Double-walled container for storing water pollutants and method for producing same

Abstract

A double-walled container for storing water pollutants comprises a wound hollow-chamber profiled tube the windings of which are fluid-tightly connected to each other, with the hollow chambers of the windings of the double-walled container being fluidically connected to each other by means of connecting openings.

Description

[0001] Double-walled container for the storage of water-polluting substances and method for its production

[0002] The present invention relates to a double-walled container for storing water-polluting substances and a method for producing a double-walled container.

[0003] Double-walled containers have an inner and an outer wall and are used in particular to reduce the likelihood of leakage of the media stored in the containers.

[0004] Double-walled containers made of polyolefins are known for storing water-polluting substances. Such containers can be manufactured by winding hollow-chamber profile tubes, connecting the individual coils in a fluid-tight manner.

[0005] For leak monitoring, a drip tray, usually in the form of a half-shell, can be installed below the container at a distance from the container bottom and connected to it in a fluid-tight manner. A sensor is installed in the space between the drip tray and the container bottom, which triggers an alarm as soon as medium leaking from the container is detected.

[0006] Double-walled containers with integrated leak monitoring systems are also known, in which the space between the inner and outer walls of the container is monitored. Monitoring can be carried out using a pressure sensor. In this case, for example, small pressure fluctuations can be compensated for by a vacuum pump. In the event of a leak and thus a significant increase in pressure, an alarm is triggered. Alternatively, overpressure can be present in the space between the inner and outer walls, and a pressure loss can be detected. Disadvantages of double-walled containers with an additional collecting tray comprising a sensor device are, among other things, that this makes assembly or installation of the container more difficult, and that the overall container volume is increased without increasing the effective storage volume.

[0007] A disadvantage of double-walled containers, which are manufactured by winding hollow-chamber profile tubes and have an integrated leakage monitoring system based on a pressure measurement in the hollow-chamber profile tube, is that the spaces between the windings, i.e. outside the hollow-chamber profile tube, are not monitored.

[0008] The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art. The object of the invention can therefore be considered, among other things, to provide a double-walled container for the storage of water-polluting substances, manufactured by winding hollow-chamber profile tubes, which enables leak monitoring without the need for an additional drip tray. The object of the invention can also be considered to provide such a double-walled container that enables leak monitoring even in the spaces between the windings, i.e., outside the hollow-chamber profile tube.

[0009] To achieve the object, a double-walled container for storing water-polluting substances is provided, wherein the double-walled container comprises a wound hollow-chamber profile tube, the windings of which are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner, wherein the hollow chambers of the windings of the double-walled container are in fluid communication with one another through connecting openings.

[0010] The double-walled container according to the invention is intended for the storage of water-polluting substances. However, the double-walled container according to the invention is not limited to the storage of water-polluting substances, but is also intended for the storage or storage of hazardous media, liquid chemicals, toxic, corrosive, irritating, flammable, and / or other media.

[0011] The double-walled container according to the invention comprises a wound hollow-chamber profile tube. A hollow-chamber profile tube is a tube with a cross-sectional profile. The cross-sectional profile can be round or square, for example rectangular or polygonal. The cross-sectional profile can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The cross-sectional profile is preferably symmetrical, particularly preferably rectangular. Such a hollow-chamber profile tube can be wound or wrapped around a mold in such a way that the individual windings are arranged closely adjacent to one another or, if possible, are in direct contact with one another. The hollow-chamber profile tube can be made of plastic material, preferably of thermoplastic material. The hollow-chamber profile tube is preferably made of PE, particularly preferably of PE-HD. The invention also provides for the double-walled container according to the invention to comprise more than one wound hollow-chamber profile tube.The individual hollow-chamber profile tubes can be arranged in layers, creating not just a double wall between the interior and exterior, but multiple walls, which further increases safety. One, several, or all layers can include connecting openings.

