Abstract:
A trailer vehicle for distributing a fertilizing manure slurry to a field which includes a slurry distribution assembly mounted to the tear of the vehicle having four slurry distribution units, each with three plow teeth and a slurry distribution nozzle associated with the teeth for feeding the slurry at root level in the soil. The distribution assembly includes an elongated manifold with four flexible conduits extending from the manifold to each nozzle on the distribution units. The manifold communicates with the slurry tank. The trailer vehicle can also have a special suspension to maintain the tank relatively level. The trailer has three sets of wheels which are articulated in tandem, and the rear wheels of the trailer can be steered in the arc traced by the motive vehicle pulling the trailer. The tank includes an annular wall defining an impeller pump area and a door is hinged to the annular wall. An impeller pump wheel is mounted on the door in the pump area which pumps slurry to the distribution assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/328,422 filed Oct. 25, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,347, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 07/903,455 filed Jun. 24, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,883, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/857,426 filed Mar. 24, 1992, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for spreading a liquid slurry, and more particularly, to spreading fertilizer in a field. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is quite common for farmers to collect animal manure in a lagoon next to a barn in which animals are kept, and to recycle the manure as fertilizer far vegetable growing fields, such as in corn fields or the like. Presently, the manure is pumped from the lagoon as a slurry (using a pumping device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,006, issued Jun. 10, 1986, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 434,909, filed Nov. 9, 1989 in the name of the applicant), into a tank mounted on a vehicle, and the vehicle, either self propelled or a trailer drawn by a farm tractor, is passed through a corn field spreading the slurry on the soil surface. In some cases, particularly if the stalks of corn have sprouted above the ground surface, in rows, coinciding with the planting furrows, care is taken to ensure that the vehicle wheels pass in paths between the furrows, and the delivery of the manure slurry is directed by nozzles onto the paths between the furrows. 
     In these cases, the manure is spread on the surface and thus the fertilization is dependent on the amount of slurry which seeps or leaches into the earth, assuming it does not get washed away by rain water or drained because of the slope of the land. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for spreading a slurry of fertilizer in a growing field. 
     It is a further aim of the present invention to introduce the slurry of fertilizer mechanically below the soil surface, preferably at root level. 
     It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an improved suspension system for a vehicle. 
     It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide an improved method of growing corn and like vegetables. 
     An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a vehicle having a chassis with a front end and a rear end, a slurry holding tank on the chassis between the front end and rear end a slurry distributing assembly mounted on the chassis at the rear end thereof, and means for moving the assembly between a storage position wherein the slurry distributing assembly is inoperative and an application position wherein the slurry distributing assembly is operative. The slurry distributing assembly includes a frame mounted to the chassis and at least a slurry distributing unit having a plow beam mounted on the frame and having an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; a plurality of plow means mounted on the beam and one of the plow means is a colter tooth with the other plow means spaced apart rearwardly thereof on the beam; a slurry nozzle mounted to the beam and interspaced with the plow means, behind the colter tooth, with the nozzle facing downwardly towards the soil when the frame is in the application position; conduit means communicating the holding tank and the nozzle means, and pump means delivering the slurry to the nozzle from the tank whereby the soil may be furrowed by at least the colter tooth when the assembly is in an application position and slurry can be delivered into the so-formed furrow. 
     In a more specific embodiment, the frame includes a sub-frame rotatable about a hinge axis extending laterally of the rear end of the chassis, and an actuation means for rotating the sub-frame about the hinge axis between the application position and the storage position. The slurry distributing assembly is mounted on the sub-frame. 
     More specifically, the hinge axis is included in a shaft, and the sub-frame further includes a bracket extending radially from the shaft and downwardly when in the application position, and an arm extends radially, rearwardly of the shaft, at an acute angle and within the same plane as the bracket. The beam is pivotally connected to the free end of the arm remote from the shaft, and the beam is associated with the bracket far limited pivoting movement relative to the arm. A wheel is provided at the front end of the beam adapted to contact the soil to support the beam when the slurry distributing assembly is in the application position. 
