Abstract:
A portable reservoir frame composed of interlocking panels secured by a series of flanges having holes and pegs. An inner liner to hold liquid inside the reservoir frame is presented.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a reservoir frame capable of being transported to various geographical areas, placed on or in the ground and able to provide containment for various liquids. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Often in various industries is necessary to hold and contain various industrial liquids from process activity. In the oil and gas industry, for example, it is often necessary to contain fracturing fluid, which is a byproduct of drilling activity. Currently, trailers are used to hold and contain this liquid. 
         [0003]    To accommodate oil and gas production in the field, a trailer is transported to the site where the liquid is produced. The trailers often have a 500 barrel capacity, so multiple trailers are needed in situations where much liquid is stored. 
         [0004]    The cost of trucking trailers to various oil and gas drilling locations is significant. Additionally, transporting said liquid from the production site adds to the already high cost of oil and gas drilling operations. Furthermore, environmental concerns associated with numerous containment trailers for the liquid has generated governmental regulations, including rules regarding environmental quality, transportation, safety and health, etc. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a portable reservoir frame to aid in the storage of liquid materials. 
         [0006]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
         [0007]    To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises a portable reservoir frame comprising two or more interlocking panels for deployment on a ground surface, each of said panels having the following: a plate having an outer surface, an inner surface, a top edge, a bottom edge for resting on the ground surface, a first edge and an opposing second edge, said first and said second edges being disposed between said top edge and said bottom edge; a first flange having an inner face, an outer face, and at least one hole having a chosen diameter and perforating said first flange, said first flange attached to said plate and extending beyond the first edge; a second flange having an inner face and an outer face, said second flange attached to said plate and extending beyond the opposing second edge; and at least one peg attached to said second flange and extending in a direction perpendicular to the outer face thereof, each of said at least one peg adapted for insertion into one of said at least one hole. 
         [0008]    Benefits and advantages of the present invention include, but are not limited to, providing a reservoir frame, which is portable and can function in a variety of terrains, and accommodate a wide variety of ground surfaces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a panel having an outer surface, first and second flanges and top edge. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the top of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  hereof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates another perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  hereof, further showing the inner surface, first and second flanges and top edge. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention as seen from the outer surface, further showing two panels prior to connection of the two panels. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 4 , further showing two panels connected. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention as seen from the inner surface, further showing two panels prior to connection of two panels. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 6 , further showing two panels connected. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  illustrate a perspective view of one embodiment the pin connection mechanism which secures connection of the panel flanges. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing panels fully connected and creating a circular reservoir of interlocking panels. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention further showing a liner covering the inner surface of the reservoir frame and the bottom of the reservoir as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing panels having additional support beams. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference characters refer to the same or similar elements in all FIG.s. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a panel  1  having plate  5 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the plate  5  of the panel  1  has an outer surface  10 , a top edge  20 , and a bottom edge  25 . The bottom edge  25  is adapted to be disposed upon a ground surface. The plate  5  is attached to a first flange  40  at the first edge  30  of the plate  5 . The plate  5  is attached to the second flange  60  at the opposing second edge  35  of the plate  5 .  FIG. 1  depicts the outer face  50  of the first flange  40  and the outer face  70  of the second flange  60 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates the first flange  40  having holes  55 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the holes  55  are unevenly spaced, having a higher density of holes  55  toward the bottom of the first flange  40 . The second flange  60  has pegs  75 . In one embodiment, the pegs  75  extend in direction normal to the outer face  70  of the second flange  60  and are adapted for penetration of the holes  55 . Similar to the holes  55  and in one embodiment of the present invention, the pegs  75  are unevenly spaced with a higher density of pegs disposed at the bottom of the second flange  60 . The higher density of holes  55  and corresponding pegs  75  disposed toward the bottom of the first and second flanges provides for and accommodates more water to be placed in the reservoir. The additional water places more pressure toward the bottom of the flanges and a higher density of holes and pegs stabilize the bottom portion of the structure and further secures the connection between interconnected panels. In many embodiments of the present invention, the pegs  75  are integrally formed with the second flange  60 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates crossbars  90  that are used to attach temporarily a panel connector piece of a front end loader or tele-handler for transportation. Thus, a front end loader or tele-handler can easily manipulate and transport a panel during reservoir frame construction. In one embodiment, the crossbars  90  may be attached to the outer surface  10  of the panel  1 . Additionally,  FIG. 1  depicts horizontal support beams  95  to further secure and strengthen the panel  1  and plate  5 . The horizontal support beams  95  are generally parallel to the top edge  20  and the bottom edge  25 , and the horizontal support beams are disposed between the first edge  30  and opposing second edge  35 . In another embodiment the crossbars  90  may be attached to the horizontal support beams  95 . 