[0012] The spaces between adjacent turns are preferably sealed fluid-tight on the inside and outside. The inside is understood to be the side of the container which, when the container is full, is in contact with the stored medium. The outside, on the other hand, refers to the side which does not come into contact with the stored medium and which forms the outer surface of the container. Sealing can be achieved by applying a sealing compound to the inside and outside. For this purpose, the sealing compound can be applied to the inside and outside in the area where two turns adjoin one another. The sealing compound is preferably designed to be welded to the turns in a fluid-tight manner. Sealing is preferably achieved by welding the sealing compound to the adjacent turns. The sealing compound can therefore be a plastic material, preferably a thermoplastic material.The sealing compound preferably corresponds to the material of the hollow-chamber profile pipe. The adjacent coils are therefore preferably welded together on the inside and outside.

[0013] In the position of use, the double-walled container is preferably arranged so that its longitudinal axis runs horizontally. In the position of use, the double-walled container is preferably arranged so that the coils run approximately vertically, i.e. from the container ceiling to the container floor on one side of the container and from the container floor back to the container ceiling on the other side of the container. In a double-walled container arranged in this way, medium penetrating into the interior of the hollow-chamber profile tube flows along the coil inside the hollow-chamber profile tube to the base area of ​​the container. Medium penetrating into the space between two coils, i.e. outside the hollow-chamber profile tube, also flows towards the base area.

[0014] The hollow chambers of the coils of the double-walled container are fluidly connected to one another via connecting openings. The coils are created by winding a hollow-chamber profile tube, whereby the coils are automatically fluidly connected to one another. The connecting openings are therefore understood to be further fluid connections that form a fluid channel between adjacent coils. Preferably, each coil is fluidly connected to the immediately adjacent coils via connecting openings. Preferably, the outer coils have at least one connecting opening to the adjacent, inner coil. Preferably, the coils located between two adjacent coils each have at least one connecting opening to these adjacent coils.One of the connecting openings of each winding is preferably configured to establish a fluid connection to the adjacent winding on one side, while the other connecting opening of the winding preferably forms a fluid connection to the adjacent winding on the other side. Thus, these connecting openings of each winding are preferably arranged opposite one another. Preferably, each winding is connected to at least one other winding by means of a connecting opening.

[0015] The connecting openings preferably each form a fluid connection extending through two adjacent walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube of two adjacent turns. A connecting opening is thus preferably understood as a fluid channel that penetrates two walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube and the space between them. Strictly speaking, a connecting opening thus comprises two openings, namely through the two mutually facing walls of adjacent turns.

[0016] The connecting openings, which connect the interior spaces of the hollow-chamber profile tube of adjacent coils, also ensure a fluid connection between the interior spaces of the hollow-chamber profile tube and the spaces between the coils. A space between two coils is preferably formed by the two facing walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube of two adjacent coils, as well as by the fluid-tight seals on the inside and outside. These fluid connections allow monitoring not only the interior of the hollow-chamber profile tube but also the space between the coils. This is important for both leakage monitoring using a liquid sensor and leakage monitoring using a pressure sensor.The connecting openings allow gas and liquid permeability between the interior of the hollow chamber fluid tube and the spaces between two turns.

[0017] Thus, in addition to the fluid connection via the hollow chamber profile tube, there is preferably a further fluid connection between all the turns, which also includes the spaces between the turns. The connecting openings are preferably arranged in the bottom region of the double-walled container. According to the invention, the bottom region is understood to be the section of the double-walled container which, when viewed from the side, is arranged at the bottom in the position of use. The lower section preferably extends upwards from the lowest point of the container up to a height of at most 20%, preferably at most 10%, of the total height of the double-walled container. Particularly preferably, the connecting openings are arranged below the interior of the double-walled container, which is intended as storage volume. This ensures that even a small amount of escaping medium is sufficient to accumulate up to the height at which the connecting openings are arranged.

