Underground storage tank access/isolation riser assembly, method, and kit

7,390,142

11/210057

August 23, 2005

An underground storage tank riser assembly comprises a riser member and at least one riser alignment spacer assembly. The riser member comprises an inferior riser end and an outer riser surface. The outer riser surface at the inferior riser end comprises a plurality of paired, optionally color-coded, curvilinear score indicia. The curvilinear score indicia enable a user to remove paired inferior end portions from the inferior riser end for forming a tank-engaging, saddle-shaped mouth at the inferior riser end. The saddle-shaped mouth comprises a vertical riser radius of curvature substantially equal in magnitude to a determinable tank radius of curvature. The saddle-shaped mouth is engageable with an outer tank surface in radial adjacency to a conduit extending therefrom. The riser alignment spacer assembly functions to center the riser member relative to the conduit.

O'Brien, Patrick E. (Caledonia, IL, US)

1. A storage tank access system, the storage tank access system for enabling access to underground storage, the storage tank access system being cooperatively associated with an underground system-receiving cavity, the underground system-receiving cavity being spatially located intermediate inferior backfill material and a superior surface layer, the superior surface layer comprising a superior layer surface, an inferior layer surface, and a surface layer thickness, the surface layer thickness extending intermediate the superior and inferior layer surfaces, the storage tank access system comprising, in combination: an underground storage tank assembly, the underground storage tank assembly comprising a storage tank, the storage tank comprising an outer tank surface, an inner tank surface, and a substantially circular transverse tank cross-section, the transverse tank cross-section comprising a tank radius of curvature; and an access/isolation riser assembly, the access/isolation riser assembly comprising a cylindrically-shaped access/isolation riser member, the access/isolation riser member comprising a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, an inner riser surface, an outer riser surface, a substantially uniform riser diameter, and a longitudinal riser axis, the superior riser end defining a tank access aperture, the outer riser surface at the inferior riser end comprising a plurality of paired curvilinear score indicia and first and second lateral vertices, the score indicia extending intermediate the first and second lateral vertices, the score indicia being paired based upon a plurality of angles of inclination, the angles of inclination extending intermediate the inferior riser end and the curvilinear score indicia at the first and second lateral vertices, the curvilinear score indicia enabling a user to remove paired inferior end portions from the inferior riser end, the removed paired end portions forming a tank-engaging, saddle-shaped mouth at the inferior riser end, the tank-engaging, saddle-shaped mouth comprising a vertical riser radius of curvature, the vertical riser radius of curvature being substantially equal to the tank radius of curvature, the tank-engaging, saddle-shaped mouth being engageable with the outer tank surface.

2. The storage tank access system of claim 1 comprising a manhole assembly, the manhole assembly comprising a cylindrical manhole skirt and a substantially circular manhole lid, the manhole skirt comprising an inferior skirt end, a superior skirt end, a skirt gateway, a longitudinal skirt axis, and a skirt diameter, the manhole lid comprising a lid diameter and a lid center, the manhole skirt extending intermediate the manhole lid, the superior riser end, and the surface layer thickness, the riser and skirt axes being substantially collinear, the skirt gateway enabling access to the tank access aperture, the manhole lid being positioned in superior adjacency to the manhole skirt substantially coplanar with the superior layer surface, the manhole lid being centered at the skirt axis, the manhole lid for enabling selective access to the tank access aperture via the skirt gateway.

3. The storage tank access system of claim 1 comprising a matter-conducting conduit and riser alignment spacer means, the matter-conducting conduit comprising a superior conduit end, an inferior conduit end, and a longitudinal conduit axis, the matter-conducting conduit extending superiorly and radially outward from the outer tank surface, the inferior conduit end being in communication with the inner tank surface, the matter-conducting conduit for conducting matter intermediate the inner tank surface and the superior conduit end, the tank-engaging, saddle-shaped mouth being engageable with the outer tank surface in radial adjacency to matter-conducting conduit, the riser alignment spacer means centering the riser member relative to the conduit axis, the riser and conduit axes thus being substantially collinear, the access/isolation riser member and riser alignment spacer means for isolating the matter-conducting conduit from the backfill material.

