Tank suspension

• US 4,102,540 A
• Filed: 03/07/1977
• Issued: 07/25/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Reece, Wendell Dale, Fox, Robert Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schrecengost, R.
• Application Number:
  US05/774,764
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5 R, 280/5 A, 280/5 H, 244/136, 244/135 B, 244/135 R, 248/317, 248/318, 220/71
• US Class Current: 280/833
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0085 Tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/065 Coupling of multi-purpose tractors with equipment towing bars B60D; with load transfer B62D53/08; power take-off B60K; with lifting devices B62D49/02; pushing gear B62D49/04

Abstract

Structure for rockably suspending a flexible fluid container from a vehicle frame includes a flexible saddle wherein the container is carried and hanger elements universally suspending the saddle from the frame.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement comprising:

a main frame;

transversely spaced apart fore-and-aft extending members carried by the frame;

an elongated flexible tank receivable between said members;

tank support means having transversely spaced fore-and-aft extending sides for respectively engaging the members, sliding therealong and resting thereupon; and

means suspending the tank from the support means for limited transverse rocking movement, including a flexible saddle member wherein said receptacle is carried.

2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein the means suspending the receptacle also permits limited fore-and-aft rocking movement.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein the means suspending the tank from the support means is inwardly of the sides of said tank.

4. The invention described in claim 3 wherein the saddle member includes side and bottom portions bearing against the tank to restrict movement thereof.

5. The invention described in claim 1 wherein the means suspending the tank permits limited fore-and-aft movement of the tank.

6. An agricultural implement comprising:

a main frame;

transversely spaced apart fore-and-aft extending members carried on the frame and having front and rear ends;

a flexible receptacle receivable between said members;

receptacle support means having transversely spaced fore-and-aft extending sides for engaging the respective ends of said members, sliding therealong and resting on said members;

a flexible support band encircling the lower portion and sides of the receptacle; and

means connected to the sides of the band and suspended from the support means for permitting limited rocking movement of the receptacle relative to the frame.

7. The invention described in claim 6 wherein the means connected to the band and suspended from the support means includes a plurality of hanger elements connected to the sides of the band, extending vertically therefrom alongside the receptacle and connected to the support means inwardly of the receptacle sides.

8. The invention described in claim 7 wherein the hanger elements extend vertically above the top of the receptacle.

9. In an agricultural implement having a main frame, transversely spaced apart frame carried fore-and-aft extending members having front and rear ends, and a flexible tank receivable between said members, the improvement comprising:

tank support means including a support structure having transversely spaced fore-and-aft extending side members for engaging the fore-and-aft members, sliding therealong and resting thereon;

a flexible saddle supporting sides and lower portion of the tank;

hanger elements fixed with the sides of the saddle and having upper ends extending above the top of the tank sides, each hanger element mounted on the support means inboard of the tank sides for permitting the hangers to shift to accomodate deforming of the tank and saddle.

10. The invention described in claim 9 wherein the hanger elements are mounted so as to permit limited fore-and-aft movement of the tank and saddle.

11. Structure for suspending from an overhead frame an elongated flexible tank subject to deformation by loads within an external conditions from without, comprising:

a sheet metal saddle open at opposite ends and having opposite sides bearing against the respective tank sides and an underside bearing against the bottom of the tank, said saddle conforming to the size and shape of the tank and exposing opposite ends of the tank, the sides of said saddle further having opposite upper edges terminating adjacent the top of the tank;

a plurality of hanger elements fixed to the sides adjacent the aforesaid edges and extending vertically above the edges;

a hanger support mounted on the overhead frame having openings therein for receiving the upper ends of the hangers; and

means mounting the respective hangers on the support to permit the hangers to shift to accomodate deforming of the tank and saddle.

12. In a vehicle having a fore-and-aft extending frame, structure for suspending from said frame a flexible tank subject to deformation by loads within and external conditions from without comprising:

a flexible saddle structure supporting the tank, said structure having opposite sides bearing against the respective tank sides and an underside bearing against the tank bottom, the opposite ends of said tank being exposed;

a saddle support slidably mounted on the frame;

hanger elements fixed to the opposite sides of the saddle structure and extending vertically therefrom adjacent said tank; and

means mounting the respective hanger elements on the saddle support to permit the hangers to rock to accomodate deforming of the tank or saddle.

13. The invention described in claim 12 wherein the saddle support is mounted on the frame for sliding fore-and-aft movement relative thereto.

14. The invention described in claim 12 wherein hanger elements are fixed to the upper edges of the sides of the saddle structure and extend vertically therefrom above the top of said tank to means mounting them on the saddle support inwardly of the tank sides.

15. Structure for suspending from an overhead frame an elongated plastic tank subject to deformation by loads within and external conditions from without, comprising:

a sheet metal saddle open at opposite ends and having opposite sides bearing against the respective tank sides and an underside bearing against the bottom of the tank, said saddle conforming to the size and shape of the tank and exposing opposite ends of the tank, the sides of said saddle further having opposite upper edges terminating adjacent the top of the tank;

a plurality of hanger elements fixed to the sides adjacent the aforesaid edges and extending vertically above the edges; and

a hanger support mounted on the overhead frame receiving and mounting the respective hangers on the support so as to permit the hangers to shift.

16. The invention described in claim 15 in which the hanger elements are fixed to external sides of said sheet metal saddle and have upper threaded ends and the hanger support has openings for receiving the threaded ends and complimentary threaded members are carried on the threaded upper ends that rockably bear against the hanger support.