Abstract:
One embodiment of a temporary wall for a rectangular liquid containment system comprises linear and corner panels. The linear panels comprise a rectangular body including a supporting foot apparatus that deploys from the outside surface of the body. A horizontal panel extends from the bottom of the panel inwardly for stability. The linear panels are joined in an overlapping configuration. The corner panels are pinned together at a hinge. An impermeable membrane is laid over a ground surface to be protected against spills and draped over the tops of the linear and corner panels. A metallic cap is placed over the top of the panels to secure the membrane.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    N/A 
       FEDERAL FUNDING 
       [0002]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to static structures and particularly to a temporary wall for a rectangular containment system and method of installation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The following prior art appears relevant: U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,666 “Containment Barrier Panel and Method of Forming a Containment Barrier Wall” issued on Apr. 25, 2000; US2011/0073298 “Environmental Containment and Protection System” published on Mar. 31, 2011 by Timothy Dale Thompson; and CA2362105 “Modular Panel for a Liquid Containment Barrier and a Liquid Containment Barrier” issued to Dale Mackie on 26 Aug. 2003. 
         [0005]    Under, national, state, provincial and municipal laws it is a requirement to surround a potentially leaky structure containing toxic substances, such as oil and gasoline, with a bund wall, a dike, an earthen berm or frame supported berm. In the event of a leak or spill, the substance is retained within the enclosure mitigating the contamination of surrounding soil and making clean-up easier. 
         [0006]    While the prior art describes a variety of containment systems, there is still a need for a system that is easily transportable by truck to a remote location and easy installed in all types of weather and terrain. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention a temporary wall for a rectangular liquid containment system comprises four sides comprising least one linear panel per side and four corner panel sets. 
         [0008]    Each linear panel comprises a generally rectangular elongate body panel having a length, a height, a thickness, a top end, a bottom end, a left side edge and a right side edge, an inside surface and an outside surface. The inside surface of each panel is adjacent a containment sealing membrane. A horizontal panel extends inwardly from the bottom of each panel and is perpendicular along the length of the panel. 
         [0009]    The top end of each panel is capped with an elongate member or sealing cap member extending along the length of the panel for sealing the top end of the containment sealing membrane to the panels. 
         [0010]    A rib member is disposed just inside the right edge of the linear panels and extends from the top end to the bottom end of each panel. This rib member is adapted to abut the left side edge of an adjacent panel when they are slid together in an overlapping relationship. A shorter stiffening rib is disposed on the left side of each panel approximately midway between the top end and the bottom end of each panel. 
         [0011]    Each panel has retractable foot apparatus fixed centrally on the outside surface of each of the wall panels and corner panels. 
         [0012]    Each of the corner panels in a corner panel set is similarly configured as the linear wall panels except for the pin sleeves on facing sides of the corner panels for receiving a hinge pin. 
         [0013]    A method of constructing a rectangular liquid containment system around a central point comprises the steps of:
   1. Arranging a plurality of duplicate linear wall panels and four corner panels sets around an area to be enclosed by the rectangular liquid containment system;   2. Forming the four corners of the containment system by pinning each of the first corner panels to an adjacent and perpendicular second corner panel;   3. Deploying the corner panel retractable foot apparatus;   4. Sliding a first linear wall panel left side in an overlapping relationship with a second corner panel right side so that said linear wall panel left side edge abuts the second corner right side rib and so that the second corner panel right side edge engages the stiffening rib of the linear wall panel left side;   5. Deploying the first linear wall panel retractable foot apparatus;   6. Repeating steps IV and V above until a desired wall length is obtained;   7. Placing the containment sealing member within the enclosed area so that the containment sealing member is adjacent the inside surface of the walls;   8. Draping the edges of the containment sealing member over the top edges of the linear wall panels and corner panel sets;   9. Placing the sealing cap member over the top edges.   
 
       Advantages 
       [0023]    Accordingly, there are several advantages to the present invention over the prior art: the wall panels of the present invention are lighter than the prior art panels and so easier and less expensive to transport; the panels are not fastened together and so can be installed quickly; the foot supports of the panels are integral to the panel design and fold away in a stored configuration lessening installation time. Other advantages of one or more aspects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates a containment system of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates pair of linear wall panels of one embodiment of the system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the linear wall panel in  FIG. 2  along section A-A of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of two joined linear wall panels showing installation of the member. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of a linear wall panel of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a pair of linear wall panels joined in one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of one linear wall panel showing deployment of the support apparatus. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of a foot panel of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a set of corner wall panels joined in embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the invention is a temporary wall  10  for a rectangular liquid containment system shown generally as  12 . One example might be a containment system surrounding an oil tank  15  at a remote pumping location. 
