Fluid Storage Tank Trailer Elevated Walkway Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid storage tank trailers face challenges in efficient storage and dispensing of fluids at drilling sites, particularly in large-scale operations where multiple trailers are needed, as they often require complex hose connections and obstructed pathways, hindering operator mobility and safety.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a forward platform and ladder system that allows for continuous, unobstructed access across multiple trailers, with elevated walkways and ladders enabling operators to move safely and efficiently between trailers without stepping around frames or hoses, and features like safety gates and grab irons enhance safety and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If complex hose connections are required to access manifolds on trailers positioned side by side, then fluid storage capacity is maximized, but it increases the complexity of connections and time required for operations
Solution Approach 1:
The elevated walkway is pre-positioned between trailers before hose connection operations begin. This preliminary setup creates ready-to-use access points and routing paths, eliminating the need for complex hose maneuvering and reducing connection time while maintaining full fluid storage capacity.
2Device complexity
If operators must step around frames and hoses to move between trailers, then trailer structure remains simple, but it reduces operator safety and increases accident risk
Solution Approach 1:
By elevating the walkway above ground level, operators are physically separated from hazards such as trailer frames, hoses, and potential fluid spills on the ground. This vertical separation maintains simple trailer structures while dramatically improving operator safety through reduced exposure to ground-level risks.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a fluid storage tank trailer including a base including a set of rear wheels, a tank supported by the base, the base including a set of skids adapted to engage the ground forward of the rear wheels when the trailer is not connected to a tow vehicle, the skids being adapted to support the tank bottom in relation to the ground, a forward frame adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle, a forward platform elevated above the forward frame, the forward platform having a first end adjacent a first front corner, the forward platform having a second end adjacent a second front corner, the forward platform defining a walkway between the first end and the second end.