GB2292350A - Road tanker vehicle with drag-reducing and security housings - Google Patents

Abstract

A road tanker vehicle is provided with profiled front and rear housings 38, 40 which have both security and drag co-efficient functions. The housings are lockable to prevent access to tanker ports and tanker hoses. The housings are also profiled to reduce air turbulence and maximise laminar airflow. The housings also permit the tank to tip when the housings are opened. In use, the housings 38, 40 are kept locked except when filling and emptying the tank when they are opened outwardly about hinges (42, 44, 46, 48, Fig. 5). <IMAGE>

Description

TANKER VEHICLES This invention relates to tanker vehicles and more particularly to road tanker vehicles in which there is a requirement for both security of access to the contents of the tanker through ports thereto, and also for a reduction in the drag coefficient or air resistance factor arising from the external profile of the tanker during high speed road transit.

As regards security against contamination, this requirement arises particularly in relation to road tankers carrying food materials, but may also arise in relation to other materials, which may be of a hazardous or non hazardous nature. In the case of food materials, there is a need to protect the inlet and outlet ports and pipework from deliberate contamination by third party activists. This may also be needed for protecting a hazardous product from deliberate spillage or other wanton or wasteful activity.

Conventionally, arrangements for this purpose include simple manual locking procedures including the use of coded facilities to inhibit unauthorised interference and to assist the detection of attempted interference. The security procedures for a road tanker employing such conventional facilities are relatively laborious and time consuming involving in some cases the threading of a security cable through multiple locking facilities and the subsequent mounting and co-operation therewith of a coded locking device. Such procedures have remained accepted for a significant number of years.

An added complication in relation to avoidance of contamination is the following. While it might be relatively straightforward to provide motorized valves giving automated closure of filling and emptying ports of a tank, such would be insufficient to avoid risk of contamination because there are additional zones, orifices and ducts which are available for contamination, these including pipework stowed on the vehicle for occasional use and pipework having portions (for example bends) in relatively penetrable hose material. Accordingly, there is a need to provide means for securing these areas against contamination and related activities mentioned above. Conventionally such arrangements are made by means of individuaily manually lockable facilities which obviously further complicate the arrangements for achieving security.

A further requirement for tanker vehicles of this kind relates to reduction of drag co-efficient during high speed running. A significant factor in this regard is the existence on the tanker vehicle of numerous external facilities including filling and discharge ports, access ladders and platforms, and similar impedimenta. The existence of this hardware at the external periphery of the tank has been generally accepted as an inevitable consequence of the functional requirements of the tank.

It can now be seen that in so far as these factors relate to the provision of externally accessible ports and openings, they are related to the security aspects of the vehicle discussed above.

A still further factor relates to tipping of the tank for material discharge purposes. In the case of tanker-transported flowable solid materials, there is a need to tip the tank towards the discharge port to facilitate discharge. Otherwise some alternative provision to encourage material flow towards the discharge port is required. The conventional arrangement is for the tank itself to tip relative to the chassis of the vehicle under the action of hydraulic tipping gear usually provided at the front end of the tank. One aspect of such provision relates to the effect of the tipping gear in relation to laminar air flow over the vehicle during high speed transport as discussed above. However, the major factor relates to the accommodation of the necessary tipping facility in any provision for securing the tank, its ports and conduits from unauthorised access.

An object of the present invention is to provide, for use in relation to road tanker vehicles and the like, a method and apparatus offering improvements in relation to the ease and/or efficiency of securing the tanker contents against risks of the kind identified above, and/or likewise providing in relation to inlet and exit ports for the tank, and/or other externally projecting structures on the tank, a reduction in the co-efficient of frictional drag produced during transit of the tank and due to air resistance.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like. In this specification it is to be understood that references to such a vehicle are intended to include references to a semi-trailer type vehicle as well as to trailers and self-propelled vehicles. A profiled housing provides both a means for securing tanker ports against unauthorised access, and for providing simultaneously a smoothly profiled external periphery in the regions of projecting tanker structures.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like, wherein a profiled housing provides, effectively, an openable extension of the generally smoothly profiled volume of the tank, said profiled housing being located to enclose and secure against unauthorised access one or more ports to the tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like wherein forward and/or rearward openable housings mounted on the main structure of the tanker vehicle are constructed and arranged so as to permit in their opened configurations tipping of the vehicle tank relative to said main structure of the vehicle, while in their closed configuration said housings provide security against unauthorised access to parts of the vehicle located therein.

