SLUDGE CONTAINMENT VESSEL AND METHOD FOR USE IN CONCERT WITH A VACUUM TRUCK IN SPILL CONTAINMENT

Abstract

21. Sludge Containment Vessel and Method for Use in Concert with A Vacuum Truck in Spill Containment Inventor Terrance Terry R. Thomas II Abstract of the Disclosure

Claims

1. A container for use with a vacuum truck including a vacuum pump and at least two vacuum hoses, comprising: a container body including; at least a containment wall to form, generally, a generally rectangular tube suspended within a framework comprising at least one intermediate frame, a front frame and a rear frame, the frames being held in spatial relation by two longerons, each longeron extending along a lateral side of the exterior of the generally octagonal tube from opposing midpoints on two lateral sides of the front frame to corresponding midpoints on two lateral sides of the rear frame joining each of the at least one intermediate frame elements at corresponding midpoints, the rear frame element of the framework defining a door opening, the door opening having a hinge side, a latch side and a bottom side; a container closure including a door panel sized to tit the door opening, the door panel being hingedly attached relative to the rear frame elements at the hinge side and being movable to occupy the door opening; a compressible sealing gasket carried by at least one of the door panel and the frame elements, the gasket being compressed between the door panel and the frame elements, under an operative sealing pressure when the container closure is sealed drawing the door panel into a closing position into engagement with the door opening, wherein compression of the gasket resists hinging movement of the door panel into the closing position; at least one closing mechanism for drawing the door panel and the frame elements in engaged conjunction resulting in the compression of the gasket, the closing mechanism being disposed along at least part of an edge of the door opening; and, a door-latching mechanism including a plurality of hooks and a bottom ratchet binder, the door-latching mechanism operable to latch by operating the bottom ratchet binder to draw the plurality of hooks to engage corresponding bosses the door panel includes; the container body defining at least two ports, each of the two ports being situated above the midpoints of the frames and comprising fittings to engage one of the two vacuum hoses such that any volume the vacuum truck draws through one of the hoses, the container body draws a corresponding volume through the other of the two ports.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the front frame and the rear frame further include corner castings formed to comply with ISO standards.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the hooks the door-latching mechanism comprises are disposed along the bottom edge of the door opening.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein a plurality of hinges hingedly couple the door panel to the rear frame, the plurality of hinges aligned along a hinge axis, the hinge axis being oriented vertically at hinge side of the door opening.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein closing mechanism includes a side ratchet binder and further comprising at least one locking bar to engage at least one locking pin the door comprises, the side ratchet binder being configured to draw the at least one locking bar into locking engagement with the at least one locking pin such that tightening the side ratchet binder will draw the door panel into tighter engagement with the door gasket.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the door panel further defines a drain port tinder a horizontal beam the door panel comprises, the drain port including a stopcock, the stopcock having an open and a closed state, the stopcock being selectably movable from the open to the closed state or from the closed to the open state,

7. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the front and rear frames further comprise rollers and wherein the front frame further comprises a hook, the hook and several rollers being positioned to allow the container to be drawn onto, transported, and released from a roll-off truck.

8. A container for use with a vacuum truck including a vacuum pump and at least two vacuum hoses, comprising: a container body having at least side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, and, further, having frame elements at least partly forming a door opening with a hinge side, a latch side and a bottom side, the container body being of sufficient strength to withstand a one bar pressure differential between interior and ambient; a container closure including a door panel sized to fit a door opening the rear frame defines, the door panel having each of a hinge edge, a latch edge and a bottom edge corresponding to similarly named sides of the door opening, the door panel being hingedly attached to the rear frame at the hinge edge, and to the door panel at the hinge edge, the door panel being movable to occupy the door opening in a closing position; a compressible sealing gasket carried by at least one of the door panel and the frame elements, the gasket being compressed between the door panel and the frame elements under an operative sealing pressure when the container closure is sealed with the door panel occupying the closing position in the door opening; the container body defining at least two ports, each of the two ports being situated above midpoints the frames include and comprising fittings each to engage one of the two vacuum hoses such that when the door is in sealing engagement with the container body, any volume the vacuum truck draws through one of the hoses, the container body draws a corresponding volume through the other of the two ports; a closing mechanism for drawing together the door panel and the frame elements in conjunction with compressing the gasket, the closing mechanism being disposed along at least part of the latch side of the door opening, including at least one locking bar extending from the latch side to engage at least one corresponding locking pin situated on the latch edge, the container body being capable of water- and air-tight integrity when the closing mechanism is fully engaged, the door panel occupying the closing position; and a door-latching mechanism to fix the door against hydrostatic pressure liquid within the container body exerts on the door panel, the door-latching mechanism including a plurality of hooks and a bottom ratchet binder coupled to the plurality of hooks to draw the hooks to engage a plurality of corresponding bosses the door panel includes.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the closing mechanism includes a side ratchet binder and at least one locking bar at the latching side to engage at least one corresponding locking pin the latching edge comprises, the side ratchet binder being configured to draw the at least one locking bar into locking engagement with the at least one locking pin.

