Portable liquid storage tank

Abstract

A collapsible portable tank for storing liquids has a liquid impervious liner. The side walls of the liner are supported by a collapsible frame. A plurality of hand grips in a zigzag pattern on the floor panel of the liner facilitates manipulation of the liner to collapse the liner with the frame. The liner floor panel is of heavier material than the side walls and is heat sealed along its entire perimeter to the liner side walls, affording a more durable floor while eliminating clumsy excess liner material at the corners of the tank. Another hand grip on the floor panel opposite a drain in the liner side walls facilitates evacuation of stored liquid from the tank prior to collapsing the tank.

Claims

1. A portable tank for storing liquids comprising: a collapsible frame having horizontal top and bottom rails spaced apart by vertical struts and hinges at corners and approximate mid-points of two opposite sides thereof, said corner and mid-point hinges allowing said frame to be collapsed with said rails remaining horizontal and said struts remaining vertical; a liner of material impervious to the liquid to be stored having side walls supported by said frame and a floor panel; and a plurality of hand grips on a top surface of said floor panel for manipulating said liner to simultaneously collapse said liner as said frame collapses.

2. A portable tank for storing liquids comprising: a collapsible frame having hinges at corners and approximate mid-points of two opposite sides thereof allowing said frame to be collapsed; a liner of material impervious to the liquid to be stored having side walls supported by said frame and a floor panel; and a plurality of hand grips on a top surface of said floor panel for manipulating said liner to collapse with said frame, said hand grips being arranged in a zigzag pattern in relation to a vertical plane extending through said opposite side hinges.

3. A portable tank according to claim 2, first hand grips on each side of said floor panel being on opposite sides of said plane.

4. A portable tank for storing liquids, said portable tank comprising: a collapsible frame having horizontal top and bottom rails spaced apart by vertical struts and hinges at corners and approximate mid-points of two opposite sides thereof, said corner and mid-point hinges allowing said frame to be collapsed with said rails remaining horizontal and said struts remaining vertical; a liner of material impervious to the liquid to be stored having side walls supported by said frame and a floor panel; and a plurality of hand grips on a top surface of said floor panel for manipulating said liner to simultaneously collapse said liner as said frame collapses, said plurality of hand grips being dispersed on said top surface of said floor panel to enable workmen on opposite sides of said frame to move said opposite wall midpoint hinges inwardly while successively lifting said hand grips so as to simultaneously collapse said frame and said liner as the workmen move toward each other.

5. A portable tank according to claim 4, said bases of said plurality of hand grips being welded to said top surface of said floor panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the portable liquid storage tank in the fully opened condition;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the tank of FIG. 1 in a partially collapsed condition;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tank of FIG. 1 in the fully opened condition;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

(8) While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment or to the details of the construction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Turning to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of the collapsible portable tank 10 for storing liquids is illustrated. Such tanks 10 are typically, though not necessarily, square. They are usually about 30 high, from 6 to 18 on each side and hold from 500 to 5,000 gallons of water.

(10) The tank liner 20 is preferably made using PVC vinyl, but any material impervious to the liquid to be stored can be used. The liner 20 has side walls 21, 23, 25, 27 and a floor panel 29. The floor panel 29, which will be subjected to greater stress and abuse, is made of material heavier than the material of the side walls 21, 23, 25, 27. For example, for water storage tanks the floor panel 29 may be of 28 oz to 40 oz PVC vinyl while the side walls 21, 23, 25, 27 can be of significantly lighter material. As best seen in FIG. 6, it is preferred that the floor panel perimeter 31 overlap the lower edge 33 of the side walls 21, 23, 25, 27 and that the floor panel 29 and side walls 21, 23, 25, 27 be heat sealed along the entire perimeter 31 of the floor panel 29.

(11) Looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, the side walls 21, 23, 25, 27 of the liner 20 are supported by a collapsible frame 40. As shown, the frame 40 consists of top 41, 43, 45, 47 and bottom 51, 53, 55, 57 rails spaced apart by vertical struts 59. Hinges 61, 63, 65, 67 at each of the corners connect the rails of the frame 40 and hinges 71, 73 approximately at the midpoints of the rails 41, 51, 45, 55 of two of the opposite sides allow those sides to fold in half. The midpoint hinges 71, 73 define a vertical plane 75, indicated in FIG. 3, approximately bisecting the tank 10. As best seen in FIG. 2, the hinges 61, 63, 65, 67, 71, 73 are oriented to rotate so that, as the midpoint hinges 71, 73 are moved toward each other along the vertical plane 75, the hinged rails 41, 51, 45, 55 fold and the other rails 43, 53, 47, 57 are drawn in parallel toward the vertical plane 75. The frame 40 be constructed, for example, using 11 square aluminum tube or by 14 gage round steel pipe, MIG welded as necessary, for the rails and struts. Tanks having frames of such components can be folded to a thickness of approximately 7.

(12) Continuing to look at FIG. 2, the upper perimeter of the side walls of the liner is doubled over 77 and sewn for strength and fitted with grommets 79. A cord 81 is laced around the upper rails 41, 43, 45, 47 and through the grommets 79 so that the side walls 21, 23, 25, 27 of the liner 20 are supported by the upper rails 41, 43, 45, 47 of the frame 40. For example, #4 solid brass grommets on 6 centers have been found to work satisfactorily.

(13) Turning to FIG. 3, hand grips 83, 85, 93, 95 are provided on the floor panel 29 to facilitate manipulation of the liner. Preferably, the hand grips 83, 85, 93, 95 are arranged in a zigzag pattern in relation to the vertical plane 75. The first hand grips 83, 93 on each side of the floor panel 29 are on opposite sides of the vertical plane 75. This arrangement enables workmen on opposite sides of the tank 10 to move the opposite side wall hinges 71, 73 inwardly while lifting successive hand grips 83 and 85, 93 and 95 so as to simultaneously collapse the frame 40 and the liner 20 as they move toward each other. The grips 83, 85, 93, 95, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, may be approximately 68 3/32 oblong plates 87 supporting a handle 91 in a trowel-like configuration. The grips 83, 85, 93, 95 are preferably made of PVC and radio-frequency welded to the top surface of the floor panel 40. For most tanks, two grips 83 and 85, 93 and 95 are provided for each worker, as shown the first grip 83 or 93 for the worker's right hand and the second grip 85 or 95 for the left hand. In larger tanks, a third grip (not shown) for the right hand may be located on each side of the tank. By way of example, it has been found to be satisfactory to locate the grips of a 1010 tank approximately 18 on either side of the vertical plane 75 with the first and second grips 83 and 85, 93 and 95 on each side being approximately 20 and 48, respectively, away from their side walls 21 and 25.

(14) Continuing to look at FIG. 3, a drain 97 is provided in one side 27 of the tank liner 20 for emptying the tank 10. The drain 97 may, as shown, be a 10 PVC tube 99 which is heat sealed to the liner side wall 27. The drain tube 99 is preferably closed by use of a D-ring (not shown) on the tube 99 which can be raised and engaged on a J-hook (not shown) on the top rail 47 so that the tube opening 89 is above the liquid level in the tank 10.

(15) To facilitate emptying the tank 10, a grip 35 similar to those above described is located on the top surface of the floor panel 40 approximately on the center line 37 of the tank 10 which is perpendicular to the vertical plane 25 and approximately 12 from the side wall 23 of the liner 20 opposite the drain tube 99. This hand grip 35 can thus be lifted to raise the portion of the floor panel 40 proximate the grip 35 and cause the liquid to flow toward the drain 97.

(16) Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a portable liquid storage tank that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.