Method of assembly of modular reservoir with integral compressible sealing strips and expansion joint

Abstract

The water tank comprises a number of peripherally disposed modular wall components, each modular wall component defining a radially inner exposed surface, for direct engagement with the water inside the water tank, and a radially outer form-work area, for receiving liquid concrete to be cured. An integral hinge edgewisely interlocks each pair of successive modular wall components. An expansible joint is mounted into each hinge, wherein the expansible joint cooperates with the hinge so as to releasably interlock the modular wall components in their peripherally disposed fashion. The expansible joint provides a water tight seal at the hinge when soaked in water for a sufficient period of time. A second bevelled seal joint is further mounted against the hinge adjacent each wall component inner exposed surface spacedly from and radially inwardly from the expansible joint. Both first and second seal joints are for direct liquid engagement with the water tank water. A biocide agent is integrated within the radially outward second seal joint, wherein bacterial/fungus contamination of the water tank water is mitigated.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An assembly of extruded structural modular wall components for use in the construction of the upright side walls of a water tank, each of said wall components including an elongated rigid sheet member having two integral lengthwise rail members located near corresponding opposite edges thereof, said wall components being releasably slidingly interlocked with one another about their rail members at hinge means to form hollow elongated panels; each hollow panel defining a main body including a flat inner exposed surface, for direct engagement with the water inside the water tank, and an opposite outer formwork area, for receiving liquid concrete to be cured, a hollow panel releasably interlocking with adjoining hollow panels successively to form a substantially continuous wall structure circumscribing a generally closed water receiving enclosure; and further including first seal barrier means, mounted into each hinge means; wherein said first seal barrier means defines an inoperative condition, and an operative condition where both structural integrity and waterproofness of the water tank are achieved. 
     
     
         2 . A water tank as in  claim 1 ,
 further including second seal barrier means, mounted about said hinge means adjacent each said wall component inner exposed surface spacedly from said first seal barrier means, said first and second seal barrier means for direct liquid engagement with the water tank water; wherein said second seal barrier means cooperates with said hinge means to provide a continuous wall structure when said hollow panels are interlocked with one another in successive pairs.   
     
     
         3 . A water tank as in  claim 2 ,
 wherein said second seal barrier means is located radially inwardly from said first seal barrier means relative to the water tank.   
     
     
         4 . A water tank as in  claim 3 ,
 further including a biocide agent, integrated with said first seal barrier means, wherein contamination of the water tank water is mitigated.   
     
     
         5 . A water tank as in  claim 4 ,
 wherein said biocide agent is selected from the group comprising Phenoxarsine®, Fungitrol® and Nuocide®,and at a very low concentration relative to the total weight of said second seal barrier means.   
     
     
         6 . A water tank as in  claim 4 ,
 wherein said hinge means includes a male rail element from a first said modular wall component, and a female rail element from a second said successive modular wall component, said first seal barrier means mounted inside a cavity defined by said female rail element.   
     
     
         7 . A water tank as in  claim 6 ,
 wherein said first seal barrier means is an expansible joint, engaged into and occupying a small fraction of said female rail element cavity in said inoperative condition thereof, but completely filling up said female rail element cavity in said operative condition thereof; said second seal barrier means being less effective in waterproofness than said first seal barrier means so that water being filled into the water tank is allowed to seep partly around said second seal barrier means and reach said first seal barrier means.   
     
     
         8 . A water tank as in  claim 7 ,
 wherein in said operative condition of said expansible joint, said male element wedges a leading edge portion thereof being exposed to the water from the water tank water exclusively from the remainder of said expansible joint, said expansible joint leading edge portion being small relative to the overall volume of said expansible joint.   
     
     
         9 . A water tank as in  claim 8 ,
 wherein said expansion joint is made from at least one organic ingredient and from an inorganic ingredient.   
     
     
         10 . A water tank as in  claim 9 ,
 wherein said organic ingredient comprises a hydrophilic resin.   
     
     
         11 . A water tank as in  claim 10 ,
 wherein said hydrophilic resin is selected from the group comprising polyacrylamide, acrylic polymer and polyurethane foam.   
     
     
         12 . A water tank as in  claim 11 ,
 wherein said organic ingredient further comprises a thermoplastic rubber compound.   
     
     
         13 . A water tank as in  claim 12 ,
 wherein said thermoplastic rubber compound is selected from the group comprising ethylene propylene diene, chloroprene, and polyisoprene.   
     
     
         14 . A water tank as in  claim 9 ,
 wherein said inorganic ingredient is a filler selected from the group comprising calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, silicium dioxide and bentonite.   
     
     
         15 . A water tank as in  claim 8 ,
 wherein said second seal barrier means forms a sealing strip having a hardness value ranging between 45 and 65 on the SHORE D scale, while said modular wall components have a hardness value ranging between 75 to 85 on the SHORE D scale, said second seal barrier means sealing strip being added by coextrusion to the corner portion of each modular wall components.   
     
     
         16 . A method of assembly of a water tank of the type where the water tank comprises a number of peripherally disposed modular wall components, each modular wall component defining a radially inner exposed surface, for direct engagement with the water inside the water tank, and a radially outer formwork area, opposite said inner exposed surface, for receiving liquid concrete to be cured, hinge means edgewisely interlocking each pair of successive said modular wall components, and first seal barrier means, mounted into each said hinge means; wherein said first seal barrier means cooperates with said hinge means so as to releasably interlock said modular wall components in their peripherally disposed fashion, said first seal barrier means defining an inoperative condition, and an operative condition where both structural integrity and waterproofness of the water tank are achieved; wherein said first seal barrier means is an expansible joint, engaged into and occupying a small fraction of said female element cavity in said inoperative condition thereof, but completely filling up said female element cavity in said operative condition thereof; said second seal barrier means being less effective than said first seal barrier means so that water from said tank is allowed to seep partly around said second seal barrier means and reach said first seal barrier means; the method comprising the following steps:
 a) inserting said expansible joint into said hinge means;   b) tilting each pair of successive first and second said wall components relative to one another by a small acute angle,   c) vertically sliding facing edge portions of said each pair of first and second wall components about said hinge means;   d) tilting back said first and second wall components to a coextensive substantially planar condition;   e) filling up water inside the water tank, wherein said expansible joint comes to be soaked with water; and   f) allowing water to expand said expansible joint, until a completely water tight hinge means is achieved.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16 ,
 further including a second seal barrier means, radially inwardly of and spacedly from the first seal barrier means and forming a deformable non expansible bevelled joint, the latter joint forming an exposed slanted edge surface, wherein the method further comprises the additional following steps of:
 before said step a), inserting said bevelled joint into said hinge means, and fixedly securing said bevelled joint against said hinge means radially inwardly of said expansible joint; and 
 between steps d) and e) cushioning this tilting back step by cooperative action of deforming motion of said bevelled joint about its slanted edge surface. 
   
     
     
         18  A method as in  claim 17 ,
 further including a step between steps a) and b) of fixedly securing said first expansible joint to corresponding wall components within said hinge means, wherein said expansible joint securing means is selected from the group comprising friction fit interlock with said wall component within said cavity, and a glue compound fixedly interconnecting said expansible joint to said wall component within said cavity, said glue compound applied by a technique selected from the group comprising use of a caulking gun and coextrusion on the manufacture line. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 16 ,
 wherein said small acute angle has a value between 15 and 25 degrees.