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the container body includes front and rear frames which, themselves, further each comprise at least two rollers and wherein the front frame further comprises a hook, the hook and several rollers being positioned to allow the container to be drawn onto, transported, and released from a roll-off truck.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the front and rear frames include corner castings in accord with ISO standards for intermodal shipping containers.

12. The container of claim 9, further wherein each of the plurality of hooks the door-latching mechanism comprises includes length-adjusting turnbuckles, to synchronize the engagement of the plurality of hooks when the bottom ratchet binder is operated to cause the plurality of hooks to engage the plurality of corresponding bosses the door panel includes.

13. The container of claim 8, wherein the container body defines at least one inspection panel.

14. The container of claim 8, wherein each of the at least one locking bar extending from the latch side to engage at least one corresponding locking pin situated on the latch edge includes a locking bar slot and a bell-crank such that a side ratchet binder will draw the at least one locking bar extending from the latch side to tighter engagement with the at least one corresponding locking pin situated on the latch edge.

15. A waste container for use with a vacuum truck and at least two vacuum hoses, comprising: a container body defining at least one door opening and two hose ports; a door, the door being sized and configured to close off the at least one door opening; a hinge assembly connected between the container body and the door to permit the door to swing between a closed position covering the opening and an open position uncovering the opening, the hinge assembly including at least one hinge; a seal connected with one of the container body and the door, the seal being juxtaposed relative to the container body and the door to provide an air- and fluid-tight seal between the container body and the door when the door is in a closed position; a closing assembly mechanically connected between the container body and the door to draw the door into the closed position and, further, drawing the door into sealing engagement with the container body; a latching assembly mechanically connected between the container body and the door to hold the door in the closed position and in that closed position, including a plurality of hooks and a bottom ratchet binder, the door-latching mechanism operable to latch by drawing the plurality of hooks to engage a plurality of corresponding bosses the door panel includes; and, each of the hose port having fittings being configured to sealingly engage one of the at least two vacuum hoses the ports being arranged such when the door is in the closed position to provide an air- and fluid-tight seal between the container body and the door, any volume the vacuum truck draws through one of the hoses, the container body draws a corresponding volume through the other of the two ports.

16. The waste container of claim 15 wherein the control mechanism includes a side ratchet binder and at least one locking bar at the latching side to engage at least one corresponding locking pin the latching edge comprises, the side ratchet binder being configured to draw the at least one locking bar into locking engagement with the at least one locking pin.

17. The waste container of claim 16 wherein each of the at least one locking bar extending from the latch side to engage at least one corresponding locking pin situated on the latch edge includes a locking bar slot and a bell-crank such that a side ratchet binder will draw the at least one locking bar extending from the latch side to tighter engagement with the at least one corresponding locking pin situated on the latch edge.

18. The waste container of claim 15 wherein wherein each of the plurality of hooks the door-latching mechanism comprises includes length-adjusting turnbuckles, to synchronize the engagement of the plurality of hooks when the bottom ratchet binder is operated to cause the plurality of hooks to engage the plurality of corresponding bosses the door panel includes.

19. The waste container of claim 18 wherein the container body includes front and rear frames which, themselves, further each comprise at least two rollers and wherein the front frame further comprises a hook, the hook and several rollers being positioned to allow the container to be drawn onto, transported, and released from a roll-off truck.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the front and rear frames include corner castings in accord with ISO standards for intermodal shipping containers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Preferred and alternative examples f the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive sludge containment vessel for spill collection for use in conjunction with a vacuum truck;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the inventive sludge containment vessel;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the inventive sludge containment vessel;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a left elevation of the inventive sludge containment vessel;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a right elevation of the inventive sludge containment vessel;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a left elevation view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism in a disengaged position including a ratchet tensioning turnbuckle;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism in the disengaged position including rotary adjusters;

[0031] FIG. 8 is a left elevation view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism in an engaged position including the ratchet tensioning turnbuckle;

[0032] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism in the engaged position including the rotary adjusters;

