Improved tank for a rescue vehicle and rescue vehicle equipped with such tank

Abstract

Tank (7) for a rescue vehicle, in particular for a fire-fighting vehicle, the tank (7) comprises a first internally hollow housing (9), which extends along a first reference axis (A) and defines a first inner space (10) configured to store a liquid, and at least one body (18), separate and distinct from said internally hollow housing (9), which is arranged within said first inner space (10) and is fixed to said first internally hollow housing (9) in a removable manner.

Description

[0001] " IMPROVED TANK FOR A RESCUE VEHICLE AND RESCUE VEHICLE

[0002] EQUIPPED WITH SUCH TANK"

[0003] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0004] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102024000020020 fi led on September 9 , 2024 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0005] Technical Field

[0006] The present invention is related to a tank for a rescue vehicle , in particular for a firef ighting vehicle such as a fire truck, and to a rescue vehicle equipped with such tank .

[0007] Reference will be made to this application by way of example below, without however losing in generality .

[0008] Background of the Invention

[0009] As is known, rescue vehicles may be equipped with a tank for storing operational liquid that need to be used in rescue operations . An example of such rescue vehicle is a firefighting vehicle , into which water is mixed with a foaming agent to prepare a fire extinguishing solution for use in firefighting .

[0010] Generally, such tanks are provided with inner baf fles or bulkheads , which separates the inner space of the tank in smaller compartments and prevent excessive swaying of the liquid contained within the tank during the rescue vehicle acceleration, braking or cornering . This improves the rescue vehicle dynamics , as it avoids movement of the centre of gravity of the whole vehicle .

[0011] The aforementioned inner baf fles or bulkheads usually comprise flat walls , which are usually fixed to the inner walls of the tank by means of welding or gluing and may be provided with openings to allow fluid communication between the compartments defined within the tank .

[0012] Similar examples are disclosed in documents US2021 / 0039879 Al and EP0755285 Bl , which describe tanks for transporting liquids provided with inner baf fles fixed to the inner walls of the tank in a fixed manner .

[0013] In addition, CN113844782A disclose a container for cylindrical goods provided with a li fting platform configured to carry the cylindrical goods .

[0014] Unfortunately, the operation of fixing, by means of welding and / or gluing, the aforementioned inner baf fles or bulkheads to the inner walls of the tank is really expensive and tank consuming, and therefore it adversely af fects the production time and the resulting costs of the rescue vehicle tank .

[0015] In view of the above , the need is felt to provide a tank for a rescue vehicle that is simple and inexpensive to produce .

[0016] An aim of the present invention is to satis fy the above- mentioned needs in a cost ef fective and optimi zed manner .

[0017] Summary of the Invention

[0018] The aforementioned aim is reached by a tank and by a rescue vehicle as claimed in the appended independent claims . Preferred embodiments of the invention are reali zed according to the claims depending on the independent claims .

[0019] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example , with reference to the attached drawings wherein :

[0021] • Figures 1 to 5 are perspective illustrations of a tank for a rescue vehicle reali zed according to the present invention, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity .

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023] The present invention generally refers to a tank for a rescue vehicle (not illustrated) such as a firefighting vehicle , in particular a fire truck .

[0024] As per se known, the rescue vehicle comprises a body (not illustrated) movable on the ground by means of ground resting means (not illustrated) , in particular wheels .

[0025] In addition, the rescue vehicle comprises an engine or motor (not illustrated) , preferably an internal combustion engine , configured to provide torque to ground resting means to allow motion of body on the ground .

[0026] The rescue vehicle may further comprise a water supply assembly (not il lustrated) configured to be able to store water and to be fluidly connected to a public water supply .

[0027] As per se known and therefore not described in detail , water supply assembly comprises an inlet hydraulic coupling (not visible ) configured to be fluidly connected to a source of water, such as a public water supply, a reservoir or natural sources o f water such as a river or a lake , to allow to suck water therefrom .

[0028] In addition, water supply assembly comprises at least one tank 7 configured to store the water sucked from said source of water .

[0029] Moreover, the water supply assembly comprises pump means (not visible ) , which are fluidly connected to the tank 7 and to a, e . g . an opening configured to be connected to ej ector means such as a noz zle , and are configured to suck a fire extinguishing solution from the tank 7 and / or from said source of water and to provide towards said hydraulic output a pressuri zed flow of the fire extinguishing solution .

