US20050189358A2 - Baffled Tank for a Vehicle - Google Patents
Baffled Tank for a Vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050189358A2 US20050189358A2 US10/411,827 US41182703A US2005189358A2 US 20050189358 A2 US20050189358 A2 US 20050189358A2 US 41182703 A US41182703 A US 41182703A US 2005189358 A2 US2005189358 A2 US 2005189358A2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tank
- baffle
- door
- opening
- interior
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 102
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 claims description 29
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000282412 Homo Species 0.000 claims 3
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 17
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 12
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 11
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000013049 sediment Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009412 basement excavation Methods 0.000 description 2
- JEIPFZHSYJVQDO-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron(III) oxide Inorganic materials O=[Fe]O[Fe]=O JEIPFZHSYJVQDO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 241000876443 Varanus salvator Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000012206 bottled water Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003344 environmental pollutant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005429 filling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003595 mist Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100000719 pollutant Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007306 turnover Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/22—Tank vehicles
- B60P3/2205—Constructional features
- B60P3/2235—Anti-slosh arrangements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D33/00—Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles
- B62D33/04—Enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains
- B62D33/042—Enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains divided into compartments
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M1/00—Carburettors with means for facilitating engine's starting or its idling below operational temperatures
- F02M1/02—Carburettors with means for facilitating engine's starting or its idling below operational temperatures the means to facilitate starting or idling being chokes for enriching fuel-air mixture
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M19/00—Details, component parts, or accessories of carburettors, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M1/00 - F02M17/00
- F02M19/06—Other details of fuel conduits
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04C14/00—Control of, monitoring of, or safety arrangements for, machines, pumps or pumping installations
- F04C14/24—Control of, monitoring of, or safety arrangements for, machines, pumps or pumping installations characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves or unloading valves
- F04C14/26—Control of, monitoring of, or safety arrangements for, machines, pumps or pumping installations characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves or unloading valves using bypass channels
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/0318—Processes
- Y10T137/0402—Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
- Y10T137/0441—Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/6851—With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations
- Y10T137/6855—Vehicle
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/7287—Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
- Y10T137/7358—By float controlled valve
- Y10T137/7413—Level adjustment or selection means
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/7722—Line condition change responsive valves
- Y10T137/7781—With separate connected fluid reactor surface
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/7722—Line condition change responsive valves
- Y10T137/7781—With separate connected fluid reactor surface
- Y10T137/7784—Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/86187—Plural tanks or compartments connected for serial flow
- Y10T137/86212—Plural compartments formed by baffles
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/86187—Plural tanks or compartments connected for serial flow
- Y10T137/86228—With communicating opening in common walls of tanks or compartments
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/86292—System with plural openings, one a gas vent or access opening
- Y10T137/86324—Tank with gas vent and inlet or outlet
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/86348—Tank with internally extending flow guide, pipe or conduit
Definitions
- This invention pertains to tanks for storing and dispensing fluids, and in particular, to such tanks which are mobile and mounted on vehicles.
- Dust control can be a particular problem on construction sites, building demolition sites, excavation sites and mine sites.
- the mine haul roads essentially consist of dirt and gravel. Dust control is necessary on the haul roads so that the operators of mining vehicles can readily see the other mining vehicles using the roads.
- dust control on mine haul roads is a safety issue.
- dust clouds caused by vehicles operating on the haul roads can adversely impact air quality potentially creating environmental issues particularly where the dust clouds drift beyond the mine site.
- water tanker trucks which are used to water down the haul roads in order to control dust.
- Such water tanker trucks generally have a plurality of spray nozzles positioned on either the forward or rearward sections of the vehicles to dispense a fluid spray or mist onto the ground.
- the water tanker truck can also have hoses or a water monitor/cannon for washing down other mining equipment and, in some cases, fire control.
- water tanker trucks used in mining operations can have fluid capacities of over 50,000 gallons.
- vehicle stability is a critical issue when transporting large volumes of water that, in the case of a 50,000 gallon tank, can carry a water load of over 200 tons.
- surging and wave motion of the fluid particularly transverse surging resulting from centrifugal forces experienced during turning of the truck can cause a tanker truck to become unstable or even turn over on its side.
- the tank is provided with internal baffles.
- the interior of the tanks must undergo periodic maintenance.
- the interior surfaces of the tank may need to be periodically cleaned and re-coated with a rust protection coating such as an epoxy.
- a rust protection coating such as an epoxy.
- a general object of the present invention is to provide an improved baffled tank for a tanker truck such as is used for dust control in mining operations, construction sites and the like.
- a more specific object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a tank for such a tanker truck which has an improved baffling system.
- Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a baffled tank for such a tanker truck which is configured so that work can much more easily be performed inside the tank.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on the chassis of an off-highway truck.
- FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the tank of FIG. 1 mounted on the chassis of an off-highway truck.
- FIG. 3 is a cut away perspective view of the tank of FIG. 1 showing the assembled internal baffle system.
- FIG. 4 is a cut away side elevation view of the tank of FIG. 1 showing the assembled internal baffle system.
- FIG. 5 is a cut away top plan view of the assembled internal baffle system of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 6 is a cut away rear elevation view of the assembled internal baffle system of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1 taken in the plane of line 8-8 in FIG. 7.
- FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the inside of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1 looking from the inside of the center section of the tank.
- FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 14-14 in FIG. 13 of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1 looking from the inside of the center section of the tank.
- FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 18-18 in FIG. 17 of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view of one of the hinged baffles of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 20 is an enlarged rear elevation view of one of the hinges of the hinged baffle of FIG. 19.
- FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 21-21 in FIG. 19 showing an exemplary cover plate installed over the access opening in the hinged baffle door.
- FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the tank of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the baffle system of the tank of FIG. 1 showing an alternative pivotal baffle door configuration with the pivotal baffle doors in the closed position.
- FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the tank baffle system and alternative pivotal baffle door configuration of FIG. 23 with the pivotal baffle doors in the open position.
- FIG. 25 is a perspective view of one of the pivotal baffle doors of FIG. 23 installed in a baffle.
- FIG. 26 is a perspective view of one of the pivotal baffle doors of FIG. 23.
- FIG. 27 is a schematic drawing showing three baffles.
- the first baffle has an access opening therein, but does not have a baffle door.
- the second baffle has an alternative baffle door in the open position.
- the third baffle has the alternative baffle door in the closed position.
- FIG. 28 is a plan view of three baffles showing the first step in a process for creating the access openings and baffle doors of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23.
- FIG. 29 is a plan view of three baffles and three baffle doors showing the second step in a process for creating the access openings and baffle doors of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23.
- FIG. 29 is a plan view of three baffles with assembled baffle doors showing the final step in a process for creating the access openings and baffle doors of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23.
- FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the center section of an alternative internal baffle system for a tank according to the present invention.
- FIG. 32 is a top plan view of the alternative internal baffle system of FIG. 31.
- FIG. 33 is an end view of the alternative internal baffle system of FIG. 31.
- FIG. 34 is a side elevation view of the alternative internal baffle system of FIG. 31.
- FIG. 35 is a perspective view of another alternative internal baffle system for a tank according to the present invention.
- FIG. 36 is a top plan view of the alternative tank internal baffle system of FIG. 35.
- FIG. 37 is an end view of the alternative tank internal baffle system of FIG. 35.
- FIG. 38 is a schematic drawing of a hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic drive motor for the fluid pump of the tank according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 38A is a schematic drawing of an alternative hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic drive motor for the fluid pump of the tank.
- FIG. 39 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit of FIG. 38 operating when the hydraulic drive motor for the fluid pump is first started.
- FIG. 40 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit of FIG. 38 operating when the hydraulic drive motor and fluid pump have reached their normal operating revolutions per minute (RPM).
- RPM revolutions per minute
- FIG. 41 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit of FIG. 38 indicating that hydraulic flow to the hydraulic drive motor has stopped and the hydraulic drive motor and fluid pump are coasting to a stop.
- FIG. 42 is a partial perspective view of a baffled tank equipped with a fluid agitation system.
- FIG. 43 is a top plan view of the fluid agitation system of FIG. 42.
- FIG. 44 is an enlarged perspective view of the fluid agitation system of FIG. 42.
- FIG. 45 is a simplified perspective view of the components of the fluid agitation system of FIG. 42.
- FIG. 46 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with a variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck.
- FIG. 47 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with an alternative variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck.
- FIG. 48 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with another alternative variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck.
- FIG. 49 is an enlarged view of the end of the air releasing control mechanism of FIG. 48.
- FIG. 50 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with another alternative variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck.
- FIG. 51 is a perspective view of an exemplary tank equipped with a plurality of unique lifting eyes.
- FIG. 52 is a partially cut away, perspective view of one of the lifting eyes of FIG. 51.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown an exemplary tanker truck 10 having a tank 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention.
- the tanker truck 10 includes a chassis 14 which is supported on a plurality of tires 16 and on which the tank 12 is mounted. While the tank 12 of the present invention is described in the context of an off-highway tanker truck, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to relatively large tanks mounted on other types of vehicles such as, for example, on-highway trucks, trailers, off-highway earth-moving scrapers and airplanes.
- the tank 12 can be attached to the chassis 14 for pivotal movement into a raised position so as to allow access to components on the tanker truck 10 such as the drive train, transmission, or gear differential.
- the tank 12 can be moved between the raised and lowered positions by actuation of a hoist cylinder 18 carried on the chassis 14 of the tanker truck 10.
- the tank 12 can also be rigidly mounted on the chassis 14.
- the tank 12 consists of a pair of opposing sidewalls 20, a rear wall 22, a front wall 24, a top wall 25 and a floor 26.
- the floor 26 includes the components for mounting the tank to the chassis including the tank/chassis pivots 28 and the mounts 30 for the hoist cylinder 18 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 7).
- the floor support structure includes the longitudinally extending tank frame rails 31 and a plurality of laterally extending cross supports 33. This floor support structure adds to the structural integrity of the tank 12. Moreover, because the floor 26 of the tank 12 follows the top of the truck frame, the tank is mounted lower on the truck chassis improving the stability of the tank and, in turn, the tanker truck. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG.
- the floor 26 angles downward as it extends from the rear wall 22 to the front wall 24. Additionally, the front wall 24 includes a portion which is angled away from the rear wall 22 of the tank 12. It will be appreciated that the walls of the tank 12 can have any shape including curved.
- the tank 12 For discharging fluid, the tank 12 includes, in this case, a plurality of spray nozzles which are supplied by a spray bar assembly 32 arranged on the exterior of the rear wall 22 of the tank 12 and in communication with a fluid pump mounted on the rear of the tank 12. As shown in FIG. 2 , the illustrated embodiment includes four lower spray nozzles 34 spaced across the width of the tank 12 for producing a horizontal flat spray to the rear of the tanker truck 10. The tank 12 also includes two upper spray nozzles 36 which are arranged to provide a vertical spray to the sides of the tanker truck 10. Of course, the spray nozzles can be arranged in various other locations on the tank 12 including on the sides and the front.
- the tank 12 can be provided with one or more hose reels 39 and manually or remote-controlled monitors or cannons 41 for distributing fluid onto other equipment, material piles and other hard to reach areas as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the hose reels 39 and monitors 41 could also be used for fire fighting.
- a pump can be provided to disburse the fluid into the spray bar assembly 32 and thereby into the various spray nozzles. It will be appreciated that the tank 12 of the present invention is not limited to any particular method or arrangement for discharging the fluid.
- the top wall 25 of the tank 12 includes a fill hole 38, as shown FIG. 2 , through which the tank can be filled. Additionally, a ventilation tube 40 is provided through the top wall 25 of the tank 12 to facilitate the filling process.
- the tank 12 can also be provided with a water level gauge such as for example a sight gauge. To permit an operator to have access to what is typically the active work area on the top of the tank 12, for example to assist in the filling operation, the tank 12 can optionally include a ladder 42 and a guard rail 44 which goes around the outer edges of the top wall 25 of the tank 12 such as shown in FIG. 1.
- the tank 12 includes a novel baffle system in which the structural components of the tank also serve as baffles. Moreover, as described in detail below, the baffle system can also be configured to make the interior of the tank 12 much more accessible to workers than baffled tanks that are presently available.
