Patent Abstract:
A cargo rack for transferring loads between a marine vessel and an offshore marine platform (for example, oil and gas well drilling or production platform) provides a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end of the frame has a perimeter beam base, a raised floor and a pair of open-ended parallel fork tine tubes or sockets that communicate with the perimeter beam at the front and rear of the frame, preferably being structurally connected (e.g., welded) thereto. Openings in the perimeter beam base align with the forklift tine tubes or sockets. The frame includes a plurality of fixed side walls extending upwardly from the perimeter beam that include at least left and right side walls. A plurality of gates are movably mounted on the frame including a gate at least at the front and at least at the rear of the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, the gates enabling a forklift to place loads on the floor by accessing either the front of the frame or the rear of the frame. Each gate can be pivotally attached to a fixed side wall. The frame has vertically extending positioning beams or lugs that segment the raised floor into a plurality of load-holding positions. Each load holding position has a plurality of positioning beams or lugs that laterally hold a load module (e.g., palletized load) in position once a load is placed on the raised floor.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/312,547, filed 6 Dec. 2011 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,875,894 on Nov. 4, 2014), which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/420,155, filed 6 Dec. 2010, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, priority of each of which is hereby claimed. 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/420,155, filed 6 Dec. 2010, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to cargo racks for transferring goods between marine vessels and offshore platforms such as oil and gas well drilling and production platforms. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved cargo rack that enables a user to load the rack with multiple load modules (e.g. fluid containing vessels or tanks), palletized loads, bulk bags (or other loads) and to then transport the entire rack using a lifting device such as a crane or a forklift from one locale (e.g. marine vessel) to another locale (e.g. marine platform). Additionally, the entire rack can be moved on land or on the platform with a crane or forklift. When supporting fluid holding vessels or tanks, a specially configured manifold can be used to empty a particular or selected tank or vessel. Lifting fittings are placed at the top of intermediate columns and inner reinforcement members (e.g. inner braces or walls) transfer load from one intermediate column to another intermediate column. 
     2. General Background 
     In the exploration of oil and gas in a marine environment, fixed, semi submersible, jack up, and other offshore marine platforms are used during drilling operations. Fixed platforms are typically used for production of oil and gas from wells after they have been drilled. Drilling and production require that an enormous amount of supplies be transported from land based storage facilities. Supplies are typically transferred to offshore platforms using very large marine vessels called work boats. These work boats can be in excess of one hundred feet (30.48 meters) in length and have expansive deck areas for carrying cargo that is destined for an offshore platform. Supplies are typically transferred from a land based dock area to the marine vessel using a lifting device such as a crane or a mobile lifting and transport device such as a forklift. 
     Once a work boat arrives at a selected offshore platform, supplies or products are typically transferred from the deck of the work boat to the platform using a lifting device such as a crane. 
     Once on the deck of a drilling platform or production platform, space is at a premium. The storage of supplies on an offshore oil well drilling or production platform is a huge problem. 
     Many cargo transport and lifting devices have been patented. The table below lists some patents that relate generally to pallets, palletized racks, and other cargo racks. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 ISSUE DATE 
               
               
                 PAT. NO. 
                 TITLE 
                 (MM/DD/YYYY) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 2,579,655 
                 Collapsible Container 
                 Dec. 25, 1951 
               
               
                 2,683,010 
                 Pallet and Spacer 
                 Jul. 06, 1954 
               
               
                 3,776,435 
                 Pallet 
                 Dec. 04, 1973 
               
               
                 3,916,803 
                 Loading Platform 
                 Nov. 04, 1975 
               
               
                 4,165,806 
                 Palletizing System for Produce Cartons 
                 Aug. 28, 1979 
               
               
                   
                 and the Like 
                   
               
               
                 4,403,556 
                 Drum Retainer 
                 Sep. 13, 1983 
               
               
                 4,828,311 
                 Metal Form Pallet 
                 May 09, 1989 
               
               
                 5,078,415 
                 Mobile Carrier for Gas Cylinders 
                 Jan. 07, 1992 
               
               
                 5,156,233 
                 Safety Anchor for Use with Slotted Beams 
                 Oct. 20, 1992 
               
               
                 5,292,012 
                 Tank Handling and Protection Structure 
                 Mar. 08, 1994 
               
               
                 5,507,237 
                 Lifting Apparatus for Use with Bulk Bags 
                 Apr. 16, 1996 
               
               
                 5,906,165 
                 Stackable Tray for Plants 
                 May 25, 1999 
               
