MXPA97001753A - Fund tank pl - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for forming the bottom of a tank for liquids, the tank generally having sides extending upwards comprising the steps of: a) providing a lower plate member of square or rectangular shape having a plurality of sides and corner portions; b) forming the lower plate to provide a raised central portion that slopes downwardly to the sides; c) disintegrating each of the sides upward to form sidewall portions having essentially wall portions extending upward, essentially vertical, the side wall portions also have inclined lower wall portions that slope downwardly from vertical upstanding wall portions to meet the central portion of the bottom of the tank and this way to form a flow line, the flow line extends around the perimeter of the portion cen and has a downward slope that extends from the first of the corner portions to a second of the corner portions, the second corner being positioned diagonally opposite the first corner, and d) forming a drain outlet in the wall portion. bottom of one of the side wall portions adjacent to the second ski

Description

"FLAT TANK" BACKGROAND COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to portable tanks and, more particularly, to flat bottom tanks having improved drainage characteristics. The above tank f are described in the following North American Patents Numbers: 4,733,790 granted to Stein; 4,746,034 issued to Ata et al .; 4,767,021 issued to Pies; 4,782,973 issued to Wiese; 5,253,777 awarded Schutz; 5,136,174 issued to Schutz; and 5,346,094 awarded to Stra. By means of the present invention, there is provided a flat bottom tank with a top head and side walls, and a bottom head of generally square or rectangular shape having four sides and a plurality of flat surfaces formed in a pyramidal configuration extending from the center of the lower head down to the sides. The ends of the sides of the lower head disintegrate upwardly to form a plurality of surfaces of smooth rod walls that fuse with the side walls of the tank. The lower head extends downwards from the sides to intersect the flat surfaces inclined downwards from the center of the lower head and thus form a flow line which, together with the flat intersecting surfaces, defines a channel for directing the flow of liquids. The flow line extends circumferentially arothe interior of the bottom of the tank. The flow line has a raised point placed near a corner of the bottom of the tank and a low point placed near the diagonally opposite corner from the corner of the raised point. A drainage outlet is formed near the low point of the flow line, for final drainage of the contents of the tank. The construction of the tank of the present invention provides essentially complete drainage from the fluid from the tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bottom of the tank of the present invention, with the arrows showing the direction of drainage of the contents. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the tank taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the drainage portion of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the bottom of the tank of the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the tank taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is provided a bottom 10 of the tank having a central head portion 11, flat head portions 12, 14, 16, 18, and an outlet 19 of sewer system. The central portion 11 is of pyramidal configuration having four triangular configuration members 22, 24, 26, 28 extending downwardly from a central point or vertex 20 of the flow line 34 formed by the intersection of the members 22, 24, 26 and 28 central planes, with the respective external head portions 12, 14, 16 and 18. The flow line 34 extends arothe perimeter of the central portion 11. The folds 30, formed by the respective intersections of the flat members 22, 24, 26, 28, extend from the central apex 20 to the flow line 34. Flow line 34, therefore, is basically the intersection of two uniformly contoured flat surfaces that define a channel that extends arothe periphery of the bottom of the tank, without a cut channel or indentation that would interfere with the flow of liquids. This feature is of specific importance when using viscous liquids that tend to adhere to the surfaces of the side wall. In one embodiment, the folds 30 extend to within 10.16 centimeters from the sides of the tank. The bottom 10 of the tank of the present invention can be flat, die-cut or stiffened according to the methods known in the art. In this way, the lower head can be manufactured in different sizes as required by punching or stiffened material in a die with dies. The bottom 10 of the tank is supported by the legs 40 which, in one embodiment of the invention, are of equal height. This is an advantage in relation to the bottoms of the prior art tank which employ one or more legs of a size higher or shorter than the other legs to compensate for the sloping bottom. These prior art tanks are often unbalanced causing the tank to oscillate undesirably.

Each outer head portion 12, 14, 16, 18 disintegrates upwardly on its outer edge in order to have a curved configuration including a respective flat bottom wall portion 42, 44, 46, 48 and a portion 52, 54, 56, 58 vertical upward facing respective terminating on a respective side wall 62, 64, 66, 68. The edges 62, 64, 66, 68 are formed to merge with the side walls of the tank. In one embodiment of the invention, the curved configuration of each outer head portion 12, 14, 16, 18 is formed with a radius disintegration of 5.08 centimeters. The flat bottom wall portions 42, 44, 46, 48 are tilted downward from the vertical portions 52, 54, 56, 58 upwardly to the flow line 34 in order to direct the contents of the tank to the outlet 19 of drainage. The edges 62, 64, 66, 68 of the side wall are essentially of the same height in order to allow the uniform fixing of the tank hull towards the bottom of the tank. The curved configuration of the sidewall portions of the tank bottom 10 provides smooth rounded corners and sides for optimum drainage. These rounded corners offer an advantage over previous devices that have square edges or inside folds that are difficult to clean. This feature of the present invention is especially important for containers in the food and pharmaceutical industries as it promotes the cleaning of the interior surfaces and allows the complete drainage of the liquid from the tank. The flow line 34 is formed by the intersection of the central head portion 11 and the portions 12, 14, 16, 18 of the external head, and inclines downwardly from a raised point at the corner 60 toward the outlet 19. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the flow line 34 is not indented or is provided with a depth greater than the depth formed by the intersection of the central and external head portions. This prevents the liquid product from being collected along the flow line 34, while still allowing the product to flow during drainage. The flow line 34 slopes down from the corner point 60 around the outlet 19 in both a clockwise and a leftward direction to allow the flow that is draining from the tank to run along any path to the outlet 19. This configuration helps to prevent congestion along any specific path to the exit, in one embodiment of the invention, the flow line 34 is at a distance of approximately 9.53 millimeters lower at exit 19 than it is at the corner point 60 The outlet 19 is formed with a cylindrical configuration and is of the same depth as the flow line 34 at the drain point. The outlet 19 is placed near the corner that is diagonally opposite the corner point 60 and in one embodiment is approximately 5.08 centimeters in diameter. The outlet 19 is also positioned exclusively within the outer head portion 14, as shown in Figure 1 and does not extend to the flow line 34 nor to the central head portion 11. In one embodiment of the invention, the outlet 19 is positioned so that its edge closest to the flow line 34 is positioned approximately at a distance of 2.54 centimeters away from the flow line 34. The configuration of the central head portion 11 from the bottom of the tank and the external head portions 12, 14, 16, 18 provide complete drainage of the liquid content within the tank. The pyramidal configuration of the central portion 11 and the curved configuration of the side wall portions direct the flow to the flow line 34 in all directions. The flow line 34 then allows the fluid to pass along its downward slope until it reaches outlet 19. The outlet 19 is placed downward in a uniform outline such that the liquid material within the tank will flow downwardly. from the point of flow line 34 closest to exit 19, towards exit 19 itself. The invention can be encompassed in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit or the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention having been indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes remaining within the scope of the invention. meaning and scale of equivalence of the claims, therefore, are intended to be covered in this.

