WO1996001225A1

WO1996001225A1 - Self-draining container

Info

Publication number: WO1996001225A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/008211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Virginia M. Ferrel
Original assignee: Ferrel Virginia M
Priority date: 1994-07-05
Filing date: 1995-06-27
Publication date: 1996-01-18
Also published as: AU2953395A

Abstract

A container (10) for transporting and storing materials comprising a sloped bottom structure (12), having a drain opening (24) located within a sump (19) at the lowest elevation therein, a plurality of channels (21) intersecting the perimeter of the sump (19) extending downward from the bottom structure (12) into the sump (19), and one or more bends (20) in the bottom structure (12) forming sloped sections (23) of the bottom structure (12), where the sections (23) sloped downward toward the drain opening (24). The bottom structure (12) further comprises a drain elbow (14) connected to the bottom of the sump (19) and a reinforcing ring (22) welded (25) to the bottom of the sump (19) and to the drain elbow (14).

Description

SELF-DRAINING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a container for storing and transporting bulk liquids, and more particularly to a self-draining tank having a bottom which is sloped toward a drain orifice located in a sump and channels extending from the bottom into the sump, and which eliminates the need for internal seams or welds on the bottom of the tank.

Tanks used for storing and transporting bulk liquids are known in the art. A problem experienced with the containers which are known in the art is that they do not fully discharge or drain the contents of the container. Failure to fully drain the container results in the need to flush or rinse the interior of the container prior to further use. Rinsing the container is expensive, time consuming, and, for some container designs, difficult to accomplish. Moreover, when the containers are used to transport and store hazardous liquids, the residue from the stored liquid and the rinsing fluid must be collected and disposed of in accordance with local and federal regulations. This adds additional expense to the transportation and storage of the contents.

Conventional storage and transportation tanks generally have bottom discharge openings or drains, and it is generally known to slope the bottom of the tank toward the drain. Various configurations of sloped bottom containers have been disclosed, each attempting to provide sufficient drainage of the contents of the container. Examples of sloped bottom containers are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,785,958 and 4,840,284. These configurations allow more of the material to drain, but some residual material generally remains within the container. Affixed to the bottom drain orifice there is typically a right elbow for connecting hoses or other conduits to facilitate transfer of liquid from the container to another location. In the containers known in the art, the right elbow must be welded to the drain orifice in the tank bottom, causing the material to form a welt or a bump. These welts or bumps form a dam around the perimeter of the drain orifice which impedes drainage.

The containers known in the art also require legs to provide space, between the bottom of the container and the surface on which it rests, in which the right elbow is located. Tanks constructed in this way are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,648.521, 4,840,284, and 4,785,958. The location of the bottom drain orifice has been varied in an attempt to simplify drainage of the container. It is. therefore, known in the art to position the drain off-center, generally close to one side of the container, to make connections easier.

It is, therefore, an important object of the invention to provide a container for bulk liquids that will drain completely.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container that is easily transported and drained.

It is another object of the invention to increase the structural integrity of the bottom drain of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects and others are achieved, according to the present invention, by a self-draining container which comprises a body which has a bottom including sloped sections, an opening therein defining a drain, the drain being located within a recessed portion of the bottom defining a sump, and channels extending from the sloped bottom into the sump. In a preferred embodiment, the self-draining container further comprises a reinforcing ring attached to the sump portion of the sloped bottom and to a drain elbow positioned below the drain opening in the sump portion of the sloped bottom.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become evident from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is a cut-away plan view of a container incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, a self-draining container 10 according to the present invention is illustrated. Container 10 includes generally vertical side walls 11 and a sloped bottom structure 12. The container is elevated above the ground by some support means 13, such as feet, to a height sufficient to permit a drain elbow 14 to extend below the sloped bottom structure 12. Container 10 also has a top structure 16 having an opening 17 through which material may be introduced into the container 10, and on which may be mounted supports 18 which may be used to lift the container 10 or to stack one container 10 on top of another. Sloped bottom structure 12 has upturned side portions 15 that form upwardly extending wall portions which merge into the generally vertical side walls 11. FIG. 2 shows, in greater detail, the construction of the bottom structure. The bottom strucmre 12 includes sections 23 that converge downwardly toward a drain opening 24 within a sump 19 located in the bottom structure 12. In a preferred embodiment, the sump 19 is located off-center in the bottom strucmre. The sump 19 is integral with the bottom strucmre 12. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the support means 13 position the sump 19 at the lowest elevation of the bottom plate when the support means 13 rest on a horizontal surface.

