Liquid tank

Abstract

A tank, in particular for liquids, is described, which comprises a main tank body with a base and a plurality of walls rising from said base and a tank fastening system for connecting said main body to a bearing surface of the tank with which the tank base engages, the fastening system comprising at least one seat arranged on said plurality of walls and configured to engage a first portion of a fastening bracket, said fastening bracket comprising a second portion provided with connection means for connecting the bracket with said bearing surface, so that the tank is kept connected to the bearing surface following the connection of the bracket with the bearing surface, said at least one seat having a predominant longitudinal extension which is greater than the corresponding extension of said first bracket portion intended to engage with said at least one seat,such that said stirrup can be applied to the tank in a plurality of positions relative to the tank. Figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Reservoir for liquids

[0001] The present invention relates to a reservoir for liquids, in particular a reservoir for storing water.

[0002] The invention finds a preferred, although not exclusive, application in the field of water tanks designed for the motorhome or nautical sector in general, as well as for special vehicles.

[0003] An example of a preferred application of the invention is that of tanks for loading clean water provided on boats or recreational vehicles, such as camper vans or caravans, that is to say tanks intended to constitute the water reserve for the uses intended inside the living and / or functional rooms created on these vehicles, including special vehicles.

[0004] In these applications, it is well known that the tank must be anchored either to the ground or to the wall or to another suitable support surface of the tank, generally by means of fixing brackets or by means of bands or belts capable of stably blocking the tank.

[0005] Normally, however, the spaces dedicated to the reception of tanks of this type are rather limited, due to the reduced space of the rooms where they are intended to be placed; consequently the locking or unlocking of the tank may not prove particularly practical and easy both during installation and subsequent maintenance.

[0006] Furthermore, in the case where the tank provides predefined anchoring points or areas, for example, at specific profiles provided in the tank to cooperate with corresponding fixing brackets or straps, the anchoring of the tank may be prevented, or in any case made more inconvenient, due to the interference with other structural parts present in the normally very reduced spaces in which the tank is housed.

[0007] A main objective of the invention is to provide a tank comprising a fastening system structurally and functionally designed to overcome the limitations highlighted with reference to the mentioned known technique, in particular configured to make locking and unlocking of the tank easier and more practical, while ensuring a stability of fastening of the tank equal to or greater than that of the known fastening systems.

[0008] This objective and others which will become clear hereinafter are achieved by the invention by means of a reservoir produced in accordance with what is specified below.

[0009] According to one aspect, the invention relates to a reservoir, in particular for liquids.

[0010] Preferably, the tank comprises a main tank body with a base and a plurality of walls extending from said base and a tank attachment system for connecting said main body to a bearing surface of the tank with which the base of the tank is capable of contacting.

[0011] Preferably, said fixing system comprises at least one seat arranged on said several walls and configured to engage with a first part of a fixing bracket.

[0012] Preferably, said fixing bracket comprises a second part provided with connection means for connecting the bracket with said bearing surface, so that the tank is kept connected to the bearing surface following the connection of the bracket with the bearing surface.

[0013] Preferably, said at least one seat has a predominant longitudinal extension which is greater than the corresponding extension of said first stirrup portion intended to engage with said at least one seat, so that said stirrup can be applied to the tank in a plurality of positions relative to the tank.

[0014] Preferably, said at least one seat comprises a channel-shaped groove which extends continuously along the corresponding wall of the tank.

[0015] Preferably, said channel-shaped groove extends with a uniform cross-section.

[0016] Preferably, said cross-section is “C” shaped.

[0017] Preferably, said at least one seat extends inside the volume of the tank. delimited by the walls thereof, without protruding externally from the outcrop of the wall on which said seat is placed.

[0018] Preferably, the main body of said reservoir has a parallelepiped conformation and the length of said at least one seat extends parallel to a horizontal longitudinal edge defined between the base and the vertical wall carrying said seat.

[0019] Preferably, at least two contiguous vertical walls of the tank are each provided with a respective seat, each seat being configured to engage one or more fixing brackets.

[0020] Preferably, all of the vertical walls of the tank are each provided with a respective seat, each seat being configured to engage with one or more fixing brackets.

[0021] Preferably, the fixing bracket which can be applied to the tank has a “Z” shape.

[0022] Preferably, said at least one seat is configured to allow the application of one or more of said fixing stirrups, which can be applied at any point of the seat along its longitudinal extension.

[0023] Preferably, said first portion and second portion of the fixing bracket are connected to a web of said bracket and extend from respective ends of said web in opposite directions.

[0024] Preferably, said first stirrup portion extends from said undercut web, the angle between said first portion and said web being less than 90°.

[0025] Preferably, said fixing bracket has an elastomer coating arranged at least at one surface of the first part of the bracket intended to be in contact with said at least one seat, when the fixing bracket is applied to the tank.

[0026] Preferably, said elastomer coating is further arranged on a respective surface of the second stirrup part intended to be in contact with the support surface of the tank.