- the baffle system is best described by separating the tank into a center section 46 best shown in FIGS. 7-10 and left and right side sections 48, 50 best shown in FIGS. 11-14 and 15-18, respectively, that are symmetrical with each other. Though, as can be appreciated, relatively smaller tanks could be produced in a single section.
- the entire baffle system is shown assembled together in FIGS. 3-6 . Left and right are used herein with reference to looking forward from the rear of tanker truck 10 of FIG. 1 towards the front.
- the center, left and right side sections 46, 48, 50 can comprise separate components that are assembled together.
- the left and right side sections 48, 50 can be connected to their respective side of the center section 46 via welding or any other appropriate method to form the tank 12.
- the three-piece construction allows the tank 12 to be broken into relatively smaller components for shipment.
- other aspects of the present invention such as the baffle arrangement described below, are not limited to tanks having a three-piece construction, rather they can be incorporated into single-piece tanks or tanks consisting of any number of components.
- the center section 46 has longitudinal baffles that generally form an X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 (see FIGS. 3 , 6, 8 and 10).
- this X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 also provides the structural supports for the top wall 25 and floor 26 of the tank.
- the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extends vertically between the top wall 25 and floor 26 of the tank 12 and has a rectangular shaped chamber 54 arranged in its center. In particular, as best shown in FIG.
- upper legs 56 of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extend between an upper surface 60 of the chamber 54 and the top wall 25 of the tank 12 and lower legs 58 of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extend between a lower surface 62 of the chamber 54 and the floor 26 of the tank.
- the rectangular chamber 54 and the upper and lower legs 56, 58 of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extend longitudinally through the center section 46 between the front 24 and rear 22 walls of the tank 12 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 .
- the rectangular chamber 54 in this case, gets gradually larger as it extends from the rear end of the center section 46 towards the front end because the lower surface 62 of the chamber 54 angles downward parallel in relation to the chassis 14 and the tank floor 26 as shown in FIG. 7.
- a plurality of holes 64 are provided in the upper and lower surfaces 60, 62 (best shown in FIGS. 4 , 6 and 8) of the rectangular chamber 54 to allow fluid to work its way downward in the tank 12 during filling or emptying of the tank.
- holes 66 are provided along the upper edges of the upper legs 56 and the lower edges of the lower legs 58, as shown in FIG. 7 , to assist fluid in migrating through the entire tank 12.
- openings 68 are provided, in this instance, in the middle of upper and lower legs 56, 58 of the longitudinal X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 as shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 7.
- some or all of these openings 68 can be closed with loose fitting hatch plates to prevent the lateral surging of the fluid in the tank.
- the hatch plates are received in slots which are arranged on either side of the openings 68 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 7 .
- the loose hatch plates can be removed to provide access to the interior of the upper and lower portions of the longitudinal X-shaped baffle arrangement 52.
- baffles are arranged between the legs of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52.
- an upper lateral baffle 72 is provided between the upper legs 56 and a lower lateral baffle 74 between the lower legs 58 at spaced intervals along the length of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52.
- side lateral baffles 76 are provided to either side of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 at spaced intervals along the length thereof.
- the access openings 78 in the upper and lower lateral baffles 72, 74 can be closed by loose fitting hatch plates that are received in slots to either side of each opening 78 (see, e.g., FIG. 8 in which exemplary slots are shown for the upper access opening 78).
- at least one of the access openings 68 in the legs 56, 58 of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 is arranged between each pair of upper and lower lateral baffles 72, 74 and side lateral baffles 76 to allow access into each compartment created by the upper and lower lateral baffles and side lateral baffles 76.
- Additional lateral baffling can also be provided to either side of the center section 46 in the left and right side sections 48, 50.
- the left and right sections 48, 50 are mirror images of each other.
- Each side section 48, 50 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced C-shaped ribs 82 as best shown in FIGS. 11 , 13, 15 and 17. These C-shaped ribs 82 extend around the interior surface of each side section 48, 50 (see, e.g., FIG.
- each side section 48, 50 includes parallel upper and lower sets of reinforcing plates 84 as shown in FIGS. 11 , 13, 15 and 17. These reinforcing plates 84 disrupt side-to-side liquid surging, particularly up the sidewalls 20 of the tank 12 thereby also acting as sidewall baffles or surge suppressor plates 84. As shown in FIGS.
- each of the sidewall baffles or surge suppressor plates 84 include, in this case, a first leg that extends inward at a downward angle from the sidewall of the tank 12 and a second leg extending downward from the end of the first leg. Side-to-side liquid surging is further disrupted by the generally squared-off, sharp transitional bends between the floor 26 and sidewalls 20 of the tank 12.
- Lateral baffle doors 88 are provided in each side section 48, 50 that extend between the C-shaped ribs 82 and the center X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 5 .
- these lateral baffle doors 88 are pivotally supported or hinged such that they can swing into an open position in which they extend longitudinally with respect to the tank 12.
- the side sections 48, 50 are substantially open from end-to-end.
- an access opening 90 is provided in each of the hinged baffle doors 88 which can be closed by a loose fitting hatch plate 91 (see, e.g., FIGS. 19 and 21).
- a hatch plate such as shown in FIGS. 19 and 21 could also be used to close any of the other access openings provided in the other baffles.
- each hinged baffle door 88 For supporting the hinged baffle doors 88, a plurality of longitudinally spaced upright support members 92 that extend between the floor 26 and top wall 25 of the tank 12 are provided on either side of the center section 46 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 .
- Hinges 94 are provided on each the upright support members 92 (see FIGS. 19 and 20 ) for pivotally supporting one edge of a respective hinged baffle door 88.
- the other end of each hinged baffle door 88 can be secured in a closed, deployed position by a pair of chains 96 that are captured in corresponding keyways 98 in the C-shaped ribs 82 as shown in FIG. 19 .
- the hinged baffle doors 88 are substantially aligned with the lateral baffles 72, 74, 76 that extend between the legs 56, 58 of the center X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 as shown in FIGS. 3 , 5 and 6.
- the hinged baffle doors 88 allow the side sections 48, 50 to be constructed in a manner similar to the hull of a ship with the C-shaped ribs 82 supporting the walls of the tank 12. However, the C-shaped ribs 82 also form part of the lateral baffling in the tank 12 when the hinged baffle doors 88 are closed. Thus, the illustrated baffling configuration also allows the structural components of the side sections of the tank 12 to also serve as baffles. Alternatively, the C-shaped ribs 82 could be arranged on the exterior surface of the tank 12 with the hinged baffle doors 88 being latched directly to the inside surface of the sidewalls 20.
- Attaching the hinged baffle doors 88 to the center section 46 can also permit the left and right side sections 48, 50 to be interlocked for shipment on a single truck.
- the center section 46 then can be shipped separately with the hinged baffle doors 88 swung into the longitudinally extending open position against the outside of the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52.
- the tank 12 can include entry hatches 100 in the sides and/or ends of the tank.
- an entry hatch 100 is provided in both the front wall 24 and rear wall 22 of the tank 12 for each of the tank sections 46, 48, 50.
- an entry hatch 100 is provided at either end of the center section 46.
- entry hatches 100 are provided in either end of both side sections 48, 50.
- These entry hatches 100 can be closed by corresponding hatch plates 102 such as shown in FIG. 2.
- the hatches 100 can be opened to provide light and air into the interior of the tank.
- the hinged baffle doors 88 By swinging the hinged baffle doors 88 into their open positions and removing the loose fitting hatch plates 91 on the access openings in the various baffles, all of the compartments inside the tank 12 can be easily accessed thereby minimizing confined space concerns.
- the hinged baffle doors 88 in the open position workers can see and walk from one end of the tank 12 to the other substantially unobstructed.
- the entry hatches 100 can also allow the hinged baffle doors 88 or other internal baffling structures to be inserted into or removed from the interior of the tank 12 after the components are assembled together.
- each lifting eye 804 includes a body 806 and a reinforcing plate 808.
- the body 806 includes a keyed lower portion 810 and an upper portion 812 having the eye formed therein.
- the reinforcing plate 808 includes an opening through which the upper portion 812 of the body 806 can extend.
- the opening in the reinforcing plate 808 is configured such that when the body 806 is inserted through the opening, the keyed lower portion 810 of the body 806, which is larger than the opening in the reinforcing plate 808, abuts against the lower surface 814 of the reinforcing plate 808.
- the upper portion 812 of the body 806 extends through an opening in the top wall 815 of the tank 802 such that the eye is positioned above the upper surface 816 of the tank top wall 815.
- the reinforcing plate 808 is larger than the opening in the tank top wall 815 through which the upper portion 812 of the body 806 extends so that the upper surface 818 of the reinforcing plate 808 abuts against the lower surface 820 of the tank top wall 815.
- the reinforcing plate 808 helps to distribute the load applied to the top wall 815 of the tank when the tank 802 is lifted using the lifting eyes.
- each of the hatch plates associated with the access openings in the baffles is in the form of a pivotal baffle door 202 that is movable between open and closed positions.
- each pivotal baffle door 202 is supported for pivotal movement on the corresponding baffle (a generic baffle section 204 is shown in FIG. 25 ) by hinges.
- the hinges can comprise tabs/hooks 206 that extend at an angle from an edge of the pivotal baffle door 202 (see FIG. 26 ) and are received in corresponding slots 208 provided in the baffle 204 adjacent the access opening 210 (see FIG. 25).
- the tabs/hooks 206 will not fail as a result of rust despite being submerged in water thereby helping to ensure reliable operation of the pivotal baffle doors 202.
- the pivotal baffle doors 202 can be secured in the closed position by any suitable means such as bolts or chains. To provide added strength, the pivotal baffle doors 202 can be bent as shown in FIG. 27 .
- the pivotal baffle doors 202 or hatch plates 91 used to provide access through the various baffles can have any suitable configuration that allows the door or plate to be moved between open and closed positions.
- the pivotal baffle doors 202 also can be formed from the pieces that are cut out of the baffles 204 to create the access openings 210.
- the door skeleton is first cut out of ( FIG. 28 ) and separated from ( FIG. 29 ) one of the baffle pieces 212.
- the door skeleton includes the main body of the pivotal baffle door 202 as well as the tabs/hooks 206.
- the slots 208 for the tabs/hooks 206 are also cut out of the baffle piece 212. The tabs/hooks 206 are then bent and the pivotal baffle door 202 is flipped over and the pivotal baffle door 202 hung by inserting the tabs/hooks 206 into the slots 208 as shown in FIG. 30.
- side baffles 214 (shown individually in FIG. 27 ) having central pivotal baffle doors 202 are provided to either side of the center X-shaped baffle arrangement 252.
- the side baffles 214 extend from the center X-shaped baffle arrangement 252 to the inside surface of the sidewall of the tank.
- the pivotal baffle doors 202 in the side baffles 214 pivot between a closed position wherein the pivotal baffle door 202 extends laterally ( FIG. 23 ) and an open position wherein the pivotal baffle door 202 extends more longitudinally (FIG. 24).
- the pivotal baffle doors 202 are relatively smaller than the lateral baffle doors 88 used in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-22 and, thus, are easier to move between the open and closed positions.
- FIGS. 31-34 An alternative baffle system incorporating an X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement 352 that is particularly suited for relatively smaller tanks is shown in FIGS. 31-34 .
- the X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement 352 illustrated in FIGS. 31-34 is generally similar to the X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 except that it does not include a longitudinally extending center chamber.
- the X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement 352 includes a horizontal center baffle 354, upper baffle legs 356 and lower baffle legs 358.
- the upper baffle legs 356 extend between the horizontal center baffle 354 and the top wall 325 of the tank and the lower baffle legs 358 extend between the horizontal center baffle 354 and the floor 326 of the tank.
- the horizontal center baffle 354 and upper and lower baffle legs 356, 358 extend longitudinally through the tank between the front and rear walls of the tank as shown in FIGS. 31 , 33 and 34.
- access openings 368 are provided therein at spaced intervals along the length thereof.
- vertically extending lateral baffles 372, 374 and 376 are arranged between the upper 356 and lower baffle legs 358 of the X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement 352.
- an upper lateral baffle 372 is provided between the upper baffle legs 356 and a lower lateral baffle 374 is provided between the lower baffle legs 358 at spaced intervals along the length of the X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement 352.
