WO2006066516A1

WO2006066516A1 - Handling floor

Info

Publication number: WO2006066516A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2005/000095
Authority: WO
Inventors: Miroslav ZERDÍK
Original assignee: Zerdik Miroslav
Priority date: 2004-12-23
Filing date: 2005-12-16
Publication date: 2006-06-29
Also published as: CZ20041238A3; SK832007A3; CZ301638B6; SK288362B6

Abstract

For fuel dispensing stations there is designed a handling floor provided with a system of side by side arranged flat segments. Each individual segment is provided with a perimeter frame (1) fixed to a solid bottom (2) on which there are arranged longitudinal beams (3) defining a drive track while the remaining space is covered by rigid grids (4). The steel sheet frame bottom (2) has an inclination at the lowest point of which there is located a drain (5) with purifying means (8) and a sensor of contamination. The segments are mutually swing-connected. The segment frame (1) consists of welded steel U-type profiles to which there are fixed transverse running supports (6) carrying the steel grids (4) and the longitudinal beams (3) made of steel I-type profiles. The segments are within the drive track provided with tenzometric load sensors (10).

Description

HANDLING FLOOR

Technical Field

The invention relates to a handling floor, especially for fuel dispensing stations, provided with a system of side by side arranged flat segments, means for absorbing contaminants and a sensor of contamination.

Background of the Invention

At fuel dispensing station, despite carefulness of the staff, it happens very often, that small quantities of fuel or oil drop on the road leaving dirty traces. The dirt is washed out during rains or soaks through directly into a ground and contaminates the environment. The permanent fuel stations are provided with drains opening into a central reservoir. At times the reservoir has to be pumped out at and the wastes disposed of. At given intervals the reservoir is inspected by the staff, the inspection being usually performed only visually. Automatic monitoring is very rare. In a case the reservoir is filled before the inspection, contaminated water flows through an outlet and goes in a sewage system, where any presence of such an aggressive matter is undesired, or is soaked by the ground thus contaminating the environment. From the paper PCT/CZOO/00090 there is known a handling floor for fuel dispensing stations provided with multiple side by side arranged segments, the segments being substantially made of concrete. An upper surface of each segment is provided with drainage means which are connected to drainage means of the adjacent segments. The drainage means of an outside segment open into a drain chamber with exchangeable filter and a hydrocarbon sensor. Such a solution is suitable for permanent fuel dispensing stations but because of limited ability to catch larger quantity of a leaking liquids, especially by replenishment of a storage tank, its design is insufficient for transferable stations. Another disadvantage of the said construction comprise difficult cleaning possibilities and excessive weight making any transportation rather difficult. It is an object of the invention to provide for easy assembly and disassembly at the site, prevention of fuel leakage into the environment during operation of a station, especially of a temporary station and easy cleaning of the floor.

Disclosure and Object of the invention

The foregoing problems are solved by a handling floor, provided with a system of side by side arranged flat segments, means for absorbing contaminants and a sensor of contamination, designed in accordance with the present invention, the handling floor consisting of individual segments each of them being provided with a perimeter frame fixed to a solid bottom on which there are arranged longitudinal beams defining a drive track while the remaining space is covered by rigid grids. The frame bottom has an inclination at the lowest point of which there is located a drain with purifying means. Further in accordance with the present invention each segment is adapted for attachment of means for swing connection to another segment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the swing connection of the segments is provided with a T-piece, the cross arm of which is in a swing attachment between two flat fixtures attached at an outside wall of the vertical rib of the frame U-profile while its vertical arm is at its free end provided with a threaded spike for insertion into an oval opening in the vertical rib of the U-profile of an adjacent frame where it is to be secured by a nut. According to another preferred embodiment the purifying means are arranged at least in two stages and between two consequential stages there is located a sensor of contamination of the preceding stage. Preferably the purifying means are provided with oil products absorbing sorbent means. Still further in accordance with the invention the perimeter frame consists of welded steel U-type profiles to which there are fixed transverse running supports carrying the steel grids and the longitudinal beams made of steel I-type profiles, the mutual position of the longitudinal beams being defined by transverse guides, while the segment bottom is made of a steel sheet. According to another feature of the invention at least some of the segments are in the area of the drive track provided with tenzometric load sensors. According to above features of the invention there is provided a handling floor with significantly limited leakage of oil products in the vicinity of a fuel dispensing station, whether a permanent or a temporary one, as any matter which may leak or spill during manipulation with fuels and other similar stuffs are retained by the said handling floor and absorbed by the purifying means and applied sorbents. Condition of the purifying means is automatically monitored and any decrease of its capability is automatically signalled. No connection to sewage, drainage or any similar system is necessary.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is further illustrated by way of an example presented at the accompanying drawings, where Fig. 1 illustrates a ground view on the handling floor, Fig. 2 represents a side view of the floor according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the same floor. On Fig. 4 there is a detailed ground view on the swing connection of two adjacent segments, while on Fig. 5 there is a front view on the same detail. Figs. 6 up to 9 illustrate mutual swing displacements of two adjacent segments.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Fig. 1 , there is shown a handling floor for fuel dispensing stations according to the invention consists of a system of side by side arranged flat segments, preferably of a rectangular shape. Each segment has a perimeter frame 1 which a solid bottom 2 is fixed to. Within the frame 1 there are arranged longitudinal beams 3 defining a drive track. The remaining space within the frame, i.e. the area apart from the longitudinal beams 3, is covered by rigid grids 4. The bottom 2 is inclined and at the lowest point of the inclination there is located a drain 5 with purifying means 8. The frame 1 consists of welded steel U-type profiles, e.g. U220 profiles, the profile ribs being vertically oriented and the profile bases heading outwards from the frame 1 Transverse running supports 6, e.g. made of 1120 profiles, are welded to the frame 1 and carry steel grids 4 and the longitudinal beams 3. The longitudinal beams 3 are also made of steel I-type profiles, e.g. 1100 profiles. Mutual position of the longitudinal beams 3 is defined by transverse guides. The segment bottom 2 is made of a steel sheet, having e.g. a thickness of 3 mm. The segment welded constructed of above presented profiles withstands a load of 8000 kg per car axle. A system of six segments, each having dimensions of 2,5 m x 3,2 m makes a total floor of 5,0 m x 9,6 m, which is suitable even for trucks. The number and the dimensions of the segments vary according to actual applications. Each segment is adapted for attachment of means for swing connection to another segment. The swing connection 7 of adjoining segments, as shown on Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, is provided with a T-piece. A cross arm IJ. of the T-piece is in a swing attachment between two flat fixtures 12 attached at an outside wall of the vertical rib of the frame U-profile and a vertical arm 13 of the T-piece is at its free end provided with a threaded spike 14 for insertion into an oval opening 15 in the vertical rib of the U-profile of the adjoining segment frame. When inserted into the opening the spike 14 is secured by a nut 16 which is screwed-on from inside of the respective frame. Such an embodiment allows for mutual inclination of adjacent segments to align any roughness of the floor groundwork.

