30 Foot chamfered deadman

Abstract

The invention provides a long steel reinforced concrete deadman with superior strength for anchoring underground storage tanks (USTs). Reinforcing steel bars about 0.88 inches in diameter provide an advantageously high ultimate flexural strength capacity for a concrete deadman. Among the advantages offered by high flexural strength is the ability to use a longer deadman about 30 feet or more in length, which simplifies installation of USTs, especially in a flooded hole.

1 . A long concrete deadman comprising a longitudinal reinforcing steel bar with a nominal diameter of at least about 0.88 inches and a load weight of at least about 2.04 lb/ft, where the long concrete deadman in combination with backfill prevents floatation of an underground storage tank (UST) that is attached to the deadman, and where the deadman is at least about 30 feet in length. 
   
   
       2 . The deadman of  claim 1 , comprising two of said longitudinal reinforcing steel bars, where the deadman has a negative moment strength of at least about 400 kip-in. 
   
   
       3 . The deadman of  claim 1 , where the deadman has a length of about 40 feet. 
   
   
       4 . The deadman of  claim 1  comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and an elongated slot, where the elongated slot extends over a portion of the length of the deadman and extends from the upper surface to the lower surface of the deadman, where an anchoring point is inserted into the elongated slot. 
   
   
       5 . The deadman of  claim 4 , where the anchoring point can be moved to various positions along the slot. 
   
   
       6 . The deadman of  claim 4 , where the deadman is capable of bearing a load of about 3000 lb, 5000 lb, or 6000 lb at the position of the anchoring point. 
   
   
       7 . The deadman of  claim 4 , where the anchoring point is a fastening loop. 
   
   
       8 . The deadman of  claim 1 , where the deadman is a low profile deadman. 
   
   
       9 . The deadman of  claim 8 , where the deadman comprises at least one chamfered edge. 
   
   
       10 . A method of installing an underground storage tank (UST), comprising attaching an UST to a concrete deadman comprising a longitudinal reinforcing steel bar with a nominal diameter of at least about 0.88 inches and a load weight of at least about 2.04 lb/ft, where the deadman is at least about 30 feet in length. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , where the deadman comprises two of said longitudinal reinforcing steel bars, where the deadman has a negative moment strength of at least about 400 kip-in. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , where the length of the deadman is about 40 feet. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , where the deadman comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and an elongated slot, where the elongated slot extends over a portion of the length of the deadman and extends from the upper surface to the lower surface of the deadman, where an anchoring point is inserted into the elongated slot. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , where the anchoring point can be moved to various positions along the slot. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , where the deadman is capable of bearing a load of about 3000 lb, 5000 lb, or 6000 lb at the position of the anchoring point. 
   
   
       16 . The deadman of  claim 13 , where the anchoring point is a fastening loop. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , where the deadman is a low profile deadman. 
   
   
       18 . The deadman of  claim 17 , where the deadman comprises at least one chamfered edge. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10 , where the deadman is attached to a UST of about 30 feet in length. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transporting the deadman on a trailer bed to a site where the UST is to be installed, where the deadman overhangs the trailer bed without developing excessive flexural cracks. 
   
   
       21 . A shipping assembly, comprising:
 (a) a flatbed trailer having a width of approximately ninety six inches;   (b) an approximately ten foot diameter underground storage tank (UST) on the flatbed trailer; and   (c) two deadmen at least about 30 feet in length positioned on each side of the UST, where each of the deadmen has at least one chamfered edge, the chamfered edge being in a position facing the UST.   
   
   
       22 . The shipping assembly of  claim 21 , where the UST is about 30 feet in length.