[0018] The connecting openings are preferably arranged at a distance from the outer wall of the hollow-chamber profile tube. The term "outer wall" refers to the wall of the hollow-chamber profile tube which, in a coiled form, forms the outer wall of the double-walled container. Thus, according to the invention, the outer wall of the double-walled container which faces downwards and represents the bottom wall is also referred to as the "outer wall". In this way, it is achieved that only a small amount of escaping medium is required to accumulate up to the height in the coil at which the connecting openings are arranged. In this way, it can be ensured that, for example, a very small amount of condensate which may form under certain circumstances is not sufficient to accumulate up to the height of the connecting openings. Preferably, all connecting openings are arranged at the same height.

[0019] Preferably, an additional fluid connection is formed between the space between adjacent turns and the hollow chamber of one of the turns adjacent to the space. Preferably, an additional fluid connection is formed between the space between adjacent turns and the hollow chamber of both adjacent turns. As a result, the space is connected to the hollow chamber of an adjacent turn via at least two fluid connections - the connecting opening on the one hand and the additional fluid connection on the other. The additional fluid connections run from the space through the wall of the hollow chamber profile tube. In this way, the risk of fluid ingress into the space going unnoticed can be reduced if the adjacent turns are so close together that the fluid does not reach the connecting openings.

[0020] The additional fluid connections are preferably arranged below the double-walled container interior, which is intended as a storage volume.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the additional fluid connections are arranged above the connection openings.

[0022] Preferably, the additional fluid connections are arranged in the upper half and the connection openings in the lower half of that section of the hollow chamber profile tube which forms the underside of the double-walled container and runs substantially horizontally.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the double-walled container comprises a device for leakage monitoring. The device for leakage monitoring can comprise a sensor arranged in the wound hollow-chamber profile tube. The sensor can thus be arranged in one of the windings. The invention also provides for the sensor to be arranged in more than one winding, for example by at least partially removing the mutually facing walls of the windings to create sufficient space for the sensor. The sensor can be a liquid sensor or pressure sensor. Preferably, a sensor based on a conductive probe system that detects liquids is used. Alternatively, monitoring is carried out by measuring overpressures or underpressures. The double-walled container can comprise multiple devices for leakage monitoring and / or multiple sensors.Preferably, a sensor is arranged in the bottom area of ​​the double-walled container. The sensor is preferably arranged at or below the level of the connecting openings. In the side view, the sensor is thus preferably arranged at a height between the outer wall of the hollow-chamber profile tube and the connecting openings. This ensures that medium is detected as soon as it accumulates in the coils up to the level of the connecting openings and flows through the connecting openings into the adjacent coils, ultimately reaching the coil in which the sensor is arranged.

[0024] In devices based on a liquid sensor, the double-walled container is preferably designed such that the sensor can be positioned and / or accessed from the outside, e.g., for maintenance or sensor replacement. For this purpose, the double-walled container can have access to the sensor. In one advantageous embodiment, the access, preferably in the form of a shaft or a pipe, extends upwards from the sensor.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coils in the bottom area of ​​the double-walled container each have a bottom opening extending from the outside into the hollow-chamber profile tube. The connecting openings can be created through the bottom openings after winding the hollow-chamber profile tube. This facilitates the positioning of the connecting openings in the coiled hollow-chamber profile tube, as the connecting openings can be created through the bottom openings at the desired locations for connecting two coils.

[0026] Preferably, the coils in the bottom region of the double-walled container each have two bottom openings extending from the outside into the hollow chamber. The additional fluid connection can be created through the second bottom opening after winding the hollow chamber profile tube. This facilitates the positioning of the additional fluid connections in the coiled hollow chamber profile tube, as the additional fluid connections can be created through the additional bottom openings at the desired locations to connect the hollow chamber of at least one coil to the intermediate space.

[0027] Preferably, the connecting openings are designed as bores. This makes it easy to create a fluid channel that connects the interior spaces of two turns of the hollow-chamber profile tube and the space between them.