[0027] Preferably, said elastomer coating is applied to the fixing bracket by overmolding.

[0028] Preferably, said fixing bracket is made of plastic material.

[0029] Preferably, said at least one seat is obtained in the tank by means of rotational molding technology.

[0030] Preferably, the reservoir is made of plastic.

[0031] Preferably, the connection means provided on the second part of the stirrup fixing means comprise one or more through openings configured for engagement of respective screw fasteners. Brief description of the figures

[0032] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better highlighted by the following detailed description of its preferred example of implementation, illustrated, for informational and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the attached drawings among which:

[0033] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of an example of a tank produced in accordance with the invention,

[0034] [Fig.2] is a perspective view, on a larger scale and in partial section, of the reservoir of [Fig.l],

[0035] [Fig.3], [Fig.4] and [Fig.5] are perspective views of a detail of the tank fixing system of the preceding figures,

[0036] [Fig.6] is a side elevational view of the detail of Figures 3 to 5,

[0037] [Fig.7] and [Fig.8] are respectively front and rear elevation views of the detail of Figures 3 to 5,

[0038] [Fig.9] is a plan view of the detail of Figures 3 to 5.

[0039] With reference to the figures cited, 1 generally designates an example of reservoir for liquids, produced in accordance with the present invention.

[0040] The tank described in this example is particularly intended for loading clear water when used on recreational vehicles, such as camper vans or caravans, but it is equally suitable for use in other fields, for example in the nautical field or in fields not purely for vehicles.

[0041] The tank 1 comprises a main body 2 of parallelepiped shape with a base 3 from which rise a first pair of opposite side walls 4 and a second pair of side walls 5.

[0042] On the side vertically opposite the base 3, the tank 1 comprises a top wall 6 in which is arranged a filling neck 7 which can be closed by means of a cap 8.

[0043] 9 denotes the longitudinal horizontal edges defined between each side wall 5 and the base 3, which have a longitudinal extension greater than that of the corresponding edges of the walls 4.

[0044] By the term "horizontal" is meant in the present context an orientation directed perpendicular to the vertical direction of the force of gravity.

[0045] The tank 1 is shaped so that the base 3 is intended for contact with a support surface 10, which is only partially shown in [Fig.l], and the tank 1 comprises a fixing system with which the tank is blocked on the support surface 10.

[0046] The surface 10 may be constituted by the floor of a room in which the tank is placed or by a support frame on which the tank is arranged or by any other structure suitable for supporting the tank.

[0047] The fixing system comprises a first seat 12 arranged on one of the walls 5 and a second seat, also designated by 12, arranged on one of the walls 3.

[0048] Only one of the seats 12, the one arranged in the wall 5, will be described in detail below, due to their substantial similarity, the only perceptible difference being their different longitudinal extension.

[0049] Each seat 12 is made in the form of a channel-shaped groove which extends in the direction of longitudinal extension with a constant and preferably “C”-shaped cross-section.

[0050] The seat 12 extends in the corresponding wall 5 over a major part of the longitudinal extension of the wall and develops parallel to the edge 9 defined between the base 3 and the wall 5. At its opposite longitudinal ends, the seat 12 is laterally closed.

[0051] The seat 12 further extends towards the interior of the volume of the tank, this volume being delimited by the base and the walls of the tank, without however protruding externally from the flush of the wall 5 on which said seat is arranged.

[0052] Each seat 12 is configured to engage with a first plate-shaped portion 15 of a fixing bracket 16.

[0053] Said stirrup 16 is also provided with a second plate-shaped portion 17 having connection means for connecting the support to the surface 10, said connection means comprising a pair of slot-shaped through-openings 18, configured to engage with respective screw fixing members (not shown).

[0054] The stirrup 16 preferably has a “Z” shape and comprises a central core 19 to the opposite axial ends of which the respective first and second parts 15, 17 are connected. Said parts 15, 17 extend from the respective and opposite ends of the core 19 in opposite directions, so as to give the fixing stirrup 16 the “Z” shape recalled above.

[0055] The seat 12 extends longitudinally in the corresponding side wall of the tank continuously and has a longitudinal extension much greater than the corresponding extension of the first stirrup portion 15 intended to engage with the cavity of the seat, so that the stirrup can be applied to the tank in a plurality of positions relative to the tank.

[0056] As clearly shown in [Fig.l], one or more fixing stirrups can be applied in the seat 12 and each stirrup can be positioned at any point along the longitudinal development of the seat.

[0057] Thanks to this characteristic of the invention, the number of anchors can therefore vary, for example depending on specific installation needs, such as obstacles, the dimensions of the tank and / or varied needs.

[0058] The positioning of the anchors can also be carried out at any point of the attachment seat, always in order to facilitate the fixing in the presence of possible obstacles, obstructions or interferences, the dimensions of the tank and / or on the basis of various needs, for example relating to the installations.

[0059] The flexibility and versatility of this fixing system also facilitate the disassembly of the tank during ordinary and extraordinary maintenance operations, namely when modifying the hydraulic connections or for the possible intervention of total replacement of the tank and / or maintenance.

