Abstract:
An improved pallet and tank assembly ( 10 ) is provided, including a metal tank ( 12 ) positioned atop and secured to a flat-bottomed, synthetic resin pallet ( 14 ). Preferably, the pallet ( 14 ) includes an upper tank-supporting slotted surface ( 40 ) which receives depending couplers ( 28 ) serving to secure the tank ( 12 ) to the pallet ( 14 ) and allowing field-replacement of the pallet ( 14 ) without the need for welding or the like. The pallet ( 14 ) presents a substantially flat bottom ( 44 ) having a plurality of enlarged foot structures ( 60 ) and interconnecting rails ( 62 ) serving to evenly distribute loaded weights.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is broadly concerned with improved tank and pallet assemblies preferably having an all-metal hazardous material tank positioned atop and secured to an underlying, flat-bottomed synthetic pallet. More particularly, it is concerned with such assemblies wherein the pallet permits four-way tongue lifting, is capable of being carried by a variety of conveyors, and gives substantial vibration-dampening and tank load-spreading. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Metal tanks are the preferred and most common method of storing and transporting hazardous and flammable material. The current form of metal tanks consists of an all-metal tank vessel supported by four or more legs typically mounted at the corners of the tank bottom. Tanks of this type commonly have a valve located on one of the tank sides with a protective barrier directly behind the valve. This limits the user to only three-way forklift entry. Although the tank legs allow for stacking and forklift/pallet jack access to the tank, the leg structures and methods of attachment to the tank have many limitations. For example, current tanks having corner legs cannot pass over roller or ball conveyors. Further, the current leg designs and locations concentrate load forces on a small section of the tank body, limiting the load-bearing capacity of the legs and rendering them more prone to failure. Finally, all-metal tanks with corner legs cannot be fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags which are critical for effective tracking of containers carrying hazardous or toxic materials. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,174 describes a pallet container designed for supporting a tank having an inner synthetic resin container with an outer metallic wall. The tank is designed to rest atop the pallet, with no mechanical interconnection between the tank and pallet. The pallet of the &#39;174 patent is also not designed for four-way lift tongue usage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides a tank and pallet assembly comprising a tank presenting a base, upright, circumferentially extending sidewall structure, a top wall, and a plurality of depending connectors extending from the base. A pallet is also provided having a top wall-with an upper surface matingly receiving and engaging the tank base, with the pallet having at least one opening through the top surface and receiving corresponding connectors; the pallet also presents a substantially flat bottom surface. Fasteners are used to operably couple the tank-mounted connectors to the pallet to present an integrated tank/pallet assembly. 
         [0007]    In preferred forms, the tank is formed of metal such as stainless steel, while the pallet is formed of synthetic resin material. The tank is preferably quadrate in plan configuration, having a substantially flat base equipped with a drain valve, and a top wall having a fill port. The fasteners are downwardly extending, apertured connector plates. 
         [0008]    The preferred pallet is also preferably quadrate in plan configuration and has a slotted upper surface receiving the tank-mounted connectors. Pin assemblies are used to interconnect the tank and pallet. In one preferred embodiment, the connectors are in the form of aligned, generally U-shaped elements, and at least one elongated connector rod extends through the confines of each of the elements, in order to secure the tank to the pallet. Advantageously, the pallet is designed to permit four-way entrance of lifting tongues. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tank and pallet assembly in accordance with the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the  FIG. 1  assembly, depicting the upper surface of the pallet; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of the  FIG. 1  assembly, illustrating the lower surfaces of the pallet and tank; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the placement of the tank on the pallet with the tank drain valve received within the pallet recess; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the interconnection of the tank to the pallet, using the tank-mounted connectors received within pallet slots and coupled together via a cross-pin assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a metal tank and synthetic resin pallet combination having preferred connection structure securing the tank to the pallet; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, perspective exploded view depicting the combination of  FIG. 6 , and illustrating the underside of the tank and aspects of the preferred connection structure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, perspective exploded view of the combination of  FIG. 6 , and illustrating the upper surface of the pallet; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Turning now to the drawings, a tank and pallet assembly  10  is depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , and broadly includes an upright tank  12  situated atop a specially designed pallet  14 . In preferred forms, the tank  12  is formed of metal (e.g., stainless steel), whereas the pallet  14  is fabricated from an appropriate synthetic resin material using molding techniques (e.g., injection, blow, compression, or rotation molding). The assembly  10  eliminates the problems of tank legs and allows transport on conveyors and the like. 
         [0020]    In more detail, the tank  12  includes a generally flat base  16  as well as upstanding, circumferential sidewall structure  18  and a top wall  20 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the base  16  is equipped with a drain valve  22  as well as four mated pairs  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , and  24   d  of connector tabs  26 . Each tab  26  extends downwardly from the base  16  and has an aperture  28  formed therein. The base  16  has a rounded periphery  30  which merges into the upstanding sidewall structure  18 . The latter also has rounded upright corners  32 . The top wall  20  includes a selectively openable fill port  34  allowing the tank  12  to be filled with liquid. In addition, corner brackets  36  are secured to the tank  12  at the juncture between sidewall structure  18  and top wall  20 . As shown, the sidewall structure  18  has a rounded upper periphery  38  merging into top wall  20 . 
         [0021]    The pallet  14  broadly includes a top wall presenting an upper surface  40 , depending, circumferential sidewall structure  42  and a substantially flat bottom surface  44 . The sidewall structure  42  presents a rear wall  44   a , lateral walls  44   b , and front wall  44   c . As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the pallet  14  has a series of intersecting, substantially orthogonal strengthening walls  46  beneath surface  40  and defining individual, vertically extending, open-bottom cells  48 . 
