Storage Tank with Annulus

Abstract

A tank for retaining material includes a foundation, a shell, and an annulus. The foundation supports the material. The shell is partially embedded into the foundation and is configured to retain the material in a material storage area enclosed by the shell. The annulus is connected to the shell. A portion of the annulus extends beneath the material storage area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tank for retaining material, the tank comprising:
 a foundation for supporting the material;   a shell partially embedded into the foundation, the shell configured to retain the material in a material storage area enclosed by the shell; and   an annulus connected to the shell,   wherein a portion of the annulus extends beneath the material storage area.   
     
     
         2 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the annulus is embedded into the foundation. 
     
     
         3 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section, the annulus includes a vertical arm and a lateral arm,
 wherein the vertical arm extends along the shell,   wherein the lateral arm extends away from the shell, and   wherein the vertical arm is connected to the shell.   
     
     
         4 . The tank of  claim 3 , wherein the lateral arm extends beneath the material storage area. 
     
     
         5 . The tank of  claim 3 , wherein when viewed in vertical cross-section, the lateral arm extends at about a right angle from the vertical arm. 
     
     
         6 . The tank of  claim 3 , wherein the annulus further includes an annular plate,
 wherein the annular plate is embedded into the foundation, and   wherein the annular plate abuts the lateral arm and is positioned between the lateral arm and the material storage area.   
     
     
         7 . The tank of  claim 6 , wherein the annular plate has an outermost diameter that abuts an innermost diameter of the vertical arm. 
     
     
         8 . The tank of  claim 3 , wherein the shell is generally cylindrical,
 wherein a curved wall of the shell extends vertically away from the foundation, and   wherein, when viewed in vertical cross section, the lateral arm extends from the shell in a direction away from a centerline of the generally cylindrical shell.   
     
     
         9 . The tank of  claim 8 , wherein the annulus further includes an annular plate,
 wherein the annular plate is connected to and abuts the lateral arm, and   wherein, when viewed in vertical cross section, the annular plate extends from the lateral arm, past the shell, and back towards the centerline.   
     
     
         10 . The tank of  claim 9 , wherein the annular plate is formed integrally with the lateral arm. 
     
     
         11 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the annulus is a first annulus,
 wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section, the first annulus includes a first vertical arm and a first lateral arm, wherein the first vertical arm extends along and is connected to the shell,   wherein the first lateral arm extends away from the shell,   wherein the tank further comprises a second annulus,   wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section, the second annulus includes a second vertical arm and a second lateral arm, wherein the second vertical arm extends along and is connected to the shell,   wherein the second lateral arm extends in a direction away from the shell that is different than the first lateral arm.   
     
     
         12 . The tank of  claim 11 , wherein the shell is generally cylindrical,
 wherein a curved wall of the shell extends vertically away from the foundation, and   wherein, when viewed in vertical cross section, the first lateral arm extends beneath the material storage area and the second lateral arm extends in a direction away from a centerline of the generally cylindrical shell.   
     
     
         13 . The tank of  claim 12 , wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section, the first lateral arm has a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the first lateral arm. 
     
     
         14 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the annulus is entirely embedded within the foundation, and
 wherein an interface between the annulus and the shell is entirely embedded within the foundation.   
     
     
         15 . A method of installing the tank of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 connecting the annulus to the shell; and   embedding the annulus and a bottom portion of the shell into the foundation.   
     
     
         16 . A tank assembly comprising:
 a shell enclosing an interior volume; and   an annulus,   wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section, the annulus includes a vertical arm and a lateral arm,   wherein the vertical arm extends along the shell,   wherein the lateral arm extends away from the shell, and   wherein the vertical arm is connected to the shell.   
     
     
         17 . The tank assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the lateral arm extends beneath the interior volume, and
 wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section, the lateral arm extends at about a right angle from the vertical arm.   
     
     
         18 . The tank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the annulus further includes an annular plate,
 wherein the annular plate abuts the lateral arm, and   wherein the annular plate has an outermost diameter that abuts an innermost diameter of the vertical arm.   
     
     
         19 . The tank assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the lateral arm extends away from the interior volume of the shell, and
 wherein the annulus further includes an annular plate,   wherein the annular plate is connected to and abuts the lateral arm, and   wherein, when viewed in vertical cross section, the annular plate extends along the lateral arm, past the shell, and back towards the interior volume.   
     
     
         20 . A method of installing the tank assembly of  claim 16 , the method comprising:
 connecting the annulus to the shell; and   embedding the annulus and a bottom portion of the shell into a foundation such that the shell forms sides of an area configured to retain material and the foundation forms a bottom of the area configured to retain material.