- side lateral baffles 376 are provided to either side of the X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement 352 at spaced intervals along the length thereof.
- access openings 378 are provided in each of the upper 372 and lower lateral baffles 374. At least one of the access openings 368 in the upper 356 and lower baffle legs 358 is also arranged between each pair of upper 372 and lower lateral baffles 374 and side lateral baffles 376 to ensure that there is adequate access into each of the compartments defined by the baffles.
- Each of these access openings 368, 378 is configured to receive an associated pivotal baffle door like the baffle doors 202 illustrated in FIGS. 25-30 .
- FIGS. 1-22 when selected ones of the baffle doors associated with the access openings in the various baffles are open, it is possible for workers to traverse from the entry hatch in the rear wall of the tank to the entry hatch in the front wall of the tank.
- FIGS. 35-37 Another baffle system particularly suited for relatively small tanks is shown in FIGS. 35-37 .
- the baffle system illustrated in FIGS. 35-37 does not include an X-shaped center baffle arrangement.
- the baffle system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending baffles 402 which extend between the front and rear walls 424, 422 of the tank and a plurality of lateral baffles 404 that extend between the sidewalls 420 of the tank.
- the tank further includes sidewall baffles/surge suppressors 410 on the sidewalls 420 of the tank as shown in FIG. 37 .
- Each of the lateral baffles 404 is provided with a central access opening 406 and each longitudinal extending baffle 402 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced access openings 408 so as to provide a means for accessing each of the compartments in the tank defined by the baffles.
- each of these access openings 406, 408 is configured to receive a pivotal baffle door like that illustrated in FIGS. 25-30 and when selected ones of the doors are open it is possible for a person to traverse between the entry hatch in the front wall 424 of the tank and the entry hatch in the rear wall 422 of the tank.
- a hydraulic motor can be provided which is, in turn, powered by the hydraulic system of the tanker truck.
- tanks that are to be used in off-highway applications are often mounted to off-highway dump or scraper trucks that have been converted by removal of the dump body or scraper bowl.
- Such trucks typically are equipped with a hydraulic fluid system that can be used to drive a hydraulic motor and fluid pump associated with the tank.
- the hydraulic systems on these trucks are typically used for dumping loads, they can produce relatively high flow rates and pressures.
- the hydraulic systems on these trucks may produce a flow rate of 100-200 gallons per minute at a pressure of up to 2500-3000 psi at normal truck engine operating speeds.
- Such flow rates and pressures do not pose problems for the hydraulic cylinders that are typically used to dump loads.
- these flow rates and pressures can cause problems when the truck hydraulic system is tied into a hydraulic motor such as is used to power the fluid pump for a tank.
- the hydraulic motor and the fluid pump associated with the tank can subject the hydraulic motor and the fluid pump associated with the tank to a significant shock load.
- the hydraulic motor associated with a tank may be designed to turn at approximately 2000 RPM at full hydraulic flow.
- the hydraulic motor essentially would have to accelerate instantaneously to 2000 RPM in order to alleviate the shock of the hydraulic fluid supplied by the truck hydraulic system.
- the hydraulic motor is not capable of such rapid acceleration.
- the hydraulic motor is connected through a coupling to the fluid pump, the inertia caused by the fluid pump impeller and any fluid in the pump also has to be overcome at start-up.
- a soft start/stop system can be provided.
- a hydraulic valve 502 is provided in a bypass line 506 that extends parallel to the hydraulic motor 504 supply line that powers the tank fluid pump (not shown in FIGS 38-41).
- This hydraulic valve 502 permits hydraulic fluid supplied through a supply line 510 from the truck hydraulic system, particularly at high truck engine RPMs, to bypass the hydraulic motor 504 through the parallel bypass line 506 and return to the truck hydraulic fluid tank 508 (via tank line 512) until the hydraulic motor 504, coupling and fluid pump come up to normal operating RPM.
- the hydraulic valve 502 comprises a standard pressure relief valve that preferably opens relatively quickly (e.g., 10-50 milliseconds) after pressure is sensed at both the inlet port of the hydraulic motor 504 and the hydraulic valve 502.
- the pressure relief valve can be either direct or pilot-operated.
- the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 opens, the hydraulic fluid flow that the hydraulic motor 504 is unable to accept as it accelerates to full operating speed is allowed to bypass the hydraulic motor 504 through the parallel bypass line 506 and return to the truck hydraulic fluid tank 508. As the hydraulic motor 504 begins to come up to normal operating RPM, it is able to accept more of the hydraulic fluid thereby reducing the pressure at the inlet to the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502. As a result, the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 gradually closes so that more of the hydraulic fluid flow from supply line 510 goes through the hydraulic motor 504.
- FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram of the soft start/stop system operating in a fluid pump running mode with the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 closed (arrows show the flow of hydraulic fluid through the system).
- a soft start pressure relief valve differs from a standard pressure relief valve in that in its normal non-operative state, the soft-start valve is open.
- the soft-start valve instead of allowing hydraulic fluid to bypass around the hydraulic motor 504 only after the pressure has built to a certain value, during start-up of the hydraulic motor, the soft-start valve initially permits all of the hydraulic fluid to bypass the hydraulic motor 504 and return to the truck hydraulic fluid tank 508. Then, over a prescribed time interval (e.g., 250 milliseconds), the soft-start valve gradually closes thereby allowing the pressure at the hydraulic motor 504 to gradually build.
- the soft-start pressure relief valve limits the rate at which the pressure at the hydraulic motor 504 rises. Once closed, the soft-start valve functions as a normal pressure relief valve limiting the maximum system pressure.
- An example of a soft-start pilot operated relief valve that could be used in the soft start/stop system of the present invention is the RPGT valve available from Sun Hydraulics. Of course, it will be appreciated that other soft-start valves could also be used.
- a one-way check valve 514 can be installed in the bypass line 506 parallel to the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 that would allow hydraulic fluid to circulate from the outlet port of the hydraulic motor 504 through the bypass line 506 and back to the fluid supply line 510 and the inlet port of the hydraulic motor 504.
- the check valve 514 is configured to block flow in the direction from supply line 510 ensuring that the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from supply line 510 through the bypass line 506 towards the truck hydraulic fluid tank 508. This arrangement creates a closed loop that allows the momentum of the turning hydraulic motor and pump to gradually dissipate when the supply of hydraulic fluid from the truck hydraulic system is shut-off.
- FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram of the soft start/stop system operating in the pump shut down mode with hydraulic fluid flowing through the one-way check valve 514 (arrows show the flow of hydraulic fluid through the system).
- Tanker trucks used in environments like construction sites, building demolition sites, excavation sites and mine sites are often filled with polluted water.
- these sites may have run-off collection ponds from which polluted non-potable water is pumped for use in tanker trucks.
- This polluted water may have a high degree of suspended solids. Since this water is used for various non-drinking purposes, these pollutants/suspended solids in no way inhibit the operation or effectiveness of these tanks. However, these suspended solids may settle to the tank floor or onto other internal tank surfaces (e.g., baffles) as sediment if a tanker truck is allowed to sit for any period of time. This sediment, depending on its chemical makeup, may cause accelerated corroding of the floor, baffles or other surfaces in the tank even if stainless steel is used.
- baffles internal tank surfaces
- the tank of the present invention can include a tank agitation system.
- the tank can include a closed loop fluid circuit which draws fluid from the tank through the tank fluid pump and pumps it back into the tank at a high flow rate and pressure in order to agitate the contents of the tank.
- This agitation system could be operated, either automatically or manually, when fluid is not being dispersed from the tank such that the tank fluid pump runs semi-continuously.
- FIGS. 42-45 An illustrative embodiment of a fluid agitation system constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 42-45 in an exemplary baffled tank 600.
- the agitation system includes an agitation tube 602 that extends in the lengthwise direction of the baffled tank 600 near the tank floor 604.
- the agitation tube 602 is supported on the tank floor 604 by a plurality of tube supports 606 that are longitudinally spaced from one another along the length of the agitation tube 602.
- a plurality of short cross tubes 608 as well as a plurality of apertures 610 are provided in the surface of the agitation tube 602.
- Each of the short cross tubes 608 consists of a tube which branches off from the agitation tube 602 at an angle from perpendicular.
- the short cross tubes 608 are spaced along the length of the agitation tube 602 such that at least one short cross tube 608 is provided in each compartment of the baffled tank 600 defined by the internal baffle structures.
- Each of the apertures 610 consists of a simple hole in the outer wall of the agitation tube 602 (see, e.g., FIGS. 43 and 44).
- the apertures 610 are spaced along the length of the agitation tube 602 such that sufficient agitation is provided in each of the compartments of the baffled tank 600.
- the apertures 610 are placed in the tube at angles of 45 degrees to either side of vertical.
- FIGS. 45 The various components of the agitation system are shown in FIGS. 45 including the agitation tube 602, a suction line tube 612 and the tank fluid pump 614 (although a separate dedicated agitation pump could be used).
- the tank fluid pump 614 can be operated to draw fluid out of the baffled tank 600 through the suction line tube 612 and then circulate the fluid back into the baffled tank 600 through the short cross tubes 608 and apertures 610 in the agitation tube 602.
- an expansion joint 616 is provided adjacent the upstream end of the agitation tube 602 (i.e., the end nearest the tank fluid pump 614).
- the agitation system can be configured other than as specifically shown in FIGS. 42-45.
- the tank can be equipped with a variable volume system.
- a variable volume system is shown with respect to an exemplary tanker truck 702 in FIG. 46 . More specifically, occasionally it is desirable to fill the tank of a tanker truck to less than its full capacity such as when training a new operator of a tanker truck or when conditions at the work site are such that less water is required to control dust.
- the illustrated variable volume system provides a quick and easy way by which the tank can be configured such that it cannot be filled above a predetermined level. To this end, with reference to FIG.
- the variable water system includes a fill tube 704 that extends downwardly into the interior of the tank 706 from the fill hole in the top wall 710 of the tank.
- the fluid is introduced into the interior of the tank through the fill tube 704.
- the air in the tank 706 becomes trapped. This prevents the fluid level in the tank 706 from rising above the lower or bottom edge 713 of the fill tube 704.
- any excess fluid that is introduced into the tank 706 will simply collect in the fill tube 704 and, if the filling operation is not stopped, the fluid will eventually overflow out of the fill hole 708.
- the water level in the main body of the tank 706 will remain at the reduced level 712 defined by the lower or bottom edge 713 of the fill tube 704.
- variable volume system further includes an air releasing control mechanism.
- the air releasing control mechanism provides a way by which the air can bleed or vent out of the tank 706 once the fluid level reaches and then rises above the lower or bottom edge 713 of the fill tube 704 during a filling operation.
- the outlet point of the air releasing control mechanism i.e., through which air outlets from the tank
- the air releasing control mechanism comprises a manually operable valve 714 in the top wall 710 of the tank 706.
- This manually operable valve 714 allows an operator to quickly change the maximum fill level 712 or line in the tank 706 from the lower or bottom edge 713 of the fill tube 704 to the top wall 710 of the tank 706 or any place in between simply by manually opening and closing the valve 714.
- variable volume system could include a plurality of air releasing control mechanisms each of which has an air outlet at a different vertical level in the tank.
- the tank 706 has two air releasing control mechanisms in the form of first and second manually operable valves 716, 718.
- the first valve 716 is similar to the manual valve 714 in the FIG. 46 embodiment in that its outlet is positioned adjacent the top wall 710 of the tank 706.
- the second manual valve 718 has an air outlet tube 720 that extends downward into the tank 706 so that the outlet to the second valve 718 is at a lower vertical level 722 than the outlet to the first valve 716.
- an operator has the option of setting the maximum fill level to the level 712 of the lower or bottom edge 713 of the fill tube 704 (i.e., by closing both the first and second valves 716, 718), the level 722 of the lower edge of the air outlet tube 720 of the second valve 718 (i.e., by opening the second valve 718 and closing the first valve 716) or adjacent the top wall 710 of the tank 706 (i.e., by opening the first valve 716).
- variable volume system could include an air releasing control mechanism that is configured such that the vertical level at which the pressure relief mechanism outlets air from the interior of the tank can be selectively adjusted.
