Tank having an air piping system and method of loading and unloading the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020156886-A1
Application number	US-202016739181-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2018
Publication date	May 21, 2020
Grant date	—

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

1 . A load-holding assembly 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; and an air piping system engaged with the body; wherein the air piping system is selectively activated to equalize air pressure in the first compartment and the second compartment by one of pressurizing the first and second compartments and creating a vacuum in the first and second compartments.

2 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one bogie operatively engaged with the body to move the body between a first geographical location and a second geographical location, wherein the first and second geographical locations are remote from each other.

3 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 2 , further comprising an engine coupled to the body and operative to move the body between the first geographical location and the second geographical location.

4 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 3 , wherein the body and engine together form a motorized vehicle.

5 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 4 , wherein the motorized vehicle is a train.

6 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one support provided on the body, and wherein the at least one support is adapted to hold the body a distance above a surface.

7 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 6 , further comprising one or more anchors that are adapted to secure the support to the surface.

8 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 7 , wherein the one or more anchors are configured to hold the body in a fixed location on the surface.

9 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first wall extends between the first compartment and the second compartment.

10 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air piping system selectively places the first compartment in fluid communication with the second compartment.

11 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the body includes a hopper that extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the body; and wherein at least a portion of the first compartment is defined within the hopper; and wherein the second compartment at least partially encircles the hopper.

12 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second compartment is located at least partially vertically below the first compartment.

13 . The load-holding assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second compartment is sealed from contact with air located outside of the body.

14 . A method of loading and unloading a tank, said method comprising:
providing tank having a body; providing a first wall on the body, where the first wall bounds and defines a first compartment; providing a second wall on the body, where the second wall is spaced outwardly from a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall; placing the first and second compartments in fluid communication via an air piping system; selectively activating the air piping system; equalizing air pressure in the first and second compartments; loading a load into the first compartment while the air pressure is equalized; and deactivating the air piping system once the load is loaded into the first compartment.

15 . The method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
returning one or both of the first and second compartments to atmospheric pressure after deactivating the air piping system.

16 . The method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
providing the tank in a train car; coupling the train car to a train engine; engaging at least one bogie on the train car with at least one rail of a rail system; and moving the train car from a first geographical location to a second geographical location over the at least one rail of the rail system.

17 . The method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
selectively activating the air piping system; equalizing air pressure in the first and second compartments; unloading the load from the first compartment when the air pressure is equalized; and deactivating the air piping system when the load is unloaded from the first compartment.

18 . The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the equalizing of the air pressure in the first and second compartments includes:
connecting the air piping system to a vacuum source; creating a vacuum condition in the first and second compartments; and wherein the loading of the load into the first compartment includes suctioning the load into the first compartment under the vacuum condition.

19 . The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the equalizing of the air pressure in the first and second compartments includes:
connecting the air piping system to an air pump; pumping pressurized air into the first and second compartments; and the unloading of the load from the first compartment includes blowing the load of the first compartment with the pressurized air.

20 . The method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
positioning the body of the tank a distance above a surface via at least one support; securing the at least one support to the surface via one or more anchors; and holding the body of the tank in a fixed location relative to the surface.

Assignees

• Mac Trailer Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Kibler Scott A
• Gordon Allen

Classifications

• B65G2201/04

  Bulk · CPC title

• B60P3/243

  divided by rigid walls · CPC title

• B60P3/221

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

• B60P3/2245

  Adaptations for loading or unloading · CPC title

• B65D88/128

  tank containers, i.e. containers provided with supporting devices for handling · CPC title