U.S. patent application number 15/195749 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-20 for vertical underground storage tank and method of installing and forming the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shahriar Eftekharzadeh. Invention is credited to Shahriar Eftekharzadeh.
Application Number | 20160305108 15/195749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57129682 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160305108 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar |
October 20, 2016 |
Vertical Underground Storage Tank and Method of Installing and
Forming the Same
Abstract
A vertical underground storage tank that is installed and partly
in-situ formed with minimized excavation, minimum footprint, and
without dewatering.
Inventors: |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar;
(Torrance, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar |
Torrance |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57129682 |
Appl. No.: |
15/195749 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03B 3/03 20130101; B65D
88/76 20130101; B65D 88/027 20130101; Y02A 20/00 20180101; Y02A
20/106 20180101; Y02A 20/108 20180101 |
International
Class: |
E03F 1/00 20060101
E03F001/00; E03F 5/10 20060101 E03F005/10; B65D 88/76 20060101
B65D088/76; E03B 3/02 20060101 E03B003/02 |
Claims
1. A composite-material underground storage tank for storage of
fluids, the tank comprising: an enclosed cylindrical vessel
vertically oriented with one circular end at the top and the other
circular end at the bottom said vessel comprising the interior
surface and inner layer of said composite-material underground
storage tank; a vertical bored shaft in the ground having a
diameter larger than the outside diameter of said cylindrical
vessel and depth below ground of at least equal to the length of
the said cylindrical vessel, said bored shaft housing the said
cylindrical vessel such that the annular space between the outside
perimeter of said cylindrical vessel and inside perimeter of said
vertical shaft is nearly uniform around, said vertical bored shaft
also serving as the formwork for the in-situ forming of the
exterior layer of said underground storage tank; in-situ poured
concrete that occupies said annular space between said cylindrical
vessel and said vertical bored shaft, said concrete comprising the
exterior surface and the outer layer of said composite-material
underground storage tank; means of access from ground surface into
the interior of said cylindrical vessel via said circular end at
the top.
2. The underground storage tank of claim 1 further comprising a
port near the bottom of said vessel accessed and operated from
inside said cylindrical vessel fitted with a means of opening and
closing said port that is operated from exterior of said
cylindrical vessel at ground level.
3. The underground storage tank of claim 2 wherein the said port is
further fitted with a means of establishing a sealed connection
with a pressure pipe that extends horizontally out and beyond said
vertical bored shaft.
4. A plurality of interconnected composite-material underground
storage tanks for storage of fluids, comprising: a plurality of
enclosed cylindrical vessels vertically oriented each with one
circular end at the top and the other circular end at the bottom,
said vessels comprising the interior and the inner layer of said
composite-material underground storage tanks; a plurality of
vertical bored shafts in the ground corresponding to said vertical
vessels having diameters larger than the outside diameters of their
respective said cylindrical vessels and depths below ground of at
least equal to the lengths of their respective said cylindrical
vessels, housing the said cylindrical vessels such that the annular
spaces between the outside perimeters of said cylindrical vessels
and inside perimeters of said vertical shafts are nearly uniform;
in-situ poured concrete that occupies the said annular spaces
between said cylindrical vessels and said vertical bored shafts
comprising the exterior surface and the outer layer of said
composite-material underground storage tanks; at least one access
from ground surface into interior of said cylindrical vessels via
at least one said circular end at the top of one of said vertical
vessels; at least one port on the inside of and near the bottom of
each and every one of said cylindrical vessels capable of being
fitted with a means of opening and closing of said ports from
exterior of said cylindrical vessels at ground level plus means of
establishing a sealed connection with a pressure pipe that extends
horizontally out and connects to at least one of the said plurality
of vessels.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to underground storage tanks.
More specifically, the present invention provides a new type of
vertical underground storage tank that is installed and partly
in-situ formed with minimized excavation, minimum footprint, and
without dewatering.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Underground storage tanks have historically been used for
the storage of fuel and hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, fuel oil,
diesel oil, toxic fluids or various chemicals. Increasingly, such
tanks are being used for rainwater harvesting for conservation and
water quality control to comply with discharge regulations.