[0033] FIG. 10 depicts tensioning side latches in an engaged position and a ratcheting tensioner to adjust engagement of a closed door;

[0034] FIG. 11 depicts the tensioning side latches in a disengaged position and the ratcheting tensioner to adjust engagement of the door; and

[0035] FIG. 12 is a rear elevation and depicts the door in an open position also portraying the interior of the sludge containment vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] A vacuum truck is specially designed to pump excess liquid waste from catch basins, septic tanks, oil spills, and similar places. Commonly used for commercial as well as residential purposes, vacuum trucks not only carry out industrial waste material clean-up jobs but also perform waste removal jobs for municipalities which include street sweeping, sewer cleanup and much more. These vehicles used for suctioning, transporting, and disposal of toxic and non-toxic materials and to pump anything from domestic septic tanks to contaminated soil.

[0037] Vacuum trucks balance the engineering objectives necessary both for each of collecting and transporting wet and dry, industrial waste. Generally, the vacuum units are extremely versatile providing vacuuming/suctioning selectably at either of high-velocity or low-velocity air suction for removing any of solid, liquid, and frothy or sludge materials. Some other uses for which vacuum trucks are engineered include removal of brine water, cleaning oil spills, septic tanks and congested drainage systems.

[0038] The portable container 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, is configured generally as a rectangular prism comprising six faces that are rectangular in shape. The container 1 includes an containment wall 3 is formed as a generally rectangular tube extending from a front wall 5 and a rear wall 7. The containment wall 3 is formed in a manner similar to the skin of a fuselage of an aircraft, in that it is supported by a number of rectangular frames formed of rectangular tubing although in the presently preferred embodiment, the frames support the containment wall 3 from the exterior rather than the interior in order to preserve a smooth surface within to allow full evacuation of fluid contents. The rectangular frames comprise a rear frame 21 that defines the rear wall 7, several intermediate frames 23, and a front frame 25 that defines the front wall.

[0039] The interior of the containing wall 3 is generally octagonal in cross-section. While the containing wall 3 of the embodiment described herein is of an irregular octagonal, shape, alternate embodiments may have substantially any reasonable cross-sectional shape (e.g. rectangular, pentagonal, etc.). Fixedly connected to the rear frame 21, intermediate frames 23 and the front frame 25, respectively, which together form a continuous sealing bead. The containment wall 3 defines an aperture including an inspection panel 9 which might optionally include a sight glass to allow an operator to visually ascertain the volume of fluid the container 1 contains.

[0040] The rear wall 7 includes a monolithic door 15 having a rear door gasket 17. The rear door is pivotally attached to the rear wall by a plurality of hinges and defines a rear fitting aperture including a rear hose fitting 31. The hinges 19 are fixed on the rear frame 21 in the preferred embodiment. The rear frame 21 includes bottom post members 35 and top post members 37 formed to comply with ISO standards generally as metal castings. Top and bottom post members 37 and 35 are commonly referred to as corner castings. Container corner castings are actually the corners of a shipping container. Corner castings are the structural element of a shipping container allowing it to be connected to other containers both horizontally and vertically as well as being connected to transport modes including ship, rail and road. The specific manner of manufacture of the top and bottom post members 37 and 35 are not claimed as inventive and their function, in accord with standard practice might, optionally be performed by forging, welded fabrication or any other suitable way. The rear frame 21 is of conventional construction and are of a selected strength sufficient to support a plurality of containers thereabove. Generally, each of the top corner casting and one bottom corner casting 37 and 35 are have at least one recess, socket or opening formed therein and configured to receive a coupling or locking mechanism (not shown) for securing the container to a support member, to another container, or to lift and carry the container by means of a sling or a spreader bar (also not shown).

[0041] The front frame 25 also includes bottom post members 35 and top post members 37 formed to comply with ISO standards. The container 1 is configured to rest on the ground at the bottom post members 35 as well as on the buttressed ground pads 53 welded at the corners. The front wall 5 comprises support s 39 mounted on each side of the container 1. The rollers 39 are mounted on brackets extending from the front frame 25 adjacent to a cavity 11 the front wall 5 defines. The cavity 41 defined in the front wall 5 of the container 1 houses a hook bracket 13 for attaching a cable thereto. The hook bracket 13 is mounted within the cavity 11 projecting inwardly from the bottom, center of the front wall 5.

[0042] As will be discussed in greater detail below, in use, the pressure the atmosphere exerts against walls of the container 1 require substantial bracing. For that reason, the front wall 5 includes a front wall horizontal beam 41 in the preferred embodiment. Likewise, front wall vertical ribs 43 further enhance the rigidity of the front wall 5.

