Container with a distributed-loading base

Abstract

A stationary container with straight, vertical walls and an open top has a bottom frame with an array of holes through which closely packed support cells can slide so that the base of the container roughly contours to the surface on which it is set while maintaining a level top surface. This arrangement allows the load of a contained fluid material to be applied normal to the top of each support cell, distributing the vertical load over multiple points between the bottom of the container and the load-bearing surface on which the container is set. The support cells may be solid, hollow, or have openings to allow fluid to pass between the interior and exterior of the container. The container walls are vertical and attach to adjustable corner posts. The container may have a second frame, with or without holes, positioned above the support cells in order to provide additional support for the container walls, distributed support for additional loads applied to the top of the filled container, downward stabilizing support for the load, or a conduit for a second fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container assembly comprising: 
 a horizontal base frame with holes through which support cells can move vertically;    a closely packed array of support cells that transfer the weight of material being contained to a surface on which the container is set over at least as many contact points as there are support cells;    vertical walls that fully bound and support only the base frame;    and vertical corner posts that support the walls and establish the height and level of the container.    
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support cells are hollow.  
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the walls provide attachment points for the base frame and an auxiliary frame on either long vertical side; and wherein the corner posts provide attachment points for walls on all vertical sides.  
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a solid, rigid horizontal auxiliary frame positioned above the support cells.  
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of support sleeves that remove the load from specific support cells and transfer it directly from those load-bearing locations to the base frame.  
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 2  wherein the support cells include openings through one of a bottom wall and a side wall in the support cell.  
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support cells further comprise one of a spherically and cylindrically contoured bottom wall and a correspondingly shaped foot closely fit to the contour of the bottom wall such that the rotating-foot has typically three primary points of contact with a load-bearing surface of any slope less than 45 degrees.  
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 4  further comprising openings to allow flow between an exterior top and an interior of the container.  
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 4  further comprising passages within the auxiliary frame to allow flow within and through it.  
     
     
         10 . A system for containing material comprising: 
 a first container assembly, the first container assembly including: 
 a base frame having a plurality of guide holes;  
 a plurality of support cells, each support cell disposed within a respective one of the plurality of guide holes; and,  
 a plurality of container walls extending from the base frame.  
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a first corner post extending upward from proximate the base frame, the first corner post connected to a first container wall of the plurality of container walls and to a second container wall of the plurality of walls.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a second corner post extending from the base frame, the second corner post connected to the second container wall of the plurality of walls and to a third container wall of the plurality of walls.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame is configured so that the plurality of support cells form a closely-packed array.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of container walls is connected to the base frame by a fastener.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of container walls is connected to the base frame by a clamp.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of container walls is connected to the base frame by a tongue and groove connection.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a leveling foot connected to and supporting the corner post.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of support cells comprises a first upper segment and a second lower segment, the second lower segment having a generally uniform cross-sectional area less than a generally uniform cross-sectional area of the first upper segment.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of support cells comprises a hollow interior and an open top.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein each of the plurality of support cells comprises a plurality of openings in one of a bottom wall and a side wall.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of supports cells comprises a plurality of holes running through the support cell.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of support cells is constructed of a porous material.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of support cells comprises a rotating foot connected to a bottom portion of the second lower segment of the support cell.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18  wherein one of the plurality of support cells comprises a support sleeve positioned around the support cell.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the support sleeve comprises a hole in one of a bottom wall and a side wall of the support sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame has a generally square shape.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame has a generally rectangular shape.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame has a generally triangular shape.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame has a generally octagonal shape.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame has a generally hexagonal shape.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame has a generally circular shape.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising an auxiliary frame positioned above the plurality of support cells, the auxiliary frame connected to at least one of the plurality of container walls.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the auxiliary frame comprises a solid plate.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the auxiliary frame comprises a perforated plate.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the auxiliary frame comprises a grid.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the auxiliary frame comprises a network of channels.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a second container assembly connected to the first container assembly, the second container assembly including a base frame having a plurality of guide holes, a plurality of support cells disposed in the guide holes, and a plurality of container walls wherein at least one of the plurality of container walls of the second container assembly is one of the plurality of container walls of the first container assembly.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the base frame is formed from a high density thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         39 . A system for containing a material on a non-level surface comprising: 
 a first container assembly including: 
 a first base frame having a first array of guide holes;  
 a first plurality of support cells, each support cell disposed in one of the first array of guide holes;  
 a first substantially vertical wall connected to a first side of the first base frame;  
 a second substantially vertical wall connected to a second side of the first base frame; and,  
 a third substantially vertical wall connected to a third side of the first base frame.  
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a first corner post connected to the first substantially vertical wall and the second substantially vertical wall.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  further comprising a leveling foot connected to and supporting the first corner post.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40  further comprising a second corner post connected to the second substantially vertical wall and the third substantially vertical wall.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a fourth substantially vertical wall connected to a fourth side of the first base frame.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising an auxiliary frame positioned above the array of support cells and connected to the first substantially vertical wall.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a second container assembly connected to the first container assembly, the second container assembly including 
 a second base frame having a second array of guide holes;  
 a second plurality of support cells, each of the second plurality of support cells disposed in one of the second array of guide holes;  
 the first substantially vertical wall connected to a first side of the second base frame;  
 a fourth substantially vertical wall connected to a second side of the second base frame; and,  
 a fifth substantially vertical wall connected to a third side of the second base frame.  
 
     
     
         46 . A support cell for use with a container system for holding a fluid material comprising: 
 a first upper segment having a first cross-sectional area;    a second lower segment having a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being less than the first cross-sectional area.    
     
     
         47 . The support cell of  claim 46  wherein the support cell is a substantially solid piece.  
     
     
         48 . The support cell of  claim 47  wherein the support cell comprises a first small opening through the support cell.  
     
     
         49 . The support cell of  claim 46  formed from a high density thermoplastic.  
     
     
         50 . The support cell of  claim 46  formed from a porous material.  
     
     
         51 . The support cell of  claim 46  having a hollow interior and an open top.  
     
     
         52 . The support cell of  claim 51  further comprising a plurality of openings in one of a bottom wall and a side wall of the lower segment.  
     
     
         53 . The support cell of  claim 46  further comprising a rotating foot connected to a bottom portion of the lower segment.  
     
     
         54 . The support cell of  claim 53  wherein the rotating foot has a generally spherical portion connected to a support surface.  
     
     
         55 . The support cell of  claim 46  further comprising a support sleeve positioned about an outer portion of the support cell.  
     
     
         56 . The support cell of  claim 55  wherein the support sleeve comprises a plurality of openings in one of a bottom wall and a side wall of the support sleeve.