               
                 6,058,852 
                 Equipment Skid 
                 May 09, 2000 
               
               
                 6,357,365 
                 Intermediate Bulk Container Lifting Rack 
                 May 19, 2002 
               
               
                 6,371,299 
                 Crate Assembly and Improved Method 
                 Apr. 16, 2002 
               
               
                 6,422,405 
                 Adjustable Dunnage Rack 
                 Jul. 23, 2002 
               
               
                 6,668,735 
                 Pallet with a Plastic Platform 
                 Dec. 30, 2003 
               
               
                 6,725,783 
                 Pallet for Stacking Planographic Printing 
                 Apr. 27, 2004 
               
               
                   
                 Plates Thereon 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a cargo rack having a frame with front, rear, and upper and lower end portions; 
     The lower end portion of the frame provides a base with a floor providing multiple load holding positions, each configured to hold a separate load module. 
     A plurality of load modules are supported with the frame during use. 
     The frame includes a plurality of side walls that attach to and extend upwardly from the perimeter beam base and including at least left and right side walls, the frame having four corners with a corner column at each corner. 
     At least one intermediate column is positioned in between two corner columns. 
     A plurality of gates are movably mounted to the frame, including a pair of gates at the front and a pair of gates at the rear of the frame, each gate being movably mounted to the frame between open and closed positions, each gate spanning in a horizontal direction from a corner column to an intermediate column. 
     A plurality of lifting eyes are attached to the upper end port of the frame, each lifting eye attached to the frame next to an intermediate column. 
     Inner walls or braces separate the base into the load holding positions, the inner walls spanning between intermediate columns to define a transverse support that is generally aligned with a pair of lifting eyes. 
     In one embodiment, there are four load holding positions. 
     In one embodiment, there are a pair of gates at the front of the frame. 
     In one embodiment, there are a pair of gates at the rear of the frame. 
     In one embodiment, at least a part of the floor is inclined. 
     In one embodiment, the floor attaches to an upper end portion of the perimeter beam. 
     In one embodiment, there is a drain opening in the floor. 
     In one embodiment, the floor attaches to an upper end portion of the perimeter beam. 
     In one embodiment, clamps are movably attached to the upper end of the frame between clamping and release positions for restraining vertical movement of a load that is placed on the floor. 
     In one embodiment, raised portions or pedestals extend above the raised floor for providing a level surface to engage a load placed on a load holding position of the frame. 
     In one embodiment, the cargo rack provides a frame having a perimeter, a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. 
     The frame includes a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the frame perimeter and including at least left and right side walls, four corners that each provide a corner column and an intermediate column at the front and rear of the frame in between the corner columns. 
     A plurality of gates are movably mounted to the frame, including a pair of gates at the front of the frame and a pair of gates at the rear of the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, each gate extending between a corner column and an intermediate column. 
     The frame has a raised floor that provides a plurality of load holding positions. 
     Another embodiment provides a cargo rack having a frame with a floor, a front, a rear and upper and lower end portions. 
     A plurality of load modules are supported within the frame and upon the floor during use. 
     The frame includes a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the perimeter beam and including at least left and right side walls, the frame having four corners and a corner column at each corner. 
     A plurality of gates are movably mounted on the frame, including a pair of gates at the front of the frame and a pair of gates at the rear of the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, the gates enabling the load modules to be loaded laterally to the floor by accessing either the front or the rear of the frame. 
     The frame has positioning beams that segment the floor into a plurality of load holding positions, each having positioning beams that laterally hold one of the load modules in position once a load module is placed on the floor and in a load holding position. 
     The gates expose a majority of the width of the floor for loading a tank to a selected load holding position on the floor, either at the front or at the rear of the frame when the gates are opened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top, plan view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a fragmentary perspective view; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view showing an alternate manifold arrangement; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is an elevation view illustrating a stacking of two cargo racks; 
         FIG. 17  is a fragmentary elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 18-23  are fragmentary views illustrating details of the gates and gate closures. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-23  show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10 . The preferred embodiment  10  provides a transportable cargo rack that is configured to hold multiple cargo modules or tanks  105 . 
     Cargo rack  10  provides a frame  11  having an upper end portion  12  and a lower end portion  13 . The lower end portion  13  includes a base  14 . Base  14  can provide a bottom  15  configured to rest upon an underlying support surface such as a floor  16 . 
     Base  14  floor  16  is divided into a number of floor segments or quadrants  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 . Each floor segment or quadrant  17 - 20  can contain a load module or tank  105 . This arrangement can be seen in  FIG. 11  wherein four floor segments or quadrants  17 - 20  are provided, each being occupied by a tank or load module  105 . 
