Secondary containment cap apparatus for either permanent or removable attachment to a primary chlorine container

Abstract

A secondary containment cap apparatus is provided for securing to a primary container containing a hazardous fluid, the primary container having a primary container wall with a primary container hazardous fluid passing port and a primary container wall exterior surface, the secondary containment cap apparatus including a cap wall defining a concave cap interior and a cap abutment port, the cap abutment port having a cap port rim, the cap abutment port and cap port rim being configured to fit closely against and follow the primary container wall in sealing relation with the primary container wall exterior surface and thereby to enclose a region of the primary container wall exterior surface to provide secondary containment over the region of the primary container wall exterior surface; a mechanism for controlled release of the fluid through the cap wall; and a mechanism for securing the cap wall to the primary container so that the cap port rim sealingly abuts the primary container wall exterior surface, such as a weld or tensioned cables.

I claim as my invention:  
     
         1 . A secondary containment cap apparatus for securing to a primary container containing a hazardous fluid, said primary container having a primary container wall with a primary container hazardous fluid passing port and a primary container wall exterior surface, said secondary containment cap apparatus comprising: 
 a cap wall defining a concave cap interior and a cap abutment port, said cap abutment port having a cap port rim, said cap abutment port and cap port rim being configured to fit closely against and follow said primary container wall in sealing relation with said primary container wall exterior surface and thereby to enclose a region of said primary container wall exterior surface to provide secondary containment over said region of said primary container wall exterior surface;    means for controlled release of the fluid through said cap wall;    and attachment means for securing said cap wall to said primary container such that said cap port rim sealingly abuts said primary container wall exterior surface.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for controlling release comprises: 
 a cap wall hazardous fluid passing port;    and a conduit means interconnecting said primary container hazardous fluid passing port and said cap wall hazardous fluid passing port.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a primary container valve in fluid communication with and mounted between said primary container hazardous fluid passing port and said conduit means for controlling the flow of hazardous fluid from said primary container into said conduit means.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said primary container valve is a remotely operated valve having remote control means external to said cap wall.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit means is one of: a flexible line and a rigid tube.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a first cap wall valve in fluid communication with said cap wall hazardous Ah fluid passing port and said conduit means.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first cap wall valve is a fail-safe valve.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , additionally comprising a second cap wall valve outside said cap wall and in fluid communication with said cap wall hazardous fluid passing port.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said second cap wall valve is a manually operated valve.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , additionally comprising: 
 a motion detection means mounted to said primary container and comprising means for detecting movement of said primary container caused by earthquakes and other movement of said primary container and further comprising signalling means in communication with said fail-safe valve for automatically closing said fail-safe valve upon detection of primary container.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , additionally comprising: 
 a external hazardous fluid detection means mounted to said primary container and comprising means for detecting the presence of hazardous fluid outside said primary container, and further comprising signalling means in communication with said fail-safe valve for automatically closing said fail-safe valve upon detection of hazardous fluid outside said primary container.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , additionally comprising alarm sound generation means connected to said motion detection means signaling means for automatically initiating the generation of an alarm sound upon detection of primary container movement.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , additionally comprising alarm sound generation means connected to said external hazardous fluid detection means signaling means for automatically initiating the generation of an alarm sound upon detection of hazardous fluid outside said primary container.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a reduced orifice fitting sealingly secured within said cap wall hazardous fluid passing port for limiting the rate of hazardous fluid discharge from said primary container tank in the event of unintended hazardous fluid release.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising: 
 a second internal hazardous fluid detection means located between said primary container wall and said cap wall for detecting leakage of hazardous fluid from said primary container, said second internal hazardous fluid detection means having a second internal hazardous fluid detection means signal circuit extending through said cap wall and having second internal hazardous fluid detection means display means mounted to said primary container wall exterior surface.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cap wall comprises an outer access port and an outer access hatch removably covering and sealing said outer access port.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises a weld sealingly connecting said cap port rim to said primary container wall exterior surface.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises a plastic bead sealingly connecting said cap port rim to said primary container wall exterior surface.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises cable means including at least one cable extending over said cap wall and being secured to said primary container, such that said at least one cable is in tension and said cap port rim is sealingly pressed against said primary container wall exterior surface.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said attachment means additionally comprises a gasket between said cap port rim and said primary container wall exterior surface.  
     
     
         21 . A secondary containment apparatus for hazardous fluids, comprising: 
 a primary container containing a hazardous fluid, said primary container having a primary container wall with a primary container hazardous fluid passing port and a primary container wall exterior surface;    a secondary containment cap apparatus comprising a cap wall defining a concave cap interior and a cap abutment port, said cap abutment port having a cap port rim, said cap abutment port and cap port rim being configured to fit closely against and follow said primary container wall in sealing relation with said primary container wall exterior surface and thereby to enclose a region of said primary container wall exterior surface to provide secondary containment over said region of said primary container wall exterior surface;    means for controlled release of the fluid through said cap wall;    and attachment means for securing said cap wall relative to said primary container such that said concave cap interior is sealingly placed in fluid communication with said region of said primary container wall exterior surface.    
     
     
         22 . A storage tank for containing hazardous fluids, comprising: 
 a tank comprising a primary container having a primary container wall with a primary container hazardous fluid passing port; a secondary container containing said primary container and having a secondary container wall with a secondary container hazardous fluid passing port; and inter-container conduit means extending between and in fluid communication with said primary container hazardous fluid passing port and with said secondary container hazardous fluid passing port and creating fluid communication between said primary container and said secondary container hazardous fluid passing ports.    
     
     
         23 . The storage tank of  claim 22 , additionally comprising a primary container valve in fluid communication with and mounted between said primary container hazardous fluid passing port and said conduit means for controlling the flow of hazardous fluid from said primary container into said conduit means.  
     
     
         24 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein said primary container valve is a remotely operated valve having remote control means external to said secondary container.