Conventionally, underground storage tanks are cylindrical in shape
with dome or egg-shaped end caps at either end of the cylinder and
are placed horizontally in an open excavation ultimately backfilled
to original grade. Recently, for rainwater harvesting such tanks
are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.
[0003] The horizontal placement of the conventional underground
storage tanks creates large footprint that limits their
installation to locations on private land of sufficient size. The
open excavation method involves digging, hauling, and backfilling
of large volumes of soil that entails significant planning,
permitting, time, and cost. In addition, there is the need for
dewatering in locations of high groundwater, which requires special
permit and incurs significant additional complexity, time, and
cost.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an alternative underground
storage tank that that is partly in-situ formed with minimized
excavation, minimum footprint, and without dewatering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a solution for the above
stated need with a new type of underground storage tank that is
configured for vertical placement to accomplish minimum footprint
and excavation. The underground storage tank of the present
invention is comprised of a vertical cylinder vessel installed
inside a bored shaft of marginally larger dimeter and about the
same length, in a male-female fitting arrangement, followed by
concrete backfilling of the annulus. Therefore, the vertical tank
of the present invention is a composite of an inner cylindrical
vessel that may be made from a variety of material such as metal or
plastic, encased in an outer shell of in-situ poured concrete
having certain thickness. The inner vessel provides the vertical
tank of the present invention with impermeability and controlled
material specification for health and safety regulatory compliance,
while the outer concrete encasement shell provides structural
integrity and ballast against floatation in situations of high
ground water. The vertical bored shaft serves both as the formwork
for concrete encasement to create the concrete shell of the tank
and the housing for the finished underground tank.
[0006] The vertical cylindrical tank of the present invention has
provisions for access from the circular end at the top, which
distinguishes it from existing cylindrical underground storage
tanks that provide access from ground surface into the tank along
the body of the cylinder. Also, the footprint of the vertical tank
of the present invention is only as large as the diameter of the
tank and does not increase with the length of the cylinder for
larger storage volumes, which is in contrast to existing
cylindrical underground storage tanks whose footprint increases
with the length of the cylinder for larger storage volumes.
[0007] The boring of the vertical shaft of the present invention
may be accomplished by a number of technologies that have been
developed for constructing caissons for bridge piers, tunnel
access, and mine ventilation. The technologies are capable of
boring vertical shafts with large diameters and extensive lengths
in a wide range of ground conditions, and can accommodate the
requirements of the present invention.
[0008] The present invention can be utilized in a number of
embodiments. In one embodiment, the present invention is a single
vertical tank of certain length, diameter, end cap configuration,
and composite wall thickness suitable for installation in
unsaturated soil conditions above groundwater level. In another
embodiment, the present invention is configured for installation in
saturated soil conditions below groundwater level. In this
embodiment, the inner vessel is fitted with a port near the bottom
having an open/close mechanism that admits water in during lowering
of the vessel inside the shaft. The port is then closed from the
ground surface for concreting and the water inside the vessel is
removed once the concrete is set, thus enabling installation
without dewatering. In yet another embodiment the present invention
is configured for installing a plurality of interconnected tanks.
In this embodiment, a number of inner vessels are equipped with
internal fittings that interconnect the vessels with underground
pipes installed using horizontal boring techniques.
[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide a new type of
vertical underground storage tank that is partly in-situ formed
with minimized excavation, minimum footprint, and without
dewatering.
[0010] It is an object of this invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements by apparatus for the purposes described
thereof, which is comparable in cost with existing systems,
dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended
purposes.
