Abstract:
A portable reservoir has a fence that encloses an area of a support surface and a liner that rest on the support surface, and extends across the area and up the inside of the fence. The fence is made up of a number of fence sections that are connected together by interleaving connectors with pins. The liner has clips that hook over the top of the fence sections to support the vertical part of the liner. A stile provides access to the inside of the reservoir. The reservoir can have a large capacity and can be used for storing liquids used in hydraulic fracturing. The fence sections each have a plate that overlaps an adjacent fence section to prevent pinching and puncture of the liner.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 13/280,417 filed Oct. 25, 2011. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to liquid storage and more particularly to a portable, above ground storage reservoir. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    There are several known systems for relatively short term storage of large quantities of liquids such as water. One simple system includes digging a pit and lining the pit with a material impermeable to the liquid. Digging the pit can be time consuming and expensive. Generally, the pit must be fenced in to prevent people and animals from falling in. The pit can leak and such leaks may be hard to detect and correct. When the pit is no longer needed and has been disassembled, the ground underneath is often too soft for other uses. 
         [0004]    Hydraulic fracturing is used to increase the rate of production of fluids such as oil, water and natural gas in wells, and requires large quantities of water and other liquids. Generally, the liquids are stored in semi-trailer sized tanks. A large number of these tanks are required. The tanks are expensive, and moving the tanks to and around the job site is expensive and time consuming. 
         [0005]    Another portable system for storage of liquid is a large flexible bladder. These bladders can have the storage capacity of a number of semi-trailer sized tanks. The size of these bladders is limited to the folded, deflated size that can be loaded and transported by a vehicle. The height of these bladders is limited, since increasing the height increases the pressure the bladder must contain. As the pressure increases, the bladder material required becomes heavier and bulkier. Although bladders are currently available in up to about a 500,000 gallon size, the bladders are usually only about five feet high. Bladders require a much larger area than the semi-trailer sized tanks for the storage of an equivalent quantity of liquid. 
         [0006]    A portable storage reservoir with a circular peripheral wall or fence enclosing and supporting a liner is currently being offered by Poseidon Concepts of Alberta, Canada. The fence consists of a plurality of fence sections connected together by connector plates with holes that fit over projections or bosses on fence sections. Canadian Patent No. 2,692,016 to Wiebe discloses the connector configuration. The fence sections are stacked on one or more trucks for transport. The liner is pulled over the upper edge of the fence and held with C-clamps. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A portable reservoir for liquid storage includes a substantially circular fence, and a liner inside the fence. The fence has a plurality of rigid, portable fence sections. The fence sections each have a plate that curves from a first side edge to a second side edge and extends from a bottom edge to a top edge. The plate has a concave inner face and a spaced outer face. An elongated first vertical member is attached to the outer face at the first side edge, and a plurality of spaced first connector portions are attached to the outer face along the first side edge. An elongated second vertical member is attached to the outer face at the second side edge, and a plurality of spaced second connector portions are attached to the outer face along the second side edge opposite the first connector portions. Horizontal members are attached to the outer face, extending between the first and second connector portions, and along the bottom and top edges. The first and second connector portions each have a plurality of spaced horizontal leaves with the leaves of each first connector portion on one fence section interleaving with the leaves on a second connector portion on the adjacent fence section. Removable pins extending through vertical apertures in the leaves secure the fence sections together. The vertical spacing of the first connector portions increases from the bottom edge to the top edge. The liner has a liner body of a liquid impermeable material and a plurality of clips. The clips are spaced along the top edge of the fence sections to support the liner. The reservoir includes a stile having an inner stairway inside the reservoir, an outer stairway outside the reservoir and a bridge over the fence that connects the inner and outer stairways. The stile is suspended on the fence and provides access to the inside of the reservoir. The plate is offset laterally relative to the first and second side edges such that the plate projects laterally beyond the first side edge and the plate is recessed laterally relative to the second side edge. The projecting portion of the plate on one fence section overlaps the second vertical member of the adjacent fence section, preventing pinching of the liner and preventing puncture of the liner from outside the fence. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings that bear similar reference numerals in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a reservoir embodying features of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an outside elevation view of a fence section of the fence of the reservoir of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first connector portion of the fence section of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view a second connector portion of the fence section of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an outside elevation view of a connector of the fence of the reservoir of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pin for the connector of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partial inside elevation view of the reservoir of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an inside perspective view of a stile of the reservoir of  FIG. 1 , on a fence section. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of the stile of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the fence section of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a portable storage reservoir  10 , embodying features of the present invention, includes a fence  14  and a liner  15 . The reservoir  10  stores liquid  12  or other flowable material. The fence  14  has a plurality of fence sections  17  that are connected together on a support surface  16 . The fence  14  encloses substantially circular area of the support surface  16 . The support surface  16  is typically soil, and is preferably flattened before assembly of the reservoir  10 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , each fence section  17  has a rectangular shape, with a first side edge  18  and a spaced second side edge  19 , and with a bottom edge  20  and a spaced top edge  21 , each extending from the first side edge  18  to the second side edge  19 . 