     In another embodiment, the sub-frame may include a first bracket mounted for rotation on the shaft and a second bracket mounted on the plow beam and a parallelogram linkage between the first and second brackets such that the plow beam and the second bracket can move vertically relative to the first bracket. 
     In a more specific embodiment, there are several sub-frames mounting independent slurry distribution units mounted on the shaft in laterally, spaced-apart relation with the spacing approximating the distance between paths. 
     In a method in accordance with the present invention, there are provided the steps of seeding a field with vegetable seeds and placing the seeds in longitudinal, spaced-apart rows forming paths therebetween, allowing the seeds to sprout their stalks through the top surface of the soil, forming temporary furrows in the paths and immediately injecting a fertilizing slurry in the temporary furrows at root level and closing the furrows. More specifically, the fertilizer is a manure slurry 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a suspension system for a vehicle wherein the vehicle is a trailer and mounts a manure slurry tank on a chassis, the chassis including a hitch pole at the front end thereof and a manure slurry distribution assembly at the rear end of the chassis, at least three sets of wheels in tandem mounted to the chassis by having a first axle extending laterally of the chassis and a first beam pivotally mounted about the axis of the axle on either side of the chassis, each first beam mounting wheel means at the rear free end thereof and mounting a second wheel mounting beam at the front free end thereof, each second beam mounting a wheel at each front and rear ends thereof. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trailer including a chassis including a hitch pole extending longitudinally at the front thereof and an articulated hitch pole extension at the front end of the hitch pole and adapted to be connected to a motive vehicle, at least three sets of wheels mounted to the chassis with the rear set of wheels being articulated about respective vertical axes, an action-reaction communication means between the hitch pole and the hitch pole extension communicating with actuation means on the chassis for providing opposite articulation of the rear set of wheels such that the trailer will follow an arc traced by the motive vehicle to which the hitch pole extension is connected. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the end of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a detail shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3a is an enlarged end elevation, partly in cross-section, of another embodiment of the detail of the manifold shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; 
     FIG. 3b is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a with a detail in a different operative position; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 but in a different operative position; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary side elevations showing the apparatus in still different operative positions; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of a detail of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 2 but showing a different embodiment thereof; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 8 showing the apparatus in a different operative position; 
     FIG. 10, which is on the same sheet as FIG. 8, is a fragmentary end elevation of a further detail shown partly in cross-section; 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front end of another embodiment of the trailer, showing a detail similar to that in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-section, taken through the detail shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14, which is on the same sheet as FIG. 3b, is an enlarged vertical cross-section, taken along line  14 — 14  of FIG. 13; 
     FIGS. 15a through 15c are fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross-sections taken through the trailer vehicle illustrating the suspension in different operating positions; 
     FIGS. 16a, which is on the same sheet as FIG. 7, and  16 b are schematic plan views of different embodiments of a detail of a further aspect of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the detail of the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the detail shown in FIG. 17 but in a different operative position; 
     FIG. 19, which is on the same sheet as FIG. 17, is a top plan view of the detail shown in FIG. 17, and 
     FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-section, taken along line  20 — 20  of FIG.  19 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , there is shown a trailer vehicle  10  for spreading a manure slurry which includes a manure distribution assembly  14  mounted to a chassis  12  of vehicle  10 . The vehicle  10  is provided with a tank  16  on the chassis  12 . A frame  18 , of the slurry distribution assembly  14 , is mounted to the chassis  12  and extends laterally thereof. 
