NZ531098A

NZ531098A - Tank assembly for all terrain vehicle with main tank and removably connected auxiliary tank, with underside recess in main tank to accommodate pump

Info

Publication number: NZ531098A
Application number: NZ53109802A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Warwick Bruce Smith; Christopher Torr
Original assignee: C Dax Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-11
Filing date: 2002-06-11
Publication date: 2006-07-28

Abstract

A tank such as a straddle tank for farm / agricultural vehicle has a main tank section 11 which in use extends laterally of a vehicle and two arm sections 12 which extends longitudinally of a vehicle. The tank has a cavity 14 in the underside of the main tank section 11 to accommodate a pump assembly, and each arm section 12 has a distal end which is typically located at a level lower than the main tank section to provide a lower centre of gravity, and therefore aids the stability of the vehicle.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 53 1 0 0 3 No: Divided out of NZ patent application no. 512301 Date: 11 June 2002 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN TANKS WE, C-DAX SYSTEMS LIMITED a New Zealand company of 145 Harts Road, Tiritea, Palmerston North, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- -1- ""ofw" wP^ERTY 1 2 FEB 2004 REC EIVEq 2 TITLE OF THE INVENTION IMPROVEMENTS IN TANKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a tank. 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 rear carrier of the ATV) and has at least one 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. For stability reasons it is desirable that the tank not adversely affect the balance of the ATV. However, some of the tanks of this type have effectively impacted on the centre of gravity of the ATV when loaded with the tank and consequently instability problems have arisen. Tanks of this type do not generally include provision for carrying a supply of chemicals or clean water. Thus a user may have to return to a point where chemicals are spec460 11 Feburary 2004 3 stored so as to refill the tank when chemical spraying is taking place. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the present invention to provide a tank which is particularly useful for mounting on an All Terrain Vehicle and which is provided a means of readily carrying a supply of chemicals or clean water. Broadly according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tank including a main tank section which in use extends laterally of a vehicle and at least one arm section which extends longitudinally of the vehicle, the tank being characterised in having an auxiliary tank removably mounted thereto. Preferably the tank has in the underside thereof a cavity to accommodate a pump assembly, the pump assembly being held in place in the cavity by a removable cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following more detailed description of the invention according to one preferred embodiment reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- spec460 11 Keburary 2004 4 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, 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, Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the arrangement shown in Figure 8, spec460 11 Feburary 20(14 5 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, Figure 13 is a plan view of the valve, and Figure 14 is a section on line F-F of Figure 13. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In line with known constructions the tank 10 can be formed by a rotational plastic moulding process. The tank is, therefore, formed in one piece. 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 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. spec460 11 Keburary 2004 6 A cavity 14 is formed in the underside of the lateral section 11. The pump 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 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 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 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 cavity 14 is that it is hidden away from view spec460 11 Feburary 2004 7 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 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. 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 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 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 spec460 11 f eburary 2004 8 of the annular wall 45a can be formed with or carry a screw thread. An attachment ring 45 with an internal screw thread (which conforms with that on the annular wall) can 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. 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 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 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. spcc460 1 I Feburary 2004 9 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 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. 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 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). spcc460 11 Feburary 2004 10 Because favourable suction remains between the ball valve 17 and the 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 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 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 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. spec460 11 Feburary 2004 11 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 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 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 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. spec460 11 Feburary 2004 12 Generally a straddle tank of this type will be fixed to the vehicle by ratchet 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. 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. 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 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. The auxiliary tank 21 is readily removable if not required. However, when in place it not only provides a spec460 11 heburary 2004 13 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 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 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. 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. spec460 11 Feburary 2004 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 14 What we claim is:

1. A tank assembly, for mounting on an all terrain vehicle, the assembly including a main tank and an auxiliary tank for retention of a liquid separate from any liquid held within the main tank; and a mounting arrangement for removably engaging the auxiliary tank with the main tank, wherein the main tank has a tank wall incorporating a recess in an underside portion of the main tank, configured and arranged to, in use, accommodate a pump assembly.

2. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auxiliary tank includes a hose mounting means.

3. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auxiliary tank further includes a spray handpiece mounting means.

4. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the auxiliary tank includes at least one wing member whereby the auxiliary tank can be strapped onto the main tank.

5. A tank assembly as claimed in any preceding claim including a cover for holding a said pump assembly in the recess. intellectual property office Or N.2. - 8 RAY 2008 15

6. A tank assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the main tank has a main tank section which, in use and with the tank assembly mounted on an all terrain vehicle, extends laterally of the said vehicle and at least one arm section which extends longitudinally of the said vehicle, wherein each arm section has a distal end which is located at a level lower than the main tank section.

7. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said distal end incorporates a valve.

8. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 7 including a pump assembly connected to each valve by a conduit which extends from the pump assembly, through the tank wall, and then internally of the main tank through at least a part of the main tank section and down the arm with which the valve is incorporated, to the valve.

9. A tank assembly claimed in. claim 7 or 8 wherein the valve is removable externally of the arm sufficient to gain access to a filter associated with the valve.

10. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the filter is mounted on the valve. intellectual property office of HI. - 3 MAY 2006 11. 16 A tank assembly as claimed in any preceding claim including an opening with a removable closure in an upper part of the auxiliary tank. 13. 14. 15. A tank assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a drain valve is located in a lower part of the auxiliary tank. A tank assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting arrangement suspends the auxiliary tank from a section of the wall of the main tank. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the auxiliary tank includes a pair of oppositely disposed wing members about which straps means are engaged to strap the auxiliary tank onto the main tank. A tank assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the auxiliary tank is configured and arranged to, in use and with the tank assembly mounted on an all terrain vehicle, extend laterally of the said vehicle. A tank assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the auxiliary tank is contoured to follow the contours of the part of the main tank with which the auxiliary tank is engaged. inlellectuai. property office of m.z. O '• * •• 6 17. 17 A assembly tank substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. intellect! UAL PROPERTY office OF i-il. </div>