DE9312902U1 - Tank with top drain - Google Patents

Description

TOP DRAIN TANK

Transport and storage tanks are also equipped for top emptying, depending on their intended purpose. The equipment required for this includes a riser pipe that runs vertically through the interior of the tank, the upper end of which is attached to a drain opening in the apex of the tank, and the lower end of which reaches down to the bottom of the tank and ends just above it.

In order to be able to pull out the riser pipe when necessary, for example when cleaning the inside of the tank, it is only attached at the upper end in the area of the emptying opening. Vibrations in the riser pipe, which occur in transport tanks in particular as a result of surging movements of the tank contents and can lead to unacceptable stresses at the upper connection point, are avoided by a support structure that acts on the lower end of the riser pipe.

A known design of such a support structure comprises a ring that surrounds the riser pipe near its lower end and is welded to the tank shell via three legs. The ring surrounds the riser pipe at a certain distance so that the riser pipe can be easily inserted even if there are deviations in diameter and relative movements, such as those that can occur as a result of temperature fluctuations, are made possible. To make it easier to push the riser pipe through the ring, in a known design the ring has the shape of a truncated cone that widens towards the top.

The known design is labor-intensive both in production and in terms of its assembly in the tank due to the manual welding and grinding work required. A particular disadvantage is that its dimensions make it difficult to clean the inside of the tank. Furthermore, the fact that several points on the tank shell are rigidly welded together via the support structure can result in undesirable stresses.

The invention is based on the object of securing the lower end of a pipe passing through the interior of a tank by means that are as inexpensive as possible.

The solution to this problem according to the invention is characterized in claim 1. The component which then projects into the lower end of the pipe necessarily has relatively small dimensions, is therefore simple to manufacture and assemble and hinders cleaning work in the tank accordingly little.

The development of the invention according to claim 2 has the advantage that, on the one hand, the flow cross-section of the pipe is only slightly reduced. The surface element, which is welded to the tank with its lower edge and extends vertically into the pipe end, can even lead to an improvement in the flow introduction into the pipe end and thus increase the suction effect.

The further development according to claim 3 is advantageous in terms of easier "threading" of the pipe during installation in the tank.

The embodiment of the invention according to claim 4 is advantageous in that the holding device can be manufactured from a waste piece during tank production.

The measures according to claims 5 and 6 are important with regard to emptying the tank as completely as possible, whereby claim 6 is particularly useful if the tank is also equipped for bottom emptying.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a partial longitudinal section through a tank container,

Figure 2 shows detail II of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and

Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line III-III in Figure 2
shows.

The tank 10 shown in Figure 1 with its container frame 11 (only partially shown) has a fitting 12 arranged in the apex area, which comprises a discharge opening (not shown in detail) and an overflow tray with a lid surrounding it.

A riser pipe 14 that passes through the interior of the tank and runs in the vertical plane containing the tank axis 13 is attached at its upper end in the area of the emptying opening and ends at the bottom in the area of a sump cup 15 that extends downwards from the tank base and forms the lowest point of the tank space.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, a tab in the form of a flat piece of sheet metal 16 is welded centrally in the sump cup 15 with its lower edge so that its surfaces run parallel to the vertical plane containing the tank axis 13. The piece of sheet metal 16 consists of the material of the tank shell itself and tapers upwards like a tongue. Its greatest length in the axial direction of the tank 10 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the riser pipe 14.

When inserted into the tank 10, the riser pipe 14 is placed with its lower end on the sheet metal piece 16, whereby the tongue-shaped design of the latter makes it easier to "thread" it in. In the fully assembled state, the lower end of the riser pipe 14 is located slightly above the inner surface of the sump cup 15, so that a sufficient cross-section remains for the flow to enter the lower end of the riser pipe.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the sheet metal piece 16 engaging in the riser pipe 14 only slightly reduces the internal cross-section available for the flow. Under appropriate flow conditions, this reduction in cross-section is at least compensated for by the fact that the side surfaces of the sheet metal piece 16, which protrude vertically upwards from the tank base, in conjunction with its two lateral weld seams 17, which are rounded at the tank shell, promote the introduction of the flow into the end of the riser pipe.

The invention is also applicable in cases where

where no sump cup is provided. The sheet metal piece 16 is then welded to a smooth part of the bottom area of the tank 10. In this case, the improvement in the suction effect is even more pronounced.

A sump cup is not necessary, especially in such tanks.

which are also equipped for bottom emptying.

In this case, it is expedient to arrange the sheet metal piece 16 parallel to the tank axis 13 so that it does not obstruct the emptying flow.

Summary

A piece of sheet metal 16 welded to the bottom of the tank and extending into the lower end of the riser pipe serves to hold the lower end of a riser pipe 14 that passes vertically through the interior of a tank. The piece of sheet metal 16 can preferably be welded to the bottom of a sump cup 15. (Figure 2)

Claims (6)

- 5 -Protection claims 1. Tank with a fitting (12) arranged in its apex area and a pipe (14) connected to it, which passes through the interior of the tank essentially vertically and ends above the tank bottom, the lower end of which is held against lateral movements by a holding device (16) welded to the tank shell in the bottom area, characterized in that the holding device has a component (16) which projects into the lower end of the riser pipe and only partially fills the pipe cross-section. 2. Tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device consists of a substantially upright sheet metal piece (16) whose length in the axial direction is less than the inner diameter of the pipe (14). 3. Tank according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper end of the sheet metal piece (16) tapers like a tongue. 4. Tank according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sheet metal piece (16) consists of the workpiece of the tank shell. 5. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sheet metal piece (16) is welded to the bottom of a sump cup (15) formed in the tank base. 6. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sheet metal piece (16) is parallel to the tank axis (13).