     FIGS. 1 to  3  show in detail the construction of the manure distribution assembly  14  which will now be described. A distribution manifold  20  is mounted to the elongated frame  18  for receiving the manure slurry from tank  16 . This embodiment includes four distribution units  14 a,  14 b,  14 c, and  14 d, all spaced apart laterally on the frame  18 . A shaft  22  is journaled in sleeves  24  mounted to the manifold  20  and frame  18 . The shaft  22  can be rotated by means of a piston and cylinder arrangement  46  which will be described later, Each unit  14 a,  14 b,  14 c, and  14 d includes a plow beam  26  hingedly connected at its downstream end to the free end of an arm  30  which in turn is fixed to a sleeve  22 a journaled freely on the shaft  22 . A bracket  28 , including two parallel plates, extends downwardly from the shaft  22 a and supports the other end of the plow beam  26 . The bottom of the bracket  28  is closed, and the beam  26  is adapted to travel vertically within the slot formed by bracket  28 . 
     In the present embodiment, there are three plow teeth including a colter  32  and teeth  34  and  36  mounted to the plow beam  26 . The colter  32  and plow teeth  34 ,  36  are clamped at their upper end to the plow beam  26  by brackets  56 , and each tooth has an S shape which allows a spring action. These plow teeth are arranged on alternate sides of the plow beam  26 a. The colter  32  breaks the surface of the ground to allow the manure to be distributed and fed directly to root level by means of a furrow created by the colter  32 . The downstream teeth  34  and  36  are offset and will tend to cover the furrow opened by colter  32 . 
     An idler wheel  52  is mounted at the front end of plow beam  26  in order to guide the plow beam  26  over the terrain somewhat independently of the vehicle so that the plow teeth follow the contours of the terrain as discerned by the wheel  52 . 
     The plow beam  26  is urged downwardly in the bracket  28  rotating clockwise about the pivot  54 , by gravity. 
     The arm  30  and the bracket  28  are urged downwardly by means of a spring  50  which is attached to an intermediate point of the arm  30  at  60  and is anchored to a bracket  58  fixedly mounted to shaft  22 . 
     A stopper pin  68  is mounted on the sleeve  22 a, and thus the sleeve is limited in its downward movement by abutting against a portion of bracket  58 . The spring  50  urges arm  30  on sleeve  22 a to rotate counterclockwise (as shown in FIG.  2 ). 
     A tubular foot  42  with a shoe-shaped nozzle  40  is provided at the end of the beam  26 . The foot  42  communicates with manifold  20  by way of a flexible tube  44 . As can be seen in FIG. 7, the shoe-shaped nozzle  40  can be adjusted against the foot  42  by means of an adjustment screw  40 a. The flow from the foot  42  can be increased or reduced by adjusting the opening at the end of the foot  42  within the shoe-shaped nozzle  40 . The nozzle  40  defines an elongated narrow slot. The nozzle  40  is located underneath the beam  26  and between the plow teeth  34  and  36  directly behind colter  32 . Thus, as the colter  32  creates a small furrow in the soil, the manure slurry can be deposited directly into the small furrow which will then be closed by teeth  34  and  36 . For instance, the colter  32  will create a first furrow in which the slurry can be fed into the so-formed furrow while the following teeth  34  and  36  will tend to dig small furrows adjacent the center furrow causing the soil to close back onto the central furrow in which the manure slurry is being captured. 