[0043] The rear door 15 requires even further rigidity in order to preserve the flatness of the door relative to a rear door gasket 17 that provides the seal. For that reason, the rear door, in this preferred embodiment, includes two rear door horizontal beams 45 and two full-height rear door vertical ribs 47. In this embodiment, a rear door stiffener 49 is inserted to further assure flatness of the rear door 15. Also shown are the rear door hose fitting 31 and the drain stop cock 51, a valve to allow evacuation of fluid prior to releasing the rear door 15.

[0044] The design requirements for a gasket joint requires flatness of the door to ensure that the flange is in good contact with the gasket. So long as the mating surfaces are smooth, clean, and the gasketing material is resilient, maintenance of door flatness can assure a good seal. The compressibility of the gasket must accommodate any flange irregularities so that adequate compression is applied to the gasket along its entire length thereby compensating for both high and low spots. The compression must not be so high that gasket damage occurs. In sealing, the knife edge plunges into the gasket causing the seal. With tubular gaskets the knife edge collapses the gasket rather than compressing it. The knife edge should not penetrate the gasket by more than 50% of its diameter or there may be a danger of the gasket being unable to recover due to the excess pressure applied by the knife edge.

[0045] In more detail, each of the containment walls 3 are secured to the tubular frame members 21, 25, and 27 formed as rectangular frames generally as weldments. Tubular structural tubes are selected rather than open profile (such as linear iron formed with a U-shaped or I-shaped cross-section) as the preferred embodiment of invention though the invention can be practiced with open profile shapes. The description of this preferred embodiment is not meant to, in any way, limit the invention to embodiments constructed using open profile shapes. Technology for efficiently mass-producing square and rectangular structural tubes has developed in the past few decades, generating research on member and connection behavior with subsequent development of design criteria. There are several advantages associated with the tubular section as opposed to shapes with open profiles.

[0046] Since the moment of inertia is the same about any axis for round and square tubes, these sections are the most efficient for columns that have the same end restraints in any direction. For different end restraints about the principle axes, a rectangular tube can be selected with proportions that provide the same column slenderness ratio about the major and minor axes, thereby providing the most efficient use of material. The section modulus can also be optimized for beams in biaxial bending.

[0047] The torsional stiffness of the closed shape and the high weak axis moment of inertia minimize the requirements for lateral bracing of tubular beams. Round and square sections require no lateral bracing and rectangular beams bending about the major would require lateral bracing only for extreme depth to width ratios. The torsional stiffness and strength also make tubes the ideal shape for space frame construction.

[0048] The smooth profile has aesthetic appeal for exposed members and the resistance to fluid flow forces (wind or water) is minimized. The profile provides the minimum surface area which minimizes costs for painting and other surface maintenance requirements. The minimum surface is also an advantage for structural members in clean production facilities.

[0049] The front, rear and intermediate frames 25, 23 and 21 respectively are separated by stringers 27 and on lateral faces, longerons 29. The stringers fix, spatially, the relation between adjacent frames such as between the front frame 25 and a first intermediate frame 23. The stringers 27 also have a great contribution to the structural strength of the container 1. In this embodiment, the stringers have the same section as the frames themselves. On the other hand, longerons extend from the front frame 25 to the rear frame 21 through the intermediate frames along the lateral faces of the rectangular prism above-described. The buttressed ground pads 53 similarly presents further structure assuring rigidity at corners of the container 1. As with each of the buttressed ground pads 53, stringers 27 and frames 25, 23 and 21, in the preferred embodiment, the longerons are welded to the containment wall 3 to support the containment wall 3. In alternate embodiments, frames, stringers, and longerons 29 might also serve as parts of the containment wall 3 having plates welded between them to complete the structure of that containment wall 3, Plates or panels are fastened to the inside of the frame members 21, 23 and 25 to complete the front, back and side walls.

[0050] Having set forth the basic structural anatomy of the container 1, it is appropriate to describe the method of operation exploiting the inventive container 1. As has been explained above, the container 1 can be moved upon its rollers 39 for short distances, once delivered to a spill site. Likewise, with its hook bracket 13, the container can be winched onto a platform vehicle as is described in U.S. patent dated 17 Jan. 1984 and issued to Presseau et al.; the method being set forth at Col. 4, Line 41 to Col. 5, Line 13 (Applicant incorporates herein the whole of that patent by this reference). Otherwise, any of the conventional means of moving containers in shipping modes described above with reference to intermodal shipping may be used to transit greater distances, for example, to transport hazardous waste to an appropriate treatment plant, miles distant from the spill site.

