GB2148375A

GB2148375A - Liquid storage tank

Info

Publication number: GB2148375A
Application number: GB08426020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel Mccormick
Original assignee: Tyrrell Tanks Ltd
Current assignee: Tyrrell Tanks Ltd
Priority date: 1983-10-15
Filing date: 1984-10-15
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB8426020D0; IE842644L; GB8327665D0; IE56493B1; GB2148375B

Abstract

The tank, primarily for storing heating oil for a domestic or industrial oil burner, is of plastics material of unitary structure, and is of closed-ended, tubular shape with its axis horizontal or near horizontal. Stabilising means are provided to support the structure on a load-bearing surface, the means preferably comprising two or more pairs of feet (14) moulded into, and the pairs being spaced apart lengthwise of, said structure. A plurality of indented ribs (13) are provided peripherally around the structure to impart rigidity to the side wall thereof. Internal tie means is provided to hold together opposite ends of said structure. The outlet (12) accommodates a screw-threaded ferrule keyed to the tank wall to prevent rotation during coupling to piping. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid storage tank This invention relates to a liquid storage tank primarily, but not exclusively, for storing heating oil for a domestic or industrial oil burner.

In accordance with the present invention, a liquid storage tank of plastics material, has an inlet and outlet, is of unitary structure, and is of closed-ended, tubular shape with its axis horizontal or near horizontal, stabilising means being provided to support the structure on a load-bearing surface, and a plurality of ribs being provided peripherally around the structure to impart rigidity to the side wall of said structure.

Preferably, the stabilising means comprises two or more pairs of feet moulded into, and the pairs being spaced apart lengthwise of, said structure.

Preferably also, internal tie means is provided to hold together opposite ends of said structure.

Preferably also, at opposite locations on each closed end of the structure similar recessed ports are provided between which, and shortly beyond, the internal tie means, in the form of an elongate member, extends with each end of the member being secured on the outside of the pertaining port.

Each end of the member has a male screw-thread to be tightly engaged on the outside of the port by a female screw-threaded keeper nut housed in said recess, access to which is gained through a bung in tight-fitting relation in the recess.

Preferably further, the inlet is provided at the top of the structure near one end and the outlet is provided at the bottom of the structure atthe same end to which the inlet is adjacent, there being embedded in said material around the outlet a ferrule having a female screw-thread, the inner end of said ferrule having means to prevent rotation of said ferrule relative to said structure when a connecting coupling is screw-threadedly tightened or loosened against or from engagement with said ferrule. The outlet preferably extends into said coupling when tightened to said ferrule.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A and 18 are respectively side elevations of liquid storage tanks of differing capacities according to the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are respectively end elevations of the tanks shown in Figures 1 A and 1 B; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tank on the lines Ill-Ill of Figure 2A showing internal tie means; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tank on the line IV-IV of Figure 2B showing internal tie means; Figure 5 is a detail (to a larger scale than Figures 3 or4) of an outlet; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a ferrule shown in cross-section in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, a liquid storage tank of plastics material has an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 and is of unitary structure. The structure is of closedended, tubular, preferably, hollow cylindircal shape with its axis horizontal or near horizontal. The closed ends are domed. Stabilising means are provided to support the structure on a load-bearing surface with its inlet 11 uppermost and axis perpendicular to the tank's longitudinal axis. The stabilising means com- prises three pairs of feet 14 (Figure 1A) (depending on the length and capacity of the tank four pairs are shown in Figure 1 B) moulded into and spaced apart lengthwise of said structure.A plurality (three in Figure 1A and 6 in Figure 1 B) of a series of five indented ribs 13 in a peripheral arrangement are moulded into the side wall of the structure, each series being spaced from its neighbour lengthwise of the structure to impart rigidity to said side wall. At opposite locations on both closed ends of the structure near the top thereof, similar recessed ports 15 are moulded into said structure between which and shortly beyond extend internal tie means in the form of an elongate member i.e. a tube or rod 16 to hold together said opposite domed ends 17.Each end of the tube or rod 16 beyond said port 15 has a male-screw-thread to be tightly engaged on the outside of the port by a female screw-threaded keeper nut 18 housed in said recess, access to which nut 18 is gained through a bung 20 in liquid tight-fitting relation in the access to prevent ingress of rain water and/or condensate.