     A sub-frame  48  is mounted to frame  18  in order to suspend the piston and cylinder arrangement  46  shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 . The end of the piston is attached by means of a link  57  to the shaft  22 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, the distribution assembly can be pivoted from an application position shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3  to a storage position as shown in FIG. 4 by activating the hydraulic cylinder  46  to retract the piston and thus rotate the shaft  22  clockwise. When the shaft  22  is rotated about its axis by means of the cylinder and piston arrangement  46 , the bracket  58  will engage the pin  68  on sleeve  22 a, causing the sleeve  22 a, arm  30 , thus entraining beam  26  of each distribution unit  14 a,  14 b,  14 c, and  14 d, to rotate clockwise as shown in FIG.  4 . When it is required to place the apparatus in an application position, the cylinder and piston  46  is deployed to then rotate the shaft  22  and its depending arms  30  counterclockwise. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, there may be four or more distribution units  14 a,  14 b,  14 c, and  14 d, and they are especially spaced apart to coincide with the paths between the rows of vegetables as shown in dotted lines in FIG.  1 . Thus, the manure can be spread after plants such as corn have grown to a certain height. It has been found by furnishing fertilizer, such as manure, when the plants have sprouted and the stalks, in the case of corn, are about 45 cm., and to place the manure slurry at about root level, that the growth subsequent to the application of the fertilizer is quite significant. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the action of the plow beam as it encounters certain obstacles such as boulders in the soil. As shown in FIG. 5, if the wheel  52  encounters a protrusion such as a boulder extending upwardly from the soil, it will ride over the boulder, thus pivoting the beam  26  counter-clockwise about the pivot  54 , raising the colter  32  and the plow teeth  34 ,  36  out of the soil. If the colter  32  should encounter a boulder as shown in FIG. 6, the distribution unit will rotate clockwise about the shaft  22 , on the sleeve  22 a, against the spring  50 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3a and 3b, there is shown an alternative manifold for the distribution of the slurry to the various distribution units  14 a to  14 d. A manifold  220  is mounted on sub-frame  219 . The manifold  220  communicates with the conduit  62  for receiving the slurry. Mounted in series on the manifold are a plurality of short pipes  244  which are adapted to receive the flexible tubes  44 . On the top surface of the manifold  220 , aligned with the pipe sections  244 , are brackets  232 a,  232 b,  232 c,  232 d,  232 x, and  232 y. Each one of the brackets  232  mounts a sprocket assembly  234  which is adapted to drive a screw  238  which extends into the pipe  144 , as shown in FIG.  3 a. Chains  236  extend between each bracket  232 x,  232 d,  232 c,  232 b,  232 x, and  232 y in series in order to drive the sprocket assemblies  234  and thus the respective screws  238 . A hydraulic motor  230  is mounted on the manifold to drive the series of chains  236 . 
     In operation, as the slurry passes through the conduit  62  into the manifold  220 , it will fill the manifold. Solid chunks of manure pass with the slurry and could block the pipes  244 . The screws  238  force the break-up of such solids and keep the pipe sections  244  clear for the passage of the slurry. Thus, the slurry can move freely to the various distribution Assemblies  14 a through  14 d,  14 x and  14 y. 
     In FIG. 3a, pipes  244 x and  244 y show that additional slurry distribution units  14 x and  14 y may be provided (not shown). 
     A lever  240  is illustrated in FIG. 3a connected to gate valve  242  within the manifold  220 . As shown in FIG. 3b, when the gate valve  242  is closed, the slurry will be forced to pass through return conduit  70 . The lever  240  may be actuated by means of connecting rod  248  which will be described later. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the slurry distribution unit  14 a. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, sub-frame  219 , which mounts the manifold  220 , is, in turn, mounted to frame  218 . Distribution unit  14 a includes bracket  224  fixedly mounted to shaft  222 . A mounting bracket  250  is bolted to bracket  224 , and a pair of parallelogram links  252  and  254  are pivoted to mounting bracket  250 . Links  252  and  254  are pivotally connected at their other ends to sub-frame  256  which completes the parallelogram. A support member  260  is adjustably mounted to sub-frame  256 . The plow beam  262  is fixed to the support member  260 . 
     Colter  270  and plow teeth  272  and  274  are mounted to the plow beam  262 , similarly to that described in FIG.  2 . Shoe-shaped nozzle  258  is mounted to the plow beam  262  and communicates with flexible tube  44 a. Idler wheel  266  is mounted on bracket  268 . 
     FIG. 9 shows the distribution unit  14 a in a retracted travel position. The cylinder and piston  246  can be operated to retract the distribution unit  14 a, and the connecting rod  248  will rotate the lever  240  to close the gate valve  242 . 
