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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the transportation of fluid holding tanks (sometimes referred to as “tote tanks”) wherein a specially configured frame supports and separates multiple tanks arranged in a front row of tanks, a rear row of tanks, and has a floor and channel arrangement that catches any inadvertent spillage.
2. General Background of the Invention
Tanks are often used to transport volumes of chemicals to an offshore marine oil and gas well drilling platform. These tanks carry chemicals that would be dangerous to the environment if spillage occurs. Patents have issued for cargo racks that can be used to transport tanks or vessels filled with liquid. Examples are found in the following table, each listed patent hereby incorporated herein by reference:
The present invention provides an improved tank support base and skid apparatus that has particular utility in the transport of fluid holding tanks.
The apparatus provides a frame having upper and lower end portions, left and right side portions and front and rear portions.
The upper end portion has a front row of tank receptive supports and a back row of tank receptive supports.
A frame floor is spaced vertically below the tank receptive supports.
The frame has a peripheral fluid barrier that includes a front wall, a rear wall and side walls that form the fluid barrier around the floor, each side wall extending from the floor to a tank receptive support.
First and second internal support members span from one side of the frame to the other side of the frame and each spaced between the front wall and the rear wall (or between a side wall and another side wall). These internal support members can be parallel.
Each tank receptive support includes horizontal rails or beams that span from the front wall to the rear wall and are supported by the internal support members; vertical members that each connect with a horizontal rail or beam; and inclined plates that each connect to both a horizontal beam and a vertical member.
Stops can be mounted on the beams that separate a tank receptive support of the first row with a tank receptive support of the back row.
In one embodiment, the rails or horizontal beams enable a selected tank to be moved from one row to the other row by sliding the tank.
In one embodiment, inclined plates form an obtuse angle with the horizontal beams.
In one embodiment, forklift tine sockets can be positioned in between the upper and lower end portions of the frame and extending to the front wall.
In one embodiment, the optional stops each include opposed inclined surfaces that meet an apex edge.
In one embodiment, tubes at spaced apart intervals are each mounted in between two of the internal support members.
In one embodiment, hand rails are included that attach to the frame at the said tubes.
In one embodiment, the internal supports define a channel therebetween and the floor is inclined to direct fluid flow to the channel via flow openings.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a valve that valves fluid flow from the channel to the exterior of the frame.
In one embodiment, there are multiple spaced apart openings in the internal supports at a position next to the floor.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets extend from the front wall to the rear wall.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets includes an upper panel that is at the same level as the horizontal beam.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets include multiple plate sections surrounding an opening, said sections providing support to a tank placed on a receptacle that is located above the socket.
In one embodiment, both the stops and the inclined plates provide inclined, diagonally angled upper surfaces that each form an obtuse angle with a said horizontal beam.
In one embodiment, each vertical member has a cut out that is placed in between the front wall and an internal support.
In one embodiment, there are a plurality of fluid storage tanks on the frame, each tank on a tank receptive support.
In one embodiment, each tank has a lower end portion with discharge piping.
In one embodiment, each vertical member has a cut out that is placed in between the front wall and an internal support.
In one embodiment, each cutout is next to a tank discharge piping.
In one embodiment, each stop is preferably positioned above the internal support members.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises forklift tine sockets in between the upper and lower end portions of the frame and extending to the front wall.
In one embodiment, the stops each preferably include opposed inclined surfaces that meet an apex edge.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises tubes at spaced apart intervals each preferably mounted in between two of the internal support members.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises hand rails that preferably attach to the frame at the tubes.
In one embodiment, said internal supports preferably define a channel therebetween and the floor is inclined to direct fluid flow to said channel.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises a valve that preferably valves fluid flow from the channel to the exterior of the frame.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises multiple spaced apart openings in the internal supports preferably at a position next to the floor.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets preferably extend from the front wall to the rear wall.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets preferably includes an upper panel that is at the same level as the horizontal beam.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets preferably include multiple plate sections surrounding an opening, said sections preferably providing support to a tank placed on a receptacle that is located above the socket.