4. The storage tank access system of claim 2 wherein the access/isolation riser assembly comprises a riser top cap reducer, the riser top cap reducer extending intermediate the superior riser end and the superior surface layer, the riser top cap reducer comprising a superior reducer end, an inferior reducer end, and a reducer gateway, the superior reducer end comprising a first transverse diameter, the inferior end comprising a second transverse diameter, the second transverse diameter being greater in magnitude than the first transverse diameter, the riser top cap reducer for isolating the conduit access aperture from the backfill.

5. The storage tank access kit of claim 4 wherein the skirt diameter is greater in magnitude than the first transverse diameter and lesser in magnitude than the second transverse diameter, the riser diameter being greater in magnitude than the skirt diameter and the first transverse diameter.

6. The storage tank system of claim 3 wherein the riser alignment spacer means are defined by at least one riser alignment spacer assembly, each alignment spacer assembly comprising first and second spacer members and spacer attachment means, the first and second spacer members each comprising a semicircular riser-engaging portion, a conduit-engaging portion, and spacer attachment means, the spacer attachment means attaching the spacer members to one another, the conduit-engaging portions, the riser-engaging portions and the spacer attachment means.

7. The storage tank access system of claim 6 comprising a superior riser alignment spacer assembly and an inferior riser alignment spacer assembly, the superior riser alignment spacer assembly being spatially located in inferior adjacency to the superior conduit end and the inferior riser alignment spacer assembly being spatially located in superior adjacency to the inferior conduit end.

8. The storage tank access system of claim 6 wherein each spacer member comprises spacer reinforcement means, the spacer reinforcement means for maintaining a uniform distance intermediate the riser-engaging portions and the conduit-engaging portions.

9. The storage tank access system of claim 1 wherein the riser member comprises water permeation means, the water permeation means for allowing water to permeate intermediate the inner riser surface and the outer riser surface.

10. The storage tank access system of claim 1 wherein the score indicia are color coded for enabling the user to more easily remove the paired inferior end portions.

11. The storage tank access system of claim 1 comprising a crossover conduit template, the crossover conduit template comprising a plurality of variously dimensioned conduit pullouts, the conduit pullouts comprising a select conduit pullout, the select conduit pullout being selected based upon the dimensions of a crossover conduit, the crossover conduit being cooperatively associated with the underground storage tank, the select conduit pullout for enabling a user to score the outer riser surface and remove a scored portion from the riser member, the removable scored portion for enabling the crossover conduit to extend intermediate the inner riser surface and the outer riser surface.

12. A storage tank access kit, the storage tank access kit for outfitting an underground storage tank assembly having a determinable tank radius of curvature, the storage tank access kit, when outfitted upon the underground storage tank, for enabling access to the underground storage tank, the storage tank access kit comprising an access/isolation riser assembly, the access/isolation riser assembly comprising an access/isolation riser member, the access/isolation riser member comprising a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, an inner riser surface, and an outer riser surface, the superior riser end defining a tank access aperture, the outer riser surface at the inferior riser end comprising a plurality of oppositely-paired curvilinear score indicia, the oppositely-paired curvilinear score indicia each having a vertical radius of curvature, the vertical radii of curvature enabling a user to form a plurality of paired removable inferior end portions, the paired removable inferior end portions comprising a select inferior end portion pairing, the select inferior end portion pairing being selectable based upon the determinable tank radius of curvature.

13. The storage tank access kit of claim 12 wherein the access/isolation riser assembly comprises riser alignment spacer means, the riser alignment spacer means for centering the riser member relative to a matter-conducting conduit in communication with the underground storage tank, the riser member for enabling outfitted access to the underground storage tank and for isolating the matter-conducting conduit from backfill material.

14. The storage tank access kit of claim 13 wherein the riser alignment spacer means are defined by at least one riser alignment spacer assembly, each alignment spacer assembly comprising a cooperative riser periphery-engaging portion, a cooperative conduit periphery-engaging portion, and means for uniformly spacing the riser periphery-engaging portion from the conduit periphery-engaging portion, the conduit periphery-engaging portion being cooperatively associated with the matter-conducting conduit and the riser periphery-engaging portion being cooperatively associated with the inner riser surface.

