Portable double-walled fuel tank

Abstract

A double-walled tank for the transport of fluid, the tank includes a rigid fluid impervious substantially cylindrical inner container concentrically nested within a rigid correspondingly substantially cylindrical outer container, the inner and outer containers having end walls sealing the containers. A grapple mount is mounted to an upper side of an outer surface of the outer container at a substantially medial position substantially medially along the outer container. A lower side of the outer container, opposite the upper side, is reinforced. The grapple mount may include a rigid plate mounted atop the upper side of the outer container at the medial position. An anti-surge baffle is mounted across, so as to extend between and into engagement with, an upper side of the inner container adjacent the baffle mount and a lower side of the inner container adjacent the reinforced lower side of the outer container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a double-walled fuel tank, which is constructed so as to be readily transportable over rough terrain to a remote timber-harvesting site or re-locatable on such a site by log handling equipment such as, for example, a grapple machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Timber harvesting is generally carried out at sites which are initially remote and accessible only by very rough skid roads. Harvesting equipment such as feller-bunchers and grapple skidders are utilized in transporting cut logs and whole trees from even more remote and inaccessible locations to the skid roads. Such harvesting equipment, by way of example, and other equipment used generally in this timber-harvesting environment, need to be supplied with an adequate supply of fuel for their continuous and efficient operation. [0003] Presently, small quantities of fuel are carried in tanks of limited fuel capacity by four-wheel-drive trucks or the like to a remote t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The inner fuel tank may have an internal anti-surge baffle mounted medially of the fore and aft ends of the receptacle, which inhibits imbalance due to fluid movement during transportation.

[0021] (g) An internal anti-surge baffle is provided medially of the fore and aft ends of the fuel-receptacle to structurally reinforce the tank where it is gripped by a grapple while being carried, the baffle having upper and lower apertures or cut-outs which inhibit surging, for example due to a pressure differential on either side of the baffle, and which allows substantially unrestricted flow of liquid during pumping of liquid from the tank.

Problems solved by technology

Presently, small quantities of fuel are carried in tanks of limited fuel capacity by four-wheel-drive trucks or the like to a remote timber-harvesting site.

Generally, the cutting and harvesting of timber and the movement of associated equipment will produce a terrain unsuitable for travel by any vehicle other than articulated, high ground clearance grapple skidders or the like.

Images