Claims (24)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S:

1. A method for forming the bottom of a tank for liquids, the tank generally has upwardly extending sides comprising the steps of: a) providing a lower plate member of square or rectangular shape having a plurality of sides and portions of corner; b) forming the lower plate to provide a raised central portion that slopes downwards to the sides; c) disintegrating each of the sides upwardly to form sidewall portions having essentially substantially vertical upwardly extending wall portions, the sidewall portions also having inclined bottom wall portions sloping downwardly from the walls. vertically upstanding wall portions to join the central portion of the bottom of the tank and thus form a flow line, the flow line extends around the perimeter of the central portion and has a downward inclination extending from the first of the corner portions to a second of the corner portions, the second corner being positioned diagonally opposite the first corner; and d) forming a drainage outlet in the lower wall portion of one of the side wall portions adjacent to the second corner.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the central portion is formed in a pyramidal configuration with four flat surfaces of triangular shape, each extending from a central point or vertex downwards to a respective portion of the wall portions lateral and that intersects the lateral wall portions in the flow line.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the side wall portions are formed to round when the vertical wall portions are joined with the inclined lower wall portions.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the corner portions are formed in order to round when the adjacent pairs of the side wall portions are joined.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the side wall portions are formed to be of essentially equal height such that the tank hull can easily be adjusted to the bottom of the tank.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drain outlet is formed to be cylindrical in configuration. .

The method according to claim 1, wherein the drain outlet is separated from the flow line.

The method according to claim 7, wherein the drain outlet is positioned at a distance of approximately 2.54 centimeters from the flow line.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the drain outlet is placed downwardly such that the bottom wall portion of the drain outlet is tilted down to the drain outlet from the point in the flow line closest to the drain outlet.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the central portion and the side wall portions are formed to meet in the flow line in such a way that the flow line is of essentially square rectangular configuration and slopes downwardly. from the first corner in both a right-hand and left-hand directions extending around the perimeter of the central portion.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising mounting a support leg in each corner portion, the support legs being of equal length.

The method according to claim 11, wherein the tank has four corner portions with four support legs of equal length mounted thereon.

13. A portable tank for liquids, the tank generally has sides that extend upwards and a lower head that provides complete drainage of liquids from the tank, wherein the lower head comprises a one-piece construction formed of a plate member lower square or rectangular shape having a plurality of sides and corner portions, the plate member has a raised central portion that slopes downwardly to the sides; the sides of the plate member disintegrate upwardly to form side wall portions which essentially have substantially vertical upwardly extending wall portions, the side wall portions also having inclined bottom wall portions sloping downwardly from the portions thereof. vertically extending wall to join the central portion of the bottom of the tank and thus form a flow line, the flow line extends around the perimeter of the central portion and has a downward inclination that extends from the first corner portion to a second corner portion, the second portion is positioned diagonally opposite the first corner; and with the drain outlet formed in the lower wall portion of one of the side wall portions adjacent to the second corner.

The tank according to claim 13, wherein the central portion is formed in a pyramidal configuration with four flat surfaces of triangular configuration each extending from a central point or vertex downward to a respective portion of the side wall portions. and that intersects the side wall portions in the flow line.

15. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the side wall portions are formed so as to be rounded when the vertical wall portions meet the inclined lower wall portions.

16. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the corner portions are formed in order to round when the adjacent pairs of sidewall portions are joined.

17. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the side wall portions are formed to be essentially equal in height such that the tank hull can easily be adjusted to the bottom of the tank.

18. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the drain outlet is formed to have a cylindrical configuration.

19. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the drain outlet is separated from the flow line.

20. The tank according to claim 19, wherein the drainage outlet is positioned at a distance of approximately 2.54 centimeters from the flow line.

The tank according to claim 13, wherein the drainage outlet is placed downwardly such that the lower wall portion containing the drain outlet slopes down to the drainage outlet from the point at which it is drained. flow line closest to the drain outlet.

22. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the central portion and the side wall portions are formed to meet in the flow line in such a way that the flow line is essentially square or rectangular in configuration and slopes toward down from the first corner in a left-handed direction and a right-handed direction extending around the perimeter of the central portion.

23. The tank according to claim 13, wherein the support leg is mounted on each corner portion, the support legs being of equal length.

24, The tank according to claim 23, wherein the tank has four corner portions with four equal length support legs mounted thereon.