[0051] The container 1 is used in conjunction with a vacuum truck such as that described in U.S. patent dated 29 Apr. 1980 and issued to Fisco; the method being set forth at Col. 5, Line 1 to Col. 6, Line 53 (Applicant incorporates herein the whole of that patent by this reference, though all vacuum generating means shall be referred to herein collectively as vacuum truck regardless of the exact means used to generate). This application lays no claim to any vacuum generating means, though the instant method relies upon vacuum being applied by any, vacuum generating means to either the front hose fitting 33 or the rear hose fitting 31. Assuming the vacuum truck applies an airtight hose connection at, for example, the rear hose fitting 31, the otherwise air tight interior wall of the containment wall 3 assures that a nearly equal vacuum is available at the front hose fitting 33.

[0052] Just as the vacuum truck the Fisco patent describes (the Fisco vacuum truck, a hose attached at the, in this example, front air fitting 33 will draw air and accompanying dirt, liquid, and debris from land or other surfaces through a vacuum tool using similar tools as would the Fisco vacuum truck. Thus, the conventional user may use this container 1 in a manner as an extension to the hose of the Fisco vacuum truck. Advantageously, however, the container 1 is configured to retain all the spilled substance, dirt, and liquid within the container's 1 interior as gravity separates these from the air flow. The vast area of cross-section of the container 1 relative to the area of the cross-section of the vacuum hose causes the velocity of flowing air through the container 1 to slow significantly in a sort of reverse Bernoulli Effect. In fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy. Bernoulli deduced that pressure decreases when the flow speed increases and conversely that the flow speed decreases as the cross-section increases. Then, gravity takes over to release the entrained debris to Settle in the interior of the container 1 as the air flow makes the transit the entire length of the container to assure that the air entering the vacuum truck through the rear hose fitting 31 is free of all but the smallest motes of dust. As the container 1 fills, the flow of air through container 1 remains free of debris. Naturally, the containment wall 3 and the framework cooperate to resist any differential in pressure between the ambient and the interior of the container 3 such operation imparts. The framework is sufficiently sized to withstand such stresses as imparted by any such differential, in, for example, a Supersucker by Super Products can impart, through 8 hoses the following: through an 8 (20.3 cm) fitting a positive displacement vacuum system offers 5800 cfm/28 hg (9854 m.sup.3/hr/0.95 bar).

[0053] To better understand the great utility of the inventive container 1, one can readily imagine the positive effect of the invention as a force multiplier in the task of collecting the approximately 12,000 barrels (500,000 US gal; 1,900 m3) of oil and water mix that was recovered in cleaning up the Mayflower oil spill; quite likely the residents of at least some of the twenty-two homes would not have required evacuation. Recalling that only eighteen vacuum trucks were available for cleanup and that much of each truck's duty cycle was consumed with transportation of oil to the frac farm. If, however, the vacuum trucks were freed from the transportation task, these eighteen trucks could have been in continuous service. Platform trucks such as those described in the Presseau patent could have been tasked with moving oil from the spill site to the frac farm, or, at the site, full containers could be stacked at the spill site or onto platform container rail cars or container bearing trucks to empty at a processing site.

[0054] The method is simple. First, at the spill site, provide a container 1 according to the described embodiments and a vacuum truck and a plurality of hoses. The operator will move the container 1 and vacuum truck into proximity with the spill. The operator will connect the hose between the intake at the vacuum truck and either of the front door hose fitting 31 and the rear door hose fitting 33. At the same time, the operator ill connect another hose to the remaining hose fitting 31, 33 and then to such a collecting nozzle as might be used absent the container 1. Once the hoses are connected, the vacuum truck begins operation collecting oil. Either by using the optional sight glass described above as in the inspection panel, or by using other means such as float gauges or sight glasses the sides might define, the operator can judge when the container 1 is operationally full. Once full, the container 1 can be disconnected from hoses connected to both hose fittings 31, 33 and a second container 1 can be swapped into the identical connective relation to the hoses.

[0055] The full container 1 can, in one embodiment, be removed on the platform vehicle known as a roll-off truck or a roll-off dumpster truck described in the Presseau patent. The roll-off truck is backed up to the full container 1 at its front wall 5. A cable (69 as denominated in the Presseau patent) is hooked to the hook bracket 13 and the platform the rolloff truck includes, tips back to engage the lower edge of the front wall 5. A winch on the vehicle then draws in all of the slack and then urging the container 1 to roll up the platform under the tension of the cable. As the cable is drawn onto the winch, the container 1 rolls up the platform. To minimize the necessary tension on the cable, the platform tilts back to a level position. When the container 1 reaches its secure position, it can be further secured to the platform for transportation to the remote processing center.

