and a deformed configuration enabling wheeled vehicles and equipment to pass over said device wall to enter and exit said containment area;
- f) a containment area base sheet to provide a fluid impervious floor and wall liner to insure that the hazardous liquids will not permeate into the ground, or escape through the perimeter berm wall structure
2. The soft crossing device of claim 1 including at least one wrapped foam core and rigid base tapered horizontally beginning at the first end and ending at the second end to provide for a bottom angle to provide for ground elevation changes at the site.
3. The soft crossing device of claim 1 including a cover wrap material constructed from a continuous liquid impervious sheet material consisting of a woven, knitted or braided fabric, or thermo-plastic material.
4. The soft crossing device of claim 1 including a cover wrap material which contains end, top, or side surface openings each protected by grommets,
5. The soft crossing device of claim 1 including the use of zip-ties, wire ties, or other similar connecting devices to join the soft crossing devices end-to-end.
6. The soft crossing device of claim 1 including wrapped foam core and rigid base units stacked and aligned horizontally in multi-run courses end-to-end
7. The soft crossing device of claim 1 including the use of zip-ties, wire ties, or other similar connecting devices to join the soft crossing devices horizontally when stacked into multiple courses.
8. A containment system which may be configured on site for surrounding and containing hazardous materials comprising;
- a) an elongated rectangular shaped foam core having a first end and a second end with an elastic memory for placement on the ground at the site to create a containment barrier;
- b) a rigid base attached to the foam core to enable support and secure contact with the ground;
- c) said foam core and rigid base wrapped in a fluid and abrasion resistant cover to protect from contact with the elements;
- d) said wrapped foam core and rigid base being connected end-to-end to form a free standing perimeter berm wall to define the containment area;
- e) said wrapped foam core and rigid base being flexible in an upright configuration to contain the hazardous liquids and a deformed configuration enabling wheeled vehicles and equipment to pass over said device wall to enter and exit said containment area;
- f) a containment area base sheet to provide a fluid impervious floor and wall liner to insure that the hazardous liquids will not permeate into the ground, or escape through the perimeter berm wall structure
9. The system of claim 8 including at least one wrapped foam core and rigid base tapered horizontally beginning at the first end and ending at the second end to provide for a bottom angle to provide for ground elevation changes at the site.
10. The system of claim 8 including a cover wrap material constructed from a continuous liquid impervious sheet material consisting of a woven, knitted or braided fabric, or thermo-plastic material.
11. The system of claim 8 including a cover wrap material which contains end, top, or side surface openings each protected by grommets,
12. The system of claim 8 including the use of zip-ties, wire ties, or other similar connecting devices to join the soft crossing devices end-to-end.
13. The system of claim 8 including wrapped foam core and rigid base units stacked and aligned horizontally in multi-run courses end-to-end
14. The system of claim 8 including the use of zip-ties, wire ties, or other similar connecting devices to join the soft crossing devices horizontally when stacked into multiple courses.
15. A method for forming a containment area from soft crossing devices connected on site to form the periphery of the containment area at a desired size for surrounding and containing hazardous materials comprising;
- a) providing a free standing berm wall constructed of said soft crossing devices extending upward and longitudinally along said base creating said containment barrier;
- b) connecting said soft crossing devices end to end to prevent movement;
- c) providing a free standing berm wall constructed of said soft crossing device being flexible in an upright configuration to contain the hazardous liquid and a deformed configuration enabling wheeled vehicles and equipment to pass over said berm wall to enter and exit said containment area;
- d) providing a containment base sheet and wall liner formed from a continuous seamless sheet material;
- e) connecting said containing base sheet to said free standing berm wall;
- f) forming a secure and continuous liquid containment unit.
16. The method of claim 15 including at least one wrapped foam core and rigid base tapered horizontally beginning at the first end and ending at the second end to provide for a bottom angle to provide for ground elevation changes at the site.
17. The method of claim 15 including a cover wrap material constructed from a continuous liquid impervious sheet material consisting of a woven, knitted or braided fabric, or thermo-plastic material.
18. The method of claim 15 including a cover wrap material which contains end, top, or side surface openings each protected by grommets,
19. The method of claim 15 including the use of zip-ties, wire ties, or other similar connecting devices to join the soft crossing devices end-to-end.
20. The method of claim 15 including wrapped foam core and rigid base units stacked and aligned horizontally in multi-run courses end-to-end
21. The method of claim 15 including the use of zip-ties, wire ties, or other similar connecting devices to join the soft crossing devices horizontally when stacked into multiple courses.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 9, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 30, 2014
Inventors: Michael W. Nicholas (Paris, AR), Janet Nicholas (Paris, AR)
Application Number: 13/938,190
International Classification: B65D 90/24 (20060101);