Tank with compartments and an air piping system for equalizing air pressure in the compartments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926688-B2
Application number	US-201916558442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2019
Priority date	Mar 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The tank includes a tank assembly 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. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under a 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 comprising:
a body including:
a first compartment adapted to carry a load;
a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a common wall; and
an air piping system that selectively applies equal air pressure to the first and second compartments or creates a vacuum in each of the first and second compartments; and wherein the air piping system includes a first filter that is utilized when the air piping system pressurizes each of the first and second compartments and the filter is bypassed when the air piping system creates a vacuum in each of the first and second compartments.

2. The tank as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air piping system further comprising a second filter; and the second filter is utilized when the air piping system creates a vacuum in each of the first and second compartments but is bypassed when the air piping system pressurizes each of the first and second compartments.

3. The tank as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a cooling system that is utilized when the air piping system pressurizes each of the first and second compartments.

4. A tank for carrying a load; said tank comprising:
a tank assembly;
a first compartment defined in the tank assembly, said first compartment being adapted to hold a load of material therein;
an air piping system providing on the tank assembly; wherein the air piping system includes a conduit that runs from a first region of the tank assembly to a second region of the tank assembly and immediately below the first compartment; said conduit being sealed off from air surrounding the tank assembly; wherein the conduit selectively allows air to flow therethrough in a first direction when the load of material is loaded into the first compartment; and the conduit allows air to flow therethrough in a second direction when the load of material is removed from the first compartment.

5. The tank as defined in claim 4 , wherein the conduit and the first compartment abut each other.

6. The tank as defined in claim 4 , wherein the conduit and the first compartment share at least one wall in common.

7. The tank as defined in claim 4 , wherein the first compartment and conduit are in fluid communication with each other.

8. The tank as defined in claim 4 , further comprising a device for pressurizing air in the first compartment; and when the first compartment is pressurized by the device, the conduit is simultaneously placed under substantially the same air pressure as the first compartment by the device.

9. The tank as defined in claim 4 , further comprising a device for creating a vacuum in the first compartment; and when the first compartment is placed under vacuum by the device, the conduit is also simultaneously placed under vacuum by the device.

10. The tank as defined in claim 4 , wherein the conduit is configured relative to the first compartment so as to never receive any of the load of material therein.

11. The tank as defined in claim 4 , further comprising a discharge system operatively engaged with the first compartment, and wherein the discharge system is adapted to receive the load of material from the first compartment and to move the load of material to a location remote from the first compartment.

Assignees

• Mac Trailer Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Kibler Scott A

Classifications

• B60P3/243

  divided by rigid walls · CPC title

• B65D88/548

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

• B60P3/221

  Assembling, e.g. layout of steel plates or reinforcing arrangements · CPC title

• B60P3/24

  compartmented · CPC title

• B60P3/2265

  Arrangements for hoses, tubes, or reels · CPC title