In one embodiment, both the stops and the inclined plates preferably provide inclined, diagonally angled upper surfaces that each form an obtuse angle with a said horizontal beam.
In one embodiment, each vertical member preferably has a cut out that is placed in between the front wall and an internal support.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises a plurality of fluid storage tanks on the frame, each tank preferably on a tank receptive support.
In one embodiment, each vertical member preferably has a cut out that is placed in between the front wall and an internal support.
The present invention includes a tank support base and skid apparatus comprising a frame having upper and lower end portions, left and right side portions and front and rear portions. The upper end portion preferably has a front row of tank receptive supports and a back row of tank receptive supports. A frame floor is preferably spaced vertically below said receptive support. The frame preferably has a peripheral fluid barrier that includes a front wall, a rear wall and side walls that form the said fluid barrier around said floor, each said side wall extending from said floor to a said tank receptive support. First and second internal support members can preferably span from one side of said frame to the other side of said frame and each spaced between the front wall and the rear wall. Each tank receptive support preferably includes horizontal beams that span from the front wall to the rear wall and supported by the internal support members, vertical members that each connect with a horizontal beam, inclined plates that each connect to both a said horizontal beam and a said vertical member. Stops on the frame can be included to preferably prevent lateral movement of the tanks relative to the frame.
The present invention includes a tank support base and skid apparatus comprising a frame having upper and lower end portions, left and right side portions and front and rear portions and a frame periphery. The upper end portion preferably has a plurality of tank receptive supports. A frame floor can be preferably spaced vertically below said tank receptive supports. The frame preferably having a peripheral fluid barrier that includes a front wall, a rear wall and side walls that form the said fluid barrier around said floor, each said side wall extending from said floor to a said tank receptive support. First and second internal support members preferably span from one side of said frame to the other side of said frame. A channel is preferably in between the internal support members. Channel openings can preferably transmit any spilled fluid from the floor to the channel. Channel openings can preferably allow any spilled fluid from the floor to drain to the channel. Each tank receptive support preferably includes horizontal beams that preferably span from the front wall to the rear wall and supported by the internal support members, vertical members that each connect with a horizontal beam, inclined plates that each connect to both a said horizontal beam and a said vertical member.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises dividers positioned above said internal support members.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises forklift tine sockets in between the upper and lower end portions of the frame and extending to the front wall.
In one embodiment, the stops each preferably include opposed inclined surfaces that meet an apex edge.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises tubes at spaced apart intervals each preferably mounted in between two said internal support members.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises hand rails that preferably attach to the frame at the said tubes.
In one embodiment, said internal supports preferably define a channel therebetween and the floor is preferably inclined to direct fluid flow to said channel.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises a valve that preferably valves fluid flow from the channel to the exterior of the frame.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises multiple spaced apart openings in the internal supports at a position next to the floor.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets preferably extend from the front wall to the rear wall.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets preferably includes an upper panel that is at the same level as the horizontal beam.
In one embodiment, the forklift tine sockets preferably include multiple plate sections surrounding an opening, said sections preferably providing support to a tank placed on a receptacle that is located above the socket.
In one embodiment, both the dividers and the inclined plates preferably provide inclined, diagonally angled upper surfaces that each form an obtuse angle with a said horizontal beam.
In one embodiment, each vertical member preferably has a cut out that is placed in between the front wall and an internal support.
In one embodiment, the present invention preferably further comprises a plurality of fluid storage tanks on the frame, each tank on a tank receptive support.
In one embodiment, each vertical member preferably has a cut out that is placed in between the front wall and an internal support.
