AU2006216073B8 - A tank with a removable outlet valve - Google Patents

Description

P/O/OI Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application No.: Application Date: 14 September 2006 Priority Dates: 11 June 2001 (New Zealand Patent Appin No. 512301) Applicant: C-DAX SYSTEMS LIMITED 145 Harts Road Tiritea Palmerston North NEW ZEALAND Address for Service: TERRY & VERBOEKET ci- 15/8 View Street Amcliffe New South Wales 2205 Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "A TANK WITH A REMOVEABLE OUTLET VALVE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1 A TANK WITH A REMOVABLE OUTLET VALVE BACKGROUND This invention relates to a valve and a tank incorporating the valve. 5 The mounting of so-called "straddle tanks" on a farm vehicle such as an All Terrain Vehicle ("ATV") is well known. Generally these straddle tanks have a main tank portion which sits laterally across the ATV- (being mounted to the front or the rear carrier of the ATV) and has at least one 10 but more usually a pair of arms which extend along one or along each side of the ATV. The tank will generally carry an electric pump. The straddle tank can form part of spraying equipment. Thus a spray hose and spray wand can be coupled to the pump whereby a chemical mixture 15 in the tank can be pumped from the tank to the spray wand to enable chemical spraying to take place. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the present invention to provide a valve usable with a 20 straddle tank and via which liquid in the tank can be drawn from the tank such as to essentially achieve complete removal of liquid from the tank. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tank which incorporates a valve, the valve able to be readily removable from the tank. 25 Broadly according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tank for holding a liquid and a removable outlet valve which is accessible externally of the tank, the valve including a valve body which incorporates an inverted cone shaped valve seat; a cavity extending upwardly away 30 from the valve seat, an outlet in communication with the valve seat, a ball element engageable on the valve seat and an inlet communicating with the cavity whereby liquid in the tank can flow into the cavity, the ball element being of a construction such that it floats in said liquid away from the valve seat until the quantity of liquid in the valve is insufficient to 2 prevent the ball element from engagement on the valve seat. Tanks of the invention will typically include a main tank section and at least one arm section which extends transverse to the main tank section 5 with a valve as described above removably mounted in the arm section or sections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following more detailed description of the invention according to one 10 preferred embodiment reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the tank, Figure 2 is a back elevation view of the tank, Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the tank, 15 Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the tank (with an auxiliary tank fitted), Figure 5 is a plan view of an auxiliary tank to be fitted to the main tank, Figure 6 is an elevation view of the auxiliary tank, Figure 7 is an end elevation view of the auxiliary tank, Figure 8 is a plan view of the tank and auxiliary tank mounted together, 20 Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the arrangement shown in Figure 8, Figure 10 is a rear elevation view of the arrangement shown in Figures 8 and 9, Figure 11 is an elevation view of a valve arrangement, Figure 12 is a further elevation view of the valve, 25 Figure 13 is a plan view of the valve, and Figure 14 is a section on line F-F of Figure 13. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In line with known constructions the tank 10 can be formed by a rotational 30 plastic moulding process. The tank is, therefore, formed in one piece. 3 The tank is of a "straddle" type and thus consists of a lateral section 11 from which extends a pair' of parallel spaced apart arms 12. An 5 opening 13 is formed in the upper side of the lateral section 11 for the purposes of loading the tank. A screw on or bayonet fit lid (not shown) is used to close the opening 13 A cavity 14 is formed in the underside of the lateral section 11. The pump 10 assembly (not shown), being a pump and associated electric motor, is located within this cavity 14. The pump assembly is not held in place by fixings but simply by the attachment of a cover 15 which effectively clamps the pump assembly in place within the cavity 14. This makes for ease of installation as well as ease of access to the pump assembly should 15 servicing, repairs etc. be required. An advantage of having the cavity 14 located in the underside of the main or lateral portion 11 of the tank 10 is that the cavity is effectively located within the liquid when the tank is full. This leads to a cooling effect on the 20 pump assembly. Furthermore, by having the pump assembly located within the bottom cavity 14 the effective centre of gravity of the tank lowers as the tank empties. This is contrary to previous designs where the pump assembly 25 has been located on the upside of the tank which means that the centre of gravity still remains high even though the tank becomes lighter due to liquid emptying from the tank. A further advantage of the mounting of the pump within the bottom 30 cavity 14 is that it is hidden away from view and damage. It also results in a tank having an uncluttered aesthetically pleasing appearance. According to the present invention all plumbing is internal. The pump is, therefore, plumbed with a pipe through to a pair of valves 17 each of which 4 is removably fitted into the distal end 18 of a respective arm 12 of the tank 10. The pump assembly is plumbed internally in the tank to each valve 17. 5 The valve 17 includes a base 31, a body section 32 mounted thereon (see Figure 13) and a cage section 33. The cage section 33 can be a separate unit mounted onto the body section 32 so that an upper part projects therefrom. However, in the preferred form a series of pillars 33a are moulded with the body section 32 to project from the upper rim 32a of the 10 body section 32. A cover or lid section 34 is mounted onto the ends of the pillars 33a of cage section 33. The body section 32 incorporates a circular wall 35 with a peripheral flange 36 which mates face to face with flange 37 of the base 31. The 15 valve 17 can thus be sealingly fitted into a circular opening 46 in end 18 of arm 12. This can be achieved by an annular wall 45a surrounding the circular opening. The external surface of the annular wall 45a can be formed with or carry a screw thread. An attachment ring 45 with the internal screw thread (which conforms with that on the annular wall) can 20 be engaged over the base 31 so that an internal rim engages with flange 37. By screwing the attachment ring 45 onto the annular wall 45a the flange 36 can be pushed into sealing contact with the surface of the end 18a of arm 12 which defines the circular opening therein. 