     The parallelogram linkage, represented by links  252 ,  254 , will operate to allow the plow beam  262  to reciprocate vertically when the idler wheel or colter  270  engages an obstacle in its path. The plow beam, rather than pivot as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, will reciprocate vertically parallel to the ground. 
     FIGS. 10 through 13 show the flow of manure slurry from the tank  16  to the manifold  20  or  220 . An impeller pump  172  is provided at the front end of the tank  16  and is driven by an articulated shaft  73  driven by the tractor pulling the trailer. The slurry will pass through the conduit  62  and into the manifold  20  or  220 . A return pipe  70  extends vertically from the manifold  20  to the top part of the tank  16 . 
     FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the pump for moving the slurry from the tank  16  to the manifold  20  or  220 . The tank  16  includes an opening  176  at the front end of the tank  16  which is closed by a door  170 . Opening  176  is enclosed by an annular wall  174  onto which the door  170  closes. The door  170  mounts the impeller wheel  172  which is driven by the articulated shaft  73 . 
     The door  170  is hinged on the annular wall  174  by means of hinge  160 . A removable handle  184  includes pivot pins  188  adapted to engage brackets  178  and  180 . An offset cam member  182  is provided as part of handle  184  to engage and lock door  170  against annular wall  174 . 
     As mentioned previously, the return pipe  70  returns the slurry to the top of the tank  16  into a holding box  150  provided with a pair of hinged leaves  152  and  154  pivoted on opposite sides of the box  150  and adapted to form the bottom wall of the box. The leaves  152  and  154  are provided with counterweights  156  and  158  respectively. The leaves are normally in a closed position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 14, but when a predetermined mass of slurry is accumulated in the box  150 , the leaves  152  and  154  will open, as shown in full lines in FIG. 14, allowing the slurry to return into the tank  16 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 15 through 20, and in particular to FIG. 16a, there is shown a suspension and steering system for a typical trailer  10  capable of being used with the distribution assembly  14 . FIG. 16a illustrates a chassis  80  with a hitch pole  82 , in this case, in the form of a V, with a hinged articulated extension  82 a. A piston and cylinder arrangement  84  extends between a bracket  85  on the extension  82 a and a component of the hitch pole  82 . 
     In the present embodiment, there are three sets of wheels  74 a and b,  76 a and b, and  78 a and b. The suspension arrangement of these wheels will now be described. An axle  88  is mounted to the chassis  80 , and a wheel mounting beam  90 a and  90 b is pivoted at each end thereof. The wheel assemblies  78 a and  78 b are mounted at the rear ends of beams  90 a and  90 b respectively. Pivot shafts  94 a and  94 b are provided at the front free ends of beams  90 a and  90 b and mount the wheel mounting beams  92 a and  92 b respectively. Wheel mounting beams  92 a and  92 b mount wheels  76 a and  76 b at the rear ends thereof while wheels  74 a and  74 b are mounted to the front free ends of beams  92 a and  92 b. 
     Thus, when viewed from the side, as shown in FIGS. 15a through 15c, the wheels will operate in tandem as they pass over obstacles with little effect on the level-travel of the tank  16  on the trailer, thus reducing the possibility of the distribution assemblies  14  moving out of contact with the soil. As seen in FIGS. 15a through 15c, when the wheel  74 a encounters an obstacle, it will rotate pivoting beam  92 a counter-clockwise about the axis of the pivot shaft  94 a with only a slight vertical movement transmitted to the axle  88  through the beam  90 a. 
     Likewise, when the wheel  76 a encounters the same obstacle, as shown in FIG. 15b, the beam  92 a will rotate clockwise about the pivot shaft  94 a, barely inducing vertical movement to the axle  88 . Finally, when the wheel  78 a moves over the obstacle, as shown in FIG. 15c, the wheel  78 a will cause beam  90 a to rotate about the axle  88  without providing much vertical movement to the axle  88  on which the tank  16  and the chassis  80  are supported Since the beams  92 a and  90 a are independent of the beams  92 b and  90 b, the tandem wheels will operate independently on either side of the trailer. 
