Interlocking Hollow Tanks

Abstract

A set of interlocking tanks. The tanks have respective sidewalls including cooperating interlock features formed inclusive of the hollows of the tanks which are mutually correlated and reciprocally shaped so that the interlock feature of one tank interlocks with respect to the interlock feature of the other tank to thereby connect the tanks together as a single subassembly. The interlocking is selectively releasable.

1 . A set of interlocking tanks, comprising:
 a first tank having a first tank sidewall defining a first tank hollow;   a second tank having a second tank sidewall defining a second tank hollow; and   cooperating interlock features disposed at said first tank sidewall and said second tank sidewall and formed inclusive with the first tank hollow and the second tank hollow;   wherein said cooperating interlock features selectively interlock to thereby interlock said first and second tanks.   
     
     
         2 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 1 , wherein said cooperating interlock features comprise:
 a first interlock feature disposed at said first tank sidewall; and   a second interlock feature disposed at said second tank sidewall;   wherein said first and second interlock features mutually cooperate to provide said interlock of said first and second tanks.   
     
     
         3 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 2 , wherein said interlock of said first and second tanks is selectively releasable. 
     
     
         4 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 3 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise:
 said first interlock feature comprising a female concavity formed of said first tank sidewall; and   said second interlock feature comprising a male protuberance formed of said second tank sidewall;   wherein said female concavity and said male protuberance are reciprocally shaped to provide said interlock of said first and second tanks when said male protuberance is disposed in said female concavity.   
     
     
         5 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 4 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise said reciprocal shape of said female concavity and said male protuberance is such that said interlocking of said first and second tanks is unidirectional. 
     
     
         6 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 5 , wherein said unidirectional interlocking of said first and second tanks comprises interlocking and uninterlocking said first and second tanks by relative movement of said first and second tanks along a Z axis, wherein said first and second tanks are interlocked by an interference fit of said male protuberance with respect to said female concavity in any direction parallel to a plane X-Y which is perpendicular to the Z axis. 
     
     
         7 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 said first tank sidewall having a first tank mating wall; and   said second tank sidewall having a second tank mating wall;   wherein when said first and second tanks are interlocked by said cooperating interlock features, said first tank mating wall abuttingly adjoins said second tank mating wall.   
     
     
         8 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 7 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise:
 said first interlock feature comprising a female concavity formed of said first tank sidewall; and   said second interlock feature comprising a male protuberance formed of said second tank sidewall;   wherein said female concavity and said male protuberance are reciprocally shaped to provide said interlock of said first and second tanks when said male protuberance is disposed in said female concavity.   
     
     
         9 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 8 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise said reciprocal shape of said female concavity and said male protuberance is such that said interlocking of said first and second tanks is unidirectional. 
     
     
         10 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 9 , wherein said unidirectional interlocking of said first and second tanks comprises interlocking and uninterlocking said first and second tanks by relative movement of said first and second tanks along a Z axis, wherein said first and second tanks are interlocked by an interference fit of said male protuberance with respect to said female concavity in any direction parallel to a plane X-Y which is perpendicular to the Z axis. 
     
     
         11 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 said first tank sidewall having a first tank floor; and   said second tank sidewall having a second tank bottom;   wherein when said first and second tanks are interlocked by said cooperating interlock features, said second tank bottom abuttingly adjoins and rests upon said first tank floor.   
     
     
         12 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 11 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise:
 said first interlock feature comprising a female concavity formed of one of said first tank sidewall and said tank sidewall; and   said second interlock feature comprising a male protuberance formed of the other of said first tank sidewall and said second tank sidewall;   wherein said female concavity and said male protuberance are reciprocally shaped to provide said interlock of said first and second tanks when said male protuberance is disposed in said female concavity.   
     
     
         13 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 12 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise said reciprocal shape of said female concavity and said male protuberance is such that said interlocking of said first and second tanks is unidirectional. 
     
     
         14 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 13 , wherein said unidirectional interlocking of said first and second tanks comprises interlocking and uninterlocking said first and second tanks by relative movement of said first and second tanks along a Z axis, wherein said first and second tanks are interlocked by an interference fit of said male protuberance with respect to said female concavity in any direction parallel to a plane X-Y which is perpendicular to the Z axis. 
     
     
         15 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 1 , wherein said cooperating interlock features comprise:
 a first interlock feature disposed at said first tank sidewall;   a second interlock feature disposed at said first tank sidewall;   a third interlock feature disposed at said second tank sidewall; and   a fourth interlock feature disposed at said second tank sidewall;   wherein said first and third interlock features mutually cooperate and said second and fourth interlock features mutually cooperate to thereby collectively provide said interlock of said first and second tanks; and   wherein said interlock of said first and second tanks is selectively releasable.   
     
     
         16 . A set of interlocking tanks, comprising:
 a diesel fuel tank having a diesel fuel tank sidewall defining a diesel fuel tank hollow;   a urea tank having a urea tank sidewall defining a urea tank hollow; and   cooperating interlock features disposed at said diesel fuel tank sidewall and said urea tank sidewall formed inclusive of the diesel fuel tank hollow and the urea tank hollow;   wherein said cooperating interlock features selectively interlock to thereby interlock said diesel fuel and urea tanks as a single subassembly.   
     
     
         17 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 16 , wherein said cooperating interlock features comprise:
 a first interlock feature disposed at said diesel fuel tank sidewall; and   a second interlock feature disposed at said urea tank sidewall;   wherein said first and second interlock features mutually cooperate to provide said interlock of said diesel fuel and urea tanks; and   wherein said interlock of said diesel fuel and urea tanks is selectively releasable.   
     
     
         18 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 17 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise:
 said first interlock feature comprising a female concavity formed of one of said diesel fuel tank sidewall and urea tank sidewall; and   said second interlock feature comprising a male protuberance formed of the other of said diesel fuel tank sidewall and said urea tank sidewall;   wherein said female concavity and said male protuberance are reciprocally shaped to provide said interlock of said diesel fuel and urea tanks when said male protuberance is disposed in said female concavity.   
     
     
         19 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 18 , wherein said cooperating interlock features further comprise said reciprocal shape of said female concavity and said male protuberance being such that said interlocking of said diesel fuel and urea tanks is unidirectional; and wherein said unidirectional interlocking of said diesel fuel and urea tanks comprises interlocking and uninterlocking said diesel fuel and urea tanks by relative movement of said diesel fuel and urea tanks along a Z axis, wherein said diesel fuel and urea tanks are interlocked by an interference fit of said male protuberance with respect to said female concavity in any direction parallel to a plane X-Y which is perpendicular to the Z axis. 
     
     
         20 . The set of interlocking tanks of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 said diesel fuel tank sidewall having a diesel fuel tank mating wall and a diesel fuel tank floor; and   said urea tank sidewall having a urea tank mating wall and a urea tank bottom;   wherein when said diesel fuel and urea tanks are interlocked by said cooperating interlock features, said diesel fuel tank mating wall abuttingly adjoins said urea tank mating wall and urea tank bottom abuttingly adjoins and rests upon said diesel fuel tank floor.