AU2003100885A4

AU2003100885A4 - Storage tank

Info

Publication number: AU2003100885A4
Application number: AU2003100885A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert De Rooy
Original assignee: De Rooy Robert Jacob
Current assignee: De Rooy Robert Jacob
Priority date: 2003-10-24
Filing date: 2003-10-24
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-24

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): ROBERT JACOB DE ROOY Invention Title: STORAGE TANK The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 STORAGE TANK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to storage tanks and in particular to a slim line storage tank. The invention has been developed primarily for use with water storage tanks and for tanks that store other fluids and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Storage tanks are well known for their residential, commercial and industrial uses. Traditionally, storage tanks were made from concrete or galvanised steel.

However, more modem storage tank designs are often made from plastic. Generally, storage tanks comprise a hollow vessel with an inlet port and an outlet port. Other tanks include handles, filter traps and stabilising means. A major market is for large volume water storage tanks which generally are of circular cross-section.

Storage tanks have traditionally been constructed in a cylindrical configuration in order to provide the storage tank with maximum structural strength and rigidity for the amount of material used. Unfortunately, however, a cylindrical tank configuration is difficult to manoeuvre through constrained spaces such as standard doorways.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a moulded plastic storage tank is provided having a length and height substantially greater than its width, major side panels being joined by end panels, each side panel having wall portions defining a recess and having a stiffening corrugation formed adjacent the recess, and the tank having an interconnection portion interconnecting the wall portions defining the recesses.

Optionally, the interconnection portion is tubular and integrally formed with the wall portion defining the recesses. This provides the tank with structural strength and rigidity. A tubular interconnection is a materially efficient way of bracing the tank.

The interconnection portion may be vertically elongate and the recesses multifaceted and of frusto-pyramidal shape.

The end panels of the tank may optionally be curved and the stiffening corrugations optionally elongate and horizontally extending and are formed in upper regions of the side panels. Curved end panels also contribute to greater structural strength as do the stiffening corrugations.

Advantageously, the overall dimensions of the tank are about 2m high by about 3 lm long by about 0.7m wide and the tank has an integrally formed top panel substantially closing the tank. These dimensions allow the tank to be easily manoeuvred through doorways and to be fitted within constrained spaces.

At least some embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of large 2000 litre rotary moulded plastic storage tanks. The invention provides strength, rigidity and stability to such tanks and the ability to be easily manoeuvred through doorways and fitted withii constrained spaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a storage tank in accordance with the preferred embodiment; and Figure 2 is an end view of the water storage tank of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the storage tank of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 a 2000 litre storage tank 1 is shown with four vertically elongate recesses 2 and two horizontally extending stiffening corrugations 3.

The storage tank 1 has an obround horizontal cross-section which is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows the recesses 2 which are multi-faceted and frusto-pyramidal shaped joined by tubular web portions 4 extending through the tank and integrally formed with the recesses 2. The stiffening corrugations 3 do not, however, extend through the entire width of the storage tank 1. A lifting point 5 is also shown whereby the storage tank 1 may be moved by a crane or the like.

The recesses 2, web portions 4 and stiffening corrugations 3 help to provide structural rigidity to the elongate non-cylindrical tank. Furthermore, by using the manufacturing technique of rotary moulding, a uniform wall thickness can be maintained providing further rigidity and strength. The width of the storage tank 1 in this embodiment is 0.7 meters, a dimension which was chosen so that the storage tank 1 can be manoeuvred through standard doorways. The storage tank 1 is integrally moulded, the result of which is that it has no joints and thus problems associated with leakage are avoided and the impact resistance of the storage tank 1 is increased.

The straight wall design means that the storage tank 1 incorporates minimal surface area on which mould or cobwebs may form.

In alternative embodiments the web may by solid and thinner providing greater 4strength yet requiring less volume.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variation) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of having "or including" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'.

Claims

1. A moulded plastic storage tank having a length and height substantially greater than its width, major side panels being joined by end panels, each side panel having wall portions defining a recess and having a stiffening corrugation formed adjacent the recess, and the tank having an interconnection portion interconnecting the wall portions defining the recesses.

2. A tank as defined in claim 1, wherein the interconnection portion is tubular and integrally formed with the wall portion defining the recesses.

3. A tank as defined in claim 2, wherein the interconnection portion is vertically elongate and the recesses are multi-faceted and of frusto-pyramidal shape.

4. A tank as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the end panels of the tank are curved and the stiffening corrugations are elongate and horizontally extending and are formed in upper regions of the side panels. A tank as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the overall dimensions of the tank are about 2m high by about Im long by about 0.7m wide and the tank has an integrally formed top panel substantially closing the tank.