ZA200610391B

ZA200610391B - Motor vehicle liquid storage tank

Info

Publication number: ZA200610391B
Application number: ZA200610391A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Petrus Johannes Jacobus Dyzel
Original assignee: Petrus Johannes Jacobus Dyzel
Priority date: 2005-12-06
Filing date: 2006-12-12
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: AU2006249227A1

Description

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MOTOR VEHICLE LIQUID STORAGE TANK | Il

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a motor vehicle liquid storage tank that is intended primarily for the purpose of conveying a supply of water for use during travelling or during the conduct of outdoor activities at destinations not provided with a supply of potable water. The liquid storage tank could, however, be used for the purpose of conveying any other liquid, as may be required.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are many instances in which a vehicle is driven through, or outdoor activities are enjoyed in, areas in which a supply of water, in particular potable water, is not readily available. Typical of such instances is in the driving of vehicles in off-road or wilderness areas for recreational purposes.

The vehicles used for such travel may be four-wheel-drive vehicles or so- called sport utility vehicles.

It is quite common for persons engaging in such activities to carry a small supply of water, typically in plastic cans having a capacity of about 20 or 25 litres. This is generally inconvenient as the cans are heavy when full and therefore difficult to manipulate. Also, it is often not convenient to stow the cans in an easily accessible place in the relevant vehicle.

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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION :

It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid storage tank that overcomes, at least to some extent, the difficulties indicated above, at least in appropriate applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a motor vehicle liquid storage tank that has an elongate shape of approximately the length of a motor vehicle bumper, mounting means for mounting the storage tank to the rear end of a vehicle in the manner of a bumper, and wherein the storage tank has at least one removable filler cap in an upper region thereof and at least one manually operable tap communicating with a lower region thereof. :

Further features of the invention provide for the tank to be of generally rectilinear shape; for the tank to have a plurality of internal baffles configured to inhibit rapid lateral movement of liquid within the tank; for the tank to have bolt receiving passages passing transversely through the central region thereof for receiving bolts attaching a trailer hitch assembly to a mount therefor attached to the vehicle; for the mounting means to include a pair of laterally spaced brackets adapted for attachment to the rear end of the vehicle, typically the chassis or a transverse drawbar thereof; for the tank to have a pressure relief valve, preferably in the form of a float valve; and for the tank to have a filler cap and tap at each end thereof and, optionally also a float operated relief valve at each end.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a vehicle fitted with one embodiment of liquid storage tank according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the liquid storage tank alone;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional side elevation thereof taken along line Ili to Ill in Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates schematically in similar section the fitment of a trailer hitch to a vehicle trailer mount of a vehicle with the storage tank in position; and,

Figure 5 is a rear view of the liquid storage tank with the trailer hitch in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a motor vehicle liquid storage tank (1) has an elongate shape of approximately the length of a motor vehicle bumper so that it can be mounted to the rear end of a vehicle (2) as a bumper in instances in which none is provided as original equipment; as a replacement for a standard bumper; or, in appropriate instances, to the original bumper. ‘The exact location of the tank is variable and it may, if it is appropriate and desirable, extend partially underneath the rear of the vehicle to some extent, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

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For this purpose mounting means in the form of a pair of laterally spaced brackets (3) fixed to the outside of the tank are provided for enabling the tank to be securely fastened to the rear end of the vehicle, typically to the chassis.

In this instance the tank is of a simple rectilinear shape suitable for use on 5 four-wheel-drive vehicles, sport utility vehicles, light delivery vans and the like. In this instance the tank measures about 100 to 150 millimetres high; about 200 millimetres in-depth (that is in the direction of the length of a vehicle in use); and about 1700 millimetres long (that is in the direction across the width of a vehicle in use). This gives a tank capacity of about 34 litres to about 50 litres.