     Frame  11  has sidewalls or gates or doors. In a preferred embodiment, there are four doors  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . The doors  21 - 24  are arranged in pairs. As shown in  FIG. 2 , there are a pair of doors  21 ,  22  at one end portion of frame  11 . There are another pair of doors  23 ,  24  at the opposing end portion of the frame  11 , positioned generally opposite doors  21 ,  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Each door  21 - 24  is movably (e.g. hingedly) attached to frame  11 . Hinges  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  are provided. The door  21  attaches to frame  11  at hinges  25 . The door  22  attaches to frame  11  at hinges  26 . Similarly, door  23  attaches to frame  11  at hinges  27 . Door  24  attaches to frame  11  at hinges  28 . 
     Each of the hinges  25 - 28  is attached to a corner column. There are four corner columns  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 . Frame  11  also provides a plurality of intermediate columns. There is an intermediate column in between each pair of corner columns  29 - 32 . Upper interior horizontal supports  37 - 40  form a connection between each intermediate column  33 - 36  and a central column  41 . Diagonal supports  42 - 45  are also provided, each diagonal support  42 - 45  extending between the central column  41  and an intermediate  33 - 36  (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ). Lower horizontal supports  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49  are provide, each extending between the central column  41  and an intermediate column  33 - 36 . Each lower horizontal support  46 - 49  can be positioned below the diagonal supports  42 - 45  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . Thus, interior walls are provided that extend between each intermediate column  33 - 36  and the central column  41 . Each wall or divider can be comprised of an upper interior horizontal support  37 - 40 , a diagonal support  42 - 45 , a lower interior horizontal support  46 - 49  and a plate section  50 - 53 . 
     Plate sections  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53  extend between floor  16  and a lower horizontal support  46 ,  47 ,  48  or  49 . Each plate section  50 - 53  can have openings  120  for enabling easy cleanup or wash down. In  FIG. 7 , the plate section  50  extends between floor  16  and lower horizontal support  46 . Plate section  52  extends between floor  16  and lower horizontal support  48 . Each of the plate sections  50 - 53  can be provided with openings or slots  120  that enable fluid to travel from one floor segment or quadrant  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  to another floor segment or quadrant  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  such as might occur during washing of the apparatus  10 . 
     Four lifting assemblies  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  are provided. Each lifting assembly (see  FIGS. 12, 13 ) is attached to an upper end portion of an intermediate column  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 . Peripheral horizontal members  58  span between each intermediate column  34 ,  36  and a corner column  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 . Upper central fitting  59  can be in the form of a block that is receptive of and forms a connection (for example, welded) with central column  41  and each of the upper interior horizontal supports  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . 
     In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , each lifting assembly  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  provides a lifting block or body  60 . While one of the lifting assemblies  54  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , it should be understood that each of the lifting assemblies  55 ,  56 ,  57  can be of the same configuration as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  for the lifting assembly  54 . Lifting block or body  60  has side surfaces  61 ,  62 , front surface  63 , and rear surface  64 . The lifting block or body  60  has an upper end portion  65  and a lower end portion  66 . Upper end portion  65  provides a recess or slot  67  that enables attachment of a lifting sling  80  to the block or body  60  using pin  69  as shown. Openings  68  are provided in block or body  60  extending between each side surface  61 ,  62  and the recess or slot  67 . Pin  69  spans between the openings  68  when the apparatus is to be lifted using slings or lift lines  80 . Pin  69  has annular grooves  70  that each interlock with a plate  71  or  72 . Each plate  71 ,  72  has an opening  73  or  74 . Similarly sized and shaped openings are provided on body or block  60  so that a bolted connection can be formed using bolt  75  and a nut  79  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     The annular grooves  70  of pin  69  register in slots  77  end plates  71 ,  72  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Each of the slots  77  communicates with a circular opening  76  that is slightly larger than the diameter of the pin  69 . In this fashion, the pin  69  can pass through the openings  76  of the plates  71 ,  72 . The pin  69  is too large to occupy the recess or slot  77 . However, each annular groove  70  at an end portion of the pin  69  is sized and shaped to enable the pin  69  to interlock with the plates  71 ,  72 . The annual grooves  70  enable this fit of pin  69  to the plate  71  or  72  at the slot  77  as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     A cover plate  78  can be placed over the block or body  60 , the plate  78  being receptive of the bottom  15  of another rack  10  when they are stacked upon one another as shown in  FIG. 16 . A lifting line or sling  80  has an eyelet  81  which can be rigged to the pin  69  as shown in  FIG. 13 . When a crane or other implement lifts upwardly on the slings  80 , each sling  80  eyelet  81  transfers load to the pin  69  and thus to the lifting assembly  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  and thus to the frame  11 .  FIG. 11  illustrates a lifting implement or hook or crown block  82  that is commonly employed in combination with a lifting device such as a crane. Other lifting fitting such as a ring or shackle  83  can be employed as an interface between the slings  80  and the lifting implement  82 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a manifold or header  84  that can be used to transfer fluid from any one of the load modules or tanks  105  and a discharge or outlet fitting or coupling  91 . Header or manifold  84  is contained within base  11  interior  85 . The base  11  has a bottom panel  86 . A pair of beams or channels  87 ,  88  extend through base  11 , each providing an opening or bore  89 ,  90  that is receptive of a forklift tine. In this fashion, the frame  11  can be lifted using a forklift by engaging the forklift tines in the bores  89 ,  90  of the beams or channels  87 ,  88 . 