         [0034]    The wall comprises four sides  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . Each wall comprises at least one linear panel  22  per side and four corner panel sets  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 . Each of the corner panel sets comprises a first corner panel  32  and a second corner panel  34 . 
         [0035]    Refer now to  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a pair of identical linear wall panels  22 A and  22 B adjacent to each other in an overlapping configuration. Each of the linear panels  22 A and  22 B comprise a generally rectangular elongate body  36 AB having a length  38 AB, a height  40 AB, a thickness  42 AB ( FIG. 3 ), a top end  44 AB, a bottom end  46 AB, a left side edge  48 AB and a right side edge  50 AB, an inside surface  52 AB and an outside surface  54 AB. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a cross-sectional side view of one linear panel  22 A along section A-A in  FIG. 2 . The panel has an inside surface  52 A and an outside surface  54 B. The inside surface is adjacent to a containment sealing membrane  60  (shown as a dashed line) which provides an impermeable seal between whatever liquid is contained within the containment system and the ground  62 . Extending from the bottom end  46 A of the panel  22 A is a horizontal panel  64 A. The horizontal panel is integral to the linear panel. Horizontal panel  64 A extends inwardly from the bottom edge  46 A and perpendicular along the length  38 A of the panel  22 A. Over the top edge  44 A of the panel there is a capping member  66  extending along the length  38  for sealing a top end  68  of the containment sealing membrane  60 . In  FIG. 3 , the dimensions of the capping member are exaggerated so show the relationship between the elements. Naturally, the capping member will have a sealing frictional fit with the top edge of the panel  44 A. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows the relationship between the elongate capping member  66  and the wall panels  22 A and  22 B. The capping member is about the same length of the wall panel and is disposed on the top edge  44 AB of the wall members and centred over the junction  69  between two overlapping panels. The capping member is placed over the top edge of the wall panel along the entire perimeter of the wall structure. The placement over the junction  69  of adjacent wall panels adds to the overall stability of the wall structure and does away with the need to fix adjacent wall panels together. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 5  there is shown a top view of panel  22 A. Referring to  FIG. 6  there is shown a perspective view of adjacent panels  22 A and  22 B. A first rib member  70 A is disposed a predetermined distance  72 A inside the right side edge  50 A of the panel. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the rib  70 AB extends from the top end  44 AB of the panel to the bottom end  46 A. The rib member  70 AB is adapted to abut the left side edge  48 A of a right-adjacent containment barrier panel. A second rib member  71 AB is disposed on the outside surface of each wall panel a distance  73 AB from the left side edge  48 AB of the panel. Rib member  71  AB is centrally disposed on the outside surface of the panel and is about one-third to one-quarter the length of rib  70 AB. Rib  71 AB and Rib  70 AB are intended to stiffen the body of the panel to prevent bulging and warping if and when the reservoir inside of wall begins to fill with a liquid. Rib  71 AB abuts against the right-side of the adjacent panel  50 A. 
         [0039]    Now refer to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . There is illustrated in  FIG. 7  a side view of a panel  22 A from the left side edge  48 A.  FIG. 6  illustrates an outside perspective view of a pair of joined wall panels  22 AB. Each of the wall panels  22 AB and the corner panels  32  and  34  comprise a retractable foot apparatus shown generally as  80 A. The apparatus  80 A is fixed centrally to the outside surface  54  of each panel. The retractable foot apparatus comprises a pair  82 A and  84 A of parallel and spaced-apart bracket members fixed centrally on the outside surface  54 A of the panel  22 A forming an attachment bracket for a support column  86 A. Support column  86 A has a first end  90 A pivotally attached to the attachment bracket between the bracket members  82 A and  84 A by a first pin  90 A. The pin is fixed in place and is not removable. The second end  92 A of the support column  86 A is attached to a foot plate  94 A by a second bracket  95 A and a second permanent pin  97 A. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the second bracket  95 A comprises bracket members  101 A and  103 A. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , there is shown in  FIG. 8  a top view of a foot plate of the invention. The foot plate  94  has a first end  96  and a second end  98 , a first side  100  and a second side  102 , a length  104  and a width  106 . When the support column  86  is deployed as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the support column second end  92  is fixed to the foot plate second end  98  and disposed approximately a foot plate length  104  away from the outside surface  52  of the panel. A single foot plate  94  provides sufficient ground support and stability to each of the panel. The foot plate  94  has a stored position under the horizontal panel  62  and a deployed position opposite the horizontal panel  62  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The foot plate  94  moves to a storage position under the panel  62  as shown by arrow  81 , The foot plate  94  further includes a first upward projection  108  disposed just inside the first end  96  first side  100  corner and a second upward projection  110  disposed within the first end  96  second side  102  corner.  