Patent ID: 7100261

Claim:
A method of constructing a fluid storage tank having a substantially rectangular-shaped, internal truss frame structure, said method comprising: (A) providing a plurality of plates, a plurality of stiffeners and stringers, a plurality of first truss frame elements, and a plurality of second truss frame elements; (B) forming plate covers from one or more of said plurality of plates; (C) joining a portion of said plurality of stiffeners and stringers to a first side of said plate covers; (D) joining a portion of said plurality of first truss frame elements to said first side of a plate cover, thereby forming a panel element comprising a side wall portion of an internal truss frame structure; (E) joining a portion of said plurality of second truss frame elements to said first side of a plate cover, thereby forming a panel element comprising an end wall portion of said internal truss frame structure; (F) repeating steps (B) through (E) to form a plurality of panel elements; (G) forming a plurality of tank modules from said plurality of panel elements; (H) assembling said plurality of tank modules along with a tank top and a tank bottom to form a fluid storage tank with two tank side walls, two tank end walls, and a substantially rectangular-shaped truss frame structure comprising: (i) a first plurality of truss structures extending transversely and longitudinally-spaced from each other along the length direction of said internal truss frame structure such that said first plurality of truss structures are (a) spaced from said two tank end walls and (b) in contact with said tank top, said tank bottom, and said two tank side walls; and (ii) a second plurality of truss structures extending longitudinally and transversely-spaced from each other along the width direction of said internal truss frame structure such that said second plurality of truss structures are (a) spaced from said two tank side walls and (b) in contact with said two tank end walls, said tank top, and said tank bottom; wherein said first plurality of truss structures and said second plurality of truss structures are interconnected at their points of intersection and each of said first and second plurality of truss structures comprises: (1) a plurality of both vertical, elongated supports and horizontal, elongated supports, connected to form a gridwork of structural members with a closed outer periphery, and (2) a plurality of additional support members secured within and between said connected vertical and horizontal, elongated supports to thereby form each said truss structure.