15. The storage tank access kit of claim 14 comprising a superior riser alignment spacer assembly and an inferior riser alignment spacer assembly, the superior riser alignment spacer assembly being spatially locatable in inferior adjacency to the superior riser end and the inferior riser alignment spacer assembly being spatially locatable in superior adjacency to the inferior riser end.

16. The storage tank access kit of claim 14 wherein each spacer member comprises spacer reinforcement means, the spacer reinforcement means for maintaining a uniform distance intermediate the riser periphery-engaging portion and the conduit periphery-engaging portion.

17. The storage tank access kit of claim 12 wherein the access/isolation riser assembly comprises a riser top cap reducer, the riser top cap reducer cooperatively associatable with the superior riser end for extending superiorly therefrom, the riser top cap reducer comprising a superior reducer end, an inferior reducer end, and a reducer gateway, the superior reducer end comprising a first transverse diameter, the inferior end comprising a second transverse diameter, the second transverse diameter being greater in magnitude than the first transverse diameter, the riser top cap reducer for isolating the tank access aperture from backfill material.

18. The storage tank access kit of claim 17 comprising a manhole assembly, the manhole assembly comprising a manhole skirt and a manhole lid, the manhole skirt comprising an inferior skirt end, a superior skirt end, a skirt gateway, and a longitudinal skirt axis, the manhole lid comprising a lid center, the manhole skirt extendable intermediate the manhole lid, the riser top cap reducer, and the surface layer thickness, the longitudinal conduit and skirt axes being alignable, the skirt gateway for enabling access to the matter-conducting conduit via the riser top cap reducer and the superior riser end, the manhole lid being positionable in superior adjacency to the manhole skirt and substantially coplanar with a superior surface layer, the manhole lid being centerable at the skirt axis, the manhole lid for enabling selective access to the matter-conducting conduit via the skirt gateway, the riser top cap reducer and the superior riser end.

19. The storage tank access kit of claim 12 wherein the riser member comprises water permeation means, the water permeation means for allowing water to permeate intermediate the inner riser surface and the outer riser surface.

20. The storage tank access kit of claim 12 comprising a color code key, the score indicia being cooperatively color coded per the color code key for enabling the user to more easily remove the paired inferior end portions.

21. The storage tank access kit of claim 12 comprising a crossover conduit template, the crossover conduit template comprising a plurality of variously dimensioned conduit pullouts, the conduit pullouts comprising a select conduit pullout, the select conduit pullout being selected based upon the dimensions of a crossover conduit, the crossover conduit being cooperatively associated with the underground storage tank, the select conduit pullout for enabling a user to score the outer riser surface and remove a scored portion from the riser member, the removable scored portion for enabling the crossover conduit to extend intermediate the inner riser surface and the outer riser surface.