The present invention includes a tank support base and skid apparatus comprising a frame having upper and lower end portions, left and right side portions and front and rear portions. The upper end portion preferably has at least one row of tank receptive supports. A frame floor can be preferably spaced vertically below said receptive supports. The frame preferably has a peripheral fluid barrier that includes a front wall, a rear wall and side walls that form the said fluid barrier around said floor, each said side wall extending from said floor to a said tank receptive support. First and second internal support members preferably span across at least half of said frame. A channel is preferably in between the internal support members. Channel openings preferably transmit any spilled fluid from the floor to the channel. Each tank receptive support preferably includes horizontal beams that span from the front wall to the rear wall and preferably supported by the internal support members, vertical members that each preferably connect with a horizontal beam, inclined plates that each preferably connect to both a said horizontal beam and a said vertical member. Corners are preferably defined by a joint of a vertical member to an inclined plate that preferably prevent lateral movement of the tanks relative to the frame.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
A plurality of tank receptacles 15-22 are preferably provided. These receptacles can preferably include a plurality of front receptacles 15, 16, 17, 18 forming a front row and a plurality of rear receptacles 19, 20, 21 and 22 forming a rear row (see
In one embodiment, there is preferably stop(s) 48 which makes sliding the tanks 14 not possible (see
In one embodiment, frame 11 can have forklift tine tubes or sockets 23, 24 so that a forklift can pick up and move the frame 11. In one embodiment, the forklift tine tubes or sockets 23, 24 preferably have a width that mimics the width of the tank support and transport skid apparatus 10. The forklift tine tubes or sockets 23, 24 can have a length of about 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) and a height of about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters). One tank 14 can preferably be placed on each receptacle 15-22. Each forklift tine tube 23, 24 preferably has a bore or opening 25 or 26 (see
The frame 11 preferably provides a pair of floor sections 27, 28 that define an overall floor below receptacles 15-22. The dimensions of each floor section 27, 28 can vary so that they are sized to mimic the dimensions of a tank 14. In a preferred embodiment, each floor section 27, 28 can have the same dimensions, which are dependent upon the dimensions of the tanks 14 that will be supported by the apparatus of the present invention. The floor sections 27, 28 preferably each incline to direct fluid flow toward a pipe or channel 30 (see
Internal or interior supports or support beams or walls 35, 36 are placed internally such as preferably in between front and rear beams/panels 31, 32 or in between side beams or panels 33, 34. In one embodiment, internal wall 35 has a length that mimics the length of the apparatus 10 and can be located about 44.5 inches (113.03 centimeters) from front beam 31, and internal wall 36 has a length that mimics the length of the apparatus 10 and is located about 44.5 inches (113.03 centimeters) from rear beam 32, with a distance of about 8.5 inches (21.59 centimeters) between internal wall 35 and internal wall 36. Pipes or channels 30 each preferably span between internal or interior supports, beams, walls 35, 36 at a side portion such as next to side beams 33 or 34 (see
Openings or ports 39, preferably in beams or walls 35, 36, preferably enable fluid flow from floor sections 27, 28 to a pipe or channel 30 (see
At either or both ends of internal supports 35, 36 there preferably can be provided an opening 37 preferably having a valved outlet 38 that receives flow preferably from a port 39 that is preferably in fluid communication with pipe or channel 30 (see
In one embodiment, passages 53 can be provided that enable fluid flow from preferably one floor section 27 to the other floor section 28 (see
Vertically positioned tubes 40 can preferably be provided at spaced intervals as seen in
Each tank receptacle 15-22 can preferably be supported by a left tank support beam or rail 42 and a right tank support beam or rail 43. Each support beam or rail 42, 43 preferably includes horizontal member or slide 44, inclined side member 45, inclined end members 46, 47 (see
In one embodiment, there is at least one stop or divider 48. Stop 48 can preferably have opposed inclined surfaces 49, 50. Stop 48 is preferably positioned above channel 30 (see
Each inclined side member 45 can preferably have cut outs or recesses 51, 52 (see
In a preferred embodiment, there are no stops or dividers 48 so that a selected tank 14 can slide upon horizontal member/plate/slide 44 from a front row position next to front beam/panel 31 to a rear row position next to rear beam/panel 32.
The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/213,987, filed on 3 Sep. 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference and priority of/to which is hereby claimed.
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Entry |
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PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 24, 2017; International Application No. PCT/US2016/050471. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170144795 A1 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62213987 | Sep 2015 | US |