Modular, scalable, portable and reusable primary and secondary spill containment lining systems and method of assembling, shipping and installing such systems

Abstract

A distribution assembly and associated system for assembling, shipping, and installing a modular, scalable primary or secondary spill containing lining system is provided. The system includes a method of assembling, shipping and installing a modular, scalable containment lining system for an industrial site including the steps of coupling together a plurality of panels to form a reel of panels, which may include side wall panels and corner panels, rolling the reel of panels about at least one core to form a wound reel of panels, placing at least one wound reel of panels upon a transportation vehicle, transporting the at least one wound reel of panels to an installation site, unloading the at least one wound reel of panels from the transportation vehicle, positioning the at least one wound reel of panels at a desired location at the installation site, and unrolling the at least one wound reel of panels at the desired location at the installation site. In a reel of panels including base panels, wall panels and corner panels the system includes the further steps of raising the wall panels and folding and attaching the corner panels to the wall panels, and buttressing the wall panels to provide a secondary containment facility for retaining a depth of liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling, shipping and installing a modular, scalable containment lining system for an industrial site comprising:
 coupling together a plurality of plastic panels to form a reel of panels;   rolling the reel of panels about at least one core to form a wound reel of panels;   placing at least one wound reel of panels upon a transportation vehicle;   transporting the at least one wound reel of panels to an installation site;   unloading the at least one wound reel of panels from the transportation vehicle;   positioning the at least one wound reel of panels at a desired location at the installation site; and   unrolling the at least one wound reel of panels at the desired location at the installation site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of assembling, shipping and installing a modular, scalable containment lining system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 engaging an edge of the reel of panels into a slot provided in the at least one core before performing the rolling step.   
     
     
         3 . The method of assembling, shipping and installing a modular, scalable containment lining system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 unloading a second at least one wound reel of panels from the transportation vehicle;   positioning the second at least one wound reel of panels at a second desired location at the installation site;   unrolling the second at least one wound reel of panels at the second desired location at the installation site; and   coupling the second at least one wound reel of panels to the at least one wound reel of panels to form a lining system.   
     
     
         4 . The method of assembling, shipping and installing a modular, scalable containment lining system of  claim 1 , wherein the reel of connected panels includes base panels, wall panels and corner panels, and further comprising:
 raising the wall panels to an approximately vertical position and folding and fastening the corner panels to adjacent portions of the wall panels; and   placing support structure against the exteriorly facing surfaces of the wall panels to provide a secondary containment facility for retaining a depth of liquid within the facility.   
     
     
         5 . A lining system comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected panels of extruded plastic material, the plurality of panels being formed by consecutive body panels interconnected with a sheet coupling assembly;   raised perimeter panels extending continuously around all sides of the plurality of interconnected panels, the raised perimeter panels being interconnected to the plurality of interconnected panels; and   a foldable corner panel coupled to the plurality of interconnected panels and raised perimeter panels so as to join substantially perpendicular edges of the lining system.   
     
     
         6 . The lining system of  claim 5 , wherein the sheet coupling assembly comprises a bridge connecting strip and welding rod for electro-fusion welding of the bridge connecting strip to adjacent consecutive body panels. 
     
     
         7 . The lining system of  claim 5 , wherein a raised perimeter panel of the raised perimeter panels comprises a portion of a body panel coupled to the plurality of interconnected panels by an additional sheet coupling assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The lining system of  claim 7 , wherein the raised perimeter panel is formed by a bend about a bridge connecting strip forming a portion of the additional sheet coupling assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The lining system of  claim 5 , wherein the raised perimeter panels are formed by portions of the consecutive body panels. 
     
     
         10 . The lining system of  claim 5 , wherein the foldable corner panel has a score line arranged for folding of the corner panel along the score line. 
     
     
         11 . The lining system of  claim 5 , further comprising support structure positioned against exteriorly facing surfaces of the raised perimeter panels. 
     
     
         12 . The lining system of  claim 11 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of posts connected by horizontal rail and having a base extending in an opposed direction from the post generally perpendicular to the plane of the rail. 
     
     
         13 . The lining system of  claim 5 , wherein the body panels are substantially flat planar sheets. 
     
     
         14 . The lining system of  claim 13 , wherein the body panel has a textured surface. 
     
     
         15 . A modular, secondary containment facility comprising:
 a plurality of planar sheets of substantially flat plastic material having first sheet coupling assemblies which extend continuously over and respectively connect adjacent edge portions of the plurality of planar sheets;   a plurality of wall portions coupled to the plurality of planar sheets by second sheet coupling assemblies;   a plurality of corner portions, each corner portion interfitted with adjacent edge portions of the flat sheets and adjacent side wall portions, the corner portions being coupled by third sheet coupling assemblies;   wherein the sheet coupling assemblies electro-fusion welded together adjacent portions to provide a liquid resistant seal between adjacent connected and fused portions.   
     
     
         16 . The modular, secondary containment facility of  claim 15 , wherein the corner portion has a score line and is adapted to bend so as to provide an inwardly folded corner portion which is fastened to an adjacent wall portion to form a water tight corner. 
     
     
         17 . The modular, secondary containment facility of  claim 16 , wherein the second sheet coupling assemblies are adapted to bend such that the wall portions extend upwards at an angle from the plurality of planar sheets. 
     
     
         18 . The modular, secondary containment facility of  claim 15 , wherein the wall portions comprise side walls and end walls. 
     
     
         19 . The modular, secondary containment facility of  claim 15 , wherein the first, second, and third sheet coupling assemblies comprise a bridge connecting strip and a welding rod. 
     
     
         20 . The modular, secondary containment facility of  claim 15 , further comprising a support structure positioned against exteriorly facing surfaces of the walls to provide a buttressing support.