The bottom strucmre may be sloped downward by any known means. In a preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the bottom strucmre 12 is sloped by pressing it such that four channels, creases, or bends 20 are formed in the bottom strucmre sloping from the bottoms of the corners of the container 10 downward toward the sump 19. By pressing the bottom strucmre to form the bends 20, the bottom strucmre 20 is divided into sections 23. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, pressing the bottom strucmre 12 to form the bends 20 causes the sections 23 between the bends 20 to slope downward from the centers of the sections 23 toward the bends 20, and causes the sections 23 between the bends 20 to slope downward from the upturned side portions 15 of the bottom downward toward the sump 19. As the last of the contained liquid reaches the bottom 12 of the container 10, the liquid draining from the tank will flow downward in direction a, shown in FIG. 4, from the center of each section 23 into the bends 20, and downward in the bends 20 into the sump 19.

A plurality of deeper and wider indentations intersecting the perimeter of the sump form channels 21 extending downward into the sump 19. In a preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the channels 21 are aligned longitudinally with the bends 20. As FIGS. 2 and 3 show, the channels 21 extend downward from the bends 20 into the sump 19, and aid in draining material from the container 10 into the sump 19. In a preferred embodiment, the sump 19 is also pressed to form bends 26 in the sump sloping downward from the channels 21 into the drain orifice. The bends in the sump 26. and the resulting downward slope of the sump 19, further aid in draining material from the container 10. The bends 20, channels 21, sump 19, and bends in the sump 26 are pressed into the bottom strucmre 12 such that there are no seams or welts from welding in the bottom strucmre 12 which might impede drainage.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sump 19 is connected to the drain elbow 14 below the bottom strucmre 12 by welding 25 a reinforcing ring 22 to the drain elbow 14 and the bottom of the sump portion 19 of the sloped bottom strucmre 12. This permits the contents of container 10 to be drained, while eliminating any internal seams or bumps in the surface of the bottom strucmre 12, due to welding, which might impede drainage. The reinforcing ring 22 also reinforces this area of the container, and reduces the occurrence of cracking of the weld which may occur, for example, in shipping, due to vibration.

The invention has been described above in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A container for storing liquids having a chamber and a sloped bottom strucmre comprising a sump at the lowest elevation of the sloped bottom strucmre; a drain opening located within the sump; and a plurality of channels in the sloped bottom strucmre intersecting the sump, at least a portion of each channel extending downwardly from the sloped bottom strucmre into the sump.

2. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bends in the sump, each bend extending downward to the drain opening from one of the channels.

3. The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump around said drain opening.

4. The container according to claim 2, further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump around said drain opening.

5. The container according to claim 3. further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

6. The container according to claim 4, further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

7. A container for storing liquids having generally vertical side walls, each side wall having a top end and a bottom end, corners formed between adjacent side walls, and a sloped bottom strucmre comprising a sump at the lowest elevation therein; a drain opening located within the sump; and at least one bend in the sloped bottom strucmre extending downward to the sump from one of the corners formed between the bottom ends of adjacent side walls of the container.

8. The container according to claim 7, further comprising at least one channel in the sloped bottom structure intersecting the perimeter of the sump, a portion of said channel extending downwardly from the sloped bottom strucmre into said sump.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the channel is longitudinally aligned with the bend in the bottom strucmre.

10. The container according to claim 8, further comprising at least one bend in the sump, said bend in the sump extending downward to the drain opening from the channel.

11. The container according to claim 9, further comprising at least one bend in the sump,, said bend in the sump extending downward to the drain opening from the channel.

12. The container according to claim 7, further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump about said drain opening.

13. The container according to claim 12, further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

14. The container according to claim 8, further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump about said drain opening.

15. The container according to claim 14, further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

16. The container according to claim 9, further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump about said drain opening.

17. The container according to claim 16, further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

18. The container according to claim 10, further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump about said drain opening.

19. The container according to claim 18, further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

20. The container according to claim 11, further comprising a drain elbow connected to the bottom of the sump about said drain opening.

21. The container according to claim 20, further comprising a reinforcing ring welded to the bottom of the sump and the drain elbow.

22. The container according to claim 7, wherein the sump is sloped downward to the drain opening from the perimeter of the sump.

23. The container according to claim 8, wherein the sump is sloped downward to the drain opening from the perimeter of the sump.

24. The container according to claim 10, wherein the sump is sloped downward to the drain opening from the perimeter of the sump.

25. The container according to claim 21, wherein the sump is sloped downward to the drain opening from the perimeter of the sump.