Portable storage reservoir and connector

Abstract

A portable reservoir has a fence that encloses an area of a support surface and a liner that rest on the support surface, and extends across the area and up the inside of the fence. The fence is made up of a number of fence sections that are connected together by interleaving connectors with pins. The liner has clips that hook over the top of the fence sections to support the vertical part of the liner. A stile provides access to the inside of the reservoir. The reservoir can have a large capacity and can be used for storing liquids used in hydraulic fracturing. The fence sections each have a plate that overlaps an adjacent fence section to prevent pinching and puncture of the liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable reservoir for liquid storage comprising:
 a substantially circular fence enclosing an area of a support surface and having a plurality of rigid, portable fence sections each including spaced first and second side edges, and spaced bottom and top edges that each extend from said first side edge to said second side edge, said fence sections each having a first vertical member along said first side edge and a second vertical member along said second side edge, said fence sections each including a plate having an inner face and a spaced outer face with said first and second vertical members rigidly attaching to said outer face, said plate extending from said bottom edge to said top edge and substantially extending from said first side edge to said second, said plate being offset relative to said first and second side edges with said plate projecting laterally outwardly from said first side edge and being recessed laterally inwardly from said second side edge such that, when said fence sections are connected together, said plate on one said fence section overlaps said second vertical member on the adjacent said fence section, and   a liner including a liner body of liquid impermeable material that rests on said support surface, and extends over said area and upwardly to a peripheral edge near said top edge of said fence sections to hold liquid within said fence,   whereby said overlap of said plate and said second vertical member prevent pinching of said liner between fence sections and puncture of said liner from outside said fence.   
     
     
         2 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said fence sections each have a plurality of first connector portions selectively spaced along and projecting from said first side edge and a second connector portion along said second side edge opposite each first connector portion, said second connector portions each being shaped to interleave with one first connector portion on an adjacent fence section to connect said fence sections together. 
     
     
         3 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each first connector portion includes a plurality of spaced, horizontal first leaves and each second connector portion includes a plurality of horizontal second leaves spaced to interleave with said first leaves, said first and second leaves each having a vertical pin aperture with said pin apertures being positioned to vertically align when said first and second leaves are interleaved, and
 including a pin for each first connector portion, said pins being sized to fit and extend through said pin apertures of said first and second leaves, 
 whereby said pins connect said first and second leaves to connect said fence sections together. 
 
     
     
         4 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said first connector portions each have one more first leaf than said second connector portions have second leaves. 
     
     
         5 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first connector portions each have three first leaves and said second connector portions each have two second leaves. 
     
     
         6 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first connector portions are selectively spaced with a non-uniform spacing with said first connector portions being more closely spaced near said bottom edge than near said top edge. 
     
     
         7 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said plate curves between said first and second side edges with said inner face being concave and said outer face being, and said first and second connector portions attach to said outer face. 
     
     
         8 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said plate is steel plate. 
     
     
         9 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said fence sections each have a curved, elongated bottom horizontal member along said bottom edge, a curved, elongated top horizontal member along said top edge, and a plurality of curved, elongated intermediate horizontal members with one said intermediate horizontal member extending horizontally from each said first connector portion, said bottom, top and intermediate horizontal members each being rigidly attached to said outer face and extending from said first vertical member to said second vertical member. 
     
     
         10 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 1  including a plurality of spaced clips shaped to hook over said top edge of said fence sections and shaped to support said peripheral edge of said liner. 
     
     
         11 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 said liner includes an endless belt with said peripheral edge of said liner body being folded over to form a hem to enclose said belt, 
 said liner body includes a plurality of spaced apertures along said hem, and 
 said clips each include an upper hook that hooks over said top edge of said fence sections and a spaced lower hook that projects through said apertures in said liner body under said belt, 
 whereby said clips support said liner. 
 
     
     
         12 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 1  including a stile that is supported by said top edge of said fence sections and suspended above said support surface, said stile providing access between the inside and the outside of said fence. 
     
