Trailer and fuel tank assembly

• US 6,405,748 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Muhs, Gianfranco Parma
• Original Assignee: David Muhs, Gianfranco Parma
• Inventors: Muhs, David, Parma, Gianfranco
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/532,338
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 137/899, 137/351, 137/565.37, 137/574, 137/899.4, 222/562, 222/563, 222/564
• US Class Current: 137/351
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2288 for comminuting, mixing or separating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/045 with means for comminuting, mixing stirring or otherwise treating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 9/041 the priming pump having evacuating action F04D9/043 and F04D9/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6855 Vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6881 Automotive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86067 Fluid sump
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86212 Plural compartments formed by baffles

Abstract

A trailer and fuel tank assembly are disclosed. The fuel tank preferably forms the body of the trailer. The fuel tank may include a recess in the top surface for receiving the motor and/or pump, which may lower the pump closer to the ground to increase the suction performance of the pump. The bottom surface of the fuel tank may be bowed upward. This may cause any contaminants in the fuel tank to collect along the edges of the tank. Drain ports, positioned near the edges of the tank, can then be used to drain the contaminants from the tank. To easily attach accessories to the trailer, one or more track bars may be mounted to the trailer body. The track bars preferably include an elongate channel and an elongate slot. By placing an insert inside of the channel and bolting the accessory to the insert through the longitudinally extending slot, the accessories can be easily attached to the trailer.

Claims

1. A fuel tank comprising:

a tank defining a chamber;

the chamber having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a lowest extending portion; and

the bottom surface having a recessed portion that extends upward relative to the lowest extending portion toward the top surface, the recessed portion not having a substantial horizontally extending surface.

2. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the top surface is recessed downward toward the bottom surface.

3. The fuel tank of claim 2, further including a pump fixed to the tank proximate the recessed portion of the top surface.

4. The fuel tank of claim 2, further including a motor fixed to the tank proximate the recessed portion of the top surface.

5. The fuel tank of claim 1, further including a track bar mounted to the tank.

6. The fuel tank of claim 5, wherein the track bar includes an elongate channel and an elongate slot.

7. The fuel tank of claim 6, further including an accessory having a mounting means including an insert for insertion into the channel of the track bar and a fastener for attaching the accessory to the insert through the slot of the track bar.

8. The fuel tank of claim 7, wherein the accessory is an axle.

9. A fuel tank for a centrifugal pump, comprising:

a lank defining a chamber;

the chamber having a top surface and a bottom surface;

at least a portion of the top surface being recessed downward toward the bottom surface; and

a centrifugal pump having a pump housing enclosing an impeller, wherein the pump housing is disposed in the recessed portion such that the pump housing is situated lower than if the pump housing were not disposed in the recessed portion.

10. The fuel tank of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is bowed upward toward the top surface.

11. The fuel tank of claim 9, further including a track bar mounted to the tank.

12. The fuel tank of claim 11, wherein the track bar includes an elongate channel and an elongate slot.

13. The fuel tank of claim 12, further including an accessory having a mounting means including an insert for insertion into the channel of the track bar and a fastener for attaching the accessory to the insert through the slot of the track bar.

14. The fuel tank of claim 9, further including a pump fixed to the tank proximate the recessed portion of the top surface.

15. The fuel tank of claim 9, further including a motor fixed to the tank proximate the recessed portion of the top surface.

16. A tank having an interior and an exterior for holding a fluid, comprising:

a chamber defined by one or more outer walls of the tank;

the chamber having a top surface and a bottom surface;

at least a portion of the bottom surface extending upward toward the top surface leaving one or more lower channels, the one or more lower channels collecting one or more contaminates in the fluid; and

one or more drain ports through one or more of the outer walls of the tank for selectively accessing the one or more lower channels to drain the one or more collected contaminates from the interior of the tank to the exterior of the tank.

17. A tank according to claim 16, wherein the fluid is fuel.

18. A fuel tank comprising:

a tank body;

a track bar secured relative to the tank body;

the track bar having a wall that defines an elongated channel, and further having an elongated slot extending through the wall of the track bar and into the channel; and

an accessory having a mounting means including an insert for insertion into the channel of the track bar and a fastener for attaching the accessory to the insert through the slot of the track bar.

19. The fuel tank of claim 18, wherein the accessory is an axle.

20. The fuel tank of claim 18, wherein the accessory is a jack stand.

21. The fuel tank of claim 18, wherein the accessory is a fender.

22. The fuel tank of claim 18, wherein the accessory is a trailer tongue.

23. The fuel tank of claim 18, wherein the accessory is a lifting bail.

24. A fuel tank comprising:

a tank defining a chamber;

the chamber having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a lowest extending portion; and

the bottom surface having a recessed portion that extends upward relative to the lowest extending portion toward the top surface, the recessed portion being arched and being generally free from a substantial horizontally extending surface.