- the air releasing control mechanism could include a tube 724 that is open at either end and extends vertically downward into the interior of the tank 706.
- a floatable ball 726 is connected to the lower end 730 of the tube 724 via a guide 728. When the fluid level reaches the floatable ball 726, the ball 726 will float (guided by the guide 728) into engagement with the open lower end 730 of the tube 724 thereby sealing the lower end of the tube 724 closed.
- the tube 724 is slidably received in the top wall 710 of the tank 706 such that the vertical position of the lower end 730 of the tube 724 can be selectively adjusted by unfastening a clamp 732, sliding the tube 724 up or down as desired and refastening the clamp 732.
- the maximum fill line 734 which is defined by the lower end 730 of the tube 724, can be selectively adjusted to any desired position.
- the air releasing control mechanism includes a plurality of openings 735 and 737, two in this instance, at different vertical levels in the sidewall 736 of the fill tube 704.
- Each of these openings 735, 737 can be selectively closed with an associated plug to prevent air from venting out of the tank 706 therethrough.
- the maximum fill level is the lower or bottom edge 712 of the fill tube 704.
- the maximum fill level is the vertical level 738 of the lower opening 735.
- the maximum fill level is the vertical level of the upper opening 737, which in this case is adjacent the top wall 710 of the tank 706.
- openings could be provided in the sidewall 736 of the fill tube 704 at any number of different vertical levels in order to provide additional options for setting of the maximum fill level.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
- Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application 09/873,032 filed June 1, 2001. This patent application also claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application 60/371,778, filed April 11, 2002 and U.S.Provisional Patent Application 60/391,556 filed June 25, 2002. - This invention pertains to tanks for storing and dispensing fluids, and in particular, to such tanks which are mobile and mounted on vehicles.
- Dust control can be a particular problem on construction sites, building demolition sites, excavation sites and mine sites. For example, in a mining operation, the mine haul roads essentially consist of dirt and gravel. Dust control is necessary on the haul roads so that the operators of mining vehicles can readily see the other mining vehicles using the roads. Thus, dust control on mine haul roads is a safety issue. Moreover, dust clouds caused by vehicles operating on the haul roads can adversely impact air quality potentially creating environmental issues particularly where the dust clouds drift beyond the mine site.
- Typically, mines have water tanker trucks, which are used to water down the haul roads in order to control dust. Such water tanker trucks generally have a plurality of spray nozzles positioned on either the forward or rearward sections of the vehicles to dispense a fluid spray or mist onto the ground. The water tanker truck can also have hoses or a water monitor/cannon for washing down other mining equipment and, in some cases, fire control.
- Because of the service demands on such water tanker trucks, they are typically capable of carrying very large quantities of water. For example, water tanker trucks used in mining operations can have fluid capacities of over 50,000 gallons. Of course, vehicle stability is a critical issue when transporting large volumes of water that, in the case of a 50,000 gallon tank, can carry a water load of over 200 tons. Specifically, surging and wave motion of the fluid, particularly transverse surging resulting from centrifugal forces experienced during turning of the truck can cause a tanker truck to become unstable or even turn over on its side. To prevent such surging of the fluid, the tank is provided with internal baffles.
- To ensure a long-life, the interior of the tanks must undergo periodic maintenance. For example, to protect against corrosion, the interior surfaces of the tank may need to be periodically cleaned and re-coated with a rust protection coating such as an epoxy. This work is complicated by the fact that tanks only have points of entry on the top of the tank and often just a single point of entry, and thus the work is subject to confined space safety regulations. Accordingly, workers performing tasks inside the tank must be provided with secondary air sources from outside the tank. This can greatly complicate the maintenance operations. Moreover, it can be difficult for the workers to maneuver around the internal tank baffles particularly since the interior of the tank is very dark. Accordingly, maintaining the interior of these tanks can be a difficult and time-consuming process.
- Another problem with these types of mobile tanks is that at larger sizes they can be difficult to ship to the location at which they are to be used, typically on off-highway trucks. For instance, the largest tanks can be over twenty feet wide. As can be appreciated, transporting a tank of this size can be a difficult and expensive operation.
- Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, a general object of the present invention is to provide an improved baffled tank for a tanker truck such as is used for dust control in mining operations, construction sites and the like.
- A more specific object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a tank for such a tanker truck which has an improved baffling system.
- Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a baffled tank for such a tanker truck which is configured so that work can much more easily be performed inside the tank.
-
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on the chassis of an off-highway truck. -
FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the tank ofFIG. 1 mounted on the chassis of an off-highway truck. -
FIG. 3 is a cut away perspective view of the tank ofFIG. 1 showing the assembled internal baffle system. -
FIG. 4 is a cut away side elevation view of the tank ofFIG. 1 showing the assembled internal baffle system. -
FIG. 5 is a cut away top plan view of the assembled internal baffle system of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 6 is a cut away rear elevation view of the assembled internal baffle system of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the center section of the tank ofFIG. 1 taken in the plane of line 8-8 in FIG. 7. -
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the center section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the inside of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the left side section of the tank ofFIG. 1 looking from the inside of the center section of the tank. -
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 14-14 inFIG. 13 of the left side section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the right side section of the tank ofFIG. 1 looking from the inside of the center section of the tank. -
FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 18-18 inFIG. 17 of the right side section of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view of one of the hinged baffles of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 20 is an enlarged rear elevation view of one of the hinges of the hinged baffle of FIG. 19. -
FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 21-21 inFIG. 19 showing an exemplary cover plate installed over the access opening in the hinged baffle door. -
FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the tank of FIG. 1. -
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the baffle system of the tank ofFIG. 1 showing an alternative pivotal baffle door configuration with the pivotal baffle doors in the closed position. -
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the tank baffle system and alternative pivotal baffle door configuration ofFIG. 23 with the pivotal baffle doors in the open position. -
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of one of the pivotal baffle doors ofFIG. 23 installed in a baffle. -
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of one of the pivotal baffle doors of FIG. 23. -
FIG. 27 is a schematic drawing showing three baffles. The first baffle has an access opening therein, but does not have a baffle door. The second baffle has an alternative baffle door in the open position. The third baffle has the alternative baffle door in the closed position. -
FIG. 28 is a plan view of three baffles showing the first step in a process for creating the access openings and baffle doors of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23. -
FIG. 29 is a plan view of three baffles and three baffle doors showing the second step in a process for creating the access openings and baffle doors of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23. -
FIG. 29 is a plan view of three baffles with assembled baffle doors showing the final step in a process for creating the access openings and baffle doors of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23. -
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the center section of an alternative internal baffle system for a tank according to the present invention. -
FIG. 32 is a top plan view of the alternative internal baffle system of FIG. 31. -
FIG. 33 is an end view of the alternative internal baffle system of FIG. 31. -
FIG. 34 is a side elevation view of the alternative internal baffle system of FIG. 31. -
FIG. 35 is a perspective view of another alternative internal baffle system for a tank according to the present invention. -
FIG. 36 is a top plan view of the alternative tank internal baffle system of FIG. 35. -
FIG. 37 is an end view of the alternative tank internal baffle system of FIG. 35. -
FIG. 38 is a schematic drawing of a hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic drive motor for the fluid pump of the tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 38A is a schematic drawing of an alternative hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic drive motor for the fluid pump of the tank. -
FIG. 39 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit ofFIG. 38 operating when the hydraulic drive motor for the fluid pump is first started. -
FIG. 40 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit ofFIG. 38 operating when the hydraulic drive motor and fluid pump have reached their normal operating revolutions per minute (RPM). -
FIG. 41 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit ofFIG. 38 indicating that hydraulic flow to the hydraulic drive motor has stopped and the hydraulic drive motor and fluid pump are coasting to a stop. -
FIG. 42 is a partial perspective view of a baffled tank equipped with a fluid agitation system. -
FIG. 43 is a top plan view of the fluid agitation system of FIG. 42. -
FIG. 44 is an enlarged perspective view of the fluid agitation system of FIG. 42. -
FIG. 45 is a simplified perspective view of the components of the fluid agitation system of FIG. 42. -
FIG. 46 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with a variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck. -
FIG. 47 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with an alternative variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck. -
FIG. 48 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with another alternative variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck. -
FIG. 49 is an enlarged view of the end of the air releasing control mechanism of FIG. 48. -
FIG. 50 is a side elevation view of an illustrative tank equipped with another alternative variable volume system mounted on the chassis of an off highway truck. -
FIG. 51 is a perspective view of an exemplary tank equipped with a plurality of unique lifting eyes. -
FIG. 52 is a partially cut away, perspective view of one of the lifting eyes of FIG. 51. - Referring now more particularly to
FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown anexemplary tanker truck 10 having atank 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Thetanker truck 10 includes achassis 14 which is supported on a plurality oftires 16 and on which thetank 12 is mounted. While thetank 12 of the present invention is described in the context of an off-highway tanker truck, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to relatively large tanks mounted on other types of vehicles such as, for example, on-highway trucks, trailers, off-highway earth-moving scrapers and airplanes. - Optionally, as in the illustrated embodiment, the
tank 12 can be attached to thechassis 14 for pivotal movement into a raised position so as to allow access to components on thetanker truck 10 such as the drive train, transmission, or gear differential. Thetank 12 can be moved between the raised and lowered positions by actuation of a hoistcylinder 18 carried on thechassis 14 of thetanker truck 10. As will be appreciated, thetank 12 can also be rigidly mounted on thechassis 14. - The
tank 12 consists of a pair of opposingsidewalls 20, arear wall 22, afront wall 24, atop wall 25 and afloor 26. In this case, thefloor 26 includes the components for mounting the tank to the chassis including the tank/chassis pivots 28 and themounts 30 for the hoist cylinder 18 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 7). The floor support structure includes the longitudinally extending tank frame rails 31 and a plurality of laterally extending cross supports 33. This floor support structure adds to the structural integrity of thetank 12. Moreover, because thefloor 26 of thetank 12 follows the top of the truck frame, the tank is mounted lower on the truck chassis improving the stability of the tank and, in turn, the tanker truck. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1 , thefloor 26 angles downward as it extends from therear wall 22 to thefront wall 24. Additionally, thefront wall 24 includes a portion which is angled away from therear wall 22 of thetank 12. It will be appreciated that the walls of thetank 12 can have any shape including curved. - For discharging fluid, the
tank 12 includes, in this case, a plurality of spray nozzles which are supplied by aspray bar assembly 32 arranged on the exterior of therear wall 22 of thetank 12 and in communication with a fluid pump mounted on the rear of thetank 12. As shown inFIG. 2 , the illustrated embodiment includes fourlower spray nozzles 34 spaced across the width of thetank 12 for producing a horizontal flat spray to the rear of thetanker truck 10. Thetank 12 also includes twoupper spray nozzles 36 which are arranged to provide a vertical spray to the sides of thetanker truck 10. Of course, the spray nozzles can be arranged in various other locations on thetank 12 including on the sides and the front. Additionally, as desired, thetank 12 can be provided with one ormore hose reels 39 and manually or remote-controlled monitors orcannons 41 for distributing fluid onto other equipment, material piles and other hard to reach areas as shown inFIG. 1 . Thehose reels 39 and monitors 41 could also be used for fire fighting. A pump can be provided to disburse the fluid into thespray bar assembly 32 and thereby into the various spray nozzles. It will be appreciated that thetank 12 of the present invention is not limited to any particular method or arrangement for discharging the fluid. - In a conventional manner, the