[0030] The fire extinguishing solution contained in tank 7 comprises the water sucked from said source of water and possibly foaming agents , as per se known .

[0031] With reference to the example illustrated, tank 7 preferably compri ses an internally hollow casing or housing 9 , which extends along a reference axis A and defines an inner space 10 configured to store a liquid, in particular water or any other similar fire extinguishing solution .

[0032] In addition, tank 7 may be reali zed in GRP ( glass reinforced plastic ) or fibreglass . Alternatively, tank 7 may be reali zed in metal material such as steel , stainless steel or in suitable polymeric material , for example polypropylene .

[0033] Tank 7 is further provided with a through opening 12 that allow to put the inner space 10 in communication with the outer space .

[0034] Through opening 12 is preferably separate and distinct from the hydraulic connections (not shown) of tank 7 employed in tank filling and emptying operations .

[0035] With reference to the example of Figure 1 , housing 9 is preferably substantially parallelepiped in shape , advantageously rectangle parallelepiped in shape .

[0036] Preferably, housing 9 has a length £i along reference axis A, and a width wi and a height hi orthogonally to each other and orthogonally to reference axis A.

[0037] More in detail , housing 9 preferably comprises a bottom wall 13 , a top wall 14 and a plurality of lateral walls 15 configured to delimit the inner space 10 .

[0038] Preferably, bottom wall 13 , top wall 14 and lateral walls 15 are seamlessly connected to each other so as to delimit the inner space 10 in a fluid tight manner .

[0039] In particular, bottom wall 13 and top wall 14 are preferably planar and they are arranged one spaced and parallel to the other . Preferably, bottom wall 13 and top wall 14 have a plate-like structure . In addition, bottom wall 13 and top wall 14 are preferably substantially rectangular in shape .

[0040] In use , bottom wall 13 and top wall 14 are preferably parallel to reference axis A and substantially hori zontal . Lateral walls 15 , on the other hand, in use are preferably arranged substantially vertically . In addition, opening 12 is preferably reali zed on top wall 14 .

[0041] With reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , hous ing 9 preferably comprises a pair of minor lateral walls 15a arranged transversely to reference axis A and one spaced and parallel to the other . Preferably, minor lateral walls 15a are spaced to each other by the length fi .

[0042] In addition, housing 9 preferably comprises a pair of maj or lateral wal ls 15b arranged parallel to reference axis A and one spaced and parallel to the other . Preferably, maj or lateral walls 15b are spaced to each other by width wl .

[0043] With reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , tank 7 is preferably provided with one or more bodies or containers 18 , separate and distinct from housing 9 , which are arranged within the inner space 10 defined by housing 9 .

[0044] With reference to Figure 2 , in use bodies 18 are adapted to be arranged within housing 9 in order to divide inner space 10 in a plurality of compartments 11 each configured to contain part of liquid present within tank 7 , in order to avoid swaying of such liquid for the entire inner space 10 during rescue vehicle acceleration, deceleration or cornering .

[0045] More in detail , the one or more bodies 19 are preferably arranged within tank 7 so as to occupies substantially the entire cross section of inner space 10 transversely to reference axis A and separate the inner space 10 in the compartments 11 .

[0046] In addition, bodies 18 may be shaped so as compartments 11 are fluidly connected to each other .

[0047] In other words , bodies 18 may be shaped so as that , once stacked on top of each other , channels or openings are defined that fluidly connect the compartments 11 .

[0048] Preferably, body 18 is fixed to tank 7 within inner space 10 in a removable manner .

[0049] In particular, body 18 is preferably fixed in a removable manner within inner space 10 to at least one wall of housing 9 .

[0050] In other words , body 18 is preferably fixed in a removable manner within inner space 10 to at least one between bottom wall 13, top wall 14 or lateral walls 15.

[0051] With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 2 to 6, body 18 is preferably fixed at least to one lateral wall 15, in particular to one major lateral wall 15b.

[0052] In addition, body 18 is preferably fixed to housing 9 by means of a form fit.

[0053] Alternatively or in addition, body 18 may be fixed to housing 9 by means of force-fit or positive-locking fit, and / or body 18 may be fixed to housing 9 by means of fastening means such as bolts, screws, nuts, latches, clamps, or the like .