[0028] Preferably, the floor openings are designed as holes. This makes it easy to create openings through which the connecting holes can be made.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, a bottom opening and a connecting opening between two hollow chambers of adjacent turns are each formed as a single bore. This allows a connecting opening to be created in just one work step, namely, a bore.

[0030] The holes can each be arranged along an inclined axis, with the axis preferably forming an inclination angle of at least 10°, more preferably at least 20°, and most preferably at least 30°, relative to the horizontal. This inclination can ensure that the connecting openings are spaced apart from the outer wall. This ensures that a very small amount of medium, such as condensate, is insufficient to accumulate to the height of the connecting openings, which could lead to a false alarm from the leak monitoring device.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, a bottom opening and an additional fluid connection between the intermediate space and at least one hollow chamber of adjacent turns of this intermediate space are each formed as a bore. This allows an additional fluid connection to be created with only one work step, namely a bore. These bores can each be arranged along an inclined axis. The axis preferably has an angle of inclination that is greater than the angle of inclination of the bores forming the connecting openings. This inclination makes it possible to arrange the additional fluid connections above the connecting openings.

[0032] The connecting openings and / or the additional fluid connections and / or the base openings can be designed as bores or as one or more cuts. Instead of point-like bores, it is also possible to make one or more cuts, preferably a continuous cut, through the base parallel to the longitudinal axis of the double-walled container. This can be achieved, for example, with a saw, such as a circular saw, or an angle grinder. In this way, the fluid connections in the form of the connecting openings and / or additional fluid connections can be efficiently created in a single work step, eliminating the need to create separate bores for each individual turn.

[0033] The bottom openings are preferably sealed. The bottom openings are preferably sealed by means of a plate, which is particularly preferably welded from the outside to the wound hollow-chamber profile tube in a fluid-tight manner. The bottom openings, which are advantageous for creating the connecting openings, can be sealed to prevent medium from escaping and to allow medium to accumulate within the windings up to the connecting openings and flow to the sensor of the leakage monitoring device. Applying a plate for sealing from the outside to the container, preferably by welding the plate to the container in a fluid-tight manner, has the advantage that not every bottom opening needs to be sealed individually. This also ensures that the volume of the double-walled container is not significantly increased without increasing the storage volume.

[0034] The double-walled container may comprise additional components. For example, the double-walled container may have an access shaft as well as one or more inlets and / or one or more outlets. The object of the invention is also to provide a method for producing a double-walled container for storing water-polluting substances that overcomes the disadvantages known from the prior art. The object of the invention can therefore be seen, among other things, in providing a method for producing such a double-walled container that is simple and quick to implement.

[0035] To achieve the object, a method for producing a double-walled container for storing water-polluting substances is provided, comprising the steps

[0036] Winding a hollow chamber profile tube so that the windings are arranged closely next to each other,

[0037] Sealing the space between the adjacent turns by applying a sealing compound to the outside and inside of the adjacent turns, particularly preferably wherein the sealing compound is designed to be welded to the turns in a fluid-tight manner, and wherein the sealing is effected by welding the sealing compound to the turns,

[0038] Creating connecting openings between the hollow chambers of adjacent turns in the floor area.

[0039] The creation of the connecting openings in the base area between two hollow chambers of adjacent turns is preferably carried out by drilling a channel which extends from the outside into the hollow chamber of one of the adjacent turns, through the two adjacent walls of the hollow chambers of the adjacent turns into the hollow chamber of the other adjacent turn.

[0040] Preferably, the method comprises the step

[0041] Creating additional fluid connections between the intermediate space and at least one hollow chamber of adjacent turns. Creating the additional fluid connections in the base region between the intermediate space and at least one hollow chamber of adjacent turns is preferably achieved by drilling a channel that extends from the outside into the hollow chamber of one of the adjacent turns to at least the intermediate space, preferably through the two adjacent walls of the hollow chambers of the adjacent turns to the hollow chamber of the other adjacent turn.