The inlet 11 is provided with a cap 1 1A and near to one end of the structure and the outlet 12 is provided at the bottom of the structure at the same end as the inlet 11 but in the domed end. In the material around the outlet 12, there is embedded a ferrule 19 (Figure 5) having a female screw-thread, a passage being left between an integral pipe leading to said outlet 12 and ferrule 19 to accommodate a connecting coupling 22 to connect the interior of the tank through piping to an oil burner. The inner end of said ferrule 19 has means to prevent rotation of said ferrule relative to said structure when the connecting coupling is screw-threadly tightened or loosened against or from engagement with said ferrule. The means comprises diametrically grooving the inner end of said ferrule 19 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Alternatively, protrusions (not shown) can be provided at diametrically opposite locations in the ferrule wall near to its inner end. As shown, the pipe and outlet 12 extends into said coupling when tightened to said ferrule 19.

The connecting coupling when tightened onto the ferrule also is clamped tightly against the structure around the outlet 12 to prevent any possible leak due to capilliary action.

The structure is of a partially translucent material such that the level of liquid therein can be seen at a distance therefrom thereby dispensing with the necessity of a fuel gauge.

The plastics material of which the tank is made is of 5 mm thick. Due to osmosis, the liquid fuel will probably penetrate approximately 1 mm into the material but no further.

1. A liquid storage tank of plastics material,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Liquid storage tank This invention relates to a liquid storage tank primarily, but not exclusively, for storing heating oil for a domestic or industrial oil burner. In accordance with the present invention, a liquid storage tank of plastics material, has an inlet and outlet, is of unitary structure, and is of closed-ended, tubular shape with its axis horizontal or near horizontal, stabilising means being provided to support the structure on a load-bearing surface, and a plurality of ribs being provided peripherally around the structure to impart rigidity to the side wall of said structure. Preferably, the stabilising means comprises two or more pairs of feet moulded into, and the pairs being spaced apart lengthwise of, said structure. Preferably also, internal tie means is provided to hold together opposite ends of said structure. Preferably also, at opposite locations on each closed end of the structure similar recessed ports are provided between which, and shortly beyond, the internal tie means, in the form of an elongate member, extends with each end of the member being secured on the outside of the pertaining port. Each end of the member has a male screw-thread to be tightly engaged on the outside of the port by a female screw-threaded keeper nut housed in said recess, access to which is gained through a bung in tight-fitting relation in the recess. Preferably further, the inlet is provided at the top of the structure near one end and the outlet is provided at the bottom of the structure atthe same end to which the inlet is adjacent, there being embedded in said material around the outlet a ferrule having a female screw-thread, the inner end of said ferrule having means to prevent rotation of said ferrule relative to said structure when a connecting coupling is screw-threadedly tightened or loosened against or from engagement with said ferrule. The outlet preferably extends into said coupling when tightened to said ferrule. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A and 18 are respectively side elevations of liquid storage tanks of differing capacities according to the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are respectively end elevations of the tanks shown in Figures 1 A and 1 B; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tank on the lines Ill-Ill of Figure 2A showing internal tie means; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tank on the line IV-IV of Figure 2B showing internal tie means; Figure 5 is a detail (to a larger scale than Figures 3 or4) of an outlet; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a ferrule shown in cross-section in Figure 5. Referring to the drawings, a liquid storage tank of plastics material has an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 and is of unitary structure. The structure is of closedended, tubular, preferably, hollow cylindircal shape with its axis horizontal or near horizontal. The closed ends are domed. Stabilising means are provided to support the structure on a load-bearing surface with its inlet 11 uppermost and axis perpendicular to the tank's longitudinal axis. The stabilising means com- prises three pairs of feet 14 (Figure 1A) (depending on the length and capacity of the tank four pairs are shown in Figure 1 B) moulded into and spaced apart lengthwise of said structure.A plurality (three in Figure 1A and 6 in Figure 1 B) of a series of five indented ribs 13 in a peripheral arrangement are moulded into the side wall of the structure, each series being spaced from its neighbour lengthwise of the structure to impart rigidity to said side wall. At opposite locations on both closed ends of the structure near the top thereof, similar recessed ports 15 are moulded into said structure between which and shortly beyond extend internal tie means in the form of an elongate member i.e. a tube or rod 16 to hold together said opposite domed ends 17.Each end of the tube or rod 16 beyond said port 15 has a male-screw-thread to be tightly engaged on the outside of the port by a female screw-threaded keeper nut 18 housed in said recess, access to which nut 18 is gained through a bung 20 in liquid tight-fitting relation in the access to prevent ingress of rain water and/or condensate. The inlet 11 is provided with a cap 1 1A and near to one end of the structure and the outlet 12 is provided at the bottom of the structure at the same end as the inlet 11 but in the domed end. In the material around the outlet 12, there is embedded a ferrule 19 (Figure 5) having a female screw-thread, a passage being left between an integral pipe leading to said outlet 12 and ferrule 19 to accommodate a connecting coupling 22 to connect the interior of the tank through piping to an oil burner. The inner end of said ferrule 19 has means to prevent rotation of said ferrule relative to said structure when the connecting coupling is screw-threadly tightened or loosened against or from engagement with said ferrule. The means comprises diametrically grooving the inner end of said ferrule 19 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Alternatively, protrusions (not shown) can be provided at diametrically opposite locations in the ferrule wall near to its inner end. As shown, the pipe and outlet 12 extends into said coupling when tightened to said ferrule 19. The connecting coupling when tightened onto the ferrule also is clamped tightly against the structure around the outlet 12 to prevent any possible leak due to capilliary action. The structure is of a partially translucent material such that the level of liquid therein can be seen at a distance therefrom thereby dispensing with the necessity of a fuel gauge. The plastics material of which the tank is made is of 5 mm thick. Due to osmosis, the liquid fuel will probably penetrate approximately 1 mm into the material but no further. CLAIMS

