Pre-cast concrete storage structure

Abstract

A variety of storage structures may be constructed onsite entirely from pre-fabricated parts reducing labor and time required for assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage structure comprising a plurality of hollow layers each assembled at ground level and adapted to be lifted to arranged the layers in a vertical stack, each of said plurality of hollow layers comprising a plurality of semi-circular concrete panels arranged in a circle and coupled together by tongue and groove joints, each of said semi-circular concrete panels having a thinner inner section framed by a thicker top section, a thicker bottom section, and two thicker end sections extending vertically between said thicker top section and thicker bottom section, said semi-circular concrete panels locked in a circle by a plurality of straps, each surrounding the circle and each having opposing ends coupled together by a clamp to prevent outwardly directed forces from pushing the semi-circular concrete panels out of the circle and to permit the layers to be lifted to form the vertical stack. 
     
     
         2 . The storage structure of  claim 1  wherein the two thicker end sections each have a set of horizontally extending recesses, each of said horizontally extending recesses adapted to receive a strap of said plurality of straps when the straps surround the circle. 
     
     
         3 . The storage structure of  claim 1  wherein said semi-circular concrete panels have at least one vertical support rib. 
     
     
         4 . The storage structure of  claim 3  wherein the two thicker end sections and the at least one vertical support rib each have a set of horizontally extending recesses, each of said horizontally extending recesses adapted to receive a strap of said plurality of straps when the straps surround the circle. 
     
     
         5 . The storage structure of  claim 1  wherein said straps have threaded ends and said clamp comprises (a) a block having a pair of channels adapted to permit the threaded ends of the cable to pass the block, and (b) nuts adapted to be coupled to the threaded ends of the cable. 
     
     
         6 . A storage structure comprising:
 a. a plurality of semi-circular wall panels each made of concrete and adapted to be arranged in a plurality of hollow circular layers, and said plurality of hollow circular layers adapted to be arranged in a hollow vertical stack, each of said wall panels having thinner inner section framed by (i) a thicker top portion terminating in a first horizontal planar surface, (ii) a thicker bottom portion terminating in a second horizontal planar surface, (iii) a first thicker end section terminating in a first planar end surface extending between the first and second horizontal planar surfaces, (iv) a second thicker end section terminating in a second planar end surface extending between the first and second horizontal planar surfaces, (v) a tongue extending from one of the first and second horizontal planar surfaces and a groove recessed from the other of said first and second horizontal planar surfaces, and (vi) a tongue extending from one of said first and second planar end surfaces and a groove recessed in the other of said first and second planar end surfaces;   b. a plurality of hollow circular layers assembled at ground level and adapted to be lifted to form a stack of said plurality of hollow circular layers, each of said plurality of hollow circular layers comprising (i) a set of the plurality of semi-circular wall panels, (ii) first tongue and groove joints between immediately adjacent semi-circular wall panels of the set, said first tongue and groove joints each comprising a tongue extending from a second planer end surface of a semi-circular wall panel and a groove formed in a planer end surface of an immediately adjacent semi-circular wall panel, (iii) a plurality of straps surrounding the set of the plurality of semi-circular wall panels, each of said plurality of straps having a main body portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, and (iv) a plurality of clamps securing the first and second end portions of the straps together and further securing together the plurality of semi-circular wall panels of the set of semi-circular wall panels;   c. a vertical stack of said hollow circular layers comprising second tongue and groove joints between immediately adjacent hollow circular layers of the stack, said second tongue and groove joints each comprising a tongue extending from a horizontal planar surface of a semi-circular wall panel of a hollow circular layer and a groove recessed in a horizontal planar surfaces of a semi-circular wall panel of an immediately adjacent hollow circular layer of the stack of said plurality of hollow circular layers.   
     
     
         7 . The storage structure of  claim 6  wherein each of the semi-circular wall panels comprises at least one reinforcing rib. 
     
     
         8 . The storage structure of  claim 7  wherein said at least one reinforcing rib extends vertically between the thicker top portion and the thicker bottom portion. 
     
     
         9 . The storage structure of  claim 6  wherein each of the semi-circular wall panels comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending vertically between the thicker top portion and the thicker bottom portion. 
     
     
         10 . The storage structure of  claim 6  wherein each of the straps has its first and second end portions angled from its main body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The storage structure of  claim 10  wherein each, of said clamps comprises a bolt extending through the first and second end portions of a strap and a nut coupled to the bolt. 
     
     
         12 . The storage structure of  claim 6  wherein the first thicker end section and second thicker end section each have a plurality of recesses adapted to receive the straps. 
     
     
         13 . The storage structure of  claim 7  wherein the first thicker end section, the second thicker end section and each of said at least one reinforcing rib each have a plurality of recesses adapted to receive the straps.