Patent Application
20110148090
The present invention relates to a tank trailer for transporting dry and liquid flowable materials.
Many forms of tank trailers have been devised for transporting flowable materials including liquids and a wide variety of pulverulent and granular solid materials. One such tank trailer has a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical tank with upwardly inclined ends and a plurality of hoppers formed in the bottom of the tank to facilitate the unloading of the tank. The tank is provided on its top with a number of filler openings for loading of the tank. The tank may also be divided into a number of compartments so that each compartment can be loaded and unloaded separately and independently of the other compartments. The inclined or sloping end structure of the tanks facilitates the downward flow of dry and liquid flowable materials when these materials are being unloaded through the hopper bottoms. A suitable frame structure is then attached to each end of the tank at the lower portion thereof so that one frame structure serves as a supporting carriage for wheels and the other frame structure is provided with a trailer hitch for connecting the trailer to a tractor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4, 346, 905 discloses a tank trailer for transporting dry and liquid flowable materials which may include a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical tank having front and rear transverse end walls. On each end wall is a hopper structure inclining upwardly and outwardly from the bottom portion of each end wall and having a width considerably less than the diameter of the tank. Extending horizontally from the bottom portions of the respective end walls are front and rear platforms. These platforms each have a width approximately equal to the diameter of the tank and are adapted to carry freight thereon in the manner of a flatbed trailer.
A tank trailer to transport flowable material may include a frame. a tank to hold the flowable material connected to the frame, and the tank may include a first section, a second section connected to the first section and a third section connected to the second section. The first section may include a first diameter and the third section may include a second diameter. The second section may include a decreasing diameter to connect the first section and to connect the third section.
The decreasing diameter may include a inclined surface, and the second portion may include an inclined side surface.
The second portion may include an inclined bottom surface, and the tank trailer may include a convex front wall.
The tank trailer may include a convex back wall, and the tank trailer may include a rib.
The tank trailer may include a king pin.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
The tank trailer 100 includes a lower profile than conventional tank trailers and as a result provides increased performance and reduced center of gravity, allowing for fewer rollovers.
The third portion 111 may be substantially a cylinder in order to connect to the third section 105. The first portion 107 may be substantially a cylinder in order to connect to the first section 101.
The first section 101, the second section 103 and the third section 107 may include man hole covers 137 which may cover manholes 139 to access the hollow interior of the tank 101.
The exterior surface of the tank 101 may include ribs 141 which may radially extend around the exterior surface of the tank 101 to provide structural support to the tank 101.
The tank 101 may include a convex front wall 143 and a convex back wall 145; alternatively, the front wall 143 and the back wall 145 could be substantially planar or could be concave. The tank 101 may also include a first valve 143 and an opposing second valve 145 to drain and fill the tank 101.
The tank 113 may be hollow and may include a single or double hull construction.
The third section 105 may have a substantial constant diameter which may be larger than the diameter of the first section 101.
The tank trailer 100 may include a king pin plate 143 which may be connected to the tank 113 and a king pin 145 which may be connected to the king pin plate 143 in order to facilitate connection to a tractor vehicle.
The tank trailer 100 may include a frame 147 to support the tank 113, and the frame 114 may be connected to a forward support device 145 which may be extendable and retractable in order to support the tank trailer 100 while the tank trailer 100 is not connected to a tractor (not shown).
Additionally, a wheel carriage/support unit 149 may be connected to the frame 147 to maintain a spaced relationship between the surface and the tank 113 and may include wheels to transport the tank trailer 100.
The third portion 111 may be substantially a cylinder in order to connect to the third section 105. The first portion 107 may be substantially a cylinder in order to connect to the first section 101.
The first section 101, the second section 103 and the third section 107 may include man hole covers 137 which may cover manholes 139 to access the hollow interior of the tank 101.
The exterior surface of the tank 101 may include ribs 141 which may radially extend around the exterior surface of the tank 101.
The tank 101 may include a convex front wall 143 and a convex back wall 145; alternatively, the front wall and the back wall could be substantially planar or could be concave. The tank 101 may also include a first valve 143 and a opposing second valve 145 to drain and fill the tank 101.
The tank 113 may be hollow and may include a single or double hull construction.
The third section 105 may have a substantial constant diameter which may be larger than the diameter of the first section 101.
The tank trailer 100 may include a king pin plate 143 which may be connected to the tank 113 and a king pin 145 which may be connected to the king pin plate 143.
The tank trailer 100 may include a frame 147 to support the tank 113, and the frame 114 may be connected to a forward support device 145 which may be extendable and retractable in order to support the tank trailer 100 while the tank trailer 100 is not connected to a tractor (not shown).
Additionally, a wheel carriage/support unit 149 may be connected to the frame 147 to maintain a spaced relationship between the surface and the tank 113 and may include wheels to transport the tank trailer 100.
The third portion 111 may be substantially a cylinder in order to connect to the third section 105. The first portion 107 may be substantially a cylinder in order to connect to the first section 101.