     Valve  92  having valve handle  93  can be placed immediately upstream of discharge of outlet fitting or coupling  91 . Header  84  communicates with valve  92 . A plurality of four flow lines  94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97  empty their contents into header  84  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each of the flow lines  94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97  attaches to a different one of the tanks or modules  105 . A detail of the fluid connection between a tank or module  105  and header  85  can be seen in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the connection of a single flow line  94  to a tank  105 . It should be understood that each of the flow lines  94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97  can be similarly connected to a tank or module. 
     Flow line  94  connects to swivel  98 . The swivel  98  connects to a riser  99  at elbow fitting  100 . Another elbow fitting  101  connects to hose section  102 . Hose section  102  is provided with a quick connect fitting  103  that forms a quick connect with a flow line  106  that exits the tank or module  105 . This connected position can be seen in  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 11 , a tank discharge flow line  106  is shown which can be provided with a tank discharge valve  107 . Tank discharge flow line  106  can be provided with a quick connect that forms a connection with the quick connect fitting  103  of  FIG. 10 . The swivel  98  enables movement of the quick connect fitting  103  as shown by arrows  104  in  FIG. 10 . 
     Each corner column  29 - 32  can be provided with a stacking fitting  110  which enables one cargo rack  10  to be stacked upon another cargo tank  10  as seen in  FIG. 16 . Each stacking fitting  110  can be connected to (e.g. welded) to a gusset or stiffener plate  111 . Each stacking fitting  110  provides a horizontal and preferably rectangular plate  112  and two vertical plates  113 ,  114  which intersect at right angles and which extend upwardly from the periphery of plate  112 . 
     Module receptacles  115  are provided for supporting each corner of a tank or module  105 . Each receptacle  115  has a lower plate  116  and side, vertical plates  117 ,  118  as seen in  FIGS. 1-5, 11, and 16 . Each tank or module  105  has four feet  119 , each foot  119  registering upon a module receptacle  115  as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
     A drain is provided for draining fluids from floor  16  such as might occur during a wash down or if there is leakage from one of the modules  105 . Drain channel  121  is mounted just under floor  16  as seen in  FIGS. 7-8 . Drain channel  121  has flow bore  122 . A plurality of floor openings  123  are provided, such as one of the openings  123  under each opening  120  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Drain channel inlet openings  124  are ports or openings in the channel  121  and are aligned with the floor openings  123 . Arrows  125  in  FIG. 8  illustrate the flow path of fluid that drains from floor  116  to channel  121  bore  122 . Fluid received in channel  121  flows via gravity to drain pipe  126 . Pipe  126  is closed at one end portion with cap  127 . The other end portion of pipe  126  is fitted with valve  129 . In  FIG. 8 , arrow  128  illustrates flow direction of fluid in pipe  126 . 
       FIGS. 17-23  illustrate the doors  21 - 24  and the mechanism for opening or closing a door. While doors  21 - 22  are shown in  FIGS. 17-23 , the same configuration could be used for doors  23 - 24 . Each door  21 ,  22  has a pair of vertical members. The door  21  has vertical members  130 ,  131 . The door  22  has vertical members  132 ,  133 . Horizontal members span between the vertical members of each door  21 ,  22  as shown. The door  21  has horizontal members  134  that span between vertical members  130 ,  131 . Similarly, horizontal members  135  span between the vertical members  132 ,  133  of the door  22 . The innermost vertical members  131 ,  133  are an assembly that includes vertical flanged members  140 ,  141 , rods  138 ,  139 , sleeves  142 ,  143  and other plates and guides that will be described more fully hereinafter. 
     Each door  21 ,  22  can be opened or closed using levers  153 ,  154  which are attached to the rods  138 ,  139 . Each rod  138 ,  139  is mounted in a sleeve and in rod guides. The rod  138  is able to move up and down while being supported by sleeve  142 , upper rod guide  144 , lower rod guide  146  while being moved up or down with a lever  153 . In  FIG. 17  there are two rods  138  associated with the door  21 . It should be understood, that the door  21  as constructed can be used when inverted such as if for replacing one of the other doors. 
     Similarly, the door  22  has two rods  139 , each rod having an attached lever  154 . The rod  139  is supported by upper rod guides  145 , lower rod guides  147  and sleeve  143 . Each of the rod guides  144 ,  145 ,  146 ,  147  provides a rod opening  148  through which a rod  138  or  139  can pass. An upper plate  136  and a lower plate  149  are provided for locking a gate  21 ,  22  in a closed position when a rod  138 ,  139  is moved upwardly using a lever  153  or  154 . In  FIG. 17 , all of the rods  138 ,  139  are in an open position.  FIGS. 23 and 23  illustrate a movement of lever  153  from the open position of  FIG. 17  to the closed position. In  FIG. 23 , the lever  153  is shown being moved to the closed position as indicated by arrows  161 ,  162 . 
     Each of the upper and lower rod guides  144 ,  147  can be in the form of a horizontal flange  150  or  151 . 
     The upper plate  136  has plate openings  137 . Similarly, the lower plate  149  has lower plate openings  152 . 
     Each lever  153 ,  154  has a lever opening for enabling the lever  153 ,  154  to be attached to a Tee shaped fitting  157 . The lever  153  has lever opening  155 . The lever  154  has lever opening  156 . Each of the Tee fittings  157  is mounted to a vertical plate. For the door  21 , the plate  158  carries two such Tee fittings  157  as shown in  FIGS. 17-23 . Similarly, for the door  22 , the plate  159  carries two of the Tee fittings  157 . For each door  21 ,  22  there are a pair of the plates  158  or  159  as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     In order to lock the gate  21  or  22 , the levers  153  or  154  move toward the upper plate  136  for the upper rods or toward the lower plate  149  for the lower rods. When the levers  153  or  154  are moved to the locking Tee fitting  163  as shown in  FIGS. 23 and 23 , the rods automatically interlock with the openings  137  of the upper plate or the openings  152  of the lower plate. The rods also pass through the rod openings  148  of the upper and lower rod guides  144 - 147 . 
     The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PART NO. 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 cargo rack 
               