         [0023]    Describing the specific embodiments herein chosen for illustrating the invention, certain terminology is used which will be recognized as being employed for convenience and having no limiting significance. For example, the terms “top” and “bottom” refer to the illustrated embodiment in its normal position of use. The terms “inner” and “outer” refer to direction relative to the center of the reservoir  10 , and the terms “side”, “lateral” and “laterally outwardly” refer to direction transverse to a radius from the center of the reservoir  10 . Further, all of the terminology above-defined includes derivatives of the word specifically mentioned and words of similar import. 
         [0024]    Each fence section  17  has a plate  24  that extends substantially from the first side edge  18  to the second side edge  19 , and extends from the bottom edge  20  to the top edge  21 . The plate  24  is of substantially uniform thickness, and has an inner face  25  and a spaced outer face  26 . The plate  24  shown is steel plate. The plate  24  curves between the first and second side edges  18  and  19 , such that the inner face  25  is concave and the outer face  26  is convex. 
         [0025]    Each fence section  17  has an elongated first vertical member  28  rigidly attached to the outer face  26  of the plate  24  along the first side edge  18 , and an elongated second vertical member  29  rigidly attached to the outer face  26  of the plate  24  along the second side edge  19 , each extending from the bottom edge  20  to the top edge  21 . A curved, elongated bottom horizontal member  30  is rigidly attached to the outer face  26  of the plate  24  along the bottom edge  20 , extending from the first vertical member  28  to the second vertical member  29 . A curved, elongated top horizontal member  31  is rigidly attached to the outer face  26  of the plate  24  along the top edge  21 , extending from the first vertical member  28  to the second vertical member  29 . 
         [0026]    A plurality of curved, elongated intermediate horizontal members  32  are selectively spaced between the bottom edge  20  and the top edge  21  and rigidly attached to the outer face  26  of the plate  24 , each extending from the first vertical member  28  to the second vertical member  29 . The spacing of the intermediate horizontal members  32  is non-uniform, being closer near the bottom edge  20  than near the top edge  21 . 
         [0027]    The fence sections  17  each have one first connector portion  35  for each intermediate horizontal member  32 . Each first connector portion  35  projects outwardly and laterally from the first side edge  18 . The fence sections  17  each have one second connector portion  36  for each first connector portion  35 . Each second connector portion  36  projects outwardly and laterally from the second side edge  19 . The first and second connector portions  35  and  36  are horizontally aligned with the respective intermediate horizontal members  32 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first connector portions  35  each have a plurality of horizontally spaced first leaves  38 . The first leaves  38  are generally horizontal and of substantially uniform thickness. Each of the first leaves  38  has an intermediate segment  39 , a brace segment  40  at one end and an end segment  41  at the opposite end. The intermediate segment  39  projects outwardly from the first vertical member  28 . The end segment  41  projects laterally from the intermediate segment  39  beyond the first side edge  18  and has a rounded end. The brace segment  40  extends laterally towards the second side edge  19  and tapers inwardly. The first connector portion  35  shown has three first leaves  38 , with the brace segment  40  of the upper and lower first leaves  38  attaching to the outer face  26  and the brace segment  40  of the intermediate first leaf  38  attaching to the intermediate horizontal member  32 . Vertically aligned pin apertures  42 , concentric with the rounded ends of the end segments  41 , extends through the end segments  41  of the first leaves  38 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the second connector portions  36  each have a plurality of horizontally spaced second leaves  45 . The second leaves  45  are generally horizontal and of substantially uniform thickness. Each of the second leaves  45  has an intermediate segment  46 , a brace segment  47  and an end segment  48 . The intermediate segment  46  projects outwardly from the second vertical member  29 . The end segment  48  projects laterally from the intermediate segment  46  beyond the second side edge  19  and has a rounded end. The brace segment  47  extends laterally towards the first side edge  18  and tapers inwardly. The second connector portion  36  shown has two second leaves  45 , with the brace segment  47  of both second leaves  45  attaching to the outer face  26  adjacent to the intermediate horizontal member  32 . Vertically aligned pin apertures  49 , concentric with the rounded ends of the end segments  48 , extends through the end segments  48  of the second leaves  45 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the fence sections  17  are assembled together, the first leaves  38  on the first connector portion  35  on one fence section  17  interleave with the second leaves  45  on the second connector portion  36  of the adjacent fence section  17 .  FIG. 6  shows a pin  52  that is provided for each interleaved pair of first and second connector portions  35  and  36  on the fence  14 . The pins  52  each have cylindrical shaft  53  sized to fit through the pin apertures  42  in the first leaves  38  and the pin apertures  49  in the second leaves  45 , and a projecting head  54 , at one end of the shaft  53 , that is larger than the pin apertures  42  in the first leaves  38  and the pin apertures  49  in the second leaves  45 . Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the first leaves  38  on a first connector portion  35  on one fence section  17 , the second leaves  45  on a second connector portion  36  of the adjacent fence section  17  that interleave with the first leaves  38  and the pin  52  through the pin apertures  42  and  49  of the first and second leaves  38  and  45  define a releasable or removable connector  55  for connecting adjacent fence sections  17  together. 
