Claims
- 1. A hopper structure for containing a fluid or product comprising:
- a first molded container having an outer end wall, an opposite inner end including two spaced apart concave portions separated by a key portion defining a predetermined distance between said spaced apart concave portions, and side walls connecting the outer end wall and the opposite inner end;
- a second molded container having an end wall, an opposite inner end including two spaced apart convex portions separated by a predetermined distance, the convex portions being complementary with the concave portions of the first molded container, and side walls connecting the outer end wall and the opposite inner end of said second molded container; and
- a ladder disposed within said first container between said two spaced apart concave portions to provide support to said key portion between said spaced apart concave portions, said ladder including vertical members and horizontal members, at least one of said vertical members serving as a conduit for carrying a fluid into said first container.
- 2. The hopper of claim 1 wherein said at least one vertical member is coupled to a means for providing a fluid supply.
- 3. The hopper of claim 2 wherein said fluid is air for pressurizing said first container.
- 4. A multi-compartment tank for an agricultural implement comprising:
- a first container having a first side formed in a convex configuration to be complementary with a second container having a mating side formed in a concave configuration,
- said first side having a first convex lobe, a second convex lobe, and a generally vertically oriented convex key portion separating said first and second convex lobes, and
- said second side having a first concave lobe complimentary to said first convex lobe, a second concave lobe complimentary with said second convex lobe, and a generally vertically oriented concave key portion registrable with said convex key portion and separating said first and second concave lobes.
- 5. The multi-compartment tank of claim 4 wherein said convex key portion defines a recess between said first and second convex lobes, such that said first and second convex lobes project outwardly from said first container more than said convex key portion.
- 6. The multi-compartment tank of claim 5 wherein said convex key portion has a smooth curved surface, each of said convex lobes having a plurality of planar surface segments forming a convex configuration.
- 7. The multi-compartment tank of claim 6 further comprising:
- a third container having a third and fourth concave lobes with a second generally vertical concave key portion separating said third and fourth concave lobes; and
- said second container including a first wall defining said mating side and having said first and second concave lobes and said concave key portion formed thereon and an opposing second wall formed with third and fourth convex lobes complimentary to said third and fourth concave lobes and with a second convex key portion separating said third and fourth convex lobes, said second convex key portion being complimentary to said second concave key portion.
- 8. The multi-compartment tank of claim 7 wherein each of said key portions is formed with said smoothly curved surface, each of said lobes being formed with said planar surface segments arranged in a generally curved configuration.
- 9. The multi-compartment tank of claim 8 wherein said containers are supported by a frame surrounding said containers.
- 10. The multi-compartment tank of claim 8 wherein said second container is provided with a ladder mounted to said concave key portion to increase stiffness thereof during loading.
- 11. A multi-compartment tank for an agricultural implement comprising:
- a first container having a first side formed in a convex configuration having a first convex lobe, a second convex lobe, and a generally vertically oriented convex key portion separating said first and second convex lobes; and
- a second container having a mating side formed in a concave configuration complimentary of said first side of said first container to be interlocking therewith, said mating side having a first concave lobe complimentary to said first convex lobe, a second concave lobe complimentary with said second convex lobe, and a generally vertically oriented concave key portion registrable with said convex key portion and separating said first and second concave lobes,
- each of said key portions being formed with a smoothly curved surface, each of said lobes being formed with a plurality of planar surface segments arranged in a generally vertically curved configuration.
- 12. The multi-compartment tank of claim 11 wherein said first and second convex lobes projecting outwardly from said first container further than said convex key portion such that said convex key portion forms a recess between said first and second convex lobes.
- 13. The multi-compartment tank of claim 12 further comprising:
- a third container having a third and fourth concave lobes with a second generally vertical concave key portion separating said third and fourth concave lobes; and
- said second container including a first wall defining said mating side and having said first and second concave lobes and said concave key portion formed thereon and an opposing second wall formed with third and fourth convex lobes conmplimentary to said third and fourth concave lobes and with a second convex key portion separating said third and fourth convex lobes, said second convex key portion being complimentary to said second concave key portion.
- 14. The multi-compartment tank of claim 13 wherein each of said key portions is formed with said smoothly curved surface, each of said lobes being formed with said planar surface segments arranged in a generally curved configuration.
- 15. The multi-compartment tank of claim 14 wherein each of said second and third containers is provided with a ladder mounted to said concave key portion to increase stiffness thereof during loading.
- 16. The multi-compartment tank of claim 15 wherein said ladder includes vertical members and horizontal members, at least one of said vertical members serving as a conduit for carrying air into the corresponding said container.
- 17. The multi-compartment tank of claim 14 wherein said containers are supported by a frame surrounding said containers.
- 18. A multi-compartment tank for an agricultural implement comprising:
- a first molded container having an outer surface and an interior convex mating wall including two spaced apart convex lobes separated by a convex central rib defining a generally vertically curved mating surface;
- a second molded container having an outer surface and an interior concave mating wall including two spaced apart concave lobes separated by a concave central rib defining a generally vertically curved mating surface, said concave mating wall being formed to nest with said convex mating wall of said first container; and
- a ladder disposed within said second container between said concave lobes to be registrable with said concave central rib.
- 19. The multi-compartment tank of claim 18 wherein said ladder includes vertical members and horizontal members, said vertical members being received within upwardly protruding members formed in an upper surface of said second container to fix said ladder against said concave central rib to provide support thereto to resist inward buckling of said concave mating wall.
- 20. The multi-compartment tank of claim 19 wherein at least one said vertical member serves as a conduit for carrying a gas into said second container for pressurizing said second container.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/904,586, filed on Aug. 1, 1997, now abandoned, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
904586 |
Aug 1997 |
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