By providing a profiled housing as mentioned above, the embodiments of the invention provide simultaneous security and an enhanced vehicle profile from the point of view of laminar air flow thereover at relatively high vehicle speeds. By arranging that the housing or housings permit, in their opened configuration, tipping of the tank for discharge purposes, this essential aspect of the operation of the tank is not interfered with while the other functions of the housings are maintained. Moreover, the necessity to open the housings for tipping purposes does not compromise the security features of the product since security risks arise mainly only when the vehicle is unattended, which is not the case during discharge operations.

In embodiments of the invention the profiled housing is arranged to be lockable, preferably under remote control, whereby the plurality of vehicle facilities therein providing security risks are thereby rendered simultaneously secure. The profiled housing may comprise a front housing located at the forward portion-of the tank with respect to the direction of normal forward motion of the vehicle. There may also be provided a rear profiled housing which is correspondingly situated at the rear end of the tank and correspondingly profiled to minimise air turbulence and maximise laminar air flow. There may be provided, linking the front and rear housings, lengthwise extending housings or side panels which serve to define, with associated portions of the vehicle, stowage compartments for the storage of hoses and like adjuncts and fittings of the vehicle.The arrangement is such that the stowage compartment or compartments opens into the front or rear (normally rear) profiled housing for stowage and un-stowage of the hoses and the like. In this way, since access to the hoses is gained only through the lockable rear housing, security of storage of the hoses is readily achieved and obtained more or less instantaneously and simultaneously with the other security functions upon locking the profiled rear housing. In the embodiment, the housings are provided with side hinges having generally upwardly extending hinge axes whereby the openable portions of the housings open outwards, thereby facilitating the tipping action of the tank by moving the relevant portions of the housings out of the way of the structures projecting from the front and rear ends of the tank.

In the embodiments, the profile of the forward housing of the tank is such as to take air current generated in use during road transport, smoothly over the tank, thereby enhancing the laminar flow characteristics of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation view of an articulated road tanker vehicle forming a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation view of the trailer portion of the vehicle of Figure 1; FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 show front elevation and rear elevation and plan views of the trailer portion of the vehicle of Figure 1, as viewed in the directions indicated by arrows III, IV and V respectively in Figure 2; and FIGURES 6 and 7 show two further embodiments of the invention incorporating modified profiles in relation to the structure linking the forward and rearward housings of the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, a tanker vehicle 10 comprises a self-propelled tractor portion 12 and a semi-trailer portion 14 connected by a disconnectable so-called fifth wheel coupling 16 having a generally upwardly extending pivot axis about which vehicle 10 articulates.

Tractor portion 12 comprises forward steerable wheels 18 and driven rear wheels 20, a drivers cab 22 and an air-profiling structure 24 on the roof of cab 22. The vehicle engine (not shown) is located within cab 22. The vehicle fuel tank is located generally at 26.

Turning now to trailer portion 14 of vehicle 10, this comprises a vehicle tank 26 mounted on a chassis (not shown, but extending generally in the fore/aft direction identified by line 28), which is itself mounted on road wheels 30. Tank 26 is mounted on chassis 28 by lateral tank mountings 32, 34 and 36 at each side of the tank.