A gasket 16 is inserted between upper bases of U-profiles of adjacent segment frames 1

To facilitate a car drive on the handling floor, wedge-shaped parts 17 are attached to respective segments by the same means for swing connection as described above. Outsides, as seen from the completed handling floor, the segments are provided with a narrow rail 18 of a circular profile. The rail 18 allows for better orientation of a drives and prevents a car to slip off the floor. To check the quantity of dispensed fuel some segments are fit with tenzometric load sensors 10. The tenzometric load sensors 10 are located within the drive track, i.e. under the longitudinal beams 3. At the drain 5 there are located purifying means 8 with a block of signalization of contamination. The purifying means 8 containing a sorbent to absorb oil products is arranged at least in two stages. As a suitable sorbent there may be applied a matter known under commercial mark Chezacarb S. Between two consequential stages there is located a sensor of contamination of the preceding stage. The block of signalization of the decontamination automatically monitors and signals state of the floor, not only its contamination but also any flames, etc. The sorbent means may be positioned also within the space between the longitudinal beams. The tenzometric load sensors 10 and/or the block of signalization of contamination are fed from a fuel dispensing station or by built-in solar cells.

Apart from the above described construction any other suitable type of profiles or similar elements may be used and fixing technique applied.

Industrial applications

The handling floor according to the present invention is designed for fuel dispensing stations installed at sites for a temporary operation, especially for station without any personnel.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A handling floor, especially for fuels dispensing stations, provided with a system of side by side arranged flat segments, means for absorbing contaminants and a sensor of contamination, characterized in, that the individual segments are provided with a perimeter frame (1) fixed to a solid bottom (2) on which there are arranged longitudinal beams (3) defining a drive track while the remaining space is covered by rigid grids (4), the bottom (2) having an inclination at the lowest point of which there is located a drain (5) with purifying means (8).

2. A handling floor according to claim 1 , characterized in, that each segment is adapted for attachment of means for swing connection to another segment.

3. A handling floor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in, that the purifying means (8) are arranged at least in two stages and between two consequential stages there is located a sensor of contamination of the preceding stage.

4. A handling floor according to any of claim 1 to 3, characterized in, that the perimeter frame (1) consists of welded steel U-type profiles to which there are fixed transverse running supports (6) carrying the steel grids (4) and the longitudinal beams (3) made of steel I-type profiles, the mutual position of the longitudinal beams (3) being defined by transverse guides (7), while the segment bottom (2) is made of a steel sheet.

5. A handling floor according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in, that the swing connection of adjoining segments are provided with a T-piece, the cross arm (11) of which is in a swing attachment between two flat fixtures (12) attached at outside wall of the vertical rib of the frame U-profile while its vertical arm (13) is at its free end provided with a threaded spike (14) for insertion into an oval opening (15) in the vertical rib of the U-profile of the adjoining frame and screwing-on of a nut (16).

6. A handling floor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that at least some of the segments are in the area of the drive track provided with tenzometric load sensors (10).

7. A handling floor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that the purifying means (8) are provided with sorbent means for absorbing oil products.