[0042] In an advantageous embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises the step of sealing the bottom openings, preferably by applying a plate, particularly preferably by welding the plates from the outside to the container.

[0043] The method preferably consists of the aforementioned method steps. The method steps are preferably carried out in the specified order.

[0044] The description of the double-walled container according to the invention and the method according to the invention for producing a double-walled container are to be understood as complementary to one another, so that process details explained in connection with the double-walled container are also to be understood as process details, either individually or in combination. Features of the double-walled container explained in connection with the method according to the invention are also to be understood as features of the double-walled container, either individually or in combination.

[0045] The invention is explained again below by way of example with reference to the figures.

[0046] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a double-walled container according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a detailed illustration of a

[0047] Double-walled container.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a detailed representation of an inventive

[0049] Double-walled container.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a detailed representation of an inventive

[0051] Double-walled container.

[0052] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a double-walled container 1 according to the invention in a sectional view. The double-walled container comprises a coiled hollow-chamber profile tube 2, an access shaft 3, and a sensor access 4. The sensor can be positioned and / or serviced or replaced via the sensor access 4. Some details, such as the connection openings and a leakage sensor, are not shown. The details of the base area are shown in Fig. 2.

[0053] Fig. 2 shows a detailed representation of a base region of a double-walled container according to the invention in a sectional view. The hollow-chamber profile tube 2 has a rectangular profile and is wound such that the turns 7, 8 (the other turns are not provided with reference numerals for reasons of clarity) are arranged next to one another. The adjacent turns are sealed fluid-tight on the inside and outside with a sealing compound 10, 11, so that a gap 9 is created between two adjacent turns, which is formed by the sealing compound 10, 11 and the mutually facing walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube. The connecting openings 6 between the turns 7, 8 were created by means of an oblique bore, wherein the bore runs from the outside through the base and through two mutually facing walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube 2.The bottom openings 12 created by the drilling were sealed again with a plate 13. A sensor 14 is arranged in two adjacent coils. Medium penetrating from the container or from the outside into a hollow chamber of a coil or into the space between two coils flows into the bottom area of ​​the double-walled container, accumulates in the coil or in the space up to the level of the connecting openings, and then flows through the space into the adjacent coils, finally reaching the coils with the sensor 14. The sensor 14 can detect the medium and issue an alarm. The sensor 14 can be positioned via the access 15.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a detailed representation of a bottom area of ​​a double-walled container according to the invention in a sectional view (along the transverse axis of the double-walled container). A plate 17 is attached from the outside to the bottom area of ​​the hollow-chamber profile tube 16 to seal the bottom openings to the outside. The plate is welded circumferentially to the outer wall of the bottom.

[0055] Fig. 4 shows a detailed representation of a bottom region of a double-walled container according to the invention in a sectional view. The connecting openings 6 between the turns were created by means of an oblique bore, wherein the bore runs from the outside through the bottom and through two mutually facing walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube. In addition, additional fluid connections 18 are each present between the interior of the hollow-chamber profile tube of the turn and the space between this turn and the adjacent turn. The additional fluid connections 18 were created by means of an oblique bore, wherein the bore runs from the outside through the bottom and through the walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube at least as far as the space 9. The additional fluid connections 18 are arranged above the connecting openings 6. The bottom openings created by the bore were sealed again by means of a plate 13.If the intermediate space 9 is sealed fluid-tight at a height between the connecting openings 6 and the additional fluid connections 18 - for example, if the adjacent turns were pressed closely together during the production process - a medium penetrating from the outside or from the container into the intermediate space between two turns can be accumulated above the connecting openings 6 and flow into the adjacent turns via the additional fluid connections 18.

