Self-raising drive-over entranceways for containment berms

摘要

Self-raising drive-over entranceways for containment berms are disclosed. The entranceway includes a horizontal bottom panel and a collapsible sidewall that is held in a partially collapsed position forming a void between the bottom panel and sidewall. During a spill or the filling of the containment berm with a fluid, the void area between the partially collapsed sidewall and the horizontal bottom panel fills with the fluid and exerts hydrostatic pressure against the partially collapsed sidewall, forcing it to rotate upward. The higher the fluid level, the more hydrostatic pressure is applied against the sidewall, forcing it up higher until the sidewall obtains a vertical orientation. The sidewall may be restrained either by straps, braces or the like to prevent the fluid from escaping the containment area.

主权项

1. A containment berm comprising:
at least two fluid-containing sidewalls located at opposing sides of the containment berm, wherein the containment berm does not include a continuous floor extending between the opposing fluid-containing sidewalls; and at least one entranceway attached to the at least two fluid-containing sidewalls, the at least one entranceway comprising:
a bottom panel;a collapsible sidewall movable from a partially collapsed position to a raised position upon introduction of a fluid into the containment berm, and movable from the partially collapsed position to a fully collapsed position upon traverse of a vehicle across the entranceway; anda compressible limiter comprising a resilient material attached to the bottom panel structured and arranged to support the collapsible sidewall in its partially collapsed position, wherein the compressible limiter is resiliently compressible from a non-compressed height when the collapsible sidewall is in the partially collapsed position to a compressed height when the collapsible sidewall is in the fully collapsed position.