[0011] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a cut section of one embodiment of the present
invention for installation in unsaturated soils showing a vertical
cylinder vessel ready for insertion inside a vertical bored
underground shaft of marginally larger diameter and similar
length.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cut section of the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 1 showing the vertical cylinder vessel
inserted inside a vertical bored underground shaft of marginally
larger diameter and similar length.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cut section of the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 1 showing a vertical storage tank
comprised of a composite of an inner vessel and an outer concrete
shell in position underground.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a cut section of another embodiment of the present
invention for installation in saturated soil conditions showing a
vertical cylinder vessel having a port near the bottom ready for
insertion inside a vertical bored underground shaft of marginally
larger diameter and similar length that is filled with
groundwater.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cut section through the vessel of the same
embodiment of the present invention as in FIG. 4 showing the port
near the bottom of the vessel equipped with an inflatable plug that
serves as the open/close device for the port, in uninflated "open"
position.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 4 showing the vertical cylinder vessel
inserted inside a bored underground shaft of marginally larger
diameter and similar length with the water in the shaft having
entered the vessel.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 4 showing the water-filled vertical
cylinder vessel inside an underground shaft having been
concrete-encased, the vessel port having been closed prior to
pouring of the concrete in the annuls to prevent its entry into the
vessel.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cut section through the embodiment of the
present invention for installation in saturated soil conditions
showing a concrete-encased vertical cylinder vessel installed and
formed inside an underground shaft under the groundwater level with
water having been removed from inside the vessel.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cut section through the vessel of the same
embodiment of the present invention as in FIG. 4 showing the port
near the bottom of the vessel equipped with an inflatable plug that
serves as the open/close device for the port, in inflated "closed"
position.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a cut section of another embodiment of the
present invention for installation of a plurality of interconnected
tanks showing a first and a second vertical cylinder vessels each
having a connection flange inside near the bottom with the first
vessel inside a vertical bored underground shaft of marginally
larger diameter and similar length and the second outside.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing the two vertical cylinder
vessels inside their respective bored underground shafts of
marginally larger diameters and similar lengths with their
connection flanges aligned.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing a horizontal underground
boring between the connection flanges of the two vertical cylinder
vessels inside their respective bored underground shafts.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing a pipe sleeve inserted in
the horizontal boring between the connection flanges of the two
vertical cylinder vessels inside their respective bored underground
shafts.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing a connection pressure pipe
inserted inside the pipe sleeve between the connection flanges of
the two vertical cylinder vessels inside their respective bored
underground shafts.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing the fitting that connects
the pressure pipe to each of the two vertical cylinder vessels.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing the pressure pipe connected
to the second of the two vertical cylinder vessels.
[0028] FIG. 17 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10 showing the pressure pipe connected
to the first of the two vertical cylinder vessels.
[0029] FIG. 18 is a cut section the embodiment of the present
invention for installation of a plurality of interconnected tanks
showing two interconnected concrete-encased vertical cylinder
vessels installed and formed inside two underground shafts.
[0030] FIG. 19 is a cut section the embodiment of the present
invention for installation of a plurality of interconnected tanks
showing three interconnected concrete-encased vertical cylinder
vessels installed and formed inside three underground shafts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] FIG. 1 is a cut section of one embodiment of the present
invention for installation in unsaturated soils 100 showing a
prefabricated vertical cylinder vessel 101 ready for insertion
inside a vertical bored underground shaft 111 of marginally larger
diameter and roughly the same depth below ground 112 as the length
of the vessel 101. Vertical vessel 101 and bored shaft 111 are
sized to fit in a male-female fitting arrangement while leaving an
annulus space as formwork for the desired thickness of concrete to
be poured once vessel 101 is inserted in shaft 111. Vessel 101 is
equipped with an access hatch 103 at the top that may have a
smaller diameter than the diameter of the vessel 101, in which case
there is a truncated cone transition 102 from the access hatch 103
to the vessel 101. If necessary, access hatch 103 may be extended
with a spool of same diameter (not shown) in which case the depth
of shaft 111 is increase by the same amount. The bottom 105 of the
vessel 101 may be configured in the form of a sump to house a pump
intake (not shown), in which case there is an inverted truncated
cone transition 104 from the vessel 101 to the bottom 105.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a cut section of the same embodiment 100 of the
present invention as in FIG. 1. Vertical cylinder vessel 101 is
placed inside vertical bored underground shaft 111 of marginally
larger diameter and roughly the same depth below ground 112 as the
length of the vessel 101. Vessel 101 is supported level in vertical
position on its bottom 105 with access hatch 103 at roughly the
same elevation as the ground 112, leaving a roughly uniform annular
space between the vessel 101 and the shaft 111.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a cut section of the same embodiment 100 of the
present invention as in FIG. 2. Vertical underground storage tank
100 is comprised of a composite of inner vessel 101 and outer
concrete shell 121 installed and formed in position underground
inside vertical shaft 111. Tank 100 has an access hatch 103 at the
top flush with ground 112. The volume of soil removed to
accommodate tank 100 equals is the gross volume of the tank 100
meaning that excavation is minimized. Also, the vertical
orientation of the cylindrical tank 100 means that the footprint of
the tank 100 is minimized.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a cut section of another embodiment of the present
invention 200 for installation in saturated soil conditions.