[0056] One can readily perceive that the ability to break out the container 1 as an interchangeable node in a modular collection system allows an efficiency in collection that exploits the rarer, more expensive element in the collection task fully while the inventive container 1 might be inexpensively stockpiled. Further, depending upon the distance to the ultimate destination for the spilled contaminants, one can readily imagine staging collection such that containers 1 are shuttled from the spill site in staged departures to entirely take up the transit time along with evacuation time as a complete cycle. Properly dividing that time interval, transit and evacuation time, allows ongoing collection during the whole of that interval. The volume of removed, collected material relative to each available vacuum truck is that way optimized. In first hours of collection, the collection is practically unceasing; with operators working in shifts, one can readily perceive the rapidity of collection possible and the advantageous speed in which containment might occur relative to the conventional means used in the Mayflower cleanup. The present invention therefore utilizes a very efficient construction for exploiting the modular nature of the vacuum truck/hose/container 1.

[0057] Returning, then, to the hardware necessary to effect the inventive function, as expressed above, the container 1, when in vacuuming mode, is airtight except relative to each of the front door hose fitting 33 and the rear hose fitting 31. In function, the container 1 serves to fulfill all the function of a length of vacuum hose from fitting to fitting but includes, additionally, the significantly larger area the constant cross-section containment wall 3 defines. That significantly larger cross-section enables the collection function as described above. But, to function as described, each of the other ports, the inspection panel 9, the rear door 15, and the stopcock 51 must all have a sealed position to assure that the container functions appropriately. The remainder of this specification will focus on the structure necessary to effect the object of the container 1.

[0058] As it is the single largest portal in the container 1, the rear door 7 can admit the largest volume of air should it be misconfigured. To that end, not only is the rear door 7 constructed to preserve its state of flatness as described above, but the latching mechanisms that facilitate a sealing engagement between the door 7 and the jamb the rear frame 21 comprises in the preferred embodiment, (Certainly, there exist other means to configure a sealing door, such as, for example, either of U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,129, dated 17 Jun. 1997 to Lindley or U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,146 dated 16 Aug. 2005 to Galbreath et al. both of which are incorporated in their entirety by these references.) In this embodiment of the inventive container 1 comprises a monolithic door 7 sized and shaped to mate with and sealingly close off the octagonal opening the containment wall 3 defines. In this embodiment, the rear frame 21 includes a C-shaped gasket channel 18 which holds, along its length, a gasket 17 (FIG. 12). The gasket channel 18 extends in a continuous octagonal run, substantially as shown in FIG. 12, to correspondingly mate with the continuous sealing bead 35 so that, when door 12 is closed and pulled against the rear end of container body 5, sealing bead 35 bears against and forms a fluid tight seal against gasket 44, Other sealing assemblies are contemplated besides that of bead, channel 18 and gasket 17. Such assemblies would include the bead being formed on door 7 and the gasket 18 being connected with the containment wall 3. Such assemblies would also include any alternative structure, either individually or in combination, for bead, channel 18 and gasket 17 that will form a fluid tight seal in association with the closing of door 7.

[0059] The door 7 is secured by two distinct latching mechanisms referred to herein in reference to where they rest relative to the door 7, i.e. bottom latching mechanism and side latching mechanism. As to establishing a vacuum seal, the side latching mechanism is described relative to FIGS. 10 and 11 below. To lock the door against the weight of the collected liquid, however, a distinct latching system assures leakless collection. Rather than to exert a clamping force to sealingly deform the gasket 17, the bottom latching mechanism holds the door against the weight of collected contaminate material to lock the door against accidental and explosive release. The hydrostatic pressure the contaminate exerts on the door is greatest at the base. Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of fluid gravity exerts on the liquid. For that reason, the bottom latching mechanism 60 depicted in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 is configured to lock the container door against that hydrostatic pressure.

[0060] Referring, then, to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, a ganged bottom latch mechanism 60 is depicted, FIG. 6 is a left elevation view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism 60 in a disengaged position including a ratchet tensioning bottom turnbuckle; FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism 60 in the disengaged position including rotary adjusters; FIG. 8 is a left elevation view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism 60 in an engaged position including the ratchet tensioning bottom turnbuckle; and FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view depicting the ganged bottom latching mechanism 60 in the engaged position including the rotary adjusters. The actions of the ganged bottom latching mechanism 60 can best be described in terms of these two distinct positions: engaged and disengaged. In operation, the door 15 would be locked after the door 7 is swung into engagement and, first, locked by the side latching mechanism described in FIGS. 10 and 11. Once the side latching mechanism is so secured, the bottom latching mechanism 60 is then engaged.

