Bladder and engagement device for storage tank
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for containment of collected materials, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one storage tank, the storage tank having a tank wall and a hollow interior region;
a bladder disposed within the hollow interior region, the bladder being operable to contain the material therewithin;
at least one opening formed in the bladder to allow the materials to enter or exit the bladder;
an access port disposed on the storage tank and accessible to the hollow interior region of the tank;
a vacuum pump attachable to the access port and operable to regulate the pressure of the hollow interior region of the tank, external to the bladder;
an engagement device disposed at least partially internal to the bladder and operable to restrict the movement of the bladder within the hollow interior region; and
a switch that is disposed in or near the tank wall and that is operably connected to the vacuum pump to regulate the depressurizing of the hollow interior region of the storage tank, such that when the bladder does not contact the engagement device, the engagement device and the switch are in a spaced-apart, non-contacting relationship with each other, and when the bladder contacts the engagement device, the engagement device is pushed into contact with the switch.
24 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for collection and containment of collected materials is provided. The apparatus can include a vacuum truck with at least one vacuum tank disposed thereon, the vacuum tank having a hollow interior region. A flexible bladder can be disposed within the hollow interior region of the vacuum tank. The bladder can be impermeable to and compatible with the collected material and capable of containing the material therewithin.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for containment of collected materials, the apparatus comprising:
-
at least one storage tank, the storage tank having a tank wall and a hollow interior region; a bladder disposed within the hollow interior region, the bladder being operable to contain the material therewithin; at least one opening formed in the bladder to allow the materials to enter or exit the bladder; an access port disposed on the storage tank and accessible to the hollow interior region of the tank; a vacuum pump attachable to the access port and operable to regulate the pressure of the hollow interior region of the tank, external to the bladder; an engagement device disposed at least partially internal to the bladder and operable to restrict the movement of the bladder within the hollow interior region; and a switch that is disposed in or near the tank wall and that is operably connected to the vacuum pump to regulate the depressurizing of the hollow interior region of the storage tank, such that when the bladder does not contact the engagement device, the engagement device and the switch are in a spaced-apart, non-contacting relationship with each other, and when the bladder contacts the engagement device, the engagement device is pushed into contact with the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of unloading collected materials from a bladder located within a vacuum tank, the method comprising:
-
providing a hollow interior region within the vacuum tank; locating the bladder within the hollow interior region; providing at least one opening on the bladder for the collected materials to exit the bladder; pressurizing the hollow interior region external to the bladder to deflate the bladder and force the collected materials from the bladder; contacting the bladder with an engagement device disposed at least partially internal to the bladder when the bladder is substantially deflated; and halting the pressurizing of the hollow interior region upon the bladder contacting the engagement device. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
-
24. An apparatus for containment of collected materials, the apparatus comprising:
-
at least one storage tank, the storage tank having an exterior tank wall and a hollow interior region; a bladder disposed within the hollow interior region, the bladder being operable to contain the collected materials therewithin; at least one opening formed in the bladder to allow the collected materials to exit the bladder; an interior wall disposed within the hollow interior region adjacent to the opening formed in the bladder; an access port disposed on the storage tank and accessible to the hollow interior region of the tank; a vacuum pump attachable to the access port and operable to regulate the pressure of the hollow interior region of the tank, external to the bladder; and an engagement device operable to restrict the movement of the bladder within the hollow interior region, wherein the engagement device comprises an engagement rod, an engagement face disposed on the engagement rod, and a spring that surrounds the engagement rod and provides pressure against the engagement face, and wherein the engagement rod passes through the interior wall and is operably connected to the vacuum pump to regulate the depressurizing of the hollow interior region of the storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An apparatus for containment of collected materials,
the apparatus comprising: -
at least one storage tank, the storage tank having a tank wall and a hollow interior region; a bladder disposed within the hollow interior region, the bladder being operable to contain the collected materials therewithin; at least one opening formed in the bladder to allow the materials to enter or exit the bladder; a tank inlet disposed on the tank wall and accessible to the opening in the bladder; an interior wall disposed within the hollow interior region and adjacent to the opening formed in the bladder, the interior wall having at least one perforation formed therein such that the collected materials can flow through the at least one perforation; an access port disposed on the storage tank and accessible to the hollow interior region of the tank; a vacuum pump attachable to the access port and operable to regulate the pressure of the hollow interior region of the tank, external to the bladder; and an engagement device operable to restrict the movement of the bladder with respect to the interior wall, wherein the engagement device is operably connected to the vacuum pump to regulate the depressurizing of the hollow interior region of the storage tank, said engagement device disposed at least partially internal to the bladder. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
-
31. An apparatus for containment of collected materials, the apparatus comprising:
-
at least one storage tank, the storage tank having a tank wall and a hollow interior region; a bladder disposed within the hollow interior region, the bladder being operable to contain the material therewithin; at least one opening formed in the bladder to allow the materials to enter or exit the bladder; an access port disposed on the storage tank and accessible to the hollow interior region of the tank; a vacuum pump attachable to the access port and operable to regulate the pressure of the hollow interior region of the tank, external to the bladder; and an engagement device disposed at least partially internal to the bladder on the tank wall and operable to restrict the movement of the bladder within the hollow interior region, wherein when the bladder contacts the engagement device, the engagement device is pushed into engagement with a switch that is disposed in or near the tank wall and that is operably connected to the vacuum pump to regulate the depressurizing of the hollow interior region of the storage tank.
-
Specification