     
         13 . The reservoir as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said stile includes a bridge that extends across said top edge of said fence sections, an inner stairway that extends downwardly and laterally from said bridge inside said fence, and a spaced outer stairway that extends downwardly and laterally from said bridge outside said fence, said inner and outer stairways each having a lower end, said stile having a support portion supported by said top edge of said fence sections and connected to said inner and outer stairways such that said support portion suspends said lower ends of said inner and outer stairways above said support surface. 
     
     
         14 . A portable reservoir for liquid storage comprising:
 a substantially circular fence enclosing an area of a support surface and having a plurality of rigid, portable fence sections each including spaced first and second side edges, and spaced bottom and top edges that each extend from said first side edge to said second side edge, each said fence section having a plate from said bottom edge to said top edge, said plate curving substantially from said first edge to said second edge and having a concave inner face and a spaced convex outer face, each said fence section having an elongated first vertical member rigidly attached to said outer face along said first side edge and an elongated second vertical member rigidly attached to said outer face along said second side edge, said plate being offset relative to said first and second side edges with said plate projecting laterally outwardly from said first side edge and being recessed laterally inwardly from said second side edge such that, when said fence sections are connected together, said plate on one said fence section overlaps said second vertical member on the adjacent said fence section, said fence sections each having a curved, elongated bottom horizontal member along said bottom edge, a curved, elongated top horizontal member along said top edge, and a plurality of space curved, elongated intermediate horizontal members between said bottom and top horizontal members, said bottom, top and intermediate horizontal members each being rigidly attached to said outer face and extending from said first vertical member to said second vertical member, said fence sections each having a plurality of first connector portions selectively spaced along and projecting from said first side edge and a second connector portion along said second side edge opposite each first connector portion, said second connector portions each being shaped to interleave with one first connector portion on an adjacent fence section to connect said fence sections together, and   a liner including a liner body of liquid impermeable material that rests on said support surface, and extends over said area and upwardly to a peripheral edge near said top edge of said fence sections to hold liquid within said fence.   
     
     
         15 . A rigid fence section for a portable fence for a portable reservoir, comprising:
 spaced first and second side edges,   spaced bottom and top edges that each extend from said first side edge to said second side edge,   a first vertical member along said first side edge,   a second vertical member along said second side edge,   a plate having an inner face and a spaced outer face with said first and second vertical members rigidly attaching to said outer face, said plate extending from said bottom edge to said top edge and substantially extending from said first side edge to said second, said plate being offset relative to said first and second side edges with said plate projecting laterally outwardly from said first side edge and being recessed laterally inwardly from said second side edge,   whereby said plate overlaps an adjacent fence section.   
     
     
         16 . The fence section as set forth in  claim 15  including a plurality of first connector portions selectively spaced along and projecting from said first side edge and a second connector portion along said second side edge opposite each first connector portion, said second connector portions each being shaped to interleave with one first connector portion on an adjacent fence section. 
     
     
         17 . The fence section as set forth in  claim 16  wherein each first connector portion includes a plurality of spaced, horizontal first leaves and each second connector portion includes a plurality of horizontal second leaves spaced to interleave with said first leaves, said first and second leaves each having a vertical pin aperture with said pin apertures being positioned to vertically align when said first and second leaves are interleaved, and
 including a pin for each first connector portion, said pins being sized to fit and extend through said pin apertures of said first and second leaves, 
 whereby said pins connect said first and second leaves. 
 
     
     
         18 . The fence section as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said first connector portions each have one more first leaf than said second connector portions have second leaves. 
     
     
         19 . The fence section as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said first connector portions each have three first leaves and said second connector portions each have two second leaves. 
     
     
         20 . The fence section as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said first connector portions are selectively spaced with a non-uniform spacing with said first connector portions being more closely spaced near said bottom edge than near said top edge. 
     
     
         21 . The fence section as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said plate curves between said first and second side edges with said inner face being concave and said outer face being, and said first and second connector portions attach to said outer face.