[0054] In addition, body 18 is fixed to housing 9 in a fixed position .

[0055] Body 18 may be preferably realized in polymeric material, material and / or similar materials.

[0056] More in detail, body 18 is preferably realized in polymeric material by means of a moulding process, in particular a rotational moulding process.

[0057] Preferably, body 18 is internally hollow. More in detail, body 18 preferably comprises a housing 19, which extends along a reference axis B and defines an inner space 20 with a discrete volume.

[0058] In addition, housing 19 has preferably a cross-section transversely to reference axis B greater than 5% of the cross section of housing 9 of tank 7 transversely to reference axis A.

[0059] In particular, the thickness of body 18 transversely to housing 19 is preferably greater than 5 centimetres .

[0060] In use , body 18 is preferably fixed within housing 9 of tank 7 so that re ference axis B is arranged orthogonally to reference axis A.

[0061] In addition, body 18 is preferably provided with at least a pair of through openings 22 adapted to put the inner space 20 of body 18 in fluid communication with the inner space 10 of tank 7 , so that the liquid contained in tank 7 may enter within and exit from body 18 .

[0062] With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 1 , in addition body 18 is preferably substantially oblong in shape . More in detail , body 18 is preferably substantially parallelepiped in shape , advantageously substantially rectangle parallelepiped in shape .

[0063] Preferably, the length IT. of housing 20 of body 18 along reference axis B approximates by defect the width wi of housing 9 , so that the two axial ends of housing 20 are arranged skimming the lateral walls 15 , in particular the maj or lateral walls 15b, of housing 9 when body 18 is housed within tank 7 .

[0064] In addition, body 18 is preferably si zed and shaped so as to be insertable within inner space 10 of tank 7 through opening 12 .

[0065] More in detail , the cross-section of body 18 transversely to reference axis B is preferably smaller to the si ze of opening 12 , in order to allow body 18 to enter within inner space 10 through opening 12 .

[0066] With reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , housing 10 preferably comprises a bottom wall 24 , a top wall 25 and a plurality of lateral walls 26 configured to delimit the inner space 19 .

[0067] Preferably, bottom wall 24 , top wall 25 and lateral walls 26 are seamlessly connected to each other so as to delimit the inner space 20 in a fluid tight manner .

[0068] In use , bottom wall 24 and top wall 25 are preferably parallel to reference axis B and substantially hori zontal . Lateral walls 26 , on the other hand, in use are preferably arranged substantially vertically .

[0069] In addition, a first one of openings 22 is preferably reali zed on top wall 25 and a second one of openings 22 is preferably reali zed on bottom wall 24 .

[0070] With reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , hous ing 19 preferably comprises a pair of minor lateral walls 26a arranged transversely to reference axis B and one spaced and parallel to the other .

[0071] In addition, housing 19 preferably comprises a pair of maj or lateral wal ls 26b arranged parallel to reference axis B and one spaced and parallel to the other .

[0072] With reference to the example of Figure 2 , at least one lateral wall 26 of body 18 is preferably coupled with a lateral wall 15 of tank 7 , advantageously by form- fit .

[0073] More in detail , at least one minor lateral wall 26a of body 18 is preferably coupled with a corresponding maj or lateral wall 15b of tank 7 .

[0074] In particular, both minor lateral walls 26a of body 18 are preferably coupled with the corresponding maj or lateral walls 15b of tank 7 .

[0075] With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 2 , one between tank 7 and body 18 is preferably provided with a proj ecting part 30 and the other one between tank 7 and body 18 is preferably provided with a complementary shaped recessed part 32 , to allow the shape matching between these latter .

[0076] In other words , proj ecting part 30 and complementary shaped recessed part 32 in use are adapted to engage with each other to allow coupling between tank 7 and body 18 .

[0077] More in detail , tank 7 is preferably provided with the proj ecting part 30 and body 18 is preferably provided with the complementary shaped recessed part 32 .

[0078] With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 2 , proj ecting part 30 preferably comprises a bulge or rib 33 , which originates from a lateral wall 15 of housing 9 and extends cantilevered toward inner space 10 .

[0079] More in detail , bulge or rib 33 preferably originates from a maj or lateral wall 15b, and preferably extends transversally to reference axis A and parallel to height h, i . e . along a vertical direction .

