Fluid storage tank trailer

• US 7,762,588 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modern Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Modern Group Limited
• Inventors: Markham, Gary R
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony H.
• Application Number:
  US12/175,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 280/830, 280/837, 280/839, 182/84, 182/124, 105/30, 105/27, 105/28, 105/425, 105/426, 105/427
• US Class Current: 280/839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/005 Catwalks, running boards for vehicle tops, access means for vehicle tops; Handrails therefor

Abstract

Embodiments provide a fluid storage tank trailer including a base including a set of rear wheels, a tank supported by the base, the base including a set of skids adapted to engage the ground forward of the rear wheels when the trailer is not connected to a tow vehicle, the skids being adapted to support the tank bottom in relation to the ground, a forward frame adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle, a forward platform elevated above the forward frame, the forward platform having a first end adjacent a first front corner, the forward platform having a second end adjacent a second front corner, the forward platform defining a walkway between the first end and the second end.

Claims

1. A fluid storage tank trailer, the trailer having an elongated first side, a second side spaced from the first side in parallel relation therewith, a rear end extending between the first side and the second side, and a front end spaced from the rear end in a forward direction, the trailer comprising:

a base, the base including a set of rear wheels mounted to engage the ground for rolling movement relative thereto;

a tank supported by the base, the tank having a first side wall extending generally along the first side, the tank having a second side wall extending generally along the second side, the tank having a rear wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the tank having a front wall spaced from the rear wall, the tank having a first front corner defined by intersection of the front wall and the first side wall, the tank having a second front corner defined by intersection of the front wall and the second side wall, the tank having a tank bottom, the tank having an internal space suitable to contain fluid material;

the base including a set of skids beneath the tank, the skids being adapted to engage the ground forward of the rear wheels when the trailer is not connected to a tow vehicle, the skids being adapted to support the tank bottom in relation to the ground;

a forward frame extending from generally beneath the tank to the front end, the forward frame including a nose bar at the front end, the forward frame being adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle;

a forward platform adjacent the front wall, the forward platform being elevated above the forward frame, the forward platform having a first end adjacent the first front corner, the forward platform having a second end adjacent the second front corner, the forward platform defining a walkway, the walkway extending between the first end and the second end at a vertical position, the vertical position being elevated above the forward frame;

a first safety gate disposed above the first end at the first side;

a second safety gate disposed above the second end at the second side; and

a single ladder extending downward from the forward platform to the forward frame, the ladder having an upper end intersecting the forward platform intermediate the first end and the second end, the ladder having a lower end supported by the forward frame, the ladder being inclined from the lower end to the upper end, the ladder including a spaced pair of elongated stringers extending in parallel relationship from the forward frame to an upper intersection with the forward platform, the pair of stringers at the forward frame terminating at a lower intersection, the lower intersection being spaced from an imaginary vertical plane defined by the upper intersection.

2. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising:

the ladder including a spaced set of steps, the set of steps being spaced in the vertical direction between the lower intersection and upper intersection, the steps being spaced in the horizontal direction between the lower intersection and the vertical plane.

3. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising:

a handrail disposed generally above the walkway in spaced relation to the front wall.

4. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising:

the handrail including a major handrail section between a ladder opening and the first end, the handrail including a minor handrail section between the ladder opening and the second end;

the ladder opening being defined between the major handrail section and the minor handrail section;

the ladder extending downward from the forward platform at the ladder opening.

5. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising:

the set of steps being spaced along two intersecting inclined paths between the forward platform and the forward frame, each of the inclined paths defining a different angle in relation to the horizontal direction.

6. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising:

a manifold assembly supported above the forward frame, the manifold assembly including a section intermediate the ladder and the front wall, the manifold assembly including a set of offset manifold ports, the section having no forward facing ports intermediate the ladder and the front wall.

7. A fluid storage tank trailer, the trailer having an elongated first side, a second side spaced from the first side in parallel relation therewith, a rear end extending between the first side and the second side, and a front end spaced from the rear end in a forward direction, the trailer comprising:

a base, the base including a set of rear wheels mounted to engage the ground for rolling movement relative thereto;

a tank supported by the base, the tank having a first side wall extending generally along the first side, the tank having a second side wall extending generally along the second side, the tank having a rear wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the tank having a front wall spaced from the rear wall, the tank having a first front corner defined by intersection of the front wall and the first side wall, the tank having a second front corner defined by intersection of the front wall and the second side wall, the tank having a tank bottom, the tank having an internal space suitable to contain fluid material;

the base including a set of skids beneath the tank, the skids being adapted to engage the ground forward of the rear wheels when the trailer is not connected to a tow vehicle, the skids being adapted to support the tank bottom in relation to the ground;