         [0025]    In one embodiment of the present invention the panels have a curvature such that when numerous panels are interconnected via the pegs  75  and holes  55 , a generally circular reservoir frame system is constructed. The curvature is generally convex relative to the outer surface and concave relative to the inner surface. 
         [0026]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the first flange  40  is integrally formed with the plate  5 . Likewise, the second flange  60  is integrally formed with the plate  5 , in many embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the top of the embodiment of the present invention as depicted in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  further depicts the pegs  75  and holes  55  having a higher density of both at the bottom portion of the flange.  FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the present invention wherein the pegs  75  and corresponding holes  55  have a larger diameter toward the bottom portion of the first flange  40  and the second flange  60 . This further secures connection between panels because the lower, larger diameter pegs  75  have additional sheer strength and are able to accommodate greater pressures against the inner surface of the panel  1 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts the inner surface  15  of the plate  5  of the panel  1  having a top edge  20  and a bottom edge  25 . The plate  5  is attached to the first flange  40  at the first edge  30 . The plate  5  is attached to the second flange  60  at the opposing second edge  35 .  FIG. 3  depicts the first flange inner face  45  and the second flange inner face  65 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the first flange  40  having holes  55 . The second flange  60  has pegs  75 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the outer surface of two panels prior to connection of the two panels. The pegs  75  of the second flange  60  of one panel will penetrate the holes  55  of the first flange  40  of another panel. In this representation of the present invention the second flange outer face  70  is aligned opposite the first flange inner face  45  (not depicted). 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of the outer surface after the connection of two panels. In this representation, the outer face  75  of the second flange  60  contacts the inner face (not depicted) of the first flange  40 . The pegs  75  penetrate the holes  55 . Furthermore,  FIG. 5  depicts pins  85  penetrating the pegs  75  in order to further secure the interlocking panels. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of the inner surface of two panels prior to the interlocking connection.  FIG. 6  is the inside view of the invention shown in  FIG. 4 , i.e., prior to connection of panels. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of the inner surface after the connection of two panels.  FIG. 7  depicts the inside view of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 , i.e., when connection of the panels occurs. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8A  depicts the pin  85  and the peg  75  with a cut out representation of the eyelet  80  to accommodate penetration of the pin  85 .  FIG. 8B  more depicts the pin  85  penetrating the peg  75  through the eyelet as show previously in  FIG. 8A . The pin  85  goes through the peg  75  via the eyelet  80  (not depicted). In one embodiment of the present invention, the eyelet  80  is at an angle of roughly 45° relative to the bottom edge  25 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  depicts a top perspective side view of panels fully connected and creating a circular reservoir frame of interlocking panels. The interlocking panels form a variety of shapes in various embodiments, including oval and circles. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  shows a liner  105  covering the inner surface of the reservoir frame and the bottom of the reservoir. 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing panels having vertical support beams  150 . Such vertical support beams further secure and support the reservoir panel  1  and plate  5  in order to hold and contain large amounts of liquid in the reservoir frame. 
         [0037]    It is believed that the apparatus of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and without sacrificing its material advantages. The forms described are merely exemplary and explanatory embodiments thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.