1555results about "Tank vehicles" patented technology

A portable hydrogen refueling stations which can dispense gaseous hydrogen from one or more internal high pressure tanks. The refueling station can be refilled with a lower pressure hydrogen gas feed and then compressed for storage within the refueling station.

A vehicle body structure includes a body frame with a subframe mounted to a lower part of the body frame. The subframe is formed into a rectangular shape and has front, intermediate and rear cross members. A storage battery is designed to be mounted astride the front cross member and the intermediate cross member. A fuel tank is designed to be mounted astride the intermediate cross member and the rear cross member.

The silo includes at least three hoppers terminating in rectilinear discharge openings extending lengthwise transversely of a loading area below the discharge openings. Clam gates are movable between open and closed positions to discharge material. The discharge area at the bottom of the silo is increased, facilitating faster loading of trucks with the particulate material.

A vehicle body structure includes a body frame with a subframe mounted to a lower part of the body frame. The subframe is formed into a rectangular shape and has front, intermediate and rear cross members. A storage battery is designed to be mounted astride the front cross member and the intermediate cross member. A fuel tank is designed to be mounted astride the intermediate cross member and the rear cross member.

A cap unit (10) for a container (38) has a cap (20) and an annular skirt (12). The skirt (12) is mounted in the container (38) defining an aperture, the cap (20) being movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the cap (20) covers the aperture and seals it, and in the second position the cap uncovers the aperture, the cap (20) being journalled pivotably around an axis (26) perpendicular to the plan defined by the aperture and placed outside the aperture so that the cap may swing between the first position and the second position. Furthermore, the cap (20) and the skirt (12) have respective claw-formed catching means (14, 16, 18) which are adapted to fix the cap (20) in relation to the skirt (12) and allow the cap (20) to swing from a first to a second position. The cap unit (10) has driving means (34) for production of swinging of the cap (20) and the cap unit (10) has an inflatable sealing ring (22) mounted in the cap (20) for sealing against the upper surface of the skirt (12) when the cap (20) is in its first position, or alternatively mounted in the skirt (12) for sealing against the opposite surface of the cap (20).

A gaseous fuel storage system for a vehicle is disclosed. The fuel storage system can be installed as a modular unit in the vehicle. The fuel storage system is pivotable relative to the vehicle to allow easy accessibility to the storage tanks without requiring the storage tanks to be unmounted from the vehicle. The fuel storage system also provides protection for the storage tanks through the use of shielding and energy absorbing material.

A deployable crafting machine may include a vehicle and a gantry system. The gantry system may be configured to be collapsed on the vehicle during which the gantry system is inoperable and to be expanded during which the gantry system is operable and supported at least in part by the vehicle. A deployable crafting process may include moving a vehicle to a first location while a gantry system is stored on the vehicle in a collapsed and inoperable state and expanding the gantry system into an operable state after the vehicle arrives at the first location during which the gantry system is supported at least in part by the vehicle.

A fuel tank (12) is constructed such that a front flange portion (14A1) of a top surface plate (14A) of a second plate (14) extends outside in relation to a front surface plate (13B) of a first plate (13). As a result, a front surplus space (15A) projected in the upper and lower directions in a range of the front flange portion (14A1) of the top surface plate is formed in the front surface side of the front surface plate. A urea water tank (24) is arranged along the fuel tank (12) in such a manner that a rear side portion thereof enters into the front surplus space portion. Therefore, the rear side portion of the urea water tank can enter into the front surplus space using the front surplus space formed in the fuel tank (12), thereby increasing the tank capacity without downsizing the article accommodating box (16).

Apparatus for pumping fluid into an underground well bore at a well site and being transportable between multiple well sites includes a chassis configured to be transportable between well sites, first and second fluid pumps disposed upon the chassis and configured to pump pressurized fluid into the well bore at the same time and an electric motor disposed upon the chassis and configured to concurrently drive both pumps.

A showerhead for a low flow rate may employ one or more of a showerhead housing, a showerhead engine, a flow restrictor and a flow regulation device. The showerhead engine may be moveably connected to the showerhead housing. The showerhead engine may include a back member, an intermediate member, and a front member defining various fluid chambers and apertures that allow for one or more spray modes. The showerhead may include a flow control device to selectively reduce flow to the showerhead engine. The flow control device may also be selectively pause fluid flow for more than one spray mode. The showerhead may include a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may limit a maximum fluid flow rate of a fluid delivered from the showerhead engine to approximately 1.5 gallons per minute.

A readily adjustable flow rate control device having a movable flow control member which includes a plurality of spaced-apart flow restrictors which are adapted to be selectively positioned intermediate a fluid flow path extending between a fluid supply line and a fluid delivery line. The flow restrictors can take the form of porous rate control frits which can be selectively moved into index with the fluid flow path or microbores formed in a rotatable member which can be rotated to selectively move the microbores into index with the fluid flow path.