25 The method of fixing used to mount valve 17 in arm end 18 can take on other forms. However, it will be of a form such that the valve 17 can be readily removed or at least partially removed. The body section 32 has an elliptical (in cross-section) cavity 38. The 30 pillars 33a are moulded into the wall of the cavity 38. A nipple 39 projects from body section 32. A tube (not shown) is fitted onto nipple 39 to extend along arm 18 and through lateral section 11 to fit with the pump in the cavity 14. Preferably the tube from the nipple 39 of each 5 valve 17 joins at a junction within lateral section 11 so that only a single tube is connected to the pump. The junction could equally, but less preferably, be located in cavity 14. 5 Located about the pillars 33a of the cage section 33 is a mesh filter 42. The cage section 33 thus defines a more or less cylindrical housing extending above the valve seat 41 and within which the ball 40 can float. Because this cylindrical ball. retention area is located within what amounts to an elliptical cavity it means that suction cannot be applied to the ball 40 10 such as to draw it onto the seat 41 until the tank 10 is more or less empty. According to one form of the invention the ball 40 can simply be a ball of the type used in the game of squash. 15 In the proposed arrangement the conical valve seat 41 extends, when the valve 17 is located in arm 18, downwardly from what effectively is the floor of the extreme end 18a of the arm 12. Because suction of the pump is via a tube to nipple 39 which opens to a transfer passage 43 to port 43a in the bottom of the conical seat essentially complete removal of liquid in the 20 tank 10 will be achievable. In essence all that will usually remain in the tank is a small amount of liquid in the conical seat 41 and base 31 (e.g. flow passage 43) Because favourable suction remains between the ball valve 17 and the 25 pump a pressure relief valve V is provided near the top of the tank (adjacent opening 13) which, when released, vents the tubes in each arm 12 to atmosphere. In a preferred form the vent valve V is connected (preferably directly) to the previously described junction. Consequently the junction of the tubes from valves 17 will be within tank section 11 and a 30 single tube will run therefrom to the pump assembly in the cavity 14. By having a filtered valve 17 in each arm 12 the tank has an overall filter area nearly three times the filter surface area typical of tanks of this type. Thus good filtering characteristics are achievable, This means that the 6 tank 10 can be filled and exhausted many times before the filters 42 need to be cleaned. The tube from the pump assembly in cavity 14 to the valve 17 will be 5 arranged to be sufficiently long so that the screw threaded attachment ring 45 holding the valve 17 into the end 18 of arm 12 can be released to let the valve 17 drop down sufficiently from the arm 12 to expose the filter 42 for cleaning. 10 The lower end of filter 42 engages in a groove 44 which is in the rim 32a of body section 32 and extends there around- Similarly, a groove 45 is provided in the removable cover 34 to engage with the upper end of filter 42. Thus, cover 34 can be removed and the filter 42 slipped off the case section 33 for cleaning. Two of the pillars 33a of the cage section 15 have spigots 44 which press or interference fit in openings in the cover 34. Thus, the cover 34 can be readily removed and refitted. The rear outward wall 19 of the main tank portion 11 includes a mounting arrangement 20 for an auxiliary tank 21. This auxiliary tank 21 has a 20 removable lid 22 which closes an opening in an upper surface of the tank. Also provided is a drain valve or the like 23 in a lower surface of the tank. The auxiliary tank 21 has a pair of outwardly extending wings 24 which are preferably contoured to follow the contours of the outside wall 19 of the 25 main tank 11. A mounting portion 26 of the auxiliary tank 21 interengages with the mounting arrangement 20 of the tank so that the auxiliary tank 21 can sit on and be suspended from the rear of the tank 10. Generally a straddle tank of this type will he fixed to the vehicle by ratchet 30 straps or the like, With the present invention the ratchet straps used to strap about the main section 11 of the tank 10 where it joins with the arms 12 and will also fit over the wings 24 of the auxiliary tank 21. The straps will thus not only hold the tank 10 onto the carrier of the ATV but also strap the auxiliary tank 21 into place. 7 The auxiliary tank 21 is also configured so as to provide an outboard flange 28. The body portion 27 of the tank 21 between this outboard flange 28 and the wings 24 is of generally curved cross sectional shape. 5 Accordingly a spray hose extending from the pump assembly can be wound about the central body portion 27 of the tank 21 to provide for hose storage. Furthermore, a spray wand can be stored in a non-use position across the 10 back of the tank 10 by engaging it in the groove 29 of the mounting arrangement 20. In such position the spray wand will also sit behind raised flanges 30 which form extensions of the wings 24 up to the mounting area 20. 15 The auxiliary tank 21 is readily removable if not required. However, when in place it not only provides a storage means for the spray hose and spray wand but also storage for chemicals or clean water. Thus, for example, in use chemicals could be held in the auxiliary tank 21 20 while the main tank 10 is filled with water from a convenient location In the area in which spraying is to occur. In a farm application water could be filled from e-g. a feeding trough etc. Chemical taken from auxiliary tank 21 could then be mixed with the water and spraying take place This arrangement permits various refilling of the tank 10 to occur without the 25 user having to return to a point where chemicals are stored. Alternatively if the storage of chemicals is not required the auxiliary tank 21 can contain clean water for the purposes of washing etc. 30 It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. A tank for holding a liquid and having a removable outlet valve which is accessible externally of the tank, the valve including a valve body 5 which incorporates an inverted cone shaped valve seat, a cavity extending upwardly away from the valve seat, an outlet in communication with the valve seat, a ball element engageable on the valve seat and an inlet communicating with the cavity whereby liquid in the tank can flow into the cavity, the ball element being of a 10 construction such that it floats in said liquid away from the valve seat until the quantity of liquid in the valve is insufficient to prevent the ball element from engagement on the valve seat.