top wall 25 of thetank 12 includes afill hole 38, as shownFIG. 2 , through which the tank can be filled. Additionally, aventilation tube 40 is provided through thetop wall 25 of thetank 12 to facilitate the filling process. Thetank 12 can also be provided with a water level gauge such as for example a sight gauge. To permit an operator to have access to what is typically the active work area on the top of thetank 12, for example to assist in the filling operation, thetank 12 can optionally include aladder 42 and aguard rail 44 which goes around the outer edges of thetop wall 25 of thetank 12 such as shown in FIG. 1. - In accordance with an important aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, the
tank 12 includes a novel baffle system in which the structural components of the tank also serve as baffles. Moreover, as described in detail below, the baffle system can also be configured to make the interior of thetank 12 much more accessible to workers than baffled tanks that are presently available. The baffle system is best described by separating the tank into acenter section 46 best shown inFIGS. 7-10 and left andright side sections FIGS. 11-14 and 15-18, respectively, that are symmetrical with each other. Though, as can be appreciated, relatively smaller tanks could be produced in a single section. The entire baffle system is shown assembled together inFIGS. 3-6 . Left and right are used herein with reference to looking forward from the rear oftanker truck 10 ofFIG. 1 towards the front. - In order to allow the
tank 12 to be shipped more easily to a location where it is assembled to an off-highway truck, the center, left andright side sections FIG. 22 , the left andright side sections center section 46 via welding or any other appropriate method to form thetank 12. The three-piece construction allows thetank 12 to be broken into relatively smaller components for shipment. Of course, other aspects of the present invention, such as the baffle arrangement described below, are not limited to tanks having a three-piece construction, rather they can be incorporated into single-piece tanks or tanks consisting of any number of components. - To suppress wave motion and surging of the fluid in the lateral or side-to-side direction, the
center section 46 has longitudinal baffles that generally form an X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 (seeFIGS. 3 , 6, 8 and 10). Advantageously, thisX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 also provides the structural supports for thetop wall 25 andfloor 26 of the tank. As shown inFIGS. 3 , 6, and 10, theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extends vertically between thetop wall 25 andfloor 26 of thetank 12 and has a rectangular shapedchamber 54 arranged in its center. In particular, as best shown inFIG. 8 ,upper legs 56 of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extend between anupper surface 60 of thechamber 54 and thetop wall 25 of thetank 12 andlower legs 58 of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extend between alower surface 62 of thechamber 54 and thefloor 26 of the tank. Therectangular chamber 54 and the upper andlower legs X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 extend longitudinally through thecenter section 46 between the front 24 and rear 22 walls of thetank 12 as shown inFIGS. 7 and 9 . Therectangular chamber 54, in this case, gets gradually larger as it extends from the rear end of thecenter section 46 towards the front end because thelower surface 62 of thechamber 54 angles downward parallel in relation to thechassis 14 and thetank floor 26 as shown in FIG. 7. - A plurality of holes 64 are provided in the upper and
lower surfaces 60, 62 (best shown inFIGS. 4 , 6 and 8) of therectangular chamber 54 to allow fluid to work its way downward in thetank 12 during filling or emptying of the tank. Similarly, holes 66 are provided along the upper edges of theupper legs 56 and the lower edges of thelower legs 58, as shown inFIG. 7 , to assist fluid in migrating through theentire tank 12. - To assist fluid migration and also provide access for workers performing maintenance operations,
openings 68 are provided, in this instance, in the middle of upper andlower legs X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 as shown inFIGS. 3-5 and 7. During normal operations of thetank 12, some or all of theseopenings 68 can be closed with loose fitting hatch plates to prevent the lateral surging of the fluid in the tank. In this case, the hatch plates are received in slots which are arranged on either side of theopenings 68 as shown, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 7 . When work is being performed on the interior of thetank 12, the loose hatch plates can be removed to provide access to the interior of the upper and lower portions of the longitudinalX-shaped baffle arrangement 52. - For limiting longitudinal wave action and surging of fluid such as during braking or acceleration of the
tanker truck 10, vertically extending baffles are arranged between the legs of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52. As shown inFIGS. 6-8 and 10, anupper lateral baffle 72 is provided between theupper legs 56 and a lowerlateral baffle 74 between thelower legs 58 at spaced intervals along the length of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52. Additionally, side lateral baffles 76 are provided to either side of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 at spaced intervals along the length thereof. Again, because, in this case, thetank 12 gets deeper as it extends from itsrear wall 22 to itsfront wall 24, these side lateral baffles 76 to the sides of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 get larger towards the front of thetank 12. This can be seen via broken lines in the rear end views ofFIGS. 6 and 10 .Access openings 78 are provided in each of the upper and lower lateral baffles 72, 74 to provide access into the compartments formed in the upper and lower portions of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 by the lateral baffles 72, 74. Similar to theaccess openings 68 in thelegs X-shaped baffle arrangement 52, theaccess openings 78 in the upper and lower lateral baffles 72, 74 can be closed by loose fitting hatch plates that are received in slots to either side of each opening 78 (see, e.g.,FIG. 8 in which exemplary slots are shown for the upper access opening 78). Moreover, at least one of theaccess openings 68 in thelegs X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 is arranged between each pair of upper and lower lateral baffles 72, 74 and side lateral baffles 76 to allow access into each compartment created by the upper and lower lateral baffles and side lateral baffles 76. - Additional lateral baffling can also be provided to either side of the
center section 46 in the left andright side sections FIGS. 11-14 (left section 48) andFIGS. 15-18 (right section 50), with the exception of certain accessory type components such as thefill hole 38 and theventilation tube 40, the left andright sections side section ribs 82 as best shown inFIGS. 11 , 13, 15 and 17. These C-shapedribs 82 extend around the interior surface of eachside section 48, 50 (see, e.g.,FIG. 14 and 18 ) to support thesidewalls 20 of thetank 12 as well as the portions of thefloor 26 andtop wall 25 of the tank defined by the side sections. Additional support for thesidewalls 20 of thetank 12 is provided, in this case, by reinforcingplates 84 which extend longitudinally between the C-shapedribs 82 on the side of eachside section side section plates 84 as shown inFIGS. 11 , 13, 15 and 17. These reinforcingplates 84 disrupt side-to-side liquid surging, particularly up thesidewalls 20 of thetank 12 thereby also acting as sidewall baffles orsurge suppressor plates 84. As shown inFIGS. 14 and 18 , each of the sidewall baffles orsurge suppressor plates 84 include, in this case, a first leg that extends inward at a downward angle from the sidewall of thetank 12 and a second leg extending downward from the end of the first leg. Side-to-side liquid surging is further disrupted by the generally squared-off, sharp transitional bends between thefloor 26 and sidewalls 20 of thetank 12. -
Lateral baffle doors 88 are provided in eachside section ribs 82 and the centerX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 as shown, for example, inFIGS. 3 and 5 . In order to provide workers with substantially unobstructed access to the interior of theside sections tank 12, theselateral baffle doors 88 are pivotally supported or hinged such that they can swing into an open position in which they extend longitudinally with respect to thetank 12. When the pivotal or hingedbaffle doors 88 are in this open position, theside sections access opening 90 is provided in each of the hingedbaffle doors 88 which can be closed by a loose fitting hatch plate 91 (see, e.g., FIGS. 19 and 21). As will be appreciated, a hatch plate such as shown inFIGS. 19 and 21 could also be used to close any of the other access openings provided in the other baffles. - For supporting the hinged
baffle doors 88, a plurality of longitudinally spacedupright support members 92 that extend between thefloor 26 andtop wall 25 of thetank 12 are provided on either side of thecenter section 46 as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7 .Hinges 94 are provided on each the upright support members 92 (seeFIGS. 19 and 20 ) for pivotally supporting one edge of a respective hingedbaffle door 88. In the illustrated embodiment, the other end of each hingedbaffle door 88 can be secured in a closed, deployed position by a pair ofchains 96 that are captured in correspondingkeyways 98 in the C-shapedribs 82 as shown inFIG. 19 . In the closed, deployed position, the hingedbaffle doors 88 are substantially aligned with the lateral baffles 72, 74, 76 that extend between thelegs X-shaped baffle arrangement 52 as shown inFIGS. 3 , 5 and 6. - The hinged
baffle doors 88 allow theside sections ribs 82 supporting the walls of thetank 12. However, the C-shapedribs 82 also form part of the lateral baffling in thetank 12 when the hingedbaffle doors 88 are closed. Thus, the illustrated baffling configuration also allows the structural components of the side sections of thetank 12 to also serve as baffles. Alternatively, the C-shapedribs 82 could be arranged on the exterior surface of thetank 12 with the hingedbaffle doors 88 being latched directly to the inside surface of thesidewalls 20. Attaching the hingedbaffle doors 88 to thecenter section 46 can also permit the left andright side sections center section 46 then can be shipped separately with the hingedbaffle doors 88 swung into the longitudinally extending open position against the outside of theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52. - According to a further aspect of the present invention, to relieve concerns regarding working in a confined space and thereby eliminate the necessity for an external secondary air supply, the
tank 12 can include entry hatches 100 in the sides and/or ends of the tank. In this instance, anentry hatch 100 is provided in both thefront wall 24 andrear wall 22 of thetank 12 for each of thetank sections FIGS. 9 and 10 , anentry hatch 100 is provided at either end of thecenter section 46. Similarly, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 15 , entry hatches 100 are provided in either end of bothside sections hatch plates 102 such as shown in FIG. 2. - When work must be performed inside the tank, the
hatches 100 can be opened to provide light and air into the interior of the tank. By swinging the hingedbaffle doors 88 into their open positions and removing the loosefitting hatch plates 91 on the access openings in the various baffles, all of the compartments inside thetank 12 can be easily accessed thereby minimizing confined space concerns. Moreover, with the hingedbaffle doors 88 in the open position, workers can see and walk from one end of thetank 12 to the other substantially unobstructed. If sized appropriately, the entry hatches 100 can also allow the hingedbaffle doors 88 or other internal baffling structures to be inserted into or removed from the interior of thetank 12 after the components are assembled together. - To facilitate installation and removal of the tank from a tanker truck chassis, a plurality of uniquely configured lifting
eyes 804 can be disposed on the upper surface of the tank. Such liftingeyes 804 are shown with respect to anexemplary tank 802 inFIG. 51 . As shown inFIG. 52 , each liftingeye 804 includes abody 806 and a reinforcingplate 808. Thebody 806 includes a keyedlower portion 810 and anupper portion 812 having the eye formed therein. The reinforcingplate 808 includes an opening through which theupper portion 812 of thebody 806 can extend. The opening in the reinforcingplate 808 is configured such that when thebody 806 is inserted through the opening, the keyedlower portion 810 of thebody 806, which is larger than the opening in the reinforcingplate 808, abuts against thelower surface 814 of the reinforcingplate 808. The reinforcingplate 808, in turn, extends generally transverse to theupper portion 812 of thebody 806 that contains the eye. When thebody 806 and reinforcingplate 808 are installed in the top wall 815 of thetank 802, theupper portion 812 of thebody 806 extends through an opening in the top wall 815 of thetank 802 such that the eye is positioned above theupper surface 816 of the tank top wall 815. The reinforcingplate 808, in turn, extends parallel to the top wall 815 of thetank 802. The reinforcingplate 808 is larger than the opening in the tank top wall 815 through which theupper portion 812 of thebody 806 extends so that theupper surface 818 of the reinforcingplate 808 abuts against thelower surface 820 of the tank top wall 815. Thus, the reinforcingplate 808 helps to distribute the load applied to the top wall 815 of the tank when thetank 802 is lifted using the lifting eyes. - In an alternative embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 23 and 24 , each of the hatch plates associated with the access openings in the baffles is in the form of apivotal baffle door 202 that is movable between open and closed positions. In the illustrated embodiment, eachpivotal baffle door 202 is supported for pivotal movement on the corresponding baffle (ageneric baffle section 204 is shown inFIG. 25 ) by hinges. As shown, the hinges can comprise tabs/hooks 206 that extend at an angle from an edge of the pivotal baffle door 202 (seeFIG. 26 ) and are received in correspondingslots 208 provided in thebaffle 204 adjacent the access opening 210 (see FIG. 25). In contrast to conventional hinges, the tabs/hooks 206 will not fail as a result of rust despite being submerged in water thereby helping to ensure reliable operation of thepivotal baffle doors 202. Thepivotal baffle doors 202 can be secured in the closed position by any suitable means such as bolts or chains. To provide added strength, thepivotal baffle doors 202 can be bent as shown inFIG. 27 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, thepivotal baffle doors 202 or hatchplates 91 used to provide access through the various baffles can have any suitable configuration that allows the door or plate to be moved between open and closed positions. - Advantageously, with the illustrated embodiment, the
