Tank lid lifter and methods

Abstract

A tank assembly including a tank, a lid, and an actuator assembly. The tank defines a tank volume and has an opening defined therein. The lid is sized to cover the opening in sealing engagement with the tank. The actuator assembly includes a first actuator arrangement and a second actuator arrangement. The first actuator arrangement is configured to move the lid into and out of sealing engagement with the tank. The second actuator arrangement is configured to move the lid between a first position in alignment with the opening, and a second position removed from alignment with the opening to permit access into the opening.

1 . A tank assembly, comprising:
 a tank defining a tank volume and having an opening defined therein;   a lid sized to cover the opening in sealing engagement with the tank;   an actuator assembly, comprising:
 a first actuator arrangement configured to move the lid into and out of sealing engagement with the tank; 
 a second actuator arrangement configured to move the lid between a first position in alignment with the opening and a second position removed from alignment with the opening to permit access into the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a periphery of the opening is defined by a cylindrical shaped lip. 
     
     
         3 . The tank assembly of clain  1 , wherein the opening is arranged on a top side of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator arrangement moves the lid vertically into and out of sealing engagement with the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second actuator arrangement moves the lid horizontally between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         6 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a support member arranged to support the lid vertically above the tank when the lid is out of sealing engagement with the tank. 
     
     
         7 . The tank assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the support member includes a first segment arranged vertically, the support member being rotatable about a longitudinal axis ofthe first segment. 
     
     
         8 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator arrangement comprises one of a pneumatic actuator and an electronic actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second actuator arrangement comprises a handle for manually rotating a portion of the second actuator arrangement to move the lid between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         10 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly further includes at least one position stop, the at least one position stop being configured to define at least one of the first and second positions of the lid. 
     
     
         11 . The tank assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator assembly includes first and second position stops, the first position stop defining the first position of the lid and the second position stop defining the second position of the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly further includes at least one locking member, the at least one locking member being operable to maintain the lid in at least one of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The tank assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the support member includes a second segment, the second segment extending from the first segment at a non-parallel angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first segment, the first segment supporting the lid and at least a portion of the first actuator arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The tank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is a wine vat configured to retaining a volume of fermented grapes. 
     
     
         15 . A method of opening and closing a tank assembly, the tank assembly including a tank, a lid, and an actuator assembly, the tank including an opening at a top side thereof, the actuator assembly including at least first and second actuator arrangements, the method comprising:
 moving the lid with the first actuator arrangement into and out of sealing engagement with the tank; and   moving the lid with the second actuator arrangement between a first position in alignment with the opening and a second position substantially removed from alignment with the opening to permit access into the opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first actuator arrangement includes a pneumatic actuator, and moving the lid with first actuator arrangement including activating the pneumatic actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second actuator arrangement includes a support member, the support member including a first segment arranged vertically and a second segment extending from the first segment at an angle, the second segment supporting the lid and at least a portion of the first actuator arrangement, and the step of moving the lid with the second actuator arrangement includes rotating the support member about a longitudinal axis of the first segment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second actuator arrangement further includes an actuator handle that extends from the second segment, and rotating the support member includes applying a rotational force to the support member with the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein in the second position the lid is at least partially covering the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second actuator assembly further comprises at least one position stop that defines at least one of the first and second positions of the lid, and a locking member that maintains the lid in at least one of the first and second positions.