Patent Abstract:
A tank for holding liquid having internal partitions. The partitions have enlarged bottom ends fillable with liquid and restable on the bottom wall of the tank to limit sideways movement of the partitions. The partitions are mounted to the tank only above the liquid within the tank by a channel that loosely receives the top ends of the partition.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of tanks for holding liquid and having baffles mounted therein. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Liquid tanks are known that have internal baffles or partition walls for dividing the interior tank cavity into multiple compartments. The partitions have top ends secured to bracketry, in turn, secured to the tank side wall. Likewise, the bottom portions of the partitions are secured to brackets, in turn, secured to the side walls. 
         [0005]    Several problems exist with the prior tanks having internal partitions. First, the bracketry used to secure the partition to the tank side wall requires compromise of the integrity of the side wall in that fasteners extend through the side wall to secure the partition bracket to the side wall. Alternatively, the partition bracket may be extended through the tank side wall and then secured thereto by fasteners located outwardly of the side wall. It is therefore possible for liquid to seep through the side wall at the location of the bracket and fastener. The second major problem is assembling the partitions, brackets and fasteners within the tank. In many cases, the tanks are large requiring an assembler to crawl in the tank and assemble the components one by one until the brackets and partitions are secured to the tank side wall. Existence of the partition reduces the area for the person assembling the components thereby adding to the complexity. 
         [0006]    Disclosed herein is a partition that may be dropped into the tank cavity and secured only to the tank side wall by components located above liquid level thereby preventing compromise of the tank side wall and preventing leakage. Further, the partition includes a flared bottom end that is hollow allowing liquid within the tank to flow into the partition adding to the stability of the partition and limiting sideways movement of the partition flared bottom end relative to the tank. In addition, a channel mounted at the top of the tank cavity loosely engages the top end of the baffle, allowing limited movement thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the present invention is a tank with internal baffle that comprises a main body including a bottom wall and a side wall connected together forming an internal tank cavity. A baffle wall has a top end and an enlarged flared bottom portion resting atop the tank bottom wall to limit sideways movement of the baffle wall atop the bottom wall. A holding support is secured to the side wall and the top end of the baffle wall limiting sideways movement of the top end relative to the side wall. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a tank for holding liquid having an interior baffle or baffles wherein leakage through the tank side wall is prevented as a result of any connection with the tank to the baffle or baffles. 
         [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a tank having an internal baffle or baffles that can be easily and quickly assembled without requiring assembly of components to stabilize the bottom end of the baffle. 
         [0010]    Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a tank and baffle combination. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing two baffles in place within the tank of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2  and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the cross member end enclosed in circle  6  of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0018]    Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of a tank  20  for holding liquid. Tank  20  consists of a main body  21  defining an interior cavity into which a pair of baffles or partitions  22  and  23  is positioned. The bottom end  31  of each partition  22  and  23  is flared. The top end  35  of the partitions are loosely received in a downwardly opening channel  24  that is secured to the side wall of the main body  21  of the tank. A cross member  25  is secured to the side wall of the main body  21  of the tank atop of which rest a lid  26 . The tank has a vertical axis  60  ( FIG. 3 ) that extends longitudinally from the tank bottom wall  58  through the top end and lid of the tank. The side wall  27  is connected to bottom wall  58  and together form the cavity  44  ( FIG. 2 ) of the tank. Side wall  27  surrounds axis  60  and has an upper cylindrical configuration  28  ( FIG. 2 ) joined by an inwardly projecting intermediate cylindrical configuration  30 , in turn, joined to a lower polygonal configuration  29 . The inside diameter defined by the inwardly projecting surface of intermediate configuration  30  is less than the inside diameter of the inwardly projecting surface of the upper cylindrical configuration  28  as well as the dimension of the opposite interior surfaces of the polygonal lower configuration  29 . Thus, the longitudinally extending edge portions  36  and  40  ( FIG. 3 ) of partitions  22  and  23  are spaced apart from the interior surfaces  37  of the upper configuration  28  and lower configuration  29  while being in contact with the interior surface of intermediate configuration  30 . Partitions  22  and  23  divide the tank cavity into at least two separate areas, one on each side of the aligned partitions. The liquid within each area on either side of the partitions may be, for example, of a different temperature although the liquid is able to flow from one side of the partition to the other side of the partition in the gaps  38  and  41  existing between the longitudinally extending edge portions of the partitions and the interior surface of the upper cylindrical configuration  28 . Likewise, gaps may be provided between the longitudinally extending edge portions  36  and  40  and the interior surface of the lower polygonal configuration  29 . 
         [0019]    In the embodiment shown in the drawings, partitions  22  and  23  are aligned. The middle longitudinally extending edge portions  42  and  43  ( FIG. 3 ) of partitions  23  and  22  may be spaced apart or in contact with each other. In the event edge portions  42  and  43  are spaced apart then liquid from one side of the partitions may flow into the area on the opposite side of the partitions. 
         [0020]    Many variations are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, the two partitions or baffles shown in the drawings are depicted as being aligned; however, a single partition wall may be used to extend across the entire interior width of the tank cavity in lieu of two partitions. Likewise, more than two partitions may be installed within the tank in order to divide separate areas within the tank more than the two areas depicted on the opposite sides of the partitions in the drawings. 
