Fluid controlled containment berm system

Abstract

A fluid controlled containment berm system for automatically forming a containment berm to contain hazardous liquid spills. The fluid controlled containment berm system includes a liner including a floor and a sidewall, a buoyant member attached to an upper portion of the liner, and a pair of diffuser members attached between the floor and the sidewall.

1 . A fluid controlled containment berm system, comprising:
 a liner including a floor, a sidewall, and an inner surface, the liner including two sides; and   first and second diffuser members, each of which extends along a substantial portion of a length of respective side of the liner, a substantial portion of a first lengthwise edge of each diffuser member being attached to the floor, and a substantial portion of a second lengthwise edge of each diffuser member being attached to the sidewall at the inner surface of the liner,   wherein the diffuser members are configured to automatically change from a collapsed state when the liner is empty, to a deployed state in response to a substantial filling of the liner.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the liner comprises impermeable material. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser members are configured and arranged such that fluid in the liner is able to pass through the diffuser members while remaining within the liner. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each diffuser member has a width, and a length that is substantially greater than the width. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser members are configured to automatically change from the deployed state when the liner is substantially full, to a collapsed state in response to a substantial emptying of the liner. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls each include one or more pockets configured to receive a substantially rigid reinforcing member. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controlled containment berm is configured to be folded into a compact storage configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a length of the fluid controlled containment berm is greater than a width of the fluid controlled containment berm. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the liner is substantially full, each of the sidewalls is tilted at an angle relative to vertical. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liner and diffuser members lie flat when the liner is substantially empty. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising first and second side members, each of which is attached to a respective side of the liner, each of the side members being configured to be anchored to the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a buoyant member attached to the liner. 
     
     
         14 . A fluid controlled containment berm system, comprising:
 a liner including a floor, a sidewall, and an inner surface, the liner including two sides, and the sidewalls each including one or more pockets configured to receive a substantially rigid reinforcing member;   a buoyant member attached to the liner;   first and second side members, each of which is attached to a respective side of the liner, each of the side members being configured to be anchored to the ground; and   first and second diffuser members, each of which extends along a substantial portion of a length of respective side of the liner, a substantial portion of a first lengthwise edge of each diffuser member being attached to the floor, and a substantial portion of a second lengthwise edge of each diffuser member being attached to the sidewall at the inner surface of the liner,   wherein the diffuser members are configured to automatically change from a collapsed state when the liner is empty, to a deployed state in response to a substantial filling of the liner, and wherein when the liner is substantially full, each of the sidewalls is tilted at an angle relative to vertical.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the liner and diffuser members lie flat when the liner is substantially empty. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 14 , wherein diffuser members are located only at the sidewalls. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the diffuser members are configured and arranged such that fluid in the liner is able to pass through the diffuser members while remaining within the liner. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each of the diffuser members defines a plurality of apertures through which liquid can flow. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the liner is impermeable. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid controlled containment berm as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the diffuser members support the sidewall when the liner is substantially full.