pivotal baffle doors 202 also can be formed from the pieces that are cut out of thebaffles 204 to create theaccess openings 210. Specifically, for a particularpivotal baffle door 202, the door skeleton is first cut out of (FIG. 28 ) and separated from (FIG. 29 ) one of thebaffle pieces 212. As shown inFIG. 29 , the door skeleton includes the main body of thepivotal baffle door 202 as well as the tabs/hooks 206. In addition, theslots 208 for the tabs/hooks 206 are also cut out of thebaffle piece 212. The tabs/hooks 206 are then bent and thepivotal baffle door 202 is flipped over and thepivotal baffle door 202 hung by inserting the tabs/hooks 206 into theslots 208 as shown in FIG. 30. - In the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 23-24 , side baffles 214 (shown individually inFIG. 27 ) having centralpivotal baffle doors 202 are provided to either side of the centerX-shaped baffle arrangement 252. In particular, the side baffles 214 extend from the centerX-shaped baffle arrangement 252 to the inside surface of the sidewall of the tank. Like thelateral baffle doors 88 of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-22 , thepivotal baffle doors 202 in the side baffles 214 pivot between a closed position wherein thepivotal baffle door 202 extends laterally (FIG. 23 ) and an open position wherein thepivotal baffle door 202 extends more longitudinally (FIG. 24). However, thepivotal baffle doors 202 are relatively smaller than thelateral baffle doors 88 used in the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-22 and, thus, are easier to move between the open and closed positions. - An alternative baffle system incorporating an X-shaped
longitudinal baffle arrangement 352 that is particularly suited for relatively smaller tanks is shown inFIGS. 31-34 . The X-shapedlongitudinal baffle arrangement 352 illustrated inFIGS. 31-34 is generally similar to theX-shaped baffle arrangement 52 of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3 except that it does not include a longitudinally extending center chamber. Specifically, the X-shapedlongitudinal baffle arrangement 352 includes ahorizontal center baffle 354,upper baffle legs 356 andlower baffle legs 358. As best shown inFIG. 33 , theupper baffle legs 356 extend between thehorizontal center baffle 354 and thetop wall 325 of the tank and thelower baffle legs 358 extend between thehorizontal center baffle 354 and thefloor 326 of the tank. Thehorizontal center baffle 354 and upper andlower baffle legs FIGS. 31 , 33 and 34. To provide access through the upper 356 andlower baffle legs 358,access openings 368 are provided therein at spaced intervals along the length thereof. - To limit longitudinal wave action and surging of fluid, vertically extending
lateral baffles lower baffle legs 358 of the X-shapedlongitudinal baffle arrangement 352. Specifically, an upperlateral baffle 372 is provided between theupper baffle legs 356 and a lowerlateral baffle 374 is provided between thelower baffle legs 358 at spaced intervals along the length of the X-shapedlongitudinal baffle arrangement 352. Moreover, side lateral baffles 376 are provided to either side of the X-shapedlongitudinal baffle arrangement 352 at spaced intervals along the length thereof. To provide access into the compartments formed in the upper and lower portions of the X-shaped longitudinal baffle arrangement by the lateral baffles 372, 374 and 376,access openings 378 are provided in each of the upper 372 and lower lateral baffles 374. At least one of theaccess openings 368 in the upper 356 andlower baffle legs 358 is also arranged between each pair of upper 372 and lower lateral baffles 374 and side lateral baffles 376 to ensure that there is adequate access into each of the compartments defined by the baffles. Each of theseaccess openings baffle doors 202 illustrated inFIGS. 25-30 . As with the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-22 , when selected ones of the baffle doors associated with the access openings in the various baffles are open, it is possible for workers to traverse from the entry hatch in the rear wall of the tank to the entry hatch in the front wall of the tank. - Another baffle system particularly suited for relatively small tanks is shown in
FIGS. 35-37 . Unlike the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1-22 andFIGS. 31-34 , the baffle system illustrated inFIGS. 35-37 does not include an X-shaped center baffle arrangement. Instead, as best shown inFIGS. 35 and 36 , the baffle system includes a plurality of longitudinally extendingbaffles 402 which extend between the front andrear walls surge suppressors 410 on the sidewalls 420 of the tank as shown inFIG. 37 . Each of the lateral baffles 404 is provided with a central access opening 406 and each longitudinal extendingbaffle 402 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced access openings 408 so as to provide a means for accessing each of the compartments in the tank defined by the baffles. Again, each of theseaccess openings 406, 408 is configured to receive a pivotal baffle door like that illustrated inFIGS. 25-30 and when selected ones of the doors are open it is possible for a person to traverse between the entry hatch in thefront wall 424 of the tank and the entry hatch in therear wall 422 of the tank. - To drive the fluid pump associated with the tank, a hydraulic motor can be provided which is, in turn, powered by the hydraulic system of the tanker truck. Specifically, tanks that are to be used in off-highway applications are often mounted to off-highway dump or scraper trucks that have been converted by removal of the dump body or scraper bowl. Such trucks typically are equipped with a hydraulic fluid system that can be used to drive a hydraulic motor and fluid pump associated with the tank. Because the hydraulic systems on these trucks are typically used for dumping loads, they can produce relatively high flow rates and pressures. For example, depending on the vehicle size, the hydraulic systems on these trucks may produce a flow rate of 100-200 gallons per minute at a pressure of up to 2500-3000 psi at normal truck engine operating speeds. Such flow rates and pressures do not pose problems for the hydraulic cylinders that are typically used to dump loads. However, these flow rates and pressures can cause problems when the truck hydraulic system is tied into a hydraulic motor such as is used to power the fluid pump for a tank.
- In particular, starting the hydraulic motor at the full fluid flow and pressure that the truck’s hydraulic system produces at normal engine operating speeds can subject the hydraulic motor and the fluid pump associated with the tank to a significant shock load. For example, the hydraulic motor associated with a tank may be designed to turn at approximately 2000 RPM at full hydraulic flow. Thus, in such a case, at start-up, the hydraulic motor essentially would have to accelerate instantaneously to 2000 RPM in order to alleviate the shock of the hydraulic fluid supplied by the truck hydraulic system. Obviously, the hydraulic motor is not capable of such rapid acceleration. Moreover, since the hydraulic motor is connected through a coupling to the fluid pump, the inertia caused by the fluid pump impeller and any fluid in the pump also has to be overcome at start-up. Thus, unless the hydraulic motor is engaged at a fairly low hydraulic flow, i.e. idle RPM of the transport vehicle, the hydraulic motor and the fluid pump will be subjected to substantial shock loads at start-up. These shock loads could over time result in damage to the coupling between the hydraulic motor and the fluid pump as well as damage to the hydraulic motor itself.
- To help protect the hydraulic motor and fluid pump during start-up, a soft start/stop system can be provided. With reference to
FIGS. 38-41 , to provide such a soft-start/stop system, a hydraulic valve 502 is provided in abypass line 506 that extends parallel to the hydraulic motor 504 supply line that powers the tank fluid pump (not shown in FIGS 38-41). This hydraulic valve 502 permits hydraulic fluid supplied through asupply line 510 from the truck hydraulic system, particularly at high truck engine RPMs, to bypass the hydraulic motor 504 through theparallel bypass line 506 and return to the truck hydraulic fluid tank 508 (via tank line 512) until the hydraulic motor 504, coupling and fluid pump come up to normal operating RPM.FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram of the soft start/stop system operating in the fluid pump start-up mode with the hydraulic valve 502 open so as to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid through the parallel bypass line 506 (arrows show the flow of hydraulic fluid through the system). According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic valve 502 comprises a standard pressure relief valve that preferably opens relatively quickly (e.g., 10-50 milliseconds) after pressure is sensed at both the inlet port of the hydraulic motor 504 and the hydraulic valve 502. The pressure relief valve can be either direct or pilot-operated. - Once the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 opens, the hydraulic fluid flow that the hydraulic motor 504 is unable to accept as it accelerates to full operating speed is allowed to bypass the hydraulic motor 504 through the
parallel bypass line 506 and return to the truckhydraulic fluid tank 508. As the hydraulic motor 504 begins to come up to normal operating RPM, it is able to accept more of the hydraulic fluid thereby reducing the pressure at the inlet to the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502. As a result, the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 gradually closes so that more of the hydraulic fluid flow fromsupply line 510 goes through the hydraulic motor 504. Once the hydraulic motor 504 nears or reaches its normal operating RPM, the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 closes completely and all the hydraulic fluid from the truckhydraulic supply line 510 flows through the hydraulic motor 504 allowing the fluid pump to operate at full capacity.FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram of the soft start/stop system operating in a fluid pump running mode with the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 closed (arrows show the flow of hydraulic fluid through the system). - Alternatively, instead of a standard pressure relief valve, a so-called “soft start pressure relief valve” could be used (see FIG. 38A). A soft start pressure relief valve differs from a standard pressure relief valve in that in its normal non-operative state, the soft-start valve is open. Thus, instead of allowing hydraulic fluid to bypass around the hydraulic motor 504 only after the pressure has built to a certain value, during start-up of the hydraulic motor, the soft-start valve initially permits all of the hydraulic fluid to bypass the hydraulic motor 504 and return to the truck
hydraulic fluid tank 508. Then, over a prescribed time interval (e.g., 250 milliseconds), the soft-start valve gradually closes thereby allowing the pressure at the hydraulic motor 504 to gradually build. Thus, the soft-start pressure relief valve limits the rate at which the pressure at the hydraulic motor 504 rises. Once closed, the soft-start valve functions as a normal pressure relief valve limiting the maximum system pressure. An example of a soft-start pilot operated relief valve that could be used in the soft start/stop system of the present invention is the RPGT valve available from Sun Hydraulics. Of course, it will be appreciated that other soft-start valves could also be used. - To permit the hydraulic motor 504 to softly coast to a stop, a one-
way check valve 514 can be installed in thebypass line 506 parallel to the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 that would allow hydraulic fluid to circulate from the outlet port of the hydraulic motor 504 through thebypass line 506 and back to thefluid supply line 510 and the inlet port of the hydraulic motor 504. Thecheck valve 514 is configured to block flow in the direction fromsupply line 510 ensuring that the hydraulic pressure relief valve 502 controls the flow of hydraulic fluid fromsupply line 510 through thebypass line 506 towards the truckhydraulic fluid tank 508. This arrangement creates a closed loop that allows the momentum of the turning hydraulic motor and pump to gradually dissipate when the supply of hydraulic fluid from the truck hydraulic system is shut-off.FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram of the soft start/stop system operating in the pump shut down mode with hydraulic fluid flowing through the one-way check valve 514 (arrows show the flow of hydraulic fluid through the system). - Tanker trucks used in environments like construction sites, building demolition sites, excavation sites and mine sites are often filled with polluted water. In particular, these sites may have run-off collection ponds from which polluted non-potable water is pumped for use in tanker trucks. This polluted water may have a high degree of suspended solids. Since this water is used for various non-drinking purposes, these pollutants/suspended solids in no way inhibit the operation or effectiveness of these tanks. However, these suspended solids may settle to the tank floor or onto other internal tank surfaces (e.g., baffles) as sediment if a tanker truck is allowed to sit for any period of time. This sediment, depending on its chemical makeup, may cause accelerated corroding of the floor, baffles or other surfaces in the tank even if stainless steel is used.
- To help keep such sediment from settling on the tank floor, the tank of the present invention can include a tank agitation system. In particular, the tank can include a closed loop fluid circuit which draws fluid from the tank through the tank fluid pump and pumps it back into the tank at a high flow rate and pressure in order to agitate the contents of the tank. This agitation system could be operated, either automatically or manually, when fluid is not being dispersed from the tank such that the tank fluid pump runs semi-continuously.