               
                 11 
                 frame 
               
               
                 12 
                 upper end portion 
               
               
                 13 
                 lower end portion 
               
               
                 14 
                 base 
               
               
                 15 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 16 
                 floor 
               
               
                 17 
                 floor segment/quadrant 
               
               
                 18 
                 floor segment/quadrant 
               
               
                 19 
                 floor segment/quadrant 
               
               
                 20 
                 floor segment/quadrant 
               
               
                 21 
                 gate/door 
               
               
                 22 
                 gate/door 
               
               
                 23 
                 gate/door 
               
               
                 24 
                 gate/door 
               
               
                 25 
                 hinge 
               
               
                 26 
                 hinge 
               
               
                 27 
                 hinge 
               
               
                 28 
                 hinge 
               
               
                 29 
                 corner column 
               
               
                 30 
                 corner column 
               
               
                 31 
                 corner column 
               
               
                 32 
                 corner column 
               
               
                 33 
                 intermediate column 
               
               
                 34 
                 intermediate column 
               
               
                 35 
                 intermediate column 
               
               
                 36 
                 intermediate column 
               
               
                 37 
                 upper interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 38 
                 upper interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 39 
                 upper interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 40 
                 upper interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 41 
                 central column 
               
               
                 42 
                 diagonal support 
               
               
                 43 
                 diagonal support 
               
               
                 44 
                 diagonal support 
               
               
                 45 
                 diagonal support 
               
               
                 46 
                 lower interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 47 
                 lower interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 48 
                 lower interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 49 
                 lower interior horizontal support 
               
