Sludge Vacuum Tanker With Extendable Subframe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid transporting vehicles, such as tank trucks, are limited by weight restrictions and incur high costs due to manpower or mechanical vibrator cleaning requirements, making them inefficient and expensive for transporting liquids and sludge.
Innovation Solution
An extendable mobile fluid carrying apparatus featuring a high-CFM blower, pivotable fluid container, and sliding subframe that allows for increased payload capacity without violating bridge and road weight restrictions, enabling efficient decanting and reduced cleaning needs through gravity-assisted discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the tank capacity is increased to improve payload capacity, then the payload capacity increases, but the vehicle weight exceeds bridge and road restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into a tractor unit and a separable tanker trailer, allowing the heavy tank capacity to be segmented from the propulsion unit. This enables the tank to be optimized for maximum capacity while the tractor provides mobility, resolving the contradiction between payload capacity and vehicle weight restrictions on roads and bridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The tanker trailer incorporates an extendable subframe with wheels that can be deployed to increase the wheelbase length. This dimensional change in the wheelbase allows the vehicle to distribute its weight over a longer distance, reducing the weight per axle and complying with bridge and road weight restrictions while maintaining high payload capacity.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual cleaning or mechanical vibrators are used to clean the tank, then the tank can be cleaned, but the operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a mechanical vibrator mounted on the tanker trailer that generates vibrations to loosen and discharge sludge and liquid waste from the tank. This automated vibration-based cleaning mechanism eliminates the need for expensive manual cleaning by workers entering the tank, significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining effective tank cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical vibrator enables the tank to clean itself through automated vibration-induced discharge of accumulated waste material. The system serves its own cleaning needs without requiring external manual intervention, reducing operational costs and improving productivity by eliminating the need for costly manual cleaning services.
3Quantity of substance
If the tank is designed for high payload capacity, then the payload capacity increases, but the tank requires complex cleaning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than employing complex mechanical cleaning mechanisms such as scrapers, brushes, or high-pressure water systems, the invention uses a relatively simple mechanical vibrator that generates vibrations to facilitate waste discharge. This vibration-based approach achieves effective cleaning for high-capacity tanks without requiring complex mechanical cleaning systems, thus resolving the contradiction between payload capacity and cleaning mechanism complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus achieves a 45,000-pound payload capacity while complying with weight restrictions, enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs by allowing for agile maneuverability and automatic, gravity-assisted discharge of fluids, eliminating the need for manual cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
A high-CFM blower is selectively coupled to the closed end of the container and configured to draw a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
configured to decant a fluid from the container... lift the closed end of the fluid container to an angle greater than 45° relative to the first frame... automatic, gravity-assisted discharge of fluids
Data Source
AI summary
An extendable mobile fluid carrying apparatus including a first frame configured to couple to a tractor. A fluid container is coupled to the first frame and configured to rotate about a pivot device of the first frame. The container defines a closable orifice configured to decant a fluid from the container. A high-CFM blower is coupled to the container and configured to draw a vacuum. A lift mechanism is coupled to the first frame and the fluid container and configured to lift the fluid container to an angle greater than 45° relative to the first frame. A second frame is slidingly coupled to the first frame, with the second frame configured to extend away from the first frame a predetermined distance. The second frame includes a wheel set. The tractor may include a power takeoff mechanism coupled to a prime mover and to the blower.