Tank having an air piping system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894501-B2
Application number	US-201916558376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2019
Priority date	Mar 27, 2018
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The tank includes a body having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. An air piping system is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tank for holding a load; said tank comprising:
a body;
a first wall provided on the body; said first wall bounding and defining a first compartment that is adapted to carry a load of material therein;
a second wall spaced outwardly from a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall;
a first opening and a second opening defined in the first wall and being located to selectively place the first compartment in fluid communication with air outside of the body; wherein the first opening is adapted to permit introduction of the load of material into the first compartment; and the second opening is adapted to permit removal of the load of material from the first compartment without the load of material entering the second compartment; and
an air piping system engaged with the body; wherein the air piping system is selectively activated to pressurize the first compartment and the second compartment or to create a vacuum in the first compartment and the second compartment.

2. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the body is circular in lateral cross-section.

3. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first housing and a central section that extends outwardly from the first housing; and wherein each of the first housing and the central section are circular in lateral cross-section.

4. The tank as defined in claim 3 , wherein the first compartment is defined in the central section.

5. The tank as defined in claim 4 , wherein the second compartment is defined partially in the first housing.

6. The tank as defined in claim 5 , wherein the second compartment is also defined partially in the central section.

7. The tank as defined in claim 6 , wherein the body further includes a second housing that extends outwardly from the central section and is spaced from the first housing; and wherein the second compartment is further defined at least partially in the second housing.

8. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second compartment is located at least partially vertically below the first compartment.

9. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second compartment is sealed from contact with air located outside of the body.

10. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air piping system places the first compartment and second compartment in fluid communication with each other.

11. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air piping system is selectively activatable to place the first and second compartments under substantially equal air pressure.

12. The tank as defined in claim 11 , wherein the air piping system is selectively activatable to simultaneously place the first and second compartments under substantially equal air pressure.

13. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air piping system is selectively activatable to simultaneously place the first and second compartments under vacuum.

14. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air piping system is activatable to provide an air pressure on a first side of the portion of the first wall in the first compartment that is substantially equal to an air pressure on a second side of the portion of the first wall in the second compartment.

15. The tank as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one hopper extending downwardly from a bottom region of the body; and wherein an interior of the at least one hopper forms a part of the first compartment.

16. The tank as defined in claim 15 , wherein a lower region of the at least one hopper extends for a distance below the second compartment.

17. The tank as defined in claim 15 , wherein the at least one hopper includes a first hopper and a second hopper extending downwardly from the bottom region of the body; and wherein an interior of the first hopper and an interior of the second hopper form a part of the first compartment.

18. The tank as defined in claim 15 , wherein a portion of the second compartment extends between a conical wall of the first hopper and a conical wall of the second hopper, and the second wall of the body.

19. The tank as defined in claim 18 , wherein a part of the first hopper and a part of the second hopper extend through the second compartment.

20. The tank as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one rib extending around an exterior circumferential surface of the body.

21. The tank as defined in claim 20 , wherein the at least one rib includes a first rib and a second rib spaced a distance from each other.

Assignees

• Mac Trailer Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Kibler Scott A

Classifications

• B60P3/22

  Tank vehicles ({vehicles convertible from transport of fluids to transport of other types of goods B60P3/426}; tank aspects B65D90/00, F17C) · CPC title

• B60P3/225

  Adaptations for pumps or valves · CPC title

• B65G67/04

  Loading land vehicles {(loading or unloading boats to or from land vehicles B60P3/10)} · CPC title

• B60P3/2265

  Arrangements for hoses, tubes, or reels · CPC title

• B65D88/548

  by pneumatic means (B65D88/72 takes precedence) · CPC title