         [0031]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , each fence section  17  has two spaced lifting rings  57  attached to the outside of the bottom horizontal member  30  and two spaced lifting rings  57  attached to the outside of the top horizontal member  31 . The lifting rings  57  are sized to receive a hook or clevis on rigging attached to machinery such as a front loader or crane. The lifting rings  57  on the top horizontal member  31  allow the fence section  17  to be moved into place during assembly of the fence  14 . When the fence  14  is disassembled, each fence section  17  is laid down, generally with the inner face  25  of the plate  24  facing downwardly. All four lifting rings  57  are then attached to rigging to load the fence section  17  onto a flatbed trailer. Several fence sections  17  can be stacked on top of each other on a flatbed trailer. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the liner  15  has a liner body  58  and a plurality of clips  59 . The liner body  58  has a floor portion  71  that extends across the generally flat area of the support surface  16  that is enclosed by the fence  14 , and a wall portion  72  that extends from the floor portion  71  up the inner faces  25  of the plates  24  to almost the top edge  21  of the fence sections  17 . The liner body  58  is made of a thin, liquid impermeable material. By way of example, and not as a limitation, the liner body  58  can be made of 36 mil (0.036″) Reinforced Polypropylene (RPP) film. The liner body  58  has a peripheral edge  60  and a plurality of uniformly spaced, generally round apertures  61  that are spaced a selected distance inwardly from the peripheral edge  60 . The liner  15  includes an endless cable or belt  62  that extends across the middle of all of the apertures  61 . The peripheral edge  60  is folded over the belt  62  and attached, such as by sewing, to the liner body  58 , forming a hem  63  along the outer extent of the liner body  58 . After the hem  63  is formed the apertures  61  have a semi-circular shape with belt  62  closing the wide part of each aperture  61 . 
         [0033]    The clips  59  are shaped to hang over the top edge  21  of the fence sections  17 , and project through the apertures  61  in the liner  15  and hang under the belt  62  to support the liner  15  on the fence  14 . Each clip  59  has a vertical intermediate portion  65 , an upper hook  66 , and a lower hook  67 . The upper hook  66  has a horizontal first segment  68  that projects outwardly from the top of the intermediate portion  65  and a vertical second segment  69  that projects downwardly from the end of the first segment  68  opposite the intermediate portion  65 . The distance between the intermediate portion  65  and the second segment  69  is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the plate  24  and the top horizontal member  31 . The lower hook  67  projects upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of the intermediate portion  65 , forming a V. The clips  59  shown are made of steel strap and can be made by bending or forming. Other materials can be used and other methods of making, such as casting, molding or welding, can be used. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show a stile  74  that provides access between the inside and outside of the reservoir  10 . The stile  74  includes an inner stairway  76 , a spaced, parallel outer stairway  77 , a bridge  78  and a support portion  79 . The inner and outer stairways  76  and  77  each have an lower end  81 , a spaced upper end  82 , a pair of spaced, parallel stringers  83  that extend upwardly and laterally from the lower end  81  to the upper end  82 , and a plurality of spaced, horizontal steps  84  the extend between the stringers  83 . 