[0080] Preferably, bulge or rib 33 extends substantially rectilinear along the entire height h of housing 9 , advantageously seamlessly .

[0081] In addition, tank 7 is preferably provided with a plurality of proj ecting parts 30 , in particular a plurality of bulges or ribs 33 , which are spaced on lateral wall 15 along reference axis A.

[0082] More in detail , proj ecting parts 30 are preferably equally spaced to each other along reference axis A.

[0083] With reference to the example illustrated in Figure 1 , recessed part 32 preferably comprises a groove part 34 reali zed on body 18 , which in use is adapted to be engaged by a respective bulge or rib 33 of tank 7 .

[0084] More in detail , groove part 34 has preferably a shape complementary to the shape of bulge or rib 33 on tank 7 .

[0085] Preferably, groove part 34 extends substantially rectilinear along the entire height of housing 19 of body 18 , advantageously seamlessly .

[0086] With reference to the examples illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 , tank 7 may house a plurality of bodies 18 stacked on top of the other, such that these latter form a stack that occupies substantially the entire cross section of inner space 10 transversely to reference axis A and separates the inner space 10 in the compartments 11 .

[0087] More in detail , tank 7 may house a plurality of bodies 18 stacked on top of the other so as to form a plurality of stacks spaced along reference axis A, to define a corresponding number of compartments 11 within inner space 10 .

[0088] The operation of tank 7 according to the invention and described as above is the following .

[0089] In use , a plurality of bodies 18 are inserted through opening 12 within inner space 10 of tank 7 and are coupled in a removable manner to the walls of the same tank 7 .

[0090] More in detail , the recessed part 32 of bodies 18 is coupled with the proj ecting part 30 of tank 7 .

[0091] In addition, bodies 18 are arranged within inner space 10 in order to form one or more stack that occupy substantially the entire cross section of inner space 10 transversally to reference axis A and to divide inner space 10 of tank 7 in a plurality of compartments 11 .

[0092] In use , bodies 18 constraint the liquid contained in each compartment 11 to remain within the same compartment 11 and limit the swaying of the same liquid within inner space 10 during rescue vehicle acceleration, braking or cornering, thereby improving the rescue vehicle dynamic .

[0093] In addition, in use , bodies 18 allows the liquid contained in tank 7 to enter within housing 19 via through opening 22 , to avoid reduction of the useful volume of tank 7 .

[0094] In other words , bodies 18 acts like the bulkheads of inner baf fles .

[0095] In view of the foregoing, the advantages of a tank 7 to the related rescue vehicle according to the invention are apparent .

[0096] In particular, the assembly method of the bodies 18 within tank 7 is very fast and easy, thereby greatly simpli fies the production of tank 7 and reduces the associated costs . Indeed, the assembly method of the bodies 18 within tank 7 simply require inserting the same bodies 18 within housing 9 via through opening 12 and to couple these latter with the walls of housing 9 by form- fit , without requiring any gluing or welding operation .

[0097] In addition, since bodies 18 are coupled to tank 7 in a reversible manner , i f necessary they may be easily removed . This for example greatly simpli fies the cleaning operation of tank 7 .

[0098] In addition, the presence of through opening 22 on bodies 18 allows the liquid contained by tank 7 to enter within the same bodies 18 . This avoid reduction in the use ful volume of tank 7 and moreover avoids generation of buoyancies of the empty bodies 18 once tank 7 is filled with liquid, with the obvious advantages that this entails .

[0099] In addition, since bodies 18 may contain liquid, and may themselves define a compartment containing liquid separating two adj acent compartments 11 , the number of breakwater component with respect to the conventional solution provided with inner baf fles or bulkheads may be reduced . In particular, each maj or lateral wall 26b acts as a single baf fle or bulkhead .

[0100] It is clear that modi fications can be made to the described tank 7 which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims .

[0101] The design and shape of bodies 18 , and also the number of bodies 18 inserted within tank! may vary according to the typology and dimension of the rescue vehicle .

[0102] In addition, Figures 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which is similar to the embodiment il lustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3 and in which the common components will be denoted with the same reference number .

[0103] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 , di f ferently from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , 2 and 3 , tank 7 may be provided with one or more bodies 118 , which are similar to body 18 and are not provided with openings 22 , to avoid fluid communication between the inner space 20 of bodies 118 and the inner space 10 of tank 7 .

