NZ527823A - Portable fuel containment housing - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable housing (2) for one or more fuel tanks which includes: an enclosure having a floor (3), walls (4) surrounding the floor (3), at least one wall forming or incorporating a securable access door (4a) for access into the interior of the housing (2), and a roof (5) which at least partially open; in which at least part of the floor (3) and walls (4) are liquid tight to contain any fuel spills; the housing (2) being proportioned and dimensioned to receive at least one fuel tank (6) mounted upon a tank stand, with the upper portion of said tank (6) projecting through the opening in the roof (5) of the housing (2).

Description

5278 2 3 JWeWectug, Proper^ ^ice of Nz 2 6 AUo 2893 RECEIVED Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PORTABLE FUEL CONTAINMENT HOUSING I, Kevin John Barclay of 466 Avonhead Road, Christchurch, New Zealand, a New Zealand citizen, hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 (to be followed by 1a) Title: Portable Fuel Containment Housing Technical Field The present invention relates to a portable fuel containment housing intended to be 5 used in combination with small above ground fuel tanks of the type commonly used on farms and by contractors and small transport businesses. Typically, such tanks have the capacity in the range 2,000 - 5,000 litres and are circular in cross-section, with a diameter of about 1.2 metres and a length of about 2 metres.

Above ground fuel tanks can be provided with small manual or motorized pumps, in which case the tanks can be mounted only a few millimetres above the ground. However, much more commonly, above ground fuel tanks operate by a gravity feed system, (i.e. without a pump) and thus have to be mounted on sufficiently high supports that the fuel can flow down into any vehicle to be re-fuelled. Given that many of the vehicles to be re-fuelled are very large, (for example, tractors, harvesters, trucks), this means that the tanks have to be mounted on a tank stand which is least 2 metres high. The refueling inlet for the tank is on the top of the tank, and thus the refueling inlet will be at least 3 metres above the ground.

The driver of a fuel tanker who has the job of refueling the tank therefore has to climb up the tank stand or use a ladder to reach the refueling inlet. Climbing up the tank stand has obvious dangers, and using an unsecured ladder to climb up to a heavy tank on a high stand also is unsafe, especially since most drivers work alone.

A further drawback of the present tank stands is that they do not have any method of securing the tank, and fuel theft is common. 1a An additional drawback to a majority of the existing tank stands is that they have no method of containment for fuel spills.

Background Art Some existing tank stands are arranged to stand on a poured concrete floor with low walls around its edges, to act as a containment for fuel spills. However, concrete enclosures of this type are expensive to provide, cannot be relocated, and do not offer any security to prevent fuel theft, nor do they provide improved access for the tanker 10 driver.

Disclosure of Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a housing for one or more fuel tanks 15 which is portable, provides easy and safe access for a tanker driver, contains any fuel spills, and enables the access to the or each tank to be secured against theft.

The present invention provides a portable housing for one or more fuel tanks which includes:- an enclosure having a floor, walls surrounding the floor, at least one wall 20 forming or incorporating a securable access door for access into the interior of the housing, and a roof which is at least partially open; in which at least part of the floor and walls are liquid tight to contain any fuel spills; the housing being proportioned and dimensioned to receive at least one fuel tank mounted upon a tank stand, with the upper portion of said tank projecting through the opening in the roof of the housing.

Preferably, the roof incorporates a walkway adjacent the opening in the roof, and a ladder may be secured to the wall of the housing adjacent to one end of the walkway. 2 Brief Description of Drawings By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-5 Figure 1 is an isometric view of a two tank housing in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the housing of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an isometric view of a one tank housing in accordance with the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a housing 2 in accordance with the present invention consists of a modified shipping container which provides a floor 3, four walls 4, one of 15 which has been adapted to form a pair of doors 4a, and a roof 5. The doors 4a are provided with a secure lock (not shown).

Approximately two-thirds of the roof 5 is cut away, leaving only portions 5a/b. Two conventional small fuel tanks 6,7, are mounted inside the housing on high tank stands 20 (not shown) of known design. Each tank 6,7 has a top filler 8,9 of known type and an outlet 10,11, also of known type, and connected to delivery pipe 12 (Figure 2 only), which is opened/closed by a valve 12a.

Figure 2 depicts both tanks 6,7 connected to the same delivery pipe 12, for delivery through a delivery hose 13 connected to a delivery meter 14. However, it will be appreciated that this is capable of numerous variations:- the tanks 6,7 may contain different types of fuel, (e.g. one petrol, one diesel) and thus be connected to different 3 delivery pipes and hoses. Further, one or both tanks 6,7 may be connected directly to a delivery hose without passing through a delivery meter 14.

