Flat-sided single-wall attached sump collar

Abstract

An attached sump collar for an underground storage tank (UST) provides a flat surface for a connection with a fixture from the UST. Connecting the fixture at a flat surface of the sump collar advantageously improves the efficiency of the seal between the collar and the fixture. The connection may be made at a nearly right angle. In one embodiment, the seal is liquidtight, and the collar is used in combination with a liquidtight riser.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . An underground storage tank assembly, comprising:
 an underground storage tank comprising one or more tank walls defining an interior volume of the underground storage tank, wherein the underground storage tank defines at least one opening to the interior of the underground storage tank; and   a collar surrounding the at least one opening, wherein the collar comprises one or more collar wall surfaces extending from the one or more tank walls to surround the at least one opening, wherein the one or more collar wall surfaces comprise at least one flat side wall surface.   
   
   
       18 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the collar is molded as an integrated component of the underground storage tank. 
   
   
       19 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the collar is attached to the underground storage tank, and further wherein the attachment of the collar to the underground storage tank is a liquid tight attachment. 
   
   
       20 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the collar is a single-walled collar. 
   
   
       21 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one flat side wall surface has a height such that a fixture can penetrate the at least one flat side wall surface. 
   
   
       22 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the assembly further comprises a fixture that penetrates and forms a connection with the at least one flat side wall surface. 
   
   
       23 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the fixture penetrates the at least one flat side wall surface at a right angle or at a nearly right angle. 
   
   
       24 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the assembly further comprises a riser attached to a top edge of the collar. 
   
   
       25 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more collar wall surfaces of the collar comprise a plurality of flat wall surfaces surrounding the at least one opening. 
   
   
       26 . The underground storage tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more collar wall surfaces of the collar comprise a plurality of flat wall surfaces, wherein the plurality of flat wall surfaces provide the collar with a polygonal cross-section over at least a portion of a height of the collar. 
   
   
       27 . A method of installing an underground storage tank assembly, wherein the method comprises:
 providing an underground storage tank comprising one or more tank walls defining an interior volume of the underground storage tank, wherein the underground storage tank defines at least one opening to the interior of the underground storage tank;   providing a collar for the underground storage tank surrounding the at least one opening either before or after the underground storage tank is positioned in an excavation site, wherein the collar comprises one or more collar wall surfaces extending from the one or more tank walls to surround the at least one opening, wherein the one or more collar wall surfaces comprise at least one flat side wall surface; and   forming a connection between a fixture and the at least one flat side wall surface of the collar.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein providing a collar for the underground storage tank comprises molding the collar as an integrated component of the underground storage tank. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein providing a collar for the underground storage tank comprises attaching the collar to the underground storage tank. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fixture penetrates the at least one flat side wall surface at a right angle or at a nearly right angle. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the fixture extends horizontally through the at least one flat side wall surface. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein forming a connection between the fixture and the at least one flat side wall surface further comprises testing the connection to determine if the connection is liquid tight. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises attaching a riser to a top edge of the collar. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more collar wall surfaces of the collar comprise a plurality of flat wall surfaces surrounding the at least one opening. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more collar wall surfaces of the collar comprise a plurality of flat wall surfaces, wherein the plurality of flat wall surfaces provide the collar with a polygonal cross-section along at least a portion of the height of the collar. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the collar is a single-walled collar.