Trailer having increased ground clearance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10913623-B2
Application number	US-202016936680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2020
Priority date	Apr 3, 2018
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A bulk tank trailer including an interior storage compartment, at least one straight rear wheel axle supporting a plurality of ground-engaging wheels and a longitudinally aligned discharge pipe in operative communication with the interior storage compartment is disclosed. The entire discharge pipe may be positioned above a transverse plane of the at least one straight rear wheel axle. A method of discharging particulate materials is also disclosed. The method includes filling an interior storage compartment on a bulk tank trailer with the particulate materials, positioning a straight discharge pipe above a straight rear wheel axle on the bulk tank trailer, moving the particulate materials from the interior storage compartment along the straight discharge pipe and discharging the particulate materials from the discharge pipe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bulk tank trailer comprising:
a tank assembly including a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween and an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior storage compartment;
at least one straight rear wheel axle supporting a plurality of ground-engaging wheels; and
a longitudinally aligned straight discharge pipe in operative communication with the interior storage compartment; wherein the entire straight discharge pipe extends substantially along the length of the tank and is positioned above a horizontal transverse plane of the at least one straight rear wheel axle.

2. The bulk tank trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vertical longitudinally extending central plane; wherein the discharge pipe is longitudinally aligned along the vertical longitudinally extending central plane.

3. The bulk tank trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rear frame of the tank assembly operatively connected to the discharge pipe; wherein the rear frame carries the tank assembly at a first height allowing the discharge pipe to be positioned entirely above the transverse plane.

4. The bulk tank trailer of claim 3 , wherein the rear frame further comprises:
a left rear rail;
a right rear rail;
at least one intermediate support member; and
at least one rear support plate; wherein the left rear rail, the right rear rail, the at least one intermediate support member and the at least one rear support plate carry the tank assembly at the first height.

5. The bulk tank trailer of claim 4 , further comprising:
a top edge of the discharge pipe extending substantially along a length of the discharge pipe;
a bottom edge of the left rear rail extending substantially along a length of the left rear rail;
a top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle extending substantially along a length of the at least one straight rear wheel axle;
a horizontal longitudinally extending central plane of the tank assembly;
a substantially constant first vertical distance between the top edge of the discharge pipe and the bottom edge of the left rear rail;
a substantially constant second vertical distance between the top edge of the discharge pipe and the horizontal longitudinally extending central plane;
a substantially constant third vertical distance between the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle and the bottom edge of the left rear rail; and
a substantially constant fourth vertical distance between the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle and the horizontal longitudinally extending central plane.

6. The bulk tank trailer of claim 5 , further comprising:
a bottom edge of the at least one rear support plate; wherein the discharge pipe is positioned approximately midway between the bottom edge of the at least one rear support plate and the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle.

7. The bulk tank trailer of claim 5 , further comprising:
an air piping system operatively connected to the interior storage compartment and the discharge pipe; wherein the entire air piping system is positioned above the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle and the transverse plane.

8. The bulk tank trailer of claim 5 , further comprising:
a valve assembly operatively connected with the interior storage compartment and the discharge pipe; wherein the entire valve assembly is positioned above the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle and the transverse plane.

9. The bulk tank trailer of claim 5 , further comprising:
a strengthening assembly including a horizontally oriented bar positioned on the tank assembly; wherein the horizontally oriented bar includes a bottom edge extending substantially along a length of the horizontally oriented bar;
a substantially constant fifth vertical distance between the top edge of the discharge pipe and the bottom edge of the horizontally oriented bar; and
a substantially constant sixth vertical distance between the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle and the bottom edge of the horizontally oriented bar.

10. The bulk tank trailer of claim 5 , further comprising:
a strengthening assembly including at least one vertically oriented rib positioned on the tank assembly; wherein the at least one rib includes a bottom edge extending substantially along a width of the at least one vertically oriented rib;
a substantially constant fifth vertical distance between the top edge of the discharge pipe and the bottom edge of the vertically oriented rib; and
a substantially constant sixth vertical distance between the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle and the bottom edge of the vertically oriented rib.

11. The bulk tank trailer of claim 5 , wherein the tank assembly further comprises at least one hopper; wherein the at least one hopper includes a bottom end; wherein an interior of the at least one hopper forms a part of the storage compartment; and wherein the bottom end of the hopper is positioned entirely above the top edge of the discharge pipe and the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle.

12. The bulk tank trailer of claim 11 , wherein the at least one hopper includes a first hopper and a second hopper; and wherein the first hopper includes a first bottom end and the second hopper includes a second bottom end; and wherein a first interior of the first hopper and a second interior of the second hopper form a part of the storage compartment; and wherein the first bottom and the second bottom end are positioned entirely above the top edge of the discharge pipe and the top edge of the at least one straight rear wheel axle.

13. The bulk tank trailer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one straight rear wheel axle includes a first straight rear wheel axle and a second straight rear wheel axle; and wherein the entire discharge pipe is positioned above a first transverse plane of the first straight rear wheel axle and a second transverse plane of the second straight rear wheel axle.

Assignees

• Mac Trailer Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Gordon Allen

Classifications

• B60P1/56

  the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings · CPC title

• B60P3/2245 Primary

  Adaptations for loading or unloading · CPC title

• B65G69/06

  Fluidising · CPC title

• B60P3/225

  Adaptations for pumps or valves · CPC title

• B65G67/24 Primary

  Unloading land vehicles · CPC title