Multi-piece plastic tank having an integrated connection means and a method for implementing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570436-B2
Application number	US-202418646445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2024
Priority date	Feb 21, 2020
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A multi-piece plastic tank is provided and includes a tank top section, wherein the tank top section defines a tank top opening surrounded by a top flange that extends along the length of the top flange, a tank bottom section having, wherein the tank bottom section defines a tank bottom opening surrounded by a bottom flange that extends along the length of the bottom flange, wherein the top flange and bottom flange are configured to be connected to form the multi-piece plastic tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for associating a jig having a jig engagement structure with a first half tank structure and a second half tank structure to form a multi-piece molded plastic tank, wherein the first half tank structure includes a first half tank flange and wherein the second half tank structure includes a second half tank flange, the method comprising:
associating the first half tank structure with the second half tank structure such that the first half tank flange is aligned with the second half tank flange, wherein at least one of the first half tank flange includes a first jig structure and the second half tank includes a second jig structure; associating the jig with the first half tank flange and the second half tank flange, such that the jig engagement structure is associated with at least one of the first jig structure and the second jig structure, wherein
the jig engagement structure comprises an upper rail system comprising a first rail roller and a second rail roller and a lower rail system comprising a third rail roller and a fourth rail roller;
operating the jig to cause the jig to traverse the first half tank flange and the second half tank flange such that the first half tank flange becomes securely associated with second half tank flange, wherein
operating the jig comprises rotating an actuation handle of the jig to cause the fourth rail roller to engage the second jig structure, and
the fourth rail roller and the second jig structure each comprise a sawtooth shape; and
disassociating the jig from the first half tank flange and the second half tank flange.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the jig engagement structure comprises:
a containment structure top; a containment structure bottom; a containment structure rear; a containment structure front top lip; and a containment structure front bottom lip.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the jig with the first half tank flange and the second half tank flange further comprises locating the first half tank flange within the first rail roller and the second rail roller.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rail roller is rotatable about a first roller axis and the second rail roller is rotatable about a second roller axis.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rail roller comprises a first roller channel and the second rail roller comprises a second roller channel.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower rail system comprises:
a first disc section, wherein the first disc section comprises the third rail roller, a first disc roller arm, a first disc shaft, and a first disc plate; and a second disc section, wherein the second disc section comprises the fourth rail roller, a second disc roller arm, a second disc shaft, and a second disc plate.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the third rail roller is rotatably connected to the first disc roller arm to rotate about an axis.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the fourth rail roller is rotatably connected to the second disc roller arm to rotate about an axis.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the third rail roller comprises a third roller channel and the fourth rail roller comprises a fourth roller channel.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third rail roller is rotatable about a third roller axis and the fourth rail roller is rotatable about a fourth roller axis.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein rotating the actuation handle further comprises rotating the actuation handle of the jig to rotate the third roller channel and the fourth roller channel to engage with the second jig structure.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising rotating the actuation handle of the jig to rotate the fourth rail roller about an axis.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein disassociating the jig from the first half tank flange and the second half tank flange comprises rotating the actuation handle of the jig counterclockwise to disengage the lower rail system from the second jig structure.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating a sealing article with the second half tank flange.

Assignees

• Advanced Drainage Syst

Inventors

• Holbrook Paul R

Classifications

• B65D11/10

  of polygonal cross-section and all parts being permanently connected to each other (B65D11/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2303/00

  Orienting or positioning means for containers · CPC title

• B65D2313/00

  Connecting or fastening means · CPC title

• B65D90/08

  Interconnections of wall parts; Sealing means therefor · CPC title

• B65D11/24 Primary

  Corrugations · CPC title