A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. From the bulk supply, multi-compartment catalyst charging hoppers are individually filled in rapid and accurately measured fashion by mechanized filling equipment having a predetermined sequence of operation that ensures accuracy of volumetric catalyst measurement. The charging hoppers are used for delivery of measured volumes of catalyst of a reactor tube loading mechanism which may take the form of a mobile cart framework being selectively positionable relative to the upper tube sheet and reaction tubes of a catalytic reactor to be charged with catalyst pellets. A pair of electronic vibrators are mounted to the cart framework and provide for support and vibratory movement of a vibratory tray having a catalyst feed hopper adapted to feed catalyst pellets to a plurality of generally parallel catalyst transfer troughs along which catalyst pellets are moved by vibration of the vibratory tray to a plurality of drop tubes. A compartmented hopper is fixed to the vibratory tray and controllably feeds catalyst pellets into respective catalyst transfer troughs. A plurality of charging tubes are connected to respective drop tubes by a plurality of elongate flexible tubes and are maintained in fixed, spaced relation by a structural element so as to define a charging manifold for simultaneous, timed delivery of catalyst pellets into a plurality of reactor tubes. The charging manifold has locator pins which are inserted into selected reactor tubes for orienting the charging tubes of the charging manifold with respect to a selected group of reaction tubes. A system is also provided for raising and lowering the charging manifold for efficiency of reactor tube charging operations. An electronic control system is effective for controlling the vibrators to achieve even drop rate from each of the catalyst transfer troughs and to control the vibrators responsive to catalyst weight to achieve even catalyst drop rate during an entire catalyst charging cycle.

A carrier assembly for a compressed gas storage tank includes a first yoke defining a first concavity, and a second yoke defining a second concavity. The first and second concavities are sufficiently aligned such that a tank is at least partially containable within both the first and second concavities. In an exemplary embodiment, the first yoke also defines a third concavity and the second yoke defines a fourth concavity; the third and fourth concavities are sufficiently aligned such that another tank is at least partially containable therein. Preferably, at least one flexible strap retains the tanks with respect to the yokes.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to safely closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.

The present invention relates to portable hose reel carts for handling and storage of large lengths of flexible hoses, such as garden or air hoses. The cart is constructed of plastic and steel components having a centrally rotatable spool for winding of the flexible hose, a frame for supporting the spool, wheels at each end of the base of the frame, and a handle assembly attached to the frame to facilitate moving the cart. The crank handle assembly which may or may not be foldable for easy storage. The cart includes a large tray for storage and transport of garden supplies.

A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. A pair of electronic vibrators are mounted to the cart framework and provide for support and vibratory movement of a vibratory tray having a catalyst feed hopper adapted to feed catalyst pellets to a plurality of generally parallel catalyst transfer troughs along which catalyst pellets are moved by vibration of the vibratory tray to a plurality of drop tubes. A compartmented hopper is fixed to the vibratory tray and controllably feeds catalyst pellets into respective catalyst transfer troughs. A plurality of charging tubes are connected to respective drop tubes by a plurality of elongate flexible tubes and are maintained in fixed, spaced relation by a structural element so as to define a charging manifold for simultaneous, timed delivery of catalyst pellets into a plurality of reactor tubes. The charging manifold which can be raised and lowered has locator pins which are inserted into selected reactor tubes for orienting the charging tubes of the charging manifold with respect to a selected group of reaction tubes. An electronic control system controls the vibrators responsive to catalyst weight to achieve even catalyst drop rate during an entire catalyst charging cycle.

A self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus, which is adapted for commercial and / or home use as an alternative to traditional canned beverage service, is provided. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus is highly portable and of sufficient dimension to be positioned on a conventional airline beverage cart and stored in an aircraft's cargo storage compartment. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus can be selectively locked and secured with a mechanism that will indicate whether any pre-flight tampering has occurred. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus is further comprised of at least one beverage dispensing mechanism that can be extended from within the housing for use and later retracted for storage. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus can be used with beverage containers with mouths of varying sizes.

A motorcycle includes an integrated locking system. The locking system actuates a seat lock from the main switch as well as a handlebar or steering lock. The steering lock is structured such that an overlap of components results in a locking pin passage that extends into a locking pin chamber. The locking pin passage is substantially shielded by a labyrinth defined by overlapping components. The main switch is positioned forward of at least one gauge and a meter cover surrounds at least the gauge and the main switch as well as covers at least a portion of the fuel tank.

The methods and apparatus for transporting compressed gas includes a gas storage system having a plurality of pipes connected by a manifold whereby the gas storage system is designed to operate in the range of the optimum compressibility factor for a given composition of gas. The pipe for the gas storage system is preferably large diameter pipe made of a high strength material whereby a low temperature is selected which can be withstood by the material of the pipe. Knowing the compressibility factor of the gas, the temperature, and the diameter of the pipe, the wall thickness of the pipe is calculated for the pressure range of the gas at the selected temperature. The gas storage system may either be modular or be part of the structure of a vehicle for transporting the gas. The gas storage system further includes enclosing the pipes in an enclosure having a nitrogen atmosphere. A displacement fluid may be used to offload the gas from the gas storage system. A vehicle with the gas storage system designed for a particular composition gas produced at a given location is used to transport gas from that producing location to a receiving station miles from the producing location.

The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

The portable self-serve beer vending station has a hollow base in which at least two beer kegs are stored. A shelf of the unit is disposed above the base, two or more beer taps being disposed above the shelf to service each keg. A manifold tube extends from the kegs to the beer taps. Money machines, one on each side of the station, accept cash, credit, or debit. The money machine control wires are connected to control valves connected between the manifold outlets and the taps. Each money machine provides a touch screen selection menu or pushbuttons from which patrons can select either a pitcher or mug of beer at a set price. The station may be cylindrical, hexagonal, rectangular, semicircular, or the like. A surround shelf is provided for filling pitchers or mugs. An upper shelf is provided for holding fresh pitchers or mugs.

A modular, environmentally friendly mobile fuel distribution station includes a fuel tank, a support structure having a plurality of legs for supporting an operation platform in an elevated position a predetermined distance above ground, an alternative power generation device, the alternative power generation device being one of a solar power generator and a wind power generator for providing primary power to the mobile fuel distribution station and a central platform operatively connected to at least two of the legs, the at least two of the legs bearing the weight of the central platform, wherein the fuel tank and the alternative power generation device are disposed on the operation platform.