[0061] The most elemental engagement the bottom latching mechanism 60 achieves is between the hook 61 and the boss 63. In the fully clamped position, the hook 61 is forcibly drawn forward engaging with the boss 63 which is, itself, connected to the underside of the door 15, positively compressing the gasket 17 into the channel 18 and holding the door 15 in locked engagement with the rear frame 21, The hook 61 resides in a hook channel 65 extending from the rear frame on an underside immediately adjacent to a corresponding boss 63 on the door 15 when the door 15 is in a closed position. The channel 65 encircles the hook 61 on its lateral sides and top and bottom. The hook 61 is pivotally attached to a being configured to underride the boss 63 when the bottom latching mechanism 60 is disengaged. Thus, locking occurs when bottom turnbuckle 66 draws the hook 61 to which it is pivotally attached into the channel 65 such that the hook. 61 is drawn upwards against the boss 63 to engage it as the bottom turnbuckle 66 moves forward. When the bottom turnbuckle 66 moves backwards towards the door 15, the hook 6 emerges from the channel 65 extending the hook 61 out of the channel 65. As the hook 61 emerges, the hook 61 extends beyond the channel and the influence of gravity drops the hook 61 out of engagement with the boss 63 releasing the door 15. The pivot (not shown) connecting the hook 61 to the bottom turnbuckle 66 only allows rotation in a vertical plane containing the bottom turnbuckle 66 such that the hook 61 rotates from the engaged position shown in FIG. 6 to the disengaged position shown in FIG. 8 and back again.

[0062] The bottom turnbuckle 66 comprises three distinct pieces that function together to shorten or lengthen the bottom turnbuckle. An adjuster frame 68 defines two coaxial bores in opposed relation within the adjuster frame 68. The bores are threaded, one with a left-hand thread and the other with a right-hand thread. A left-handed tie rod 67 includes a pivot eye (not shown) to engage the pivot on the hook 61 and a left-handed threaded end to engage the adjuster frame 68 by meshing with the left-handed threaded bore. In a similar manner, a right handed tie rod comprises a pivot eye (not shown) and a right-handed end to engage the adjuster frame 68 by meshing with the right-handed threaded bore The turnbuckle length can be adjusted by rotating the adjuster frame 68, which causes both the right-handed and the left-handed threaded bores to simultaneously advance or withdraw along the correspondingly threaded ends of the tie rods 67,69. Because the action of a turnbuckle is well-known in the art, one having ordinary skill in the art would readily select the capacity, configuration, and length of the appropriate bottom turnbuckle 68.

[0063] The bottom latching mechanism 60 relies upon ganged hooks 61 and ganged bosses 63 to simultaneously engage and lock the door 15 against hydrostatic pressure the contained liquid within the container 1 exerts on the door. Simultaneous tensioning of the hooks 61 is achieved by rotation of a crankshaft 70 upon which two sets of crank throws reside: the turnbuckle crank throws 71 and the binder crank throw 73. Together, the crankshaft 70, the turnbuckle crank throw 71 and the binder crank throw 73 function very similarly to a series of bell cranks in that the bell crank is a type of crank that changes motion through an angle. The angle can be any angle from 0 to 360 degrees, but 90 degrees and 180 degrees are most common. A bottom ratchet binder 75 spans between a binder bracket 77 which extends from an intermediate frame 23 and the binder crank throw 73. (The working of the bottom ratchet binder 75 is exactly that of the side ratchet binder 81 described in detail below.) As the bottom ratchet binder 75 retracts, it draws the binder crank throw 73 upward. In response, the crankshaft 70 rotates in a clockwise fashion, drawing each of the turnbuckle cranks leftward as depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, Because these turnbuckle crank throws 71 are pivotally connected to the ganged turnbuckles 66 drawing the hooks 61 into further engagement with the bosses 63 extending from the door 15 drawing the door into tighter engagement with the door gasket 17.