- An illustrative embodiment of a fluid agitation system constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in
FIGS. 42-45 in an exemplarybaffled tank 600. As shown inFIG. 42 , the agitation system includes anagitation tube 602 that extends in the lengthwise direction of thebaffled tank 600 near thetank floor 604. Theagitation tube 602 is supported on thetank floor 604 by a plurality of tube supports 606 that are longitudinally spaced from one another along the length of theagitation tube 602. - To provide agitation of the fluid in the
baffled tank 600, a plurality ofshort cross tubes 608 as well as a plurality ofapertures 610 are provided in the surface of theagitation tube 602. Each of theshort cross tubes 608 consists of a tube which branches off from theagitation tube 602 at an angle from perpendicular. As can be seen from the top view ofFIG. 43 , theshort cross tubes 608 are spaced along the length of theagitation tube 602 such that at least oneshort cross tube 608 is provided in each compartment of thebaffled tank 600 defined by the internal baffle structures. Each of theapertures 610 consists of a simple hole in the outer wall of the agitation tube 602 (see, e.g., FIGS. 43 and 44). Like theshorter cross tubes 608, theapertures 610 are spaced along the length of theagitation tube 602 such that sufficient agitation is provided in each of the compartments of thebaffled tank 600. In the illustrated embodiment, theapertures 610 are placed in the tube at angles of 45 degrees to either side of vertical. - The various components of the agitation system are shown in
FIGS. 45 including theagitation tube 602, asuction line tube 612 and the tank fluid pump 614 (although a separate dedicated agitation pump could be used). In operation, when thetank fluid pump 614 is not providing fluid to the spray nozzles, thetank fluid pump 614 can be operated to draw fluid out of thebaffled tank 600 through thesuction line tube 612 and then circulate the fluid back into thebaffled tank 600 through theshort cross tubes 608 andapertures 610 in theagitation tube 602. In this case, anexpansion joint 616 is provided adjacent the upstream end of the agitation tube 602 (i.e., the end nearest the tank fluid pump 614). It will be appreciated that the agitation system can be configured other than as specifically shown in FIGS. 42-45. - To simplify tank-filling operations when filling the tank to less than its full capacity, the tank can be equipped with a variable volume system. Such a variable volume system is shown with respect to an
exemplary tanker truck 702 inFIG. 46 . More specifically, occasionally it is desirable to fill the tank of a tanker truck to less than its full capacity such as when training a new operator of a tanker truck or when conditions at the work site are such that less water is required to control dust. The illustrated variable volume system provides a quick and easy way by which the tank can be configured such that it cannot be filled above a predetermined level. To this end, with reference toFIG. 46 , the variable water system includes afill tube 704 that extends downwardly into the interior of thetank 706 from the fill hole in the top wall 710 of the tank. When thetank 706 is being filled, the fluid is introduced into the interior of the tank through thefill tube 704. Once the fluid in the tank reaches thelevel 712 of the lower orbottom edge 713 of thefill tube 704, the air in thetank 706 becomes trapped. This prevents the fluid level in thetank 706 from rising above the lower orbottom edge 713 of thefill tube 704. In particular, after the fluid reaches this level, any excess fluid that is introduced into thetank 706 will simply collect in thefill tube 704 and, if the filling operation is not stopped, the fluid will eventually overflow out of the fill hole 708. However, the water level in the main body of thetank 706 will remain at the reducedlevel 712 defined by the lower orbottom edge 713 of thefill tube 704. - To permit the
tank 706 to be filled to maximum capacity, the variable volume system further includes an air releasing control mechanism. The air releasing control mechanism provides a way by which the air can bleed or vent out of thetank 706 once the fluid level reaches and then rises above the lower orbottom edge 713 of thefill tube 704 during a filling operation. To permit the fluid to rise to the maximum level in thetank 706, the outlet point of the air releasing control mechanism (i.e., through which air outlets from the tank) should be located as close as possible to the top wall 710 of thetank 706. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 46 , the air releasing control mechanism comprises a manually operable valve 714 in the top wall 710 of thetank 706. This manually operable valve 714 allows an operator to quickly change themaximum fill level 712 or line in thetank 706 from the lower orbottom edge 713 of thefill tube 704 to the top wall 710 of thetank 706 or any place in between simply by manually opening and closing the valve 714. - To allow the maximum fill level to be set at other levels, the variable volume system could include a plurality of air releasing control mechanisms each of which has an air outlet at a different vertical level in the tank. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 47 , thetank 706 has two air releasing control mechanisms in the form of first and second manually operable valves 716, 718. The first valve 716 is similar to the manual valve 714 in theFIG. 46 embodiment in that its outlet is positioned adjacent the top wall 710 of thetank 706. The second manual valve 718 has an air outlet tube 720 that extends downward into thetank 706 so that the outlet to the second valve 718 is at a lower vertical level 722 than the outlet to the first valve 716. Thus, an operator has the option of setting the maximum fill level to thelevel 712 of the lower orbottom edge 713 of the fill tube 704 (i.e., by closing both the first and second valves 716, 718), the level 722 of the lower edge of the air outlet tube 720 of the second valve 718 (i.e., by opening the second valve 718 and closing the first valve 716) or adjacent the top wall 710 of the tank 706 (i.e., by opening the first valve 716). - Alternatively, the variable volume system could include an air releasing control mechanism that is configured such that the vertical level at which the pressure relief mechanism outlets air from the interior of the tank can be selectively adjusted. For example, as shown in
FIG. 48 , the air releasing control mechanism could include atube 724 that is open at either end and extends vertically downward into the interior of thetank 706. A floatable ball 726 is connected to thelower end 730 of thetube 724 via a guide 728. When the fluid level reaches the floatable ball 726, the ball 726 will float (guided by the guide 728) into engagement with the openlower end 730 of thetube 724 thereby sealing the lower end of thetube 724 closed. This prevents any additional air from exiting the tank and defines themaximum fill line 734 at thelower end 730 of thetube 724. In the embodiment ofFIG. 48 , thetube 724 is slidably received in the top wall 710 of thetank 706 such that the vertical position of thelower end 730 of thetube 724 can be selectively adjusted by unfastening aclamp 732, sliding thetube 724 up or down as desired and refastening theclamp 732. Thus, themaximum fill line 734, which is defined by thelower end 730 of thetube 724, can be selectively adjusted to any desired position. - An alternative arrangement for the variable volume system is illustrated in
FIG. 50 . In this embodiment, the air releasing control mechanism includes a plurality ofopenings sidewall 736 of thefill tube 704. Each of theseopenings tank 706 therethrough. When both of theopenings bottom edge 712 of thefill tube 704. When thelower opening 735 is open and theupper opening 737 is closed, the maximum fill level is the vertical level 738 of thelower opening 735. When theupper opening 737 is opened, the maximum fill level is the vertical level of theupper opening 737, which in this case is adjacent the top wall 710 of thetank 706. Of course, openings could be provided in thesidewall 736 of thefill tube 704 at any number of different vertical levels in order to provide additional options for setting of the maximum fill level. - All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
- The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
- Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context
Claims (61)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/411,827 US7735507B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2003-04-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US12/814,061 US8307844B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2010-06-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US13/660,120 US10029830B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2012-10-25 | Tanker truck with soft start/stop system |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/873,032 US6547091B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-06-01 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US37177802P | 2002-04-11 | 2002-04-11 | |
US39155602P | 2002-06-25 | 2002-06-25 | |
US10/411,827 US7735507B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2003-04-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/873,032 Continuation-In-Part US6547091B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-06-01 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/814,061 Division US8307844B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2010-06-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030230585A1 US20030230585A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 |
US20050189358A2 true US20050189358A2 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
US7735507B2 US7735507B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 |
Family
ID=29254459
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/411,827 Expired - Fee Related US7735507B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2003-04-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US12/814,061 Expired - Lifetime US8307844B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2010-06-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US13/660,120 Expired - Lifetime US10029830B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2012-10-25 | Tanker truck with soft start/stop system |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/814,061 Expired - Lifetime US8307844B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2010-06-11 | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US13/660,120 Expired - Lifetime US10029830B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2012-10-25 | Tanker truck with soft start/stop system |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US7735507B2 (en) |
AU (2) | AU2007203369B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2425462C (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070096453A1 (en) * | 2005-10-03 | 2007-05-03 | Reber Larry F | Baffling system for emergency tanker vehicle |
US20100258567A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2010-10-14 | Colin Gibert Tobeck and Rosalie Bernadette Tobeck as Trutees of the Progressive Endeavours Trust | Fluid receiver with one-way check valve at inlet port |
US20140217716A1 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2014-08-07 | Western Technology Services International, Inc. | Baffled Fluid Tank with Stairway Access |
Families Citing this family (36)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7412357B1 (en) | 1999-06-15 | 2008-08-12 | Philippi-Hagenbuch, Inc. | Process for three-dimensional modeling and design of off-highway dump bodies |
US7735507B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2010-06-15 | Hagenbuch Leroy G | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US7257467B2 (en) | 2001-11-02 | 2007-08-14 | Hagenbuch Leroy G | Method of estimating the volumetric carrying capacity of a truck body |
EP1520448A1 (en) * | 2002-06-18 | 2005-04-06 | HTTP-Hypothermia Therapy Ltd. | Electrical heating device, particularly for heating a patient body |
AU2011208942B2 (en) * | 2010-01-27 | 2015-08-20 | Julio Gomez | Method and devices for manmade precipitations |
US9321347B2 (en) * | 2010-06-14 | 2016-04-26 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Compliance structure for a distensible fuel tank |
WO2012016171A1 (en) * | 2010-07-30 | 2012-02-02 | Ferus Inc. | Transport tank baffle assembly |
US9528447B2 (en) | 2010-09-14 | 2016-12-27 | Jason Eric Green | Fuel mixture control system |
KR101227439B1 (en) * | 2010-11-09 | 2013-01-29 | 이례순 | Loading sprinkler system of electromotive car |
US9248736B2 (en) | 2011-09-16 | 2016-02-02 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a containment area and mounting assembly for an alternate fuel |
US10086694B2 (en) | 2011-09-16 | 2018-10-02 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a containment area and mounting assembly for an alternate fuel |
US9421861B2 (en) | 2011-09-16 | 2016-08-23 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a containment area and mounting assembly for an alternate fuel |
US8882071B2 (en) * | 2011-09-16 | 2014-11-11 | Jason Green | Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a containment area and mounting assembly for an alternate fuel |
US8820289B2 (en) | 2011-09-27 | 2014-09-02 | Jason Green | Module containment of fuel control system for a vehicle |
