Delivery vehicle

Abstract

The vehicle ( 1 ) has a trailer unit ( 3 ) for receiving intermediate bulk carrier (IBC) compartments ( 4 ) an integrated liquid recovery system ( 20 ), an IBC mounting system ( 30 ) and an evacuation system ( 40 ) with tapping points ( 42, 43 ) along either side of the vehicle ( 1 ). Wasted journeys are minimised by optimising the shape and size of IBC for a given delivery and load balancing enhances vehicle stability. The cost and environmental impact of accidental damage is also reduced.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle ( 1 ) for the distribution of bulk liquids characterised in that the vehicle has means for releaseably engaging a plurality of storage compartments ( 4 ) in which bulk liquids are held.  
     
     
         2 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the storage compartments ( 4 ) are provided by intermediate bulk carriers (IBC).  
     
     
         3 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 1    including an integrated evacuation system ( 40 ) including a tapping point for pumping a bulk liquid from a compartment ( 4 ).  
     
     
         4 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 3    having tapping points disposed on alternate sides of the vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 3    having a plurality of tapping points on a side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 3    wherein a tapping point includes a white oil tapping ( 42 ) and a coloured oil tapping point ( 43 ).  
     
     
         7 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 1    incorporating an oil recovery system ( 20 ) comprising a sump tank ( 21 ) and a delivery means for directing liquid to the sump tank.  
     
     
         8 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the delivery means includes a longitudinal side channel ( 22 ) on the vehicle ( 1 ).  
     
     
         9 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the delivery means includes a pair of spaced apart longitudinal side channels, each channel extending along an exterior longitudinal surface of the vehicle.  
     
     
         10 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 9    wherein the channels have an interconnecting cross channel ( 23 ).  
     
     
         11 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 8    wherein the delivery means includes a detachably mounted flexible hose ( 23 ) connected between a channel and the sump.  
     
     
         12 . A vehicle as claimed in claims  7  wherein the sump is dimensioned to have a greater volume than that of a storage compartment.  
     
     
         13 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the vehicle includes a floor on which the compartments are carried, the floor being angle to facilitate direction of spilled oil to the delivery means.  
     
     
         14 . A vehicle as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the vehicle includes a securing system for detachably mounting a container in position on the vehicle having a securing bar ( 31 ) dimensioned to accommodate the container and the bar having at least one locking leg ( 34 ) formed for engagement with a corresponding recess on the vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . A method for distributing bulk liquids comprising the steps of: 
 securing a plurality of storage compartments ( 4 ) on a vehicle;    transporting the vehicle between delivery points and selectively pumping bulk liquids from the compartments to preserve vehicle balance.    
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in    claim 15    including the further steps of distributing storage compartments on the vehicle in accordance with liquid stored and compartment size.