Storage container lining and insulation system

Abstract

A modular lining and insulation system includes a number of horizontal insulation panels and a number of vertical insulation panels each having male tabs and/or corresponding female channels for interconnecting the panels. The modular lining and insulation system can easily be modified to accommodate any size, shape, and dimension of industrial storage container and any number of industrial or similar storage containers.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A system for lining and insulating one or more storage containers, the system comprising:
 a plurality of modular interconnecting horizontal insulation panels; and   a plurality of modular interconnecting vertical insulation panels being configured to interconnect with the horizontal insulation panels,   the horizontal insulation panels and the vertical insulation panels being individually connectable and removable for lining and insulating storage containers of different sizes and the horizontal insulation panels being connectable and removable in lateral sections for lining and insulating the one or more storage containers.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal insulation panels and the vertical insulation panels collectively include a plurality of male tabs and a plurality of female channels for receiving the male tabs therein so that the horizontal insulation panels and the vertical insulation panels can be interconnected without the use of fasteners or adhesives. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal insulation panels are connectable to each other via male tabs extending from ends of at least some of the horizontal insulation panels and female channels extending into ends of at least some of the horizontal insulation panels, the male tabs being configured to be inserted into the female channels so as to form an extended layer of lining and insulation on a top of the storage container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels are connectable to each other via male tabs extending from ends of at least some of the vertical insulation panels and female channels extending into ends of at least some of the vertical insulation panels, the male tabs being configured to be inserted into the female channels so as to form an extended layer of lining and insulation on a side of the storage container. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal insulation panels include a first male tab extending from a first end, a second male tab extending from a second end adjacent the first end, a third male tab extending from a third end adjacent the second end, and a female channel extending into a fourth end opposite the second end, the first male tab being configured to be inserted into the female channel of another horizontal insulation panel or the top end of a vertical insulation panel, the second male tab being configured to be inserted into a female channel on a side of a horizontal insulation panel or a vertical insulation panel, and the third male tab being configured to be inserted into a female channel on another side of another horizontal insulation panel or vertical insulation panel so as to form an extended layer of lining and insulation on at least a top and two sides of the storage container. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels each include a first female channel extending into a side thereof for receiving a male tab of a horizontal insulation panel so as to form a layer of lining and insulation on at least a top and a side of the storage container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the female channels are located near top ends of the vertical insulation panels and wherein some of the vertical insulation panels include a female channel extending the length of the vertical insulation panel on both sides to receive a male tab of another vertical insulation panel, and other vertical panels include a male tab extending the length of the vertical insulation panel on both sides to insert into a female channel of another vertical insulation panel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vertical insulation panels is a side end panel, at least one of the vertical insulation panels is an end panel, and at least one of the horizontal insulation panels is a top end panel, the at least one side end panel, end panel, and top end panel being configured to be interconnected with each other so as to form a layer of lining and insulation on at least a top, a side, and an end of the storage container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal insulation panels include a number of large panels and a number of small panels configured to be paired in an alternating pattern so that seams formed between large and small panels are staggered for increasing rigidity of the system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels and the horizontal insulation panels are approximately 4 inches thick. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels and the horizontal insulation panels have a density of approximately 2 pounds per cubic foot to approximately 6 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels and the horizontal insulation panels each are encapsulated with a 100 percent solids pure polyurea elastomeric lining. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels and the horizontal insulation panels each are encapsulated with a 100 percent solids hybrid polyurea/polyurethane elastomeric lining. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulation panels and the horizontal insulation panels are formed of flexible cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal insulation panels each include a non-skid top surface for allowing workers to safely work on top of the storage container. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal insulation panels further comprise at least one rib panel configured to be connected between lateral sections of horizontal insulation panels and the vertical end panels further comprise at least one rib panel configured to be connected between vertical end panels when the system is lining and insulating at least two storage containers. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a number of the vertical insulation panels are tall panels and a number of the vertical insulation panels are short panels configured to be connected below the tall panels so as to increase a height of the system for lining and insulating taller storage containers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener for securing the vertical and horizontal insulation panels to the storage container, the at least one fastener comprising a ratchet strap configured to be secured to a lower side of the storage tank, extended over the vertical and horizontal insulation panels, and secured to an opposite lower side of the storage tank for retaining the vertical and horizontal insulation panels over the storage tank. 
     
     
         19 . A system for lining and insulating one or more storage containers, the system comprising:
 a plurality of modular interconnecting horizontal insulation panels collectively having a number of male tabs and female channels for securing the horizontal insulation panels together, the horizontal insulation panels being individually connectable and removable for lining and insulating storage containers of different sizes and being connectable and removable in lateral sections for lining and insulating the one or more storage containers;   a plurality of modular interconnecting vertical insulation panels being configured to interconnect with the horizontal insulation panels, the vertical insulation panels collectively having a number of male tabs and female channels for securing the vertical insulation panels together and for securing the vertical insulation panels to the horizontal insulation panels, the vertical insulation panels including at least one end panel for lining and insulating an end of the one or more storage containers.   
     
     
         20 . A system for lining and insulating one or more fluid storage containers, the system comprising:
 a plurality of modular interconnecting horizontal insulation panels collectively having a number of male tabs and female channels for securing the horizontal insulation panels together, the horizontal insulation panels being individually connectable and removable for lining and insulating storage containers of different sizes and being connectable and removable in lateral sections for lining and insulating the one or more storage containers, the horizontal insulation panels including:
 a number of large panels; 
 a number of small panels, the large and small panels being configured to be paired in an alternating pattern so that seams formed between the large and small panels are staggered for increasing rigidity of the system; and 
 at least one rib panel configured to be connected between lateral sections of horizontal insulation panels when the system is lining and insulating at least two storage containers; and 
   a plurality of modular interconnecting vertical insulation panels being configured to interconnect with the horizontal insulation panels, the vertical insulation panels collectively having a number of male tabs and female channels for securing the vertical insulation panels together and for securing the vertical insulation panels to the horizontal insulation panels, the vertical insulation panels including at least one end panel for lining and insulating an end of the one or more storage containers and at least one rib panel configured to be connected between vertical insulation panels when the system is lining and insulating at least two storage containers.