2. A tank as claimed in claim I wherein an upper part of the cavity has 15 an apertured cage about which extends a mesh filter.

3. A tank as claimed in claim I wherein a filter is mounted on the valve body to a side of the cavity which is opposite to that in which the conical valve seat is located. 20

4. A tank as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a nipple is coupled to the conical valve seat by a flow passage.

5. A tank as claimed in claim 4 further including a base fitted to a part of 25 the valve body which incorporates the conical seat.

6. A tank as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base in part forms with the valve body said flow passage and a port in the valve seat opens into the part of the flow passage which is in part formed by said base. 30

7. A tank as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cage is formed by a plurality of pillars which project from the valve body and to which a cover is removably attached, said mesh filter being located in position between the cover and the valve body. 9

8. A tank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the cavity is of an elliptical cross-sectional shape. 5

9. A tank as claimed in claim 2, 3, 7 or 8 wherein the filter is of substantially cylindrical form with an elliptical cross-section.

10. A tank as claimed in claim 5 wherein the valve body includes a peripheral flange which engages face to face with a flange of the 10 base.

11. A tank as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, with a main tank section and at least one arm section which extends transverse to the tank section. 15

12. A tank as claimed in claim 11 wherein the or each arm section has a distal end which is located at a level lower than the main tank section, said distal end incorporating a said valve. 20

13. A tank as claimed in claim 12 wherein a pump assembly is connected to the or each valve by a conduit which extends from the pump assembly through part of the main tank section and the arm with which the valve is incorporated. 25

14. A tank as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the valve is removable externally of the arm.

15. A tank as claimed in claim 14 wherein a cavity is located in the underside of the main tank section to accommodate the pump 30 assembly, said pump assembly being in use, held in place in the cavity by a removable cover.

16, A tank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein an auxiliary tank is removably mounted to the main tank section. 10

17. A tank as claimed in claim 16 wherein the auxiliary tank includes a hose mounting means and a spray handpiece mounting means. 5

18. A tank as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the auxiliary tank includes at least one wing member whereby the auxiliary tank can be strapped onto the tank.

19. A tank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve is substantially as 10 herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 11 to 14 of the accompanying drawings. 11