FIG. 7  illustrates that the outside surface  54  bottom end  46  of each panel  22  includes a first downward-disposed tab  112  and a second downward-disposed tab  114 . The tabs  112  and  114  are fixed to the panel just above the bottom edge  46  of the panel and are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the first  108  and the second  110  projections on the foot plate. The tabs  112  and  114  depend downwards so that the first tab  112  engages with the first projection  108  and the second tab  114  engages with the second slot  110  thereby temporarily holding the foot plate  94  in a deployed position. The tabs are easily disengaged from the slots so that the foot plate can side under the panel  64  for storage. When in a storage configuration the support column  86  has a stored position flat against the outside surface  54  of the panel  22 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  and to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a corner section of the wall comprising a set of corner panels  32  and  34 . The containment system will comprise four sets of corner panels for each of the corners  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the four corner panel sets comprise a first corner panel  32  joined at right angles to a second corner panel  34 . The first corner panel  32  and said second corner panel  34  are joined by a pinned hinge joint  124 . The joint is prevented from pivoting by spot welds placed along the hinge joint. The first corner panel and the second corner panel comprise a generally rectangular elongate body panel  126  having a length  128 , a height  130 , a thickness (equal to  FIG. 3  item  42 ), a top end  134 , a bottom end  136 , a left side edge  138  and a right side edge  140 , an inside surface  142  and an outside surface  144 . As shown in  FIG. 3  inside surface  142  is adjacent to a sealing membrane  60 . The bottom end  136  includes a horizontal panel  64  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The bottom panel  64  extends inwardly and perpendicular along the length  128  of the corner panels  32  and  34 . The top end  134  includes a sealing cap extending along length  128  for sealing the top end of the sealing membrane  60  over the top edge  134  of the corner panel similar to the sealing cap for the linear panels. On corner panel  32  there is installed a first plurality of pin receiving sleeves  152  fixed to the right edge  140  and equally spaced along the right edge. On corner panel  34  there is a second plurality of pin receiving members  154  spaced equally along the left edge  138  of the panel. A retractable foot apparatus  156  is fixed centrally on the outside surface  144  of each panel. 
         [0042]    When the linear and corner panels are deployed they are free standing and stable. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the wall  10  is assembled from duplicate adjacent ones  22 A and  22 B of the linear panel. The panels are arranged in edge-standing side-by-side relationship as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and engaged with one another in an overlapping relationship. The result is that the left side edge  48 B of the right-adjacent linear panel  22 B abuts the rib member  70 A of the left-adjacent linear panel  22 A and the right side edge  50 A of the left-adjacent linear panel  22 A overlaps panel  22 B and abuts the rib member  71 B. The corner panels are joined as previously explained by a pin hinge and corner panels are engaged with linear panels in the same overlapping relationship as between two linear panels. 
         [0044]    A method for constructing a rectangular liquid containment system is also disclosed in this invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , such a containment system may be placed around a central point such as an oil storage tank  15 . The system comprises a plurality of duplicate linear wall panels  22  for each side of the rectangular liquid containment system  12  and four corner panel sets for each corner of the rectangular containment system. The linear and corner panels are configured as described herein. The method of construction comprises the steps of:
   1. Arranging a plurality of duplicate linear wall panels  22  and four corner panels sets around an area  8  to be enclosed by the rectangular liquid containment system  10 ;   2. Forming the four corners  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  of the containment system by pinning each of the first corner panels  32  to an adjacent second corner panel  34  using pin hinge  124 ;   3. Deploying the corner panel  32  and  34  retractable foot apparatus  156 ;   4. Sliding a first linear wall panel  22  left side edge  48  in an overlapping relationship with a second corner panel right side  141  so the said linear wall panel left side edge  48  abuts the second corner panel  34  right side rib  70  and so that the second corner panel  32  right side edge  141  engages the slot  76  in the key member  74  of the linear wall panel left side  48 ;   5. Deploying the first linear wall panel  22  retractable foot apparatus  80 ;   6. Repeating steps IV and V above until a desired wall length is obtained;   7. Placing the containment sealing member  60  within the enclosed area  8  so that the containment sealing member is adjacent the inside surfaces of the wall linear and corner panels;   8. Draping the edges  68  of the containment sealing member  60  over the top edges of the linear wall panels and corner panel sets;   9. Placing the sealing cap over the top edges of the panels.   
 
         [0054]    Although the description above contains much specificity, these should be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the several embodiments. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.