1. A liquid storage tank of plastics material, having an inlet and outlet being of unitary structure, and being of closed-ended, tubular shape with its axis horizontal or near horizontal, stabilising means being provided to support the structure on a loadbearing surface, and a plurality of ribs being provided peripherally around the structure to impart rigidity to the sidewall of said structure.

2. A tank as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the stabilising means comprises two or more pairs of feet moulded into, and the pairs being spaced apart lengthwise of said structure.

3. A tank as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein internal tie means is provided to hold together opposite ends of said structure.

4. A tank as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein at opposite locations on each closed end of the structure similar recessed ports are provided between which, and shortly beyond, the internal tie means, in the form of an elongate member, extends with each end of the member being secured on the outside of the pertaining port.

5. A tank as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each end of the member has a male screw-thread to be tightly engaged on the outside of the port by a female screw-threaded keeper nut housed in said recess, access to which is gained through a bung in tight-fitting relation in the recess.

6. Atank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet is provided at the top of the structure near one end and the outlet is provided at the bottom of the structure at the same end to which the inlet is adjacent, there being embedded in said material around the outlet a ferrule having a female screw-thread, the inner end of said ferrule having means to prevent rotation of said ferrule relative to said structure when a connecting coupling is screwthreadedly tightened or loosened against or from engagement with said ferrule.

7. A tank as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the outlet extends into said coupling when tightened to said ferrule.

8. A liquid storage tank of plastics material having an outlet in which there is embedded in the material around the outlet a ferrule having a female screw-thread, the inner end of said ferrule having means to prevent rotation of said ferrule relative to said structure when a connecting coupling is screwthreadedly tightened or loosened against or from engagement from said ferrule.

9. A tank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A tank having an outlet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.