22. A method for installing an underground storage tank access/isolation riser assembly, the method comprising the steps of: providing a riser member, the riser member comprising a superior riser end, an inferior riser end, an outer riser surface, and an initial riser height, the outer riser surface at the inferior riser end comprising curvilinear score indicia, the curvilinear score indicia comprising a plurality of vertically paired radii of curvature; locating an exposed underground storage tank assembly, the exposed underground storage tank assembly comprising a determinable tank radius and an outer tank surface; determining the tank radius; matching the tank radius to a select radii of curvature pairing, the select radii of curvature pairing being selected from the group consisting of the vertically paired radii of curvature; removing an inferior end portion pairing from the riser member at the select radii of curvature pairing, the removed inferior end portion pairing forming a inferior riser end saddle; and saddling the inferior riser end upon the outer tank surface radially adjacent to the matter-conducting conduit, the riser alignment spacer means centering the riser member relative to the matter-conducting conduit.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein riser alignment spacer means are provided, the riser alignment spacer means for centering the riser member relative to a matter-conducting conduit, the inferior riser end being saddled upon the outer tank surface in radial adjacency to the matter-conducting conduit.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the exposed underground storage tank is covered with backfill material after saddling the inferior riser end upon the outer tank surface, the access/isolation riser assembly comprising saddle retainment means, the saddle retainment means for fixing the riser member during the step of covering the exposed underground storage tank with backfill material, the riser member and riser alignment spacer means for allowing access to the matter-conducting conduit and the superior riser end and for isolating the matter-conducting conduit from the backfill material.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein a final surface layer grade is determined after covering the exposed underground storage tank with backfill material.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the distance from the outer tank surface adjacent the riser member to the final surface layer grade is measured, thus providing a tank-to-surface dimension.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the access/isolation riser assembly comprises a manhole skirt and a manhole lid, the manhole skirt comprising an inferior skirt end, a superior skirt end, a skirt gateway, and a skirt height, the manhole lid comprising a lid thickness, the manhole skirt extendable intermediate the manhole lid and the superior riser end, the skirt gateway for enabling access to the matter-conducting conduit via the superior riser end, the manhole lid being positionable in superior adjacency to the manhole skirt and substantially coplanar with a superior surface layer, the manhole lid for enabling selective access to the matter-conducting conduit via the skirt gateway and the superior riser end, the skirt height and the lid thickness being subtracted from the tank-to-surface dimension, thus providing a manhole-reduced tank-to-surface dimension.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the access/isolation riser assembly comprises a riser top cap reducer, the riser top cap reducer cooperatively associatable with the superior riser end for extending superiorly therefrom, the riser top cap reducer comprising a superior reducer end, an inferior reducer end, a reducer gateway, and a reducer height extending intermediate the superior and inferior reducer ends, the riser top cap reducer for isolating the matter-conducting conduit from backfill material intermediate the manhole skirt and the superior riser end, the reducer height being subtracted from the manhole-reduced tank-to-surface dimension, thus providing a non-riser-reduced tank-to-surface dimension.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the superior riser end comprises a removable superior end section, the superior end section having a superior sectional height, the superior sectional height being equal to a select sectional dimension, the select sectional dimension being selected from the group consisting of a requisite sectional dimension and an optional sectional dimension, the requisite select dimension being equal to the difference between the manhole-reduced tank-to-surface dimension and the initial riser height, the optional sectional dimension being equal to the difference between the non-riser-reduced tank-to-surface dimension and the initial riser height, the removable superior end section being removed from the superior riser end, thus providing a finally-formed superior riser end.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein select non-riser elements are installed intermediate the superior riser end and the final surface layer grade after providing the finally-formed superior riser end, the select non-riser elements being selected from the group consisting of the manhole assembly and the riser top cap reducer.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein skirt fixing material is positioned in radial adjacency to the manhole skirt in superior adjacency to the backfill material after installing the select non-riser elements, the skirt fixing material for fixing the installed select non-riser elements.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein the a crossover conduit template is provided, the crossover conduit template comprising a plurality of variously dimensioned conduit pullouts, the conduit pullouts comprising a select conduit pullout, the select conduit pullout being selected after locating the underground storage tank assembly, the select conduit pullout being selected based upon the dimensions of a crossover conduit, the crossover conduit being cooperatively associated with the underground storage tank, the select conduit pullout for enabling a user to score the outer riser surface and remove a scored portion from the riser member, the removable scored portion for enabling the crossover conduit to extend intermediate the inner riser surface and the outer riser surface.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the scored portion is removed from the riser member before saddling the inferior riser end upon the outer tank surface, the removed scored portion thus forming a conduit-receiving slot, the conduit-receiving slot comprising a conduit passage and a conduit-receiving aperture.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the removed scored portion is twice scored at a patch portion, the twice-scored patch portion for patching the conduit passage, the twice-scored patch portion being removed from the removed scored portion.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the removed twice-scored patch portion is reattached to the riser member after saddling the inferior riser end upon the outer tank surface, the reattached twice-scored patch portion thus patching the conduit passage, the crossover conduit extending intermediate the inner riser surface and the outer riser surface via the conduit-receiving aperture.

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