Portable liquid storage tank

Abstract

Provided herein are storage tanks for storing water and other liquids. A storage tank according to the invention is relatively inexpensive in comparison to conventional storage tanks, and can be disassembled or packaged to occupy a relatively small volume for purposes of transportation and storage. A storage tank according to the invention may have a capacity in the range of between 200 to 10,000 liters, while only occupying a volume of less than 1 cubic meter when disassembled.

I claim:  
     
         1 ) A storage tank suitable for the storage of liquids, including water, which comprises: 
 a) a shell portion comprising a plurality of substantially flat panel elements, said panel elements each including a perimeter, wherein each of said flat panel elements are arranged adjacent to one another so as to form a closed-loop construction, and wherein each of said flat panel elements are each connected to two adjacent flat panels, wherein the closed-loop construction of said shell portion has an open top portion with an upper circumferential edge that defines a plane, an open bottom portion, and an interior volume, and wherein said plurality of flat panel elements collectively define a wall having an interior face and an exterior face;    b) a polymeric membrane disposed within said interior volume of said shell portion such that said membrane forms a waterproof seal between said interior volume and the spaces exterior to said wall and beneath said bottom portion, and such that said open top portion remains open sufficiently to enable a liquid to be admitted into said interior volume from above said open top portion; and    c) a means for securing said membrane within said interior volume.    
     
     
         2 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein said means for securing said membrane within said interior volume secures the membrane by affixing the membrane to said circumferential edge by conventional fastening means.  
     
     
         3 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 d) a plurality of linear supports disposed over said open top portion, said linear supports each having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion and said second end portion of each of said supports coincide with said circumferential edge.  
 
     
     
         4 ) A storage tank according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 e) a central support post having a first end portion and a second end portion which is disposed within said interior volume and extending in a direction perpendicular to said flat bottom portion such that said first end portion coincides with said flat bottom portion, said central support being of sufficient length that said second end portion coincides with the plane of said circumferential edge, and wherein said linear supports pass over said second end portion of said central support post.    
     
     
         5 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 d) a central support post having a first end portion and a second end portion which is disposed within said interior volume and extending in a direction perpendicular to said flat bottom portion such that said first end portion coincides with said flat bottom portion, said central support post being of sufficient length that said second end portion coincides with the plane of said circumferential edge, and e) a plurality of linear supports each having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said linear supports is connected to said central support post and wherein said second end portion of said linear supports are connected to said panel elements at said circumferential edge.  
 
     
     
         6 ) A storage tank according to  claim 4  wherein said linear supports are connected to said second end of central support post.  
     
     
         7 ) A storage tank according to  claim 6  wherein said means for securing said membrane within said interior volume by affixing said membrane to said circumferential edge comprises a circular retainer hoop disposed within said interior volume at said circumferential edge and in contact with said membrane so as to mechanically bias said membrane against said interior face of said wall.  
     
     
         8 ) A storage tank according to  claim 7  wherein said linear supports are connected to said retainer hoop.  
     
     
         9 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  further comprising a barrier disposed between said membrane and said inner wall.  
     
     
         10 ) A storage tank according to  claim 8  further comprising a barrier disposed between said membrane and said inner wall.  
     
     
         11 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  further comprising a screen disposed over said open top portion.  
     
     
         12 ) A storage tank according to  claim 8  further comprising a screen disposed over said open top portion.  
     
     
         13 ) A storage tank according to  claim 11  wherein said screen is held in place by means of a u-shaped channel disposed upon said circumferential edge with said screen disposed between said u-shaped channel and said circumferential edge.  
     
     
         14 ) A storage tank according to  claim 13  herein said u-shaped channel is secured to said circumferential edge by means of a conventional fastening means selected from the group consisting of: screws, rivets, and clips.  
     
     
         15 ) A storage tank according to  claim 12  wherein said screen is held in place by means of a u-shaped channel disposed upon said circumferential edge with said screen disposed between said u-shaped channel and said circumferential edge.  
     
     
         16 ) A storage tank according to  claim 15  wherein said u-shaped channel is secured to said circumferential edge by means of a conventional fastening means selected from the group consisting of: screws, rivets and clips.  
     
     
         17 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein each of said panel elements include a plurality of holes disposed about its perimeter.  
     
     
         18 ) A storage tank according to  claim 8  wherein each of said panel elements include a plurality of holes disposed about its perimeter.  
     
     
         19 ) A storage tank according to  claim 17  wherein adjacent panel elements are connected to one another by a conventional fastening means selected from the group consisting of: rivets, bolts, clips, and screws.  
     
     
         20 ) A storage tank according to  claim 18  wherein adjacent panel elements are connected to one another by a conventional fastening means selected from the group consisting of: rivets, bolts, clips, and screws.  
     
     
         21 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said panels includes an access hole disposed through it having a valve disposed therethrough which permits selective fluid communication between the contents of said interior volume and the space exterior to said wall.  
     
     
         22 ) A storage tank according to  claim 21  wherein said panel including an access hole includes a second hole disposed through it which permits fluid communication between the contents of said interior volume and the space exterior to said wall.  
     
     
         23 ) A storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: PVC, CPVC, polypropylene homopolymers or copolymers, polyethylene, EPDM and waterproof materials.  
     
     
         24 ) A process for storing a storage tank according to  claim 1  having a liquid volume capacity in the range of 200 liters to about 10,000 liters which comprises: 
 a) providing a storage tank according to  claim 1;   
 b) disassembling said tank to provide a plurality of flat panels, means for connecting said flat panels to one another, a polymeric membrane, and means for securing said membrane within said interior volume;  
 c) stacking said flat panels atop one another to provide a stack of flat panels;  
 d) minimizing the volume occupied by said polymeric membrane by manipulating it in a fashion selected from the group consisting of: folding or rolling it up; and  
 e) placing said stack of flat panels, said membrane, said means for connecting said flat panels to one another, and said means for securing said membrane within said interior volume all into a container having a volume less than 1.0 cubic meter, so as to form a packaged storage tank.  
 
     
     
         25 ) A process according to  claim 24  wherein said container is a box.  
     
     
         26 ) The packaged storage tank of  claim 25 .  
     
     
         27 ) A process for storing a storage tank according to  claim 1  having a liquid volume capacity in the range of 200 liters to about 10,000 liters which comprises: 
 a) providing a storage tank according to  claim 1;   
 b) removing the fastening means along a single seam of said plurality of flat panel elements so as to provide a planar construction which comprises a plurality of panel elements which are connected to one another in an adjacent configuration by means of conventional fasteners;  
 c) rolling up said planar construction to form a rolled shell panel;  
 d) minimizing the volume occupied by said polymeric membrane by manipulating it in a fashion selected from the group consisting of: folding or rolling it up; and  
 e) placing said rolled shell panel, said membrane, said means for connecting said panels to one another, and said means for securing said membrane within said interior volume all into a container having a volume less than 1.0 cubic meters, so as to form a packaged storage tank.