US8881933B2 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2014-11-11 | Jason E. Green | Vehicle mounting assembly for a fuel supply |
US9278614B2 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2016-03-08 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Vehicle mounting assembly for a fuel supply |
US9738154B2 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2017-08-22 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Vehicle mounting assembly for a fuel supply |
AU2015203308B2 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2016-03-10 | Western Technology Services International, Inc. | Fluid tank with stairway access |
JP5843067B2 (en) * | 2012-04-10 | 2016-01-13 | 三菱自動車工業株式会社 | Vehicle fuel tank |
US9696066B1 (en) | 2013-01-21 | 2017-07-04 | Jason E. Green | Bi-fuel refrigeration system and method of retrofitting |
US9050884B2 (en) * | 2013-04-29 | 2015-06-09 | Progress Rail Services Corporation | Dual capacity fluid tank assembly |
CA2853413C (en) * | 2013-06-03 | 2021-06-15 | Michael Maclean | Sealable transport trailer container with hinging baffles |
GB2515558A (en) * | 2013-06-28 | 2014-12-31 | Articulated Truck Solutions Llp | Mobile Liquid Tank |
US20150025774A1 (en) | 2013-07-22 | 2015-01-22 | Jason Green | Fuel mixture system and assembly |
US9394841B1 (en) | 2013-07-22 | 2016-07-19 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Fuel mixture system and assembly |
US9845744B2 (en) | 2013-07-22 | 2017-12-19 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Fuel mixture system and assembly |
US9254849B1 (en) | 2014-10-07 | 2016-02-09 | Gaseous Fuel Systems, Corp. | Device and method for interfacing with a locomotive engine |
US9428047B2 (en) | 2014-10-22 | 2016-08-30 | Jason Green | Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a hybrid fuel assembly and system |
US9931929B2 (en) | 2014-10-22 | 2018-04-03 | Jason Green | Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a hybrid fuel assembly and system |
US9885318B2 (en) | 2015-01-07 | 2018-02-06 | Jason E Green | Mixing assembly |
US9611090B1 (en) * | 2015-10-23 | 2017-04-04 | Mine Rite Technologies, Llc | Open access water tank truck body |
CN107472733B (en) * | 2017-08-09 | 2024-04-16 | 滁州永强汽车制造有限公司 | Liquid tank capable of preventing medium impact and tank truck |
EP3691987A4 (en) * | 2017-10-05 | 2021-07-07 | Fuelie Systems, Inc. | Trailer for transporting fluid |
WO2019070800A1 (en) | 2017-10-05 | 2019-04-11 | Fuelie Systems, Inc. | Fuel trailer |
CN110282462A (en) * | 2019-06-05 | 2019-09-27 | 广州市加简派电子科技有限公司 | A kind of convenience transporting equipment with automatic discharging function for coal chemical industry |
US11396420B2 (en) | 2019-08-09 | 2022-07-26 | Roger Hayes | Tank for transporting liquids |
Citations (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2091731A (en) * | 1934-04-30 | 1937-08-31 | Standard Steel Works | Tank |
US2552119A (en) * | 1946-04-04 | 1951-05-08 | Goodrich Co B F | Collapsible fuel tank for aircraft |
US2646817A (en) * | 1950-07-10 | 1953-07-28 | Sheffield Instr Company | Automatic shutoff for tank filling |
US2992656A (en) * | 1958-02-05 | 1961-07-18 | English Electric Co Ltd | Liquid reservoirs for aircraft |
US3131949A (en) * | 1960-04-28 | 1964-05-05 | Pullman Inc | Self-sustaining transportation tank |
US3166212A (en) * | 1962-09-04 | 1965-01-19 | North American Aviation Inc | Segmented tanks |
US3363641A (en) * | 1965-04-09 | 1968-01-16 | Gerald D. Mylander | Automatic flow control valve responsive to liquid level |
US3979005A (en) * | 1974-05-13 | 1976-09-07 | The Boeing Company | Cryogenic tank and aircraft structural interface |
US4182254A (en) * | 1975-10-16 | 1980-01-08 | Campbell Secord | Tanks for the storage and transport of fluid media under pressure |
US4191208A (en) * | 1977-09-14 | 1980-03-04 | Mylander Gerald D | Automatic fill-stop valve |
US4251005A (en) * | 1977-08-01 | 1981-02-17 | Magnum Industries, Inc. | Tank |
US4313566A (en) * | 1979-06-04 | 1982-02-02 | Klein Richard F | Fluid balancing system for tank vehicle |
US4611724A (en) * | 1985-08-16 | 1986-09-16 | Jbf Scientific Company, Inc. | Fluid-storage tank |
US4775070A (en) * | 1987-02-24 | 1988-10-04 | James Williams | System for preventing fluid surges in fluid transport vehicles |
US4789170A (en) * | 1987-05-26 | 1988-12-06 | Reberland Equipment, Inc. | Tank baffles |
US5052437A (en) * | 1990-12-03 | 1991-10-01 | Ford Motor Company | Vent tube assembly |
US5109999A (en) * | 1989-02-07 | 1992-05-05 | Solindo Equipment Leasing Limited | Transport containers |
US5226371A (en) * | 1991-03-27 | 1993-07-13 | Hockney Pty Ltd. | Mobile tanker |
US5651330A (en) * | 1995-02-09 | 1997-07-29 | Jewett; Larry Hayward | Shipping container for shipping livestock |
US5657715A (en) * | 1993-05-01 | 1997-08-19 | Theriault; Vincent | Maritime survival capsule |
US5779092A (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 1998-07-14 | Mega Corporation | Baffle system for tank |
US5860250A (en) * | 1996-09-30 | 1999-01-19 | Hill; Kathy E. | Gate device |
US6547091B2 (en) * | 2001-06-01 | 2003-04-15 | Leroy G. Hagenbuch | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US6564961B1 (en) * | 2002-09-09 | 2003-05-20 | Richard Klein | Trapezoidal fluid storage tank |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US461724A (en) * | 1891-10-20 | Envelope | ||
FI850993L (en) * | 1984-03-16 | 1985-09-17 | Rosenbauer Kg Konrad | UTRYCKNINGSFORDON, SPECIELLT TANKSLAECKNINGSFORDON FOER FLYGFAELT. |
IT1180106B (en) * | 1984-11-05 | 1987-09-23 | Olivetti & Co Spa | CIRCUIT FOR PILOTING ELECTRIC MOTORS OF TABULATION SELECTION AND INTERLINE OF A ELECTRONIC WRITING MACHINE |
US4941437A (en) * | 1987-07-01 | 1990-07-17 | Nippondenso Co., Ltd. | Automotive radiator cooling system |
US5244021A (en) * | 1991-12-13 | 1993-09-14 | Hau Ernest F | Fuel transfer container |
US5373957A (en) * | 1993-11-08 | 1994-12-20 | Ford Motor Company | Low expulsion vent for an automotive fuel tank |
US5673736A (en) * | 1994-03-15 | 1997-10-07 | Farkas; Edward J. | Temperature-compensated automatic stop fill for filling of tanks with liquids under vapor or gas pressure |
US5522415A (en) * | 1994-12-19 | 1996-06-04 | Hopenfeld; Joram | Automatic shut-off valve for liquid storage tanks and method of installation |
DE19532988C1 (en) * | 1995-09-07 | 1996-12-19 | Porsche Ag | Fuel tank esp. for motor cars |
NZ337729A (en) * | 1998-09-09 | 2001-01-26 | Marconi Commerce Sys Inc | Service station vapour recovery control in accordance with vapour recovered to liquid dispensed ratio |
US7412357B1 (en) | 1999-06-15 | 2008-08-12 | Philippi-Hagenbuch, Inc. | Process for three-dimensional modeling and design of off-highway dump bodies |
US7735507B2 (en) | 2001-06-01 | 2010-06-15 | Hagenbuch Leroy G | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
-
2003
- 2003-04-11 US US10/411,827 patent/US7735507B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-04-11 CA CA 2425462 patent/CA2425462C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2007
- 2007-07-19 AU AU2007203369A patent/AU2007203369B2/en not_active Ceased
-
2010
- 2010-06-11 US US12/814,061 patent/US8307844B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2011
- 2011-01-28 AU AU2011200358A patent/AU2011200358B2/en not_active Ceased
-
2012
- 2012-10-25 US US13/660,120 patent/US10029830B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2091731A (en) * | 1934-04-30 | 1937-08-31 | Standard Steel Works | Tank |
US2552119A (en) * | 1946-04-04 | 1951-05-08 | Goodrich Co B F | Collapsible fuel tank for aircraft |
US2646817A (en) * | 1950-07-10 | 1953-07-28 | Sheffield Instr Company | Automatic shutoff for tank filling |
US2992656A (en) * | 1958-02-05 | 1961-07-18 | English Electric Co Ltd | Liquid reservoirs for aircraft |
US3131949A (en) * | 1960-04-28 | 1964-05-05 | Pullman Inc | Self-sustaining transportation tank |
US3166212A (en) * | 1962-09-04 | 1965-01-19 | North American Aviation Inc | Segmented tanks |
US3363641A (en) * | 1965-04-09 | 1968-01-16 | Gerald D. Mylander | Automatic flow control valve responsive to liquid level |
US3979005A (en) * | 1974-05-13 | 1976-09-07 | The Boeing Company | Cryogenic tank and aircraft structural interface |
US4182254A (en) * | 1975-10-16 | 1980-01-08 | Campbell Secord | Tanks for the storage and transport of fluid media under pressure |
US4251005A (en) * | 1977-08-01 | 1981-02-17 | Magnum Industries, Inc. | Tank |
US4191208A (en) * | 1977-09-14 | 1980-03-04 | Mylander Gerald D | Automatic fill-stop valve |
US4313566A (en) * | 1979-06-04 | 1982-02-02 | Klein Richard F | Fluid balancing system for tank vehicle |
US4611724A (en) * | 1985-08-16 | 1986-09-16 | Jbf Scientific Company, Inc. | Fluid-storage tank |
US4775070A (en) * | 1987-02-24 | 1988-10-04 | James Williams | System for preventing fluid surges in fluid transport vehicles |
US4789170A (en) * | 1987-05-26 | 1988-12-06 | Reberland Equipment, Inc. | Tank baffles |
US5109999A (en) * | 1989-02-07 | 1992-05-05 | Solindo Equipment Leasing Limited | Transport containers |
US5052437A (en) * | 1990-12-03 | 1991-10-01 | Ford Motor Company | Vent tube assembly |
US5226371A (en) * | 1991-03-27 | 1993-07-13 | Hockney Pty Ltd. | Mobile tanker |
US5657715A (en) * | 1993-05-01 | 1997-08-19 | Theriault; Vincent | Maritime survival capsule |
US5651330A (en) * | 1995-02-09 | 1997-07-29 | Jewett; Larry Hayward | Shipping container for shipping livestock |
US5860250A (en) * | 1996-09-30 | 1999-01-19 | Hill; Kathy E. | Gate device |
US5779092A (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 1998-07-14 | Mega Corporation | Baffle system for tank |
US6547091B2 (en) * | 2001-06-01 | 2003-04-15 | Leroy G. Hagenbuch | Baffled tank for a vehicle |
US6564961B1 (en) * | 2002-09-09 | 2003-05-20 | Richard Klein | Trapezoidal fluid storage tank |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070096453A1 (en) * | 2005-10-03 | 2007-05-03 | Reber Larry F | Baffling system for emergency tanker vehicle |
US7604256B2 (en) * | 2005-10-03 | 2009-10-20 | Reber Larry F | Baffling system for emergency tanker vehicle |
US20100258567A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2010-10-14 | Colin Gibert Tobeck and Rosalie Bernadette Tobeck as Trutees of the Progressive Endeavours Trust | Fluid receiver with one-way check valve at inlet port |
US20140217716A1 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2014-08-07 | Western Technology Services International, Inc. | Baffled Fluid Tank with Stairway Access |
US9707881B2 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2017-07-18 | Western Technology Services International, Inc. | Baffled fluid tank with stairway access |
US10737608B2 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2020-08-11 | Austin Engineering Usa Services, Inc. | Baffled fluid tank with stairway access |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US10029830B2 (en) | 2018-07-24 |
AU2011200358B2 (en) | 2011-12-22 |
US8307844B2 (en) | 2012-11-13 |
AU2007203369B2 (en) | 2010-10-28 |
US7735507B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 |
CA2425462A1 (en) | 2003-10-11 |
US20030230585A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 |
US20100243651A1 (en) | 2010-09-30 |
AU2007203369A1 (en) | 2007-08-09 |
CA2425462C (en) | 2011-08-16 |
US20130112768A1 (en) | 2013-05-09 |
AU2011200358A1 (en) | 2011-02-17 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8307844B2 (en) | Baffled tank for a vehicle | |
US4593855A (en) | Vehicle-mountable fire fighting apparatus | |
US5021156A (en) | Dump truck for receiving draining and disposing of dredged material | |
US6547091B2 (en) | Baffled tank for a vehicle | |
US7520411B2 (en) | Portable fluid-transporting system | |
KR101803787B1 (en) | Loading device and discharging method of the dump truck loading box | |
US4389314A (en) | Eductor truck | |
US4543183A (en) | Eductor truck | |
MX2008004410A (en) | Baffling system for emergency tanker vehicle. | |
AU2016213787B2 (en) | Vacuum Debris Collection Box Having Sloped Debris Chute | |
CA2388177C (en) | Baffled tank for a vehicle | |
US4951704A (en) | Concealed relief systems for closed system fire tank trucks | |
JP4494956B2 (en) | Construction machinery | |
RU2771758C1 (en) | Sprinkler truck on the basis of a mining dump truck with a body for bulk cargo transportation | |
KR102377674B1 (en) | Dump truck with storage tank under load | |
RU214612U1 (en) | TANKER VACUUM FIELDS | |
RU2196714C1 (en) | Tank | |
RU213047U1 (en) | VACUUM TANK MODULE | |
KR20200020283A (en) | A dump truck for a drainage system having drainage barrier walls and drainage on the outside of the door | |
WO2020153398A1 (en) | Construction machine | |
WO2003066395A1 (en) | A device for exploitation of a tipper lorry platform capacity | |
US3734775A (en) | Catch basin cleaning system and method | |
DK9600337U3 (en) | Drainage system for fertilizer tanks | |
KR20200042602A (en) | Dump trucks with loader and body frame always with drainage connection | |
PL63909Y1 (en) | Containerized device, especially for sewage cleaning and sanitation |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAT HOLDER NO LONGER CLAIMS SMALL ENTITY STATUS, ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: STOL); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.) |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: 7.5 YR SURCHARGE - LATE PMT W/IN 6 MO, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1555) |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552) Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20220615 |