[0064] So, the crankshaft 70 synchronously draws or presses the turnbuckles 66 either to the left or to the right as the bottom ratchet binder 75 shall extend or retract. As described throughout, the flatness of the door 15 is an important feature as that flatness draws the door evenly into engagement with the gasket 17. But, as describe above, the hydrostatic pressure collected liquid exerts against the door 15 is tremendous. The very purpose of ganging the turnbuckles 66, hooks 61 and bosses 63 was to assure that there was sufficient tension exerted on the door 15 across its width to countervail that hydrostatic pressure. To assure that each hook 61 moves in the same range and in synchronicity, the several adjuster frames 68 are employed to even the extent of hooks' 61 movement. Rotation of these adjuster frames 68 either extends or retracts the hooks 61 relative to the turnbuckle crank throw 71 to bring the turnbuckle to optimum length. This adjustability of these turnbuckles 66 is the reason that such a configuration is regarded as the presently preferred embodiment. Having said that, the alternate arrangement of the bottom latching mechanism might be as set out in the Lindley patent as incorporated above, especially as set out in FIGS. 2-7 and 12 and explained beginning at Col. 4, Line 24 and extending to Col. 6, Line 19, and Col. 7, Lines 1-28.

[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 5, 10 and 11, the operation of side latching mechanism 80 relies upon the action of a side ratchet binder 81. A ratchet is a mechanical device consisting of a gear and pawl. The ratchet will allow a frame of a turnbuckle to turn in a circular motion in one direction but not in the opposite direction. The side ratchet binder 81 includes a reversible ratchet which when the pawl is set in a first position, it will engage the ratchet and allow the tool to turn only clockwise. When the pawl is set in a second position, it will engage the ratchet and allow the tool only to turn in an anti-clockwise direction. The side ratchet binder 81 uses a ratchet mechanism to turn an adjuster barrel according to the position of the pawl. It has a ratchet handle and two eyebolts, in opposed positions, one on each end. The side ratchet binder 81 is selected over a lever binder in this preferred embodiment, in that the side ratchet binder 81 doesn't store much energy in the handle, there is less risk of the bar recoiling or snapping, making the ratchet binder a safer option over the lever binder.

[0066] The side ratchet binder 81 is rotatably attached to the containment wall 3 at a binder pivot 82. At its opposite end, the side ratchet binder 81 is rotatably attached to a pivot link 83 affixed to a connecting bar 85. The connecting bar 85 is pivotally connected on opposing ends to an upper bell crank 87a and a lower bell crank 87h. The upper bell crank 87a rotates about a fixed pivot an upper bell crank bracket 89a presents. Likewise, the lower hell crank 87h rotates about a fixed pivot a lower bell crank bracket 89b presents. Upon extension of the side ratchet binder 81, the pivot link 83 moves upward bringing with it the connecting bar 85. The upward movement of the connecting bar rotates the bell cranks 87a, 87b in a clockwise direction about the fixed pivots, as shown in FIG. 11. In the opposite manner, retraction of the side ratchet binder 81 rotates the bell cranks 87a, 87b in a counterclockwise direction about the respective fixed pivots. An upper locking bar 95a passes through an upper locking bar slot 97a the rear frame 21 defines. Again, in a similar manner, a lower locking bar 95b passes through a lower locking bar slot 97b the rear frame 21 defines. Each locking bar 95a, 95b are pivotally connected to their respective bell cranks 87a, 87b. The upper locking bar 95a engages an upper locking pin 99a affixed to the door. The lower locking bar 95b engages a lower locking pin 99b in a similar and simultaneous movement which, together, draw the door into sealing contact with the gasket 17, causing it to deform sufficiently to fill the gasket channel 18, thereby forming an airtight seal. Advantageously, once airtight should the internal pressure fall (as in use) relative to the ambient, the higher ambient air pressure will further drive the door 15 into sealing engagement with the gasket 17.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 12, one can readily perceive that the container 1 defines an interior cavity that is smooth. That cavity is defined by the interior of the containment wall 3, the interior of the front wall 5, the interior of the door 15. The smoothness of the interior is selected in the preferred embodiment to facilitate complete evacuation of the interior. Considering the broad spectrum of contaminants that might be collected by use of the invention in conjunction with vacuum trucks, cross-reaction is a great possibility. For that reason, after draining the container 1 of liquid, such as oil, the operator may well determine that pressure washing is necessary before making the container 1 available for an alternate contaminate. The lack of ridges and the optional use specific and impervious coatings such as epoxy or PTFEe to clad the interior surfaces assuring complete evacuation of contaminants, assures that simple and commonly available cleaning procedures such as pressure washing will prevent cross-reaction. Also visible in this diagram are the gasket 17 and channel 18, the bosses 63 and hooks 61, along with the locking arms 95a, 95b, the locking pins 99a, 99b.