Low-profile tank trailer for transporting flowable material

#The present invention relates to the field of low-profile tank trailers for transporting fluids or other flowable materials.

#Not applicable.

#Not applicable.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of apparatus consistent with the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention. In the drawings,

#FIG. 1 sets forth a drawing illustrating a left perspective view of an exemplary low-profile tank trailer for transporting flowable material according to embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 sets forth a drawing illustrating a right orthogonal view of the exemplary low-profile tank trailer for transporting flowable material according to embodiments of the present invention.

#Exemplary embodiments of low-profile tank trailers for transporting flowable material are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with FIG. 1. FIG. 1 sets forth a drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary low-profile tank trailer (100) for transporting flowable material according to embodiments of the present invention. A tank trailer is a semi-trailer that has a reservoir for storing flowable materials. A semi-trailer is a type of trailer that does not have a front axle. A large proportion of weight of a semitrailer is supported by a truck, tractor, dolly, or other towing mechanism. Because a semi-trailer does not have a front axle, a semi-trailer is typically equipped with a landing gear (legs which can be lowered) to support the trailer when it is uncoupled. Standard shipping containers are 8 ft wide (2.44 m)×8 ft 6 in. (2.6 m.) high, but come in five standard lengths, 20 ft (6.1 m), 40 ft (12.2 m), 45 ft (13.7 m), 48 ft (14.6 m), and 53 ft (16.2 m). After the standard tank container, came the tank container chassis, specifically designed with a lower deck (typically 40″) to hold the specialty tank containers. Due to their bulk liquid shifting contents, tanks are at greater risk for turnover accidents. The drop frame of the conventional tank chassis has a lower center of gravity to compensate for this propensity. In addition, the longer length of the tank chassis allows for it to legally scale most loaded tanks. Like a standard container chassis, the tank container chassis has bolsters and twistlocks to provide a secure mounting mechanism and eliminate the need for straps or chains. These conventional tank chassis in conjunction with the fluid tanks continue to have unacceptable turnover problems due to the structural engagement of the chassis and the tank. Typically, the instability is laterally oriented, i.e., from side-to-side. However, the typical tank trailer has a longitudinal stability problem as well, which longitudinal instability problem is compounded by the lateral instability problem. The stability problems compound the load problems, because there is required a reduction of the load to compensate for the instability problems. In an effort to compensate for these problems many tank trailer and chassis designs have be unsuccessfully used. Examples of these unsuccessful trailer and chassis designs are tandem axle designs, tri-axle designs and spread axle designs. All of these trailer and chassis designs have failed to overcome the stated problems.

#Flowable materials transported by a tank trailer according to embodiments of the present invention may include fluids or even solids of a size and granularity with respect to the tank that allows the solids, in aggregate, to take on the shape of the tank. Examples of flowable materials may include water, milk, juices, petroleum products, carbon-dioxide, nitrogen, grains, powders, gravel, or any other such materials as will occur to those of skill in the art.

#The low-profile tank trailer (100) of FIG. 1 includes a frameless, self-supporting tank (102). The tank (102) of FIG. 1 is an enclosed container with one or more opening for adding and removing the flowable materials. The location of such openings varies from one embodiment to another and typically depends on the type of flowable material being transport by the tank trailer and the method of filling and draining the tank (102). When gravity is the method used to fill and drain a tank, embodiments typically having an opening at the top of the tank for adding the flowable materials, and another opening at the bottom by which the flowable materials are drained from the tank. In other embodiments where a vacuum or other pump is utilized, the only openings may be located on the bottom of the tank, but there may be other openings as the top of the tank (102) for ventilation purposes. In addition to the openings for allowing the ingress and egress of flowable materials, the tank (102) in the example of FIG. 1 includes three man-hole openings along the top of the tank (102). These man-holes provide access to the interior of the tank (102) during the fabrication process as well as for service and maintenance.