GB2034282A

GB2034282A - Portable Fuel Tank Assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2034282A
Application number: GB7919346A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MITKO Oy
Current assignee: MITKO Oy
Priority date: 1978-11-14
Filing date: 1979-06-04
Publication date: 1980-06-04
Also published as: FI61007C; NO793641L; SU1050558A3; FI783465A; SE7909390L; SE429638B; DK479979A; FI61007B

Abstract

A fuel tank assembly for storing fuel at petrol stations, comprises two or more tanks 1, optionally supported on a beam 2, having a space 3 between them, which assembly is balanced so that it can be lifted at a point of support, e.g. by an eye provided on a bar 7. Stays 4 can be provided to prevent the tanks 1 bending apart when the assembly is lifted. The space 3 may accommodate pumping means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable Fuel Tank Assembly The present invention relates to a portable fuel tank assembly, suitable for use in petrol stations.

The practice usually followed today when establishing a service station or equivalent distribution outlet is to build a fixed installation.

One is then often compelled, to start with, to undertake excavation work since the fuel tanks are usually to be buried in the ground; in addition a foundation is built for the station and supporting structures, all this construction work involving appreciable costs.

When a new service station is established, the land lease is often for a comparatively short period. In other cases the location of the station may turn out to be unsuitable-for instance, the highway authorities are not always well enough aware of future road plans and a service station or distribution outlet may be left in a dead end location. Such stations may have to be closed or moved to -another site.

Stations of the kind considered are mostly heavy and hard to move, and their moving requires partial dismantling at least. Moving costs are usually quite high, and moving is slow work in many instances. Also, in spite of numerous precautions fuel tanks may develop leaks, and these are hard to observe in the case of buried tanks. Such leaks result in ground water pollution and other damage to the environment.

We have now produced a portable tank assembly which can be cheaper and which can eliminate the drawbacks mentioned.

Thus, the present invention consists in a portable fuel tank assembly comprising one or more self-bearing fuel tanks and an auxiliary space, the assembly constituting a container-like structure, the parts of which are balanced with regard to the point of support so that the assembly may be lifted at the point of support.

We prefer that the assembly comprises at least two tanks disposed one on each side of the auxiliary space on beams which prevent the lower parts of the tanks approaching each other as the assembly is lifted, the upper parts of the tanks being joined by one or more stay rods which prevent the upper parts of the tank drawing apart as the assembly is lifted.

The advantages of the tank assembly of the invention are, above all, its light weight and mobility, which are due to the fact that the selfbearing feature is part of the overall structural design of the tanks. This implies that the contribution of other load-bearing structures can be minimized. By the aid of the invention one can achieve a light, self-bearing fuel tank assembly producable at low material cost.

The invention is further illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in elevational view a fuel tank assembly, with a tank at each end resting on a joint base support; Figure 2 shows a fuel tank assembly with three tanks, viewed from above; Figure 3 shows a fuel tank assembly, viewed from one end; Figure 4 shows a two-tank assembly in top view and partly sectioned, having a pump room and stores accommodated in the auxiliary space of the assembly and; Figure 5 presents a covered tank assembly, viewed from one side.

The assembly preferably consists of two, three or four elongated, self-bearing quadrangular fuel tanks 1 or equivalent preferably constructed in compliance with any standards in force, as Figures 1, 2 and 4 illustrate. The tanks 1 may be joined together by one or several base beams 2 serving as their common supporting base.

Between the tanks remains an auxiliary space 3.

Figure 1 also shows manholes 22 of the tanks with covers 23, and the transverse beams 21, upon which a floor of the auxiliary space 3 may be layed.

The tanks 1 are disposed equally on each side of the point of support. In this way a structural entity of suitable size and having the appearance of a container is obtained.

The assembly may be lifted by a lifting eye 5 mounted at the point of support. The lifting of the container-like assembly by this eye 5 is rendered possible by the internal structure of the selfbearing tanks. When the tank assembly is being lifted by its point of support, the lifting force will be transferred through the uprights 6 to the interior walls of the tank and, by their mediation, to the base beam 2. The lifting force will, therefore, act uniformly all over the entire assembly.

On top, over the tanks there are stays 4 joining the tanks and preventing the tendency of the tanks 1 to turn outward at the top end under effect of their weight during the lifting process.

Whether one stay 4 is sufficient or more than one are required will depend on the thickness of these stays and on their location. The stays 4 have to be strong enough to resist the tension imposed on them by the tanks 1.

Figure 1 shows the base beam or beams 2, partly supporting the extreme ends of the tanks and thereby partly preventing the tanks from sinking down. Because of the self-bearing tanks, when the tank assembly is being lifted the base beam or beams 2 primarily serve as a stay preventing the lower parts of the tanks 1 from approaching each other.

