Cargo tank assemblies with ground level access

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10427580-B2
Application number	US-201715447808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A cargo tank assembly can include a cargo tank, and a plurality of access ports for the cargo tank, including a manway. A cabinet can be arranged to provide ground-level access to the plurality of access ports. In some embodiments, the cabinet can provide a sole breakable seal for a set of equipment, or for the cargo tank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cargo tank assembly comprising:
a cargo tank configured for transport of pressurized materials;
a plurality of access ports for the cargo tank, including a manway and one or more of an inlet port to fill the cargo tank, an outlet port to empty the cargo tank, a cleaning port, and an inspection port;
a vapor recovery system, including a vapor-recovery fitting configured to attach to an external conduit to discharge vapor from the cargo tank;
a cabinet arranged to enclose the plurality of access ports and the vapor-recovery fitting, the cabinet thereby providing ground-level access to the plurality of access ports and the vapor-recovery fitting; and
a housing with an outer jacket that is spaced apart from the cargo tank;
wherein the cabinet is arranged to provide ground-level access to within the outer jacket;
wherein the vapor recovery system includes a vapor-recovery port at a top end of the cargo tank and vapor-recovery piping that extends outside of the cabinet between the vapor-recovery fitting and vapor-recovery port; and
wherein the outer jacket encloses the vapor-recovery piping and the vapor-recovery port.

2. The cargo tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of access ports are disposed on one of a front head and a rear head of the cargo tank; and
wherein the plurality of access ports includes the cleaning port.

3. The cargo tank assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cleaning port is configured to receive a telescoping cleaning system.

4. The cargo tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer jacket includes an at least partly non-cylindrical profile.

5. The cargo tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein a top portion of the at least partly non-cylindrical profile includes a first arcuate portion having a first radius of curvature and a second arcuate portion having a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature.

6. The cargo tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer jacket at least partly defines a closed compartment at the top end of the cargo tank, with the vapor-recovery port enclosed within the closed compartment.

7. The cargo tank assembly of claim 6 wherein the closed compartment further encloses a pressure relief valve for the cargo tank.

8. The cargo tank assembly of claim 6 wherein the outer jacket is supported by a plurality of foam ribs, at least two of which at least partly define the closed compartment.

9. The cargo tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein none of the plurality of access ports include a breakable seal; and
wherein the cabinet includes a breakable seal to seal the cabinet when the cabinet is closed, the cabinet thereby providing the only breakable seal for access to the interior of the cargo tank via the plurality of access ports.

10. A cargo tank assembly comprising:
a cargo tank configured for transport of pressurized materials;
a plurality of access ports for the cargo tank, including a manway and one or more of an inlet port to fill the cargo tank, an outlet port to empty the cargo tank, a cleaning port, and an inspection port; and
a cabinet with a breakable seal, the cabinet being arranged to enclose the plurality of access ports to provide ground-level access to the plurality of access ports;
with none of the plurality of access ports including a breakable seal, so that the cabinet provides the only breakable seal for access to the interior of the cargo tank via the plurality of access ports.

11. The cargo tank assembly of claim 10 , wherein the breakable seal for the cabinet is disposed on a closeable door of the cabinet.

12. The cargo tank assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of access ports includes the cleaning port.

13. The cargo tank assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cleaning port is configured to receive a telescoping cleaning system.

14. The cargo tank assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a vapor recovery system, including a vapor-recovery fitting configured to attach to an external conduit to discharge vapor from the cargo tank to an external system;
wherein the cabinet provides ground-level access to the vapor-recovery fitting.

15. The cargo tank assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a housing with an outer jacket that is spaced apart from and substantially surrounds the cargo tank;
wherein the vapor recovery system includes a vapor-recovery port at a top end of the cargo tank and vapor-recovery piping that extends outside of the cabinet between the vapor-recovery fitting and the vapor-recovery port; and
wherein the outer jacket encloses the vapor-recovery piping and the vapor-recovery port.

16. The cargo tank assembly of claim 15 , wherein the outer jacket includes an at least partly non-cylindrical profile; and
wherein the outer jacket at least partly defines a closed compartment at the top end of the cargo tank, with the vapor-recovery port enclosed within the closed compartment.

17. A method of manufacture for a cargo tank assembly, the method comprising:
forming a cargo tank with an internal area;
forming a plurality of access ports for the cargo tank, including a manway and one or more of an inlet port to fill the cargo tank, an outlet port to empty the cargo tank, a cleaning port, and an inspection port;
disposing a cabinet to enclose the plurality of access ports so that the cabinet provides ground-level access to the plurality of access ports; and
forming a breakable seal for the cabinet, to seal the cabinet when the cabinet is closed;
wherein none of the plurality of access ports include a breakable seal, so that the cabinet provides the only breakable seal for access to an interior of the cargo tank via the plurality of access ports.

18. A method of manufacture for a cargo tank assembly, the method comprising:
forming a cargo tank with an internal area;
forming a plurality of access ports for the cargo tank, including a manway and one or more of an inlet port to fill the cargo tank, an outlet port to empty the cargo tank, a cleaning port, and an inspection port;
disposing a cabinet to enclose the plurality of access ports so that the cabinet provides ground-level access to the plurality of access ports;
attaching a vapor recovery system to the cargo tank; and
forming a housing with an outer jacket for the cargo tank;
wherein the vapor recovery system includes a vapor-recovery fitting configured to attach to an external conduit to discharge vapor from the cargo tank;
wherein the vapor-recovery fitting is enclosed by the cabinet, with the cabinet providing ground-level access to the vapor-recovery fitting; and
wherein the outer jacket is configured to enclose the vapor recovery system outside of the cabinet.

Assignees

• Wabash National Lp

Inventors

• Cannon John F

Classifications

• B60P3/224 Primary

  comprising auxiliary devices, e.g. for unloading or level indicating (catwalks, ladders or safety railings therefor B60R3/005) · CPC title

• F17C13/04

  Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) · CPC title

• B60P3/226 Primary

  Arrangements of access openings or covers therefor · CPC title

• B60P3/2255

  Ventilating arrangements · CPC title

• F17C2205/0394

  in direct contact with the pressure vessel · CPC title