There is provided at the forward end and likewise at the rearward end of tank 26 a forward profiled housing 38 and a corresponding rearward profiled housing 40. These housings provide means for securing ports and conduits of the tanker against unauthorised access and for providing simultaneously a smoothly profiled external periphery for the tank in the region of projecting tanker structures.

Housings 38 and 40 will be described in more detail below.

As shown in Figure 5, forward and rearward housings 38 and 40 respectively has respective concealed hinge assemblies 42, 44 and 46, 48. The hinge assemblies each has a generally upwardly extending hinge axis and are located at the outer side edges of the housings so that the respective lateral half portions 50, 52 and 54, 56 of the housings 38 and 40 can open outwardly about these axes and away from their respective join lines 58, 60 in the directions indicated by arrows P.

Profiled housings 38 and 40 are constructed as mouldings in a suitable high density polymer. As shown in Figure 2, the upper surface 62 of forward housing 38 is rearwardly and upwardly profiled to guide air in a laminar flow over the top surface 64 of tank 26.

The side edges 66 of forward profiled housing 38 are correspondingly shaped, as seen in Figure 2, to co-operate with the curved profile of the forward end of tank 26.

Within forward housing 38 there is provided (not shown) the tipping ram for tank 26, acting between the tank and the vehicle cnassis 28. There is also provided a short access ladder leading to a corresponding small platform associated with the filling port for tank 26.

Rear housing 40 accommodates pricipally the rear discharge opening of tank 26 together with controls for the tank lifting gear and access to the stowage locations for the tanker hoses.

In this latter regard, the forward and rearward housings 38 and 40 respectively are linked by profiled side panels or housings 68 defining with the associated vehicle structure, stowage spaces for the vehicle hoses, which are accessible only from the rearward housing 40.

In use, housings 38 and 40 are locked at all times except when filling and emptying the tank when they are opened by pivoting about their hinge axes 42, 44 and 46, 48 and pivoting the housing portions outwardly in the directions indicated by arrows P in Figure 5. Tank 26 can then be tipped and then returned to its normal transport attitude seen in Figure 1, and access to hoses gained.

Figures 6 and 7 show modifications of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 in which the side panels or housings 68 are of increased depth in order to provide deeper housings and space for storage purposes. These are indicated at 70 and 72 2 respectively. Otherwise, these embodiments are constructed as described above.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention are the provision of housings of differing sizes and profiles to co-operate with various snapes of tanks and various sizes and forms of structure associated therewith.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS :

1 Apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like comprising a profiled housing adapted to provide both a means for securing tanker ports against unauthorised access, and for providing simultaneously a smoothly profiled external periphery for the tank in the regions of projecting tanker structures.

2 Apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like, wherein a profiled housing provides an openable extension of the profiled volume of the tank, said profiled housing being adapted to be located so as to enclose and secure against unauthorised access one or more ports of the tank.

3 Apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like, wherein forward and/or rearward openable housings adapted to be mounted on the main structure of the tanker vehicle are likewise constructed and arranged so as to permit in their opened configurations tipping of the vehicle tank relative to said main structure of the vehicle, while in their closed configuration said housings provide security against unauthorised access to parts of the vehicle located therein.

4 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said profiled housing is arranged to be lockable.

5 Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising remote control locking means.

6 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said profiled housing comprises a front housing adapted to be located at the forward portion of the tank with respect to the direction of normal forward motion of the vehicle.

7 Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said profiled housing comprises a rear profiled housing adapted to be located at the rear end of the tank with respect to the direction of normal forward motion of the vehicle.

8 Apparatus according to claim 7 comprising, linking said front and rear housings, lengthwiseextending housings serving to define stowage compartments for the storage of hoses and the like.

9 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housings comprise hinge assemblies.

10 Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said hinge assemblies each have a generally upwardly extending hinge axis.

11 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said housings comprise lateral half portions adapted to open outwardly about their hinge axes.

12 Apparatus for use in relation to a road tanker vehicle or the like substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13 A road tanker vehicle comprising apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.