         [0022]    The top surface  40  is equipped with an upstanding short lip  41  sized to engage base  16  of tank  12 . Additionally, a series of openings are provided which extend through the top wall and upper surface and which are not interrupted by cell walls  46 . Specifically, the pallet  14  has a pair of rearmost, laterally spaced apart, aligned slots  50  adjacent rear wall  44   a , together with four side slots  52  adjacent the lateral walls  44   b  and arranged in fore and aft, aligned relationship. Additionally, a pair of laterally spaced apart and aligned slots  54  are provided in the central region of surface  40 . The front wall  44   c  has a recess  56  formed therein, which is sized to receive drain valve  22 . 
         [0023]    Each of the walls  44   a ,  44   b , and  44   c  has a pair of spaced apart slots  58  formed therein, which are below the bottom surfaces of the walls  46  and thus afford openings for insertion of lift tongues (not shown). It will be observed that these slots  58  allow lift tongues to be inserted from all of the walls  44   a - 44   c.    
         [0024]    The bottom  44  of the pallet  14  presents a series of enlarged, cellular foot structures  60  located at each corner of the pallet, centrally along the walls  44   a ,  44   b , and  44   c  between the corners, and at the geometrical center of the pallet. The bottom surfaces of the foot structure  60  are substantially coplanar so that the overall surface is flat. Additionally, ribbed bottom rails  62  extend between the corner and intermediate foot structures  60  and between the central foot structure and the intermediate foot structures, to provide additional support. It will be seen that the previously described tongue slots  58  are provided between the rails  62  and the top surface  40 . 
         [0025]    In use, the tank  12  is placed atop pallet  14 , with the connectors  26  received within corresponding pallet slots and in bridging relationship to adjacent foot structures. Specifically, the central pair  24   a  of connectors  26  is received within the central slots  54  and bridge the central foot structure  60 ; the rearmost pair  24   d  is received within the slots  50  and bridges the intermediate foot structure  60  along wall  44   a ; and the side pairs  24   b  and  24   c  are received within the slots  52  and bridge the intermediate foot structures  60  along walls  44   b . The connectors  26  are of a length to extend downwardly through the associated slots in closely fitting relationship with the associated foot structure. In order to complete the connection between tank  12  and pallet  14 , fastening assemblies  64  are used. Each assembly  64  includes a pin  66 , washer  68 , and clip  70 . Specifically, each pin  66  is passed through the openings  28  provided in the connectors  26 , and through aligned, pre-drilled openings  72  extending through the foot structures  60 . The washers  68  and clip  70  are then used to complete the connection. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6-10  illustrate another tank and pallet assembly  10   a  including a metallic upright tank  12   a  and supporting synthetic resin pallet  14   a . In many respects, the tank  12   a  and  14   a  are similar or identical with previously described tank  12  and pallet  14 , and accordingly like reference numerals are used between these embodiments and only the differences are specifically described. 
         [0027]    Thus, the tank  12   a  has flat base  16 , upstanding, circumferential sidewall structure  18 , and a top (not shown). The base  16  is equipped with a drain valve  22  as best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The underside of base  16  includes a series of three aligned, depending, generally U-shaped connectors  74  in lieu of the connector tabs  26 . In all other respects, the tank  12   a  is identical with tank  12 . 
         [0028]    The pallet  14   a  has a top wall presenting an upper surface  40 , depending, circumferential sidewall structure  42 , and a substantially flat bottom surface  44 . Top surface  40  is equipped with lip  41  sized to engage base  16  of tank  12   a  and also has a series of openings including side slots  52 . Intersecting, substantially orthogonal strengthening walls  46  are provided beneath surface  40  and define individual, vertically-extending open-bottom cells  48 . The top wall  40  also has three aligned connector-receiving slots  76  each defined by a pair of lateral sidewalls  78 , end walls  80 , and a bottom wall  82 . The slots  76  are configured to receive the connectors  74  as described below. Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , the base of pallet  14   a  also has a pair of aligned openings  84  which extend laterally through the lateral walls  44   b  and through the side walls  78  of the slots  76 . A pair of elongated connecting rods  86  extend fully through the openings  84  and through the confines of the individual connectors  78  (see  FIG. 10 ). One end of each of the rods  86  is equipped with an apertured attachment tab  88 , and threaded fasteners  90  are used to secure the rods  86  in their locking positions. 
         [0029]    The sidewall structure  42  includes rear wall  44   a , lateral walls  44   b , and front wall  44   c . Each of the walls  44   a ,  44   b , and  44   c  has a pair of spaced apart slots  58  formed therein, which are below the bottom surfaces of the walls  46 , affording openings for insertion of lift tongues (not shown). The underside of pallet  14   a  is configured identically with that of pallet  14 , and thus needs no further description. 
         [0030]    In use, the tank  12   a  is placed atop pallet  14   a , with the connectors  74  received within corresponding slots  76 . Next, the rods  86  are passed through the openings  84  and the fasteners  90  are used to secure the rods in place as best depicted in  FIG. 9 . This serves to firmly secure the tank  12   a  to pallet  14   a.    
         [0031]    The assemblies  10  and  10   a  provide a number of advantages over existing tank and pallet designs. The pallets  14 ,  14   a  being of synethetic resin construction, provide vibration dampening for the tanks  12 ,  12   a , which prolongs tank life and reduces the risk of failure. The pallets  14 ,  14   a  also increase the load rating of the associated tanks by distributing the loaded weight over a greater surface area. The assemblies of the invention can all be used on all types of conveyors including roller and ball conveyors. The assemblies can also accommodate RFID tag mounting, something heretofore not possible with all-metal designs. The pallets  14 ,  14   a  also afford four-way forklift or pallet jack entry, and may be field-replaced without the need for welding.