         [0035]    The bridge  78  is horizontal and substantially flat. The bridge  78  connects to the upper ends  82  of the inner and outer stairways  76  and  77 . The stile  74  is assembled to the reservoir  10  with the bridge  78  extending across a fence section  17  and supported by the top edge  21  of the fence section  17 . The inner stairway  76  is inside the reservoir  10  and spaced inwardly from the inner face  25  of the fence section  17 . The outer stairway  77  is outside the reservoir  10  and spaced outwardly from the outer face  26  of the fence section  17 . 
         [0036]    The support portion  79  is spaced from the bridge  78  towards the lower ends  81  of the inner and outer stairways  76  and  77 . The support portion  79  has an elongated horizontal member  86 , and spaced inner and outer upright members  87  and  88  that project downwardly from opposite ends of the horizontal member  86 . The horizontal member  86  extends across the fence section  17  and is supported by the top edge  21  of the same fence section  17  that supports the bridge  78  or an adjacent fence section  17 . 
         [0037]    The inner upright member  87  attaches to the stringer  83  of the inner stairway  76  that is nearer to the inner face  25  of the fence section  17 . The outer upright member  88  attaches to the stringer  83  of the outer stairway  77  that is nearer to the outer face  26  of the fence section  17 . The lengths of the inner and outer upright members  87  and  88  is selected such that the support portion  79  suspends the lower ends  81  of the inner and outer stairways  76  and  77  above the floor portion  71  of the liner body  58  and above the support surface  16 . A spaced pair of handrails  90  are spaced above the stringers  83  and bridge  78  by handrail posts  91 . The handrails  90  extend up opposite sides of the inner stairway  76 , across the bridge  78  and down opposite sides of the outer stairway  77 . 
         [0038]    By way of example, and not as a limitation, the fence  14  of the reservoir  10  can have twenty-four fence sections  17  with each fence section  17  being twenty feet long and twelve feet high, providing an enclosed volume of about 218,098 cubic feet and giving the reservoir  10  a capacity of about 1,631,492 gallons or 38,845 oil barrels (bbl). The plate  24  can be quarter inch steel plate. The first vertical member  28 , second vertical member  29 , the bottom horizontal member  30 , top horizontal member  31  and the intermediate horizontal members  32  can all be 4″×4″×¼″ HSS tube. The first leaves  38  can be one inch plate and can be spaced on 4.5″ centers. The second leaves  45  can be one inch plate and can be spaced on 4.0″ centers. 
         [0039]    The pin apertures  42  and  49  in the first and second leaves  38  and  45  can be about two inches in diameter. The shaft  53  of the pins  52  can be about twelve inches long with about a two inch diameter, and the head  54  of the pins  52  can have a diameter of about three inches. The fence sections  17  can each have four intermediate horizontal members  32  with centers spaced above the bottom edge  20  at 18″, 45″, 72″ and 108″. The intermediate horizontal members  32  are closer together lower on the fence sections  17  due to the higher fluid pressure and force lower in the reservoir  10 . Two rows of six fence sections  17  each can be stacked on a trailer, so that only two trailers are needed to transport the fence  14 . 
         [0040]    By way of another example, and not as a limitation, the fence  14  of the reservoir  10  can have twelve fence sections  17  with each fence section  17  being twenty feet long and twelve feet high. This fence  14  provides an enclosed volume of about 54,048 cubic feet and gives the reservoir  10  a capacity of about 404,307 gallons or 9,626 oil barrels (bbl). This fence  14  can be transported on a single trailer. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the plate  24  is offset relative to the first and second side edges  18  and  19 , projecting laterally outwardly from the first side edge  18  and being recessed laterally inwardly from the second side edge  19 . The plate  24  is recessed laterally inwardly a distance less than the width of the second vertical member  29 . When the fence sections  17  are assembled together, the plate  24  projects laterally outwardly from the first side edge  18  a distance greater than the distance between the first side edge  18  of one fence section  17  and the second side edge  19  of the adjacent fence section  17 . The plate  24  projects laterally outwardly from the first side edge  18  a distance less than the sum of the distance between the first side edge  18  of one fence section  17  and the second side edge  19  of the adjacent fence section  17  and the distance the plate  24  on the adjacent fence section  17  is recessed laterally inwardly from the second side edge  19 . The plate  24  on one fence section  17  overlaps the second vertical member  29  of the adjacent fence section  17 , bridging the space between the first side edge  18  of one fence section  17  and the second side edge  19  of the adjacent fence section  17 . The plate  24  thereby prevents the liner  15  from being pinched between adjacent fence sections  17  and prevents puncture of the liner  15  from items that could otherwise be poked through the space between the first side edge  18  of one fence section  17  and the second side edge  19  of the adjacent fence section  17 . 
         [0042]    Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.