     Also incorporated in the suspension is a trailing wheel articulation system which is responsive to the direction of movement of the tractor vehicle pulling the trailer. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 16a,  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20 , the articulation of wheels  78 a and  78 b is provided as being at the ends of the beams  90 a and  90 b. A chassis beam  104  extends between the ends of beams  90 a and  90 b and mounts bearing brackets  103 a and  103 b which subtend hinge pins  100 a and  100 b to which bearings  99 a and  99 b are journaled. The wheel axles  102 a and  102 b are fixed to bearings  99 a and  99 b. A link  106  extends between brackets  108 a and  108 b which extend rearwardly from bearings  99 a and  99 b so as to complete a parallelogram. Link  106  is connected to the brackets  108 a and  108 b by universal joints. 
     The ends of the beams  90 a and  90 b are connected to the chassis member  104  by means of hinge brackets  109 a pivoted at pivot pin  107 a in a lost-motion slot. This is best seen in FIG.  20 . Guide members  105 a and  105 b enable the ends of the beams  90 a and  90 b to sit properly in the prescribed location on the chassis members  104 . The hinging, brackets  109 a and  109 b allow some independent movement of the wheels  78 a and  78 b relative to each other. 
     A piston and cylinder arrangement  110  is provided with one end mounted to a bracket  108 a and the other end thereof connected to a bracket on chassis member  104 . There is hydraulic communication between opposite cylinder chambers in the piston and cylinder arrangement  84  and piston and cylinder arrangement  110 . Thus, as seen in FIG. 16a, when the hitch pole extension  82 a is rotated to the left in the pulling direction, thus retracting the piston in the cylinder  84 , the piston and cylinder arrangement  110  will be extended, thus moving the brackets  108 a and  108 b in a clockwise movement (FIG. 16a) so that the rear wheels  78 a and  78 b follow an arc similar to the arc traced by the tractor (not shown). If the tractor steers towards the right of the direction of movement, the opposite reaction will occur. Thus, the articulating wheels  78 a and  78 b will steer in a counterclockwise direction tracing the arc traced by the tractor. 
     It has also been contemplated to provide four sets of wheels on the trailer  10  with the front wheels  74 a and b and the rear set of wheels  175 a and b being articulated. FIG. 16b shows how such an arrangement could be devised. Wheels  175 a and b would be mounted in a manner similar to that just described with respect to wheels  78 a and  78 b in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16a and 17 through  20 . The front wheels  74 a and  74 b would likewise be articulated for steering purposes in a manner similar to that described in FIGS. 17 through 20. 
     In a four-wheel suspension system as shown in FIG. 16b, the beam  90 b mounts pivot shafts  94 b and  194 b at the other end thereof, and beams  192 b are pivotally mounted to shaft  194 b. Wheel  78 b is mounted at the front end of beam  192 b while articulated wheel  175 b is mounted to the rear end of beam  192 b in the same manner as the articulated wheels  78 b were mounted to the ends of beams  90 a and  90 b in FIGS. 17 through 20, for instance. 
     The tank  16  may be mounted in a manner to provide quick replacement of the tank, and this could be provided by having elongated right-angle rail seats  81 a and  81 b, as shown in FIG. 18, for receiving support members  85 a and  85 b welded to the tank body. Clamps  126  having adjustment bolts  128  can be provided at different locations. The clamps  126  are welded to the base of the tank  16 , and a tongue  127  extends to engage the bottom of the angle rail  181 a. Once the tank is mounted on the chassis, the adjustment bolt  128  may be tightened to tighten the tongue  127  clamping the bracket  126  to the rail  181 a.