Viscous Product Transportation Trailer

• US 20070000545A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P&S Investment Company Incorporated, Brenner Tank LLC (Wabash National Corporation)
• Original Assignee: P&S Investment Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Cannon, John, Rademacher, John, Schaupp, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,645,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/560
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/58 using vibratory effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2205 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2245 Adaptations for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2255 Ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/226 Arrangements of access openings or covers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2295 Means for heating, cooling, or insulating tanks or equipments for tank containers B65D88/748
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 Combined

Abstract

Described herein is a transport tank trailer having a tank that can be used to more completely and effectively transport, store, load and unload a viscous product, such as a viscous liquid product, or liquid with solid(s) in suspension. Materials for transport, storing, loading and unloading include both food-grade and non-food grade products. Exemplary products include chocolate, paint, wastes, and asphalt. The tank system involves: a) agitation means (e.g., vibration devices) to force viscous product to flow during unloading; b) a heat-traced closed loop venting and unloading system resulting in the elimination of opening of the manhole on the tanker, which results in the release of heat; c) use of enhanced insulating materials to reduce product solidification during product discharge; and d) reduction of thermal bridges to increase product heat retention. The invention also involves an inventive cargo tank shape that promotes viscous product discharge during unloading of the tank. The viscous product trailer can further comprise a heated make-up air system operably associated with the tank housing. The system can provide heat vented air and heated air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain tank, and consequently product, temperature.

Claims

1. A viscous product trailer comprising:

a tank having a housing, the housing defining an interior for transporting and storing a viscous product; and

a first plurality of vibrating devices positioned along the housing to vibrate the viscous product so as to force the product from the interior of the housing during unloading of the trailer, thereby reducing an amount of product remaining in the interior following the unloading.

2. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 wherein the viscous product is a viscous liquid product.

3. The viscous product trailer of claim 2 wherein the viscous liquid product is a food product.

4. The viscous product trailer of claim 2 wherein the viscous liquid product is a hazardous material.

5. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 further comprising a second plurality of vibrating devices positioned along the housing opposite the first plurality of vibrating devices.

6. The viscous product trailer of claim 5 wherein the first and second pluralities of vibrating devices are staggered longitudinally with respect to each other.

7. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 wherein heat is obtained from a motor vehicle tractor and circulated throughout the tank to heat the viscous product.

8. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 further comprising an apparatus for accomplishing heat-traced, closed loop venting.

9. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 further comprising insulation.

10. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 wherein the tank housing includes a substantially cylindrical portion and a substantially truncated right circular cone portion positioned substantially adjacent the substantially cylindrical portion.

11. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 wherein the viscous product is chocolate.

12. The viscous product trailer of claim 1 wherein the viscous product is paint.

24. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a cylindrical portion.

25. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a pair of conical portions.

13. A viscous product tank trailer comprising:

a tank having a housing, the housing defining an interior for transporting, storing, loading and unloading a viscous product;

a first plurality of agitators positioned along the housing to agitate the viscous product so as to force the product from the interior of the housing during unloading of the trailer, thereby reducing an amount of product heel; and

a heated make-up air system operably associated with the tank housing, the system used to heat vented air and provide heated air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain viscous product temperature.

14. The trailer of claim 13 wherein, during unloading of the tank, the viscous product is agitated so as to force the product from the interior of the housing, thereby reducing an amount of product remaining in the interior following the unloading.

15. The trailer of claim 13 wherein the viscous product is a food grade material.

16. The trailer of claim 13 wherein the viscous product is a non-food grade material.

17. A method of unloading a viscous product from a tank trailer having an interior for storing the viscous product, the method comprising:

agitating the viscous product so as to force the product from an interior of the trailer, such that an amount of product remaining in the interior following the unloading is reduced.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising heating the viscous product and wherein heating of the viscous product is accomplished using at least one of a heat-traced loop and a heated make-up air system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the heating is accomplished using a heated make-up air system that is operably associated with the tank housing, and the system used to heat vented air and provide heated air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain product temperature.

20. A viscous product trailer system for transporting, storing, loading and unloading a viscous product, the trailer comprising:

a tank having a housing, the housing defining an interior for transporting and storing a viscous product, the tank housing including a substantially cylindrical portion and a substantially truncated right circular cone portion positioned substantially adjacent the substantially cylindrical portion;

a first plurality of vibrating devices and a second plurality of vibrating devices, the first and second pluralities positioned lengthwise along the housing in opposing fashion to vibrate the viscous product so as to force the product from the interior of the housing during unloading of the trailer, thereby reducing an amount of product remaining in the interior following the unloading; and

a heated make-up air system operably associated with the tank housing, the system used to heat vented air and provide heated vented air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain product temperature.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising a heat-traced, closed loop venting system to heat the viscous product.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the viscous product is one of a food grade material and a non-food grade material.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the viscous product is a viscous liquid product.