The roof 5 of the housing is cut away to allow the tanks 6,7 to project through it 5 because it is illegal to completely enclose above-ground tanks:- there is too much danger of fuel fumes accumulating.

The portion 5b of roof extending between the tanks 6,7 along the full length of the tanks, is reinforced and is provided with side rails 15 to form a secure walkway from 10 which a driver or user can gain access to the fillers 8,9. Fuel tanker drivers normally carry a ladder with them, and the flat sidewall 4 of the housing adjacent to the walkway provides a stable and safe surface against which to mount a ladder. However, it would also be possible to permanently secure a ladder against the wall 4, extending up from the ground to the start of the walkway.

The portion of the floor 3 beneath the tanks 6,7 is lined with a liquid proof lining which covers the floor to form, with the adjacent walls, a liquid tight receptacle 16 to contain any fuel spills. The lining may be any suitable material which is not attacked by any of the fuels to be stored:- for example sheet steel coated with a protective coating which 20 is resistant to fuel. The receptacle 16 is formed with a drain valve 16a, to allow any accumulated liquid in the receptacle to be drained.

Preferably, the receptacle 16 (shown in broken lines in Figure 2 only) incorporates a dividing wall 17 which closes off the portion of the housing beneath the fuel tanks 6,7 25 from the portion 18 containing the meter 14. A door or aperture (not shown) can be formed through wall 17, for access to the area beneath the fuel tanks. 4 Preferably, the housing 2 is fitted with lifting points (not shown) so that it can be lifted into place by a crane or a forklift.

It will be appreciated that the two-tank housing shown in Figures 1 and 2 could be 5 used for only a single tank, or extended to accommodate three tanks by cutting away part of the roof portion 5a and positioning a third tank in the portion 18, instead of the meter 14. If three tanks are accommodated, a second walkway is formed between the tank 7 and the third tank.

Figure 3 shows a housing 20 for a single fuel tank 21. The tank 21 is a known design of tank supported upon a known high tank stand, as for the tanks described as reference to Figures 1 and 2. The smaller housing 20 is made from a standard shipping container cut in half lengthwise, with doors 22, securable by a lock (not shown) added to the open end of the half container. The housing 20 is fitted with 15 crane/forklift lifts points (not shown).

The portion of the floor beneath the tank 21 is lined with a suitable lining material (as described as reference to Figures 1 and 2) to form, with the adjacent parts of the walls, a receptacle 23 as indicated in broken lines. The receptacle 23 is provided with a 20 drain valve 23a.

A walkway 24 is formed along the roof, for access to the inlet 25 of the tank 21. The walkway 24 is shown without guard rails, for clarity. The housing 20 may be provided with a fixed ladder up to the walkway 24, as described as reference to Figures 1 and 2, 25 if required. Alternatively, if the tank inlet 25 is positioned at the centre of the top of the tank, a walkway can be formed along either of the sides 28,29 of the roof.

The tank 21 supplies fuel through a delivery hose 26, in known manner.

It will be appreciated that the above described housings provide portable, secure, theft proof accommodation for fuel tanks, which can contain fuel spills adequately and 5 which is easy for delivery drivers to access the fuel inlets. 6

Claims (10)

Claims:

1. A portable housing for one or more fuel tanks which includes:- an enclosure having a floor, walls surrounding the floor, at least one wall forming or incorporating a securable access door for access into the interior of the 5 housing, and a roof which is at least partially open; in which at least part of the floor and walls are liquid tight to contain any fuel spills; the housing being proportioned and dimensioned to receive at least one fuel tank mounted upon a tank stand, with the upper portion of said tank projecting through the opening in the roof of the housing. 10

2. A portable housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roof incorporates a walkway adjacent the opening in the roof.

3. The portable housing as claimed in claim 2 further including a ladder secured 15 to the wall of the housing adjacent one end of the walkway.

4. The portable housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is proportioned and dimensioned to receive two fuel tanks side by side, and includes a walkway across the roof between said tanks. 20

5. The portable housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is proportioned and dimensioned to receive three tanks side by side, and includes walkways formed on the roof between each two adjacent tanks. 25

6. A portable housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said portable housing is formed from a shipping container. 7

7. The portable housing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing is proportioned and dimensioned to receive a single tank.

8. The portable housing as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing is formed 5 from a shipping container cut in half lengthwise.

9. A portable housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each tank is connected to a delivery meter. 10

10. A portable housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. Intellectual Props; ty Office of 26 AUli 2003 8