A rod 7 provided with lifting eye 5 is connected to the tank ends by means of the uprights 6.

When there are adequate stays 4 on the top surface of the tank assembly, so that the tanks 1 cannot draw apart, then the uprights 6 will be subject only to tension caused by the lifting force, and not to any bending-stress.

If there are two tanks 1 on one side of the assembly, there is additionally needed, as indicated in Figure 1, a transversal auxiliary stay 8 to prevent the central part of the tank assembly from sinking down.

It is possible to utilize the auxiliary space 3 between the tanks 1 in the middle of the assembly to accommodate any necessary technical equipment. It is possible, for instance, to accommodate in the auxiliary space 3 a pump house or storage unit, or one may store any installation material during transport. In Figure 4 a stores space 9 and a pump room 10 are shown in the auxiliary space 3. The following, among others, can be seen in the pump room of Figure 4: filling pump 1 filling pipe 12, overflow protection 13, return pipe 14, intake pipe 15, sight glass 16, and water draining valve 17.

Figure 5 shows the exterior of the tank assembly. The figure clearly reveals the containerlike construction, and the lifting eye 5 is also visible. Moreover, Figure 5 displays air pipes 1 8 and a ventilation slit 1 9 over a lockable door.

The container may be covered with a corrugated steel sheet and they can be given an attractive appearance, thus allowing them to blend into the landscape or other surroundings.

The assemblies may be of such a size and shape that they can be transported by lorry, train or ship.

In addition to their use as fuel tanks at service stations or equivalent, the assemblies of the present invention may be used at building sites, especially those where it is intended to connect buildings, after their completion, to an area heating network. After the buildings have been completed or the fuel tank has become superfluous for some other reason, the tank can easily be transported to the next construction site, for instance. Also, the new tanks will be useful to the road maintenance authoritiestheirfuel distribution depots have to be moved quite frequently, and it is useful if their fuel supplies can easily be lifted onto a lorry for instance and transported to another site quickly.

Although the main use of the new tanks will probably be as a storage place for oils or other fuel, they may alternatively be used as a storage place for tyres or other goods that are often sold or distributed at service stations. Where the assembly includes more than one tank, different tanks can, of course, be used to store different things.

Claims

1. A portable fuel tank assembly comprising one or more self-bearing fuel tanks and an auxiliary space, the assembly constituting a container-like structure, the parts of which are balanced with regard to the point of support so that the assembly may be lifted at the point of support.

2. A tank assembly according to Claim 1, having at least two tanks, one disposed on each side of the interposed auxiliary space upon beams which prevent the lower parts of the tanks approaching each other as the assembly is lifted, the upper parts of the tanks being joined by one or more stay rods which prevent the upper parts of the tanks drawing apart as the assembly is lifted.

3. A tank assembly according to Claim 2, in which the rod is attached to the tank or tanks via uprights.

3. A tank assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, having affixed to the tank or tanks a rod provided with a lifting eye.

4. A tank assembly according to Claim 3, in which the rod is attached to the tank or tanks via uprights.

5. A tank assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims, having two tanks side by side, and one or more transversal auxiliary supports under the tanks.

6. A tank assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims in which storage space and a pump room are accommodated in the auxiliary space.

7. A tank assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims, for service stations for example, characterized in that part of the spaces is reserved for goods sold at the station.

8. A tank assembly according to Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Portable fuel tank assembly or equivalent, characterized in that it consists of one or several self-bearing fuel tanks or equivalent constructed in compliance with standards and of an auxiliary space, the assembly having been combined to constitute a container-like structure, of which the parts have been balanced with regard to the point of support in the central part so that the assembly may be lifted by a lifting eye or equivalent provided at the point of support.

10. Tank assembly according to Claim 9, characterized in that the tanks, at least two in number, have been disposed on both sides on the interposed auxiliary space upon such beams which have the main purpose to prevent the tendency of the lower parts of the tanks to approach each other as the assembly is lifted, while at the same time time the upper parts of the tanks are joined by one or several stay rods preventing the tendency of the upper parts of the tanks to draw apart as the assembly is lifted.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims filed on 27 Feb 1980.

Superseded Claims 1 to

4.

New or Amended Claims:

1. A portable fuel tank assembly comprising two or more self-bearing fuel tanks and an auxiliary space, the assembly constituting a container-like structure, the parts of which are balanced with regard to the point of support so that the assembly may be lifted at the point of support; the tanks being disposed about the interposed auxiliary space upon beams which prevent the lower parts of the tanks approaching each other as the assembly is lifted, the upper parts of the tanks being joined by one or more stay rods which prevent the upper parts of the tanks drawing apart as the assembly is lifted.

2. A tank assembly according to Claim 1, having affixed to the tank or tanks a rod provided with a lifting eye.