               
                 50 
                 plate section 
               
               
                 51 
                 plate section 
               
               
                 52 
                 plate section 
               
               
                 53 
                 plate section 
               
               
                 54 
                 lifting assembly 
               
               
                 55 
                 lifting assembly 
               
               
                 56 
                 lifting assembly 
               
               
                 57 
                 lifting assembly 
               
               
                 58 
                 peripheral horizontal member 
               
               
                 59 
                 upper central fitting 
               
               
                 60 
                 lifting flock/body 
               
               
                 61 
                 side surface 
               
               
                 62 
                 side surface 
               
               
                 63 
                 front surface 
               
               
                 64 
                 rear surface 
               
               
                 65 
                 upper end portion 
               
               
                 66 
                 lower end portion 
               
               
                 67 
                 recess/slot 
               
               
                 68 
                 opening 
               
               
                 69 
                 pin 
               
               
                 70 
                 annular groove 
               
               
                 71 
                 plate 
               
               
                 72 
                 plate 
               
               
                 73 
                 opening 
               
               
                 74 
                 opening 
               
               
                 75 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 76 
                 opening 
               
               
                 77 
                 slot 
               
               
                 78 
                 cover plate 
               
               
                 79 
                 nut 
               
               
                 80 
                 sling/lift line 
               
               
                 81 
                 eyelet 
               
               
                 82 
                 lifting implement/hook/crown block 
               
               
                 83 
                 ring/shackle/lifting fitting 
               
               
                 84 
                 header/manifold 
               
               
                 85 
                 base interior 
               
               
                 86 
                 bottom panel 
               
               
                 87 
                 beam 
               
               
                 88 
                 beam 
               
               
                 89 
                 opening/bore 
               
               
                 90 
                 opening/bore 
               
               
                 91 
                 discharge/outlet fitting/coupling 
               
               
                 92 
                 valve 
               
               
                 93 
                 valve handle 
               
               
                 94 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 95 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 96 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 97 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 98 
                 swivel 
               
               
                 99 
                 riser 
               
               
                 100 
                 elbow fitting 
               
               
                 101 
                 elbow fitting 
               
               
                 102 
                 hose section 
               
               
                 103 
                 quick connect fitting 
               
               
                 104 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 105 
                 tank/module 
               
               
                 106 
                 tank discharge flow line 
               
               
                 107 
                 tank discharge valve 
               
               
                 108 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 109 
                 Tee fitting - lock 
               
               
                 110 
                 stacking fitting 
               
               
                 111 
                 gusset/stiffener plate 
               
               
                 112 
                 horizontal plate 
               
               
                 113 
                 vertical plate 
               
               
                 114 
                 vertical plate 
               
               
                 115 
                 module receptacle 
               
               
                 116 
                 lower plate 
               
               
                 117 
                 vertical plate 
               
               
                 118 
                 vertical plate 
               
               
                 119 
                 tank/module foot 
               
               
                 120 
                 opening/slot 
               
               
                 121 
                 drain channel 
               
               
                 122 
                 flow bore 
               
               
                 123 
                 floor opening 
               
               
                 124 
                 drain channel inlet opening 
               
               
                 125 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 126 
                 drain flow pipe 
               
               
                 127 
                 cap 
               
               
                 128 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 129 
                 outlet valve 
               
               
                 130 
                 vertical member 
               
               
                 131 
                 vertical member 
               
               
                 132 
                 vertical member 
               
               
                 133 
                 vertical member 
               
               
                 134 
                 horizontal member 
               
               
                 135 
                 horizontal member 
               
               
                 136 
                 upper plate 
               
               
                 137 
                 upper plate opening 
               
               
                 138 
                 rod 
               
               
                 139 
                 rod 
               
               
                 140 
                 vertical flanged member 
               
               
                 141 
                 vertical flanged member 
               
               
                 142 
                 sleeve 
               
               
                 143 
                 sleeve 
               
               
                 144 
                 upper rod guide 
               
               
                 145 
                 upper rod guide 
               
               
                 146 
                 lower rod guide 
               
               
                 147 
                 lower rod guide 
               
               
                 148 
                 rod opening 
               
               
                 149 
                 lower plate 
               
               
                 150 
                 horizontal flange 
               
               
                 151 
                 horizontal flange 
               
               
                 152 
                 lower plate opening 
               
               
                 153 
                 lever 
               
               
                 154 
                 lever 
               
               
                 155 
                 lever opening 
               
               
                 156 
                 lever opening 
               
               
                 157 
                 Tee fitting - unlock 
               
               
                 158 
                 vertical plate 
               
               
                 159 
                 vertical plate 
               
               
                 160 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 161 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 162 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 163 
                 Tee fitting - lock 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1