         [0021]    In order to provide for ease of assembly while increasing the stability of the partition relative to the tank, the bottom flared portion  31  ( FIG. 1 ) of each partition is hollow allowing liquid within the tank to flow into the partition via passages  34 . 
         [0022]    Partition  22  will now be described it being understood that an identical description applies to partition  23 . Walls  32  and  33  of the flared bottom portion  31  of partition  22  diverge from the main body of the partition to the bottom wall  46  of the flared bottom portion  31 . Side wall  30  extends upwardly from wall  46  joining together walls  32  and  33  with passages  34  extending through wall  30  into the hollow interior formed by bottom wall  46  and walls  30 ,  32  and  34 . Thus, liquid may flow into the hollow interior of the flared bottom portion providing increased weight at the bottom of the partition. Bottom wall  46  extends a distance greater than the thickness of the main body of the partition. This increased distance or width of the flared bottom portion coupled with the increased weight of the flared bottom portion provides increased stability of the partition limiting the amount of relative motion, if any, existing between the partition bottom end and the bottom wall  58  of the tank. In order to hold the partition from unacceptable movement, the downwardly opening channel  24  ( FIG. 4 ) extends over the top end  35  of partition  22  with the downwardly extending legs  46  and  47  being spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the top end  35  of the partition allowing only a limited, if any, movement between the partition and channel  24 . While the top end of the partition is depicted as hollow in  FIG. 4 , the present invention includes a partition that is solid without any internal cavity existing between the downwardly extending opposite side walls of the partition until the partition flares out at bottom end portion  31 . Partitions  22  and  23  extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis  60  of the tank. The downwardly extending channel  24  limits sideways movement of the top end  35  of the partitions relative to the longitudinal axis and the side wall of the tank. A plurality of vertically extending strengthening ribs or channels  39  ( FIG. 3 ) are formed in the partitions adding to the strength of the partitions. 
         [0023]    A rim is formed at the top end of the tank side wall to allow for the mounting of channel  24 , cross member  25 , and lid  26 . The upper portion  48  ( FIG. 5 ) of the tank side wall extends vertically and is integrally attached to a horizontal and inwardly extending portion  49  which is then integrally attached to a vertical and downwardly extending portion  50  ( FIG. 5 ). An inwardly extending shelf  51  extends integrally from the bottom end portion of the downwardly extending wall portion  50  forming a seat upon which an L-shaped bracket  52  is mounted. The upwardly projecting portion of flange  52  is fastened by a conventional bolt or other fastening means  53  to the downwardly extending portion  50  of the tank side wall with the horizontally extending portion of the bracket  52  extending inwardly of shelf  51  being attached to the horizontal and top wall of downwardly extending channel  24  by conventional fastening devices  54 . Each end  55  of channel  24  is attached to the tank side wall by an L-shaped bracket and fastening device such as just described. 
         [0024]    The side wall of the tank has an overflow outlet  61  that is located lower in elevation than the connection of channel  24  and cross-member  25  to the tank side walls thereby allowing for liquid within the tank to flow outward without first contacting the connections between the tank side wall and the downwardly extending channel or cross-member. Thus, the holding support, namely channel  24  is connected to the side wall of the tank at an elevation above the overflow outlet  61  limiting or preventing leakage from the tank main body via the connection of the partition holding support to the side wall. 
         [0025]    Cross-member  25  ( FIG. 6 ) is provided for mounting lid  26  ( FIG. 1 ) to the tank. Lid  26  includes a stationary portion  62  that mounts atop cross-member  25 . A movable lid portion  63  is pivotally mounted to stationary portion  62  by conventional hinges and has a downwardly extending U-shaped handle  66  mounted to the movable portion to allow the lid to be opened and closed. 
         [0026]    Apertures  65  are provided in stationary portion  62  through which standard fastening devices are extended through stationary portion  62  and into cross-member  25  fixedly securing the lid to the cross-member. 
         [0027]    The opposite ends of cross-member  25  each have an upwardly opening U-shaped channel  81  ( FIG. 6 ) with conventional fastening devices extending through the vertical side walls  82  of channel  81  and through the downwardly extending side walls of cross member  25  thereby fixedly securing cross-member  25  and channel  81  together. The rim of the container has a cutout portion forming a recess  84  into which channel  81  fits so that the bottom wall of the upwardly opening channel  81  fits atop shelf  51 . The distal edge  85  of channel  81  is beveled with the edge adjacent the bottom wall of channel  81  extending away from the container rim to the top edge of channel  81 . Conventional fastening devices  83  are extended through the horizontal bottom wall of channel  81  and through shelf  51  of the side wall thereby fixedly securing each channel  81  and thus cross-member  25  to the side wall of the tank. The lid is then fixedly secured to the horizontally extending wall of channel  25 . Notably, cross-member  25  is positioned above and spaced apart from channel  24  ( FIG. 1 ) thereby providing a lid support while limiting downward lid force on channel  24 . 
         [0028]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1