In the most preferred variation of this embodiment of the invention the tank is provided with a filler cap (4) on the top thereof at each end and a manually operable outlet tap (5), typically in the form of a simple stopcock communicating with the bottom of the tank at each end. Of course, a filler cap and outlet tap may be provided at only one end in order to conserve costs but this may sacrifice some convenience in the event that the vehicle is parked on a lateral incline in the wrong direction. In the instance that a filler cap and outlet tap is provided at each end, filling is done at the upper filler cap and water may be removed from the lower outlet tap that will be at the other end.

In either event the filler cap inlet preferably has a filter associated with it to filter out any foreign bodies from water introduced into the tank. Also, the tap is preferably located in the forwardly directed wall of the tank so that its opening is directed forwards and the tap itself is protected from persons inadvertently bumping into it and possibly causing injury, damage or unintentionally opening the tap. Still further, the tap may be of the automatic closing pushbutton operated type in order to conserve water in the event of unauthorised or inadvertent opening thereof.

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Also in a preferred variation, each of the filler caps or the tank itself is provided at each end, with a float operated relief valve (6) that can assume the simple form of a buoyant closure member that cooperates with a valve seat at the inner end of a vertical outlet pipe. Of course, the vertical outlet pipe receives a suitable filter material to prevent the ingress of dirt but allow the restricted passage of air through the pipe. With this arrangement the lower valve will always be closed when there is a suitable amount of water in the tank and the upper one will be open. Such an arrangement will obviate any buildup in pressure inside the tank that may be occasioned by, for example, temperature fluctuations.

In order to accommodate the attachment of a trailer hitch (7) and in the instance that the tank obscures the usual mounting plate (8), the tank. is provided with tubular passages (9) through the tank from front to back opposite attachment holes in the mounting plate. Accordingly, an angle shaped bracket (10) may be provided for attachment to the mounting plate by way of one flange (11) thereof with the other flange extending horizontally beneath the tank. The outer end of the latter flange is provided with studs (12) welded thereto so that a support plate (13) can be bolted to the rear end of the studs and to the mounting plate by way of bolts (14) passing through the passages (9). The trailer hitch is itself secured to the support plate.

It will be understood that, for the purpose of carrying potable water, the storage tank described above is preferably made of stainless steel, corrosion resistant steel such as 3CR12, or a suitable reinforced plastics material.

Finally, in order to obviate rapid lateral movement of liquid from one side to another within the tank during driving, the interior of the tank is provided with a plurality of spaced baffles (15) that assume the form of suitably perforated plates, in well known manner.

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In use, therefore, a suitable supply of potable water can be carried in the storage tank so as to be available for use at all times as and when necessary and particularly whenever the vehicle is away from a suitable supply of water.

The shape and configuration of the storage tank can be varied widely without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, the storage tank can be configured for attachment to any suitable vehicle and it is envisaged that many different types of transport vehicles, busses and the like could be fitted with same. 20 .

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Claims

CLAIMS: ee J

1. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank that has an elongate shape of approximately the length of a motor vehicle bumper, mounting means for mounting the storage tank to the rear end of a vehicle in the manner of a bumper, and wherein the storage tank has at least one removable filler cap in an upper region thereof and at least one manually operable tap communicating with a lower region thereof.

2. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in claim 1 in which the tank is of generally rectilinear shape.

3. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the tank has a plurality of internal baffles configured to inhibit rapid lateral movement of liquid within the tank.

4. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tank has bolt receiving passages passing transversely through the central region thereof for receiving bolts operatively attaching a trailer hitch assembly to a mount therefor attached to the vehicle.

5. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting means includes a pair of laterally spaced brackets adapted for attachment to the rear end of the vehicle.

6. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in claim 5 in which the mounting means is configured to be secured to either the chassis or a transverse drawbar of a vehicle to which it is mounted. P0498 2006/12/05

7. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tank has a pressure relief valve fitted thereto.

8. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in claim 7 in which the pressure relief valve assumes the form of a float valve.

9. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in either one of claims 7 or 8 in which the tank has a pressure relief valve at each end thereof.

10. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tank has a filler cap and tap at each end thereof. :

11. A motor vehicle liquid storage tank substantially as herein described and exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 5" day of December 2006 4 / for the applicant P0498 2006/12/05