[0056] List of reference symbols

[0057] 1 ) Double-walled container

[0058] 2) Hollow chamber profile pipe

[0059] 3) Access shaft

[0060] 4) Sensor access

[0061] 5) Hollow chamber

[0062] 6) Connection opening

[0063] 7) Winding

[0064] 8) Winding

[0065] 9) Space

[0066] 10) Sealant

[0067] 11 ) Sealing compound

[0068] 12) Floor opening

[0069] 13) Plate

[0070] 14) Sensor

[0071] 15) Access

[0072] 16) Hollow chamber profile pipe

[0073] 17) Plate

[0074] 18) Additional fluid connection

Claims

Patent claims 1. Double-walled container (1) for storing water-polluting substances, comprising a wound hollow-chamber profile tube (2, 16), the windings (7, 8) of which are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner, the hollow chambers of the windings of the double-walled container being in fluid communication with one another through connecting openings (6).

2. Double-walled container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting openings (6) are arranged in the bottom region of the double-walled container (1), and / or wherein the connecting openings (6) each form a fluid connection running through two adjacent walls of the hollow-chamber profile tube (2, 16) of two adjacent turns (7, 8).

3. Double-walled container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an additional fluid connection (18) is formed between the intermediate space (9) of adjacent turns and the hollow chamber of an adjacent turn, preferably the hollow chambers of both adjacent turns.

4. Double-walled container according to claim 3, wherein the additional fluid connections (18) are arranged above the connection openings (6).

5. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a device for leakage monitoring.

6. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spaces (9) between adjacent turns on the inside and outside are sealed in a fluid-tight manner, preferably by welding a sealing compound (10, 11) to the adjacent turns.

7. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the windings (7, 8) in the bottom region of the double-walled container each have a bottom opening (12) which extends from the outside into the hollow chamber (5), preferably wherein the windings (7, 8) in the bottom region of the double-walled container each have two bottom openings (12) which extend from the outside into the hollow chamber (5).

8. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connecting openings (6) and / or the additional fluid connections (18) and / or the bottom openings (12) are designed as bores.

9. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in each case a bottom opening (12) and a connecting opening (6) between two hollow chambers (5) of adjacent turns (7, 8) are designed as a bore, preferably wherein the bores are each arranged along an inclined axis, wherein preferably the axis forms an angle of inclination of at least 10°, particularly preferably at least 20°, most particularly preferably at least 30°, to the horizontal.

10. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein in each case a bottom opening (12) and an additional fluid connection (18) between the intermediate space and at least one hollow chamber (5) of adjacent turns (7, 8) are designed as a bore, preferably wherein the bores are each arranged along an inclined axis, wherein preferably the axis has an angle of inclination which is greater than the angle of inclination of the bores for forming the connecting openings (6).

11. Double-walled container according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bottom openings (12) are sealed, preferably by means of a plate (13, 17), which is particularly preferably welded from the outside in a fluid-tight manner onto the wound hollow-chamber profile tube.

12. A method for producing a double-walled container for storing water-polluting substances, comprising the steps Winding a hollow chamber profile tube so that the windings are arranged closely next to each other, Sealing the space between the adjacent turns by applying a sealing compound to the outside and to the inside of the adjacent turns, particularly preferably wherein the sealing compound is designed to be welded to the turns in a fluid-tight manner, and wherein the sealing is carried out by welding the sealing compound to the turns, creating connecting openings between the hollow chambers of adjacent turns in the base area.

13. The method according to claim 12 comprising the step Creating additional fluid connections (18) between the intermediate space and at least one hollow chamber (5) of adjacent turns (7, 8), preferably by drilling a channel which extends from the outside into the hollow chamber of one of the adjacent turns to at least into the intermediate space, preferably through the two adjacent walls of the hollow chambers of the adjacent turns to the hollow chamber of the other adjacent turn.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the creation of the connecting openings in the bottom region between two hollow chambers of adjacent turns is carried out by drilling a channel which extends from the outside into the hollow chamber of one of the adjacent turns, through the two adjacent walls of the hollow chambers of the adjacent turns into the hollow chamber of the other adjacent turn.

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, comprising sealing the bottom openings, preferably by applying a plate, particularly preferably by welding the plates from the outside to the container.

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