Trailer and fuel tank assembly

• US 7,311,335 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Management Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Water Management Systems LLC
• Inventors: Muhs, David, Parma, Gianfranco
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/140,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20020125680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 280/763.1, 280/764.1, 280/765.1, 280/770, 280/479.2, 280/490.1, 280/491.1, 280/491.2, 280/476.1, 280/854, 280/149.2, 280/456.1, 280/837, 280/839, 410/77, 410/120, 410/34, 410/155, 296/198, 296/32, 296/36, 403/331, 403/258, 403/259
• US Class Current: 280/837
• 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 trailer comprising:

a trailer body;

a track bar secured relative to the trailer 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, the wall having an inner surface defining the elongated channel and an outer surface;

an accessory; and

mounting means including an insert for insertion into the channel of the track bar, a support member attached to or being part of the accessory, and a fastener for attaching the support member to the insert through the slot of the track bar such that the support member engages the outer surface of the track bar and the insert engages the inner surface of the track bar to provide a clamping action on the wall of the track bar.

2. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the accessory is an axle.

3. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the trailer body defines a chamber.

4. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the trailer body comprises a fuel tank.

5. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the mounting means is configured such that the support member provides a clamping force on the outer surface of the track bar wall and the insert provides a clamping force on the inner surface of the track bar wall.

6. A trailer comprising:

a trailer body;

a 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, the wall having an inner surface defining the elongated channel and an outer surface;

an accessory;

securing means for securing the accessory to the trailer body, said securing means including an insert for insertion into the channel of the track bar, a support member attached to or being part of the accessory, and a fastener for attaching the support member to the insert through the slot of the track bar such that the support member engages the outer surface of the track bar and the insert engages the inner surface of the track bar to provide a clamping action on the wall of the track bar, said securing means adapted to allow the accessory to be selectively secured to the trailer body at any position along a predefined range of positions.

7. A trailer according to claim 6 wherein the accessory is an axle.

8. A trailer according to claim 6 wherein the accessory is a trailer tongue.

9. A trailer according to claim 6 wherein the accessory is a jack stand.

10. A trailer according to claim 6 wherein the accessory is a fender.

11. A trailer according to claim 6 wherein the accessory is a lifting bail.

12. A trailer according to claim 6 wherein the trailer body includes a tank.

13. The trailer of claim 6, wherein the fastener is configured such that tightening the fastener exerts a clamping force in a first direction on the outer surface of the track bar and in a second, opposite direction on the inner surface of the track bar.

14. A method for securing an accessory to a trailer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a trailer that includes an elongated slot defined in a wall, the wall having a back side surface and a front side surface;

positioning the accessory adjacent to the elongated slot at a desired location along the elongated slot, the accessory being part of, secured to, or capable of being secured to, a support member;

positioning an insert adjacent the back side surface of the wall adjacent the slot;

positioning the support member adjacent to the front side surface of the wall adjacent the insert; and

fastening the support member to the insert through the slot such that the support member engages the front side surface of the wall and the insert engages the back side surface of the wall to provide a clamping action on the wall.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the elongated slot is provided in a track bar, wherein the track bar includes the wall, which defines an elongated channel and the elongated slot extend through the wall of the track bar and into the channel.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the insert positioning step includes positioning the insert into the elongated channel of the track bar.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of fastening includes exerting opposing forces on the front and back side surfaces of the wall.

18. A trailer comprising:

an elongated trailer body;

an elongated track bar secured relative to the elongated trailer body, the elongated track bar having a length that extends lengthwise along at least part of the elongated trailer body;

the elongated track bar further having a wall that defines an elongated channel that extends lengthwise along the elongated track bar, and further having an elongated slot extending through the wall of the track bar and into the channel, the wall having an inner surface defining the elongated channel and an outer surface;

an accessory; and

mounting means for mounting the accessory to the trailer at any desired location along the at least part of the elongated trailer body that includes the elongated track bar, said mounting means including an insert for insertion into the channel of the track bar, a support member attached to or being part of the accessory, and a fastener for attaching the support member to the insert through the slot of the track bar such that the support member engages the outer surface of the track bar and the insert engages the inner surface of the track bar to provide a clamping action on the wall of the track bar.

19. The trailer of claim 18, wherein the fastener is configured such that when tightened, it exerts opposing forces on the support member and insert thereby clamping the wall of the track bar between the support member and insert.