[0104] In addition, the position of bodies 118 within tank 7 may be freely defined according to the weight distribution desired for tank 7 and for the associated rescue vehicle 1 .

[0105] Moreover, body 118 allows to reduce the useful volume of tank 7 . This , for example , may allow the manufacturer of the rescue vehicle to meet legal requirements for rescue vehicles , which require the same vehicle to travel on the road with a full tank but at the same time not to exceed a maximum gross weight , without modi fying the structure or shape of tank 7 but simply adding or removing bodies 118 from tank 7 .

[0106] In addition, Figures 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which is similar to the embodiment il lustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3 and in which the common components will be denoted with the same reference number .

[0107] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 , the water supply system may further comprise a second tank 200 , separate and distinct from tank 7 . Second tank 200 , for example , may be adapted to contain a foaming agent adapted to be mixed with the water contained in tank 7 to prepare a fire-extinguishing liquid for use in fire- fighting operations . As illustrated in Figure 5 , tank 200 may be lodged within tank 7 and body 18 and / or body 118 may also be employed as support for second tank 200 .

[0108] In other words , body 18 or 118 may be fixed within tank 7 and tank 200 may be arranged resting on body 18 or 118 .

Claims

CLAIMS1.- Tank (7) for a rescue vehicle, in particular for a fire-fighting vehicle, said tank (7) comprising:• a first internally hollow housing (9) , which extends along a first reference axis (A) and defines a first inner space (10) configured to store a liquid, and• at least one body (18) , separate and distinct from said internally hollow housing (9) , which is arranged within said first inner space (10) and is fixed to said first internally hollow housing (9) in a removable manner said tank (7) comprising a plurality of said bodies (18) arranged within the first internally hollow housing (9) of said tank (7) so as to divide said first inner space (10) in a plurality of compartments (11) each configured to contain part of liquid contained within said first inner space (10) , characterized in that said bodies (18) are fixed to said first internally hollow housing (9) by means of a form fit.2.- Tank according to claim 1, wherein said bodies (10) are arranged within said first internally hollow housing (9) one stacked on top of the other so as to occupy substantially the entire cross-section of said first internally hollow housing (9) transversally to said first reference axis (A) .3.- Tank according to any of the preceding claims,wherein said body (18) comprises a second internally hollow housing (19) , which extends along a second reference axis (B) and defines a second inner space (20) , said body being arranged within said first internal hollow housing so that said second reference axis (B) is arranged orthogonally to said first reference axis (A) .4.- Tank according to claim 3, wherein said second internally hollow housing (19) comprises at least two first through openings (22) adapted to put said second inner space (20) in fluid communication with said first inner space (10) .5.- Tank according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a second through opening (12) adapted to put said first inner space (10) in communication with the environment, the cross-section of said second housing (19) transversally to said second reference axis (B) being smaller than said second through opening (12) to allow insertion of said body (18) within said first inner space (10) through said second through opening (12) .6.- Tank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one between said tank (7) and said body (18) is provided with a projecting part (30) and the other one between said tank (7) and said body (18) is provided with a recessed part (32) having a shape complementary to said projecting part (30) , to allow the shape matching between these latter.7 Tank according to claim 6, wherein said first housing (9) comprises a bottom wall (13) , a top wall (14) and a plurality of lateral walls (15) configured to delimit said first inner space (10) , said projecting part (30) extending cantilevered from one of said lateral walls (15) within said first inner space (10) .8.- Tank according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of said projecting parts (30) spaced to each other on said lateral wall (15) along said first reference axis (A) .9.- Tank according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said projecting part (30) comprises a bulge or rib (33) , which originates from said first internally hollow housing (9) and extends cantilevered within said first inner space (10) .10.- Tank according to claim 9, wherein said bulge or rib (33) extends substantially seamlessly on said lateral wall (15) transversally to said first reference axis (A) for the entire height (h) of said first housing (9) .11.- Tank according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein said recessed part (32) comprises a groove part (34) realized on said body (18) and adapted to be engaged by said projecting part (30) .12.- Tank according to claim 11, wherein said groove part (34) extends substantially seamlessly transversally to said second reference axis (B) for the entire height of saidsecond housing (19) .13.- Rescue vehicle comprising:• a body movable on the ground by means of ground resting means, and • a tank (7) realized according to any of the preceding claims .

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