Vertical cylinder vessel 201 is equipped with port 231 near the
bottom that has an inflatable plug 241 that serves as open/close
device for port 231 connected to pressure tube 242. Vertical shaft
211 is bored in saturated ground condition and is filled with
groundwater 213. Vessel 201 is equipped with an access hatch 203 at
the top that may have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the
vessel 201, in which case there is a truncated cone transition 202
from the access hatch 203 to the vessel 201. The bottom 205 of the
vessel 201 may be configured as a sump to house a pump intake (not
shown), in which case there is an inverted truncated cone
transition 204 from the vessel 201 to the bottom 205.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a cut section through the vessel of the same
embodiment 200 of the present invention as in FIG. 4. Port 231
above transition 204 to bottom 205 of vessel 201 is equipped with
inflatable plug 241 that serves as the open/close device for port
231. Inflatable plug 241 is in uninflated "open" position during
installation and can be inflated to "closed" position by air tube
that leads to outside of vessel 201.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a cut section through the same embodiment 200 of
the present invention as in FIG. 4. Vertical cylinder vessel 201 is
inserted inside bored shaft 211 while port 231 shown in FIG. 5 is
"open" allowing groundwater 213 to enter inside vessel 201. Air
tube 242 extends outside vessel 201 and is pressurized to close
inflatable plug 241 shown in FIG. 5 once vessel 201 is in position.
Vessel 201 is supported in level vertical position on its bottom
205 shown in FIG. 5 with access hatch 203 at roughly the same
elevation as the ground 212, leaving a roughly uniform annular
space between the vessel 201 and bored shaft 211.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a cut section through the same embodiment 200 of
the present invention as in FIG. 4. Water-filled vertical cylinder
vessel 201 inside bored shaft 211 has been encased in concrete 221,
the vessel port 231 shown in FIG. 5 having been closed prior to
pouring of the concrete in the annuls to prevent entry into vessel
201.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a cut section through the embodiment of the
present invention 200 for installation in saturated soil conditions
with local groundwater 213 in vessel 201 having been removed.
Vertical storage tank 200 is comprised of a composite of inner
vessel 201 and outer concrete shell 221 installed in position
underground under saturated conditions inside vertical shaft 211
without dewatering. The tank 200 has an access hatch 203 at the top
flush with ground 212. The volume of soil removed equals is the
gross volume of tank 200 meaning that excavation is minimized.
Also, the vertical orientation of the cylindrical tank 100 means
that the footprint is minimized.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a cut section through the vessel of the same
embodiment 200 of the present invention as in FIG. 8 Inflatable
plug 241 has been pressurized by air tube 242 and inflated to close
port 231 prior to the pouring of concrete 221. Both plug 241 and
rube 242 may be removed after placement of concrete 221 and port
231 may be closed with a pipe cap (not shown).
[0040] FIG. 10 is a cut section of another embodiment 300 of the
present invention for installation of a plurality of interconnected
tanks. There is a first vertical cylinder vessel 301 placed inside
vertical bored shaft 311 below ground 312 and a second vertical
cylinder vessel 301 outside vertical bored shaft 312 ready for
placement. Both vessels 301 and 302 are equipped with connection
flanges 331 and 332 located near the bottom that are accessed and
connect from inside the vessels 301 and 302. The bottom 306 of
second vessel 302 may be of same diameter as vessel 302 since first
vessel 301 has an inverted truncated cone transition 304 from
vessel 301 to bottom 305 that creates a sump for removal of fluids
from both vessels 301 and 302.
[0041] FIG. 11 is a cut section through the same embodiment 300 of
the present invention as in FIG. 10. Both the first vertical
cylinder vessel 301 and the second vertical cylinder vessel 302 are
inside their respective bored vertical shafts 311 and 302, with
their connection flanges 331 and 331 aligned.