[0060] The presence of seats 12 arranged on contiguous side walls of the tank can further facilitate the anchoring of the tank against the support surface, making it possible to obtain blocking the tank and counteracting its movements in different directions.

[0061] To improve the locking action, in each stirrup 12 the first part 15 extends from the web 19 with an undercut, for example making an angle between the first stirrup part 15 and the web 19 of a value slightly less than 90°, as is clear from [Fig.6].

[0062] To further improve the locking action, an elastomer coating 20 is provided on the fixing bracket 16, arranged on the surfaces of the first bracket part 15, the core 19 and the second bracket part 17, which are intended to come into contact respectively with the cavity of the seat, with the side wall of the tank and with the bearing surface when the bracket is applied to the tank. The use of an elastomer, or in any case a refill of softer rubber, makes it possible to improve the damping and gripping function more safely and effectively in the areas of relative contact, so as to improve the action of fixing the tank to the bearing surface.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the elastomer coating 20 is applied to the fixing bracket 16 by overmolding.

[0064] In one embodiment, the fixing bracket 12 is made of plastic material and the elastomer or rubber coating is overmolded onto said plastic material.

[0065] In one embodiment, the seats 12 are obtained in one piece with the main body 2 of the tank, for example by means of rotational molding technology.

[0066] The reservoir 1 is also preferably made of a plastic material and, in the case where it is intended, as in the example described here, to contain clear water, said plastic material is chosen from plastic materials intended for food-type uses, a preferred choice being, for example, food-grade polyethylene.

[0067] It is advantageous that both the tank and the mounting brackets are made from recyclable materials.

[0068] The invention thus achieves the pre-set objectives by obtaining the stated advantages compared to known solutions.

Claims

Claims

1. Tank (1), in particular for liquids, which comprises a main body (2) of the tank (1) with a base (3) and a plurality of walls rising from said base (3) and a tank (1) fastening system for connecting said main body (2) to a bearing surface (10) of the tank (1) with which the base (3) of the tank (1) is capable of being in contact, said fastening system comprising at least one seat (12) arranged on said plurality of walls and configured to engage with a first portion (15) of a fastening bracket (16), said fastening bracket (16) comprising a second portion (17) provided with connection means for connecting the bracket (16) with said bearing surface (10), so that the tank (1) is kept connected to the bearing surface (10) following the connection of the bracket (16) with the bearing surface (10),said at least one seat (12) having a predominant longitudinal extension which is greater than the corresponding extension of said first part (15) of stirrup (16) intended to engage with said at least one seat (12), so that said stirrup (16) can be applied to the tank (1) in a plurality of positions relative to the tank (1).,

2. Tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one seat (12) comprises a channel-shaped groove which extends continuously along the corresponding wall of the tank (1).

3. A tank (1) according to claim 2, wherein said channel-shaped groove extends with a uniform cross-section.

4. A tank (1) according to claim 3, wherein said cross-section is "C" shaped.

5. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one seat (12) extends inside the volume of the tank (1) delimited by the walls thereof, without protruding externally from the flush of the wall on which said seat (12) is arranged.

6. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (2) of said tank (1) has a parallelepiped conformation and the length of said at least one seat (12) extends parallel to a horizontal longitudinal edge defined between the base (3) and the vertical wall carrying said seat (12).

7. Tank (1) according to claim 6, wherein at least two contiguous vertical walls of the tank (1) are each provided with a respective seat (12), each seat (12) being configured to engage with one or more fixing brackets (16).

8. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fixing bracket (16) which can be applied to the tank (1) has a “Z” shape.

9. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one seat (12) is configured to allow the application of one or more of said fixing stirrups (16), which can be applied at any point of the seat (12) along its longitudinal extension.

10. A tank (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said first portion (15) and second portion (17) of the fixing bracket (16) are connected to a web (19) of said bracket (16) and extend from respective ends of said web (19) in opposite directions.

11. Tank (1) according to claim 10, wherein said first portion (15) of stirrup (16) extends from said core (19) in an undercut, the angle between said first portion (15) and said core (19) being less than 90°.

12. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fixing bracket (16) has an elastomer coating (20) arranged at least at one surface of the first part (15) of the bracket (16) intended to be in contact with said at least one seat (12), when the fixing bracket (16) is applied to the tank (1).

13. Tank (1) according to claim 12, wherein said elastomer coating (20) is further arranged on a respective surface of the second part (17) of stirrup (16) intended to be in contact with the support surface (10) of the tank (1).

14. Tank (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said elastomer coating (20) is applied to the fixing bracket (16) by overmolding.

15. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fixing bracket (16) is made of plastic material.

16. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one seat (12) is obtained in one piece with the tank (1) by means of rotational molding technology.

17. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, made of plastic material.

18. Tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connection means provided on the second part (17) of the fixing bracket (16) comprise one or more through openings (18) configured for the engagement of respective screw fixing members.

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