a forward frame extending from generally beneath the tank to the front end, the forward frame including a nose bar at the front end, the forward frame being adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle;

a forward platform adjacent the front wall, the forward platform being elevated above the forward frame, the forward platform having a first end adjacent the first front corner, the forward platform having a second end adjacent the second front corner, the forward platform defining a walkway, the walkway extending between the first end and the second end at a vertical position, the vertical position being elevated above the forward frame;

a first safety gate disposed above the first end at the first side;

a second safety gate disposed above the second end at the second side; and

a single ladder extending downward from the forward platform to the forward frame, the ladder having an upper end intersecting the forward platform intermediate the first end and the second end, the ladder having a lower end supported by the forward frame, the ladder being inclined from the lower end to the upper end, the ladder including a spaced pair of elongated stringers extending in parallel relationship from the forward frame to an upper intersection with the forward platform, the pair of stringers at the forward frame terminating at a lower intersection, the lower intersection being spaced from an imaginary vertical plane defined by the upper intersection, the ladder including a spaced set of steps, the set of steps being spaced in the vertical direction between the lower intersection and upper intersection, the steps being spaced in the horizontal direction between the lower intersection and the vertical plane.

8. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising:

a handrail disposed generally above the walkway in spaced relation to the front wall.

9. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising:

the handrail including a major handrail section between a ladder opening and the first end, the handrail including a minor handrail section between the ladder opening and the second end;

the ladder opening being defined between the major handrail section and the minor handrail section;

the ladder extending downward from the forward platform at the ladder opening.

10. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising:

the set of steps being spaced along two intersecting inclined paths between the forward platform and the forward frame, each of the inclined paths defining a different angle in relation to the horizontal direction.

11. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising:

a manifold assembly supported above the forward frame, the manifold assembly including a section intermediate the ladder and the front wall, the manifold assembly including a set of offset manifold ports, the section having no forward facing ports intermediate the ladder and the front wall.

12. A fluid storage tank trailer, the trailer having an elongated first side, a second side spaced from the first side in parallel relation therewith, a rear end extending between the first side and the second side, and a front end spaced from the rear end in a forward direction, the trailer comprising:

a base, the base including a set of rear wheels mounted to engage the ground for rolling movement relative thereto;

a tank supported by the base, the tank having a first side wall extending generally along the first side, the tank having a second side wall extending generally along the second side, the tank having a rear wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the tank having a front wall spaced from the rear wall, the tank having a first front corner defined by intersection of the front wall and the first side wall, the tank having a second front corner defined by intersection of the front wall and the second side wall, the tank having a tank bottom, the tank having an internal space suitable to contain fluid material;

the base including a set of skids beneath the tank, the skids being adapted to engage the ground forward of the rear wheels when the trailer is not connected to a tow vehicle, the skids being adapted to support the tank bottom in relation to the ground;

a forward frame extending from generally beneath the tank to the front end, the forward frame including a nose bar at the front end, the forward frame being adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle;

a forward platform adjacent the front wall, the forward platform being elevated above the forward frame, the forward platform having a first end adjacent the first front corner, the forward platform having a second end adjacent the second front corner, the forward platform defining a walkway, the walkway extending between the first end and the second end at a vertical position, the vertical position being elevated above the forward frame;

a first safety gate disposed above the first end at the first side;

a second safety gate disposed above the second end at the second side;

a single ladder extending downward from the forward platform to the forward frame, the ladder having an upper end intersecting the forward platform intermediate the first end and the second end, the ladder having a lower end supported by the forward frame, the ladder being inclined from the lower end to the upper end, the ladder including a spaced pair of elongated stringers extending in parallel relationship from the forward frame to an upper intersection with the forward platform, the pair of stringers at the forward frame terminating at a lower intersection, the lower intersection being spaced from an imaginary vertical plane defined by the upper intersection, the ladder including a spaced set of steps, the set of steps being spaced in the vertical direction between the lower intersection and upper intersection, the steps being spaced in the horizontal direction between the lower intersection and the vertical plane;

a handrail disposed generally above the walkway in spaced relation to the front wall, the handrail including a major handrail section between a ladder opening and the first end, the handrail including a minor handrail section between the ladder opening and the second end, the ladder opening being defined between the major handrail section and the minor handrail section, the ladder extending downward from the forward platform at the ladder opening.

13. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 12 and further comprising:

the set of steps being spaced along two intersecting inclined paths between the forward platform and the forward frame, each of the inclined paths defining a different angle in relation to the horizontal direction.

14. A fluid storage tank trailer as set forth in claim 12 and further comprising:

a manifold assembly supported above the forward frame, the manifold assembly including a section intermediate the ladder and the front wall, the manifold assembly including a set of offset manifold ports, the section having no forward facing ports intermediate the ladder and the front wall.