[0042] FIG. 12 is a cut section through the same embodiment 300 of
the present invention as in FIG. 10. There is a horizontal
underground boring 351 between the connection flanges 331 and 332
of the two vertical cylinder vessels 301 and 302 inside their
corresponding bored underground shafts 311 and 312. Horizontal
underground boring techniques is used for trenchless pipe laying in
water, sewer, and gas pipeline industries and is widely
available.
[0043] FIG. 13 is a cut section through the same embodiment 300 of
the present invention as in FIG. 10. There is a pipe sleeve 352
inserted in the horizontal boring 351 shown in FIG. 12 between the
connection flanges 331 and 332 of the two vertical cylinder vessels
301 and 302 inside their corresponding bored underground shafts 311
and 312.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a cut section through the same embodiment of the
present invention as in FIG. 10. Pressure pipe 353 is inserted
inside pipe sleeve 351 shown in FIG. 12 between the connection
flanges 331 and 332 of the two vertical cylinder vessels 331 and
332 inside their corresponding bored underground shafts 311 and
312.
[0045] FIG. 15 is a cut section through the same embodiment 300 of
the present invention as in FIG. 10. Female fitting 354 tightly
fits male connection pipe 353 and has a flange that matches
connection flange 332 inside second vessel 302. There an identical
fitting arrangement for first vessel 301 on the far side (not
shown).
[0046] FIG. 16 is a cut section through the same embodiment 300 of
the present invention as in FIG. 10. Pressure pipe 353 shown in
FIG. 15 is connected to second vertical cylinder vessel 302 via
female fitting 354 sealed against connection flange 332 inside
second vessel 302 and pressure pipe 353 shown in FIG. 15.
[0047] FIG. 17 is a cut section through the same embodiment 300 of
the present invention as in FIG. 10. Pressure pipe 353 shown in
FIG. 15 is connected to first vertical cylinder vessel 301 via
female fitting 354 sealed against connection flange 331 inside
second vessel 301 and pressure pipe 353 shown in FIG. 15. First
vertical cylinder vessel 301 and second vertical cylinder vessel
302 are fully sealed from outside environment while being
interconnected via pressure pipe 353 shown in FIG. 15 and function
as a single underground storage facility.
[0048] FIG. 18 is a cut section the embodiment of the present
invention comprising of a plurality of interconnected underground
storage tanks 300. There are two interconnected vertical cylinder
vessels 301 and 302 installed inside two underground vertical
shafts 301 and 302 and encased in concrete 321. The tanks function
as a single sealed storage facility below ground 312.
[0049] FIG. 19 is a cut section the embodiment of the present
invention comprising of a plurality of interconnected underground
tanks 300. There are three interconnected vertical cylinder vessels
301, 302, and 303 installed inside three underground vertical
shafts 311, 312, and 313, encased in concrete 321. The tanks
function as a single sealed storage facility below ground 312. In
this manner, the number of tanks can increase as needed to fit the
storage requirements and site conditions.
[0050] In some situations it may be necessary to pour the concrete
immediately after placement of the vessel inside the shaft. If so,
then the connection flanges 301 and 302 of FIG. 10 are equipped
with an inflatable plug 241 of FIG. 9, which is "closed" during
pouring of concrete to prevent its entry into the vessel and
removed once the concrete is set. In such cases, the steps shown in
FIG. 12 through FIG. 18 are carried out without change with the
concrete encasement in place.
[0051] For installations in saturated ground conditions the steps
shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 8 is carried out to install and form
each individual vessel, and is followed by the steps shown in FIG.
12 through FIG. 18 to connect the vessels.
[0052] The present invention is susceptible to modifications and
variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from
the inventive concepts and the object of the invention. Other
elements such and ports, piping, access means, fittings, and valves
may be added to the vessels to accommodate the specific needs of a
site. The diameter of depth of the vertical shafts that accommodate
the vessels may be varied to exceed the diameter and length of the
vessel as necessary.
[0053] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is
not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to
cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and
scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended
claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent
arrangements which are possible.
* * * * *