Baffled Fluid Tank with Stairway Access

Abstract

A tank for transporting fluids on a truck chassis includes a front wall, side walls, a back wall, a top, and a floor. Interior stairs extend from the floor to an opening in the top to allow stair access into the interior with integrated safety handrails on the fill port cover. Stair toe kicks act as internal transverse baffles to help control fluid motion and surging. The stairs also act as a structural stiffener between longitudinal baffles. Horizontal baffles assist in controlling fluid motion and surging. Formed baffles provide strength and stiffness. A baffle interlocking system improves joint integrity and aids manufacturing. Formed outer skins provide structural strength for the tank. Ports located in front and rear bulkheads may be used for tank ventilation or, depending on local safety codes, as secondary access points. Doors or other access openings may be located in the tank bulkheads to provide better interior access.

1 . An apparatus for the containment of liquids comprising:
 transverse front and rear bulkheads;   a plurality of opposed longitudinally extending side plates affixed to the front and rear bulkheads;   a longitudinally extending floor and a longitudinally extending top affixed to the front bulkhead, to the rear bulkhead, and to each of the side plates, the top, floor, side plates and front and rear bulkheads thereby forming an interior of the tank, the floor, front bulkhead, rear bulkhead, and the side plates thereby forming a tank that is structurally capable of withstanding the forces of contained liquids; and   a port formed through the top of the tank and located at an upper end of a staircase that descends into the interior of the tank, the port and staircase thereby providing walking access through the top of the tank and down to the floor of the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The tank of  claim 1  in which the staircase is adapted to be removed from the interior of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The tank of  claim 1  wherein the port is a first fill port and the tank further comprises a second fill port located in the top. 
     
     
         4 . The tank of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of:
 an access door formed in one of the front bulkhead, the rear bulkhead, and one of the side plates; 
 a plurality of vent holes in the top of the tank; 
 at least one ventilation port in at least one of the front bulkhead and the rear bulkhead, the ventilation ports adaptable to mount circulation fans to assist in ventilating the interior of the tank; 
 at least one handrail that descends into the interior alongside the staircase; and 
 an external access opening directly in line with the stairway to provide walking access to the exterior of the tank. 
 
     
     
         5 . The tank of  claim 1  in which the tank is adapted to be removably mounted on a truck body. 
     
     
         6 . The tank of  claim 1  further comprising a baffle system in the interior of the tank adapted to control fluid surge in the longitudinal, transverse, or vertical direction, the baffle system comprising:
 at least one longitudinal baffle in the interior of the tank; 
 at least one transverse baffle in the interior of the tank; 
 at least one horizontal baffle in the interior of the tank; and 
 a baffle opening in at least one of the longitudinal and transverse baffles, the baffle opening sized so that a person of average stature may freely pass therethrough. 
 
     
     
         7 . The tank of  claim 1  in which the port further comprises at least one of:
 a plurality of plates and hinged access covers adapted to assist in fluid containment, splash back reduction, debris filtration, and fall protection; 
 a safety guardrail; and 
 a handrail. 
 
     
     
         8 . The tank of  claim 1  in which the staircase comprises a plurality of steps and kick plates adapted to assist in controlling fluid surge. 
     
     
         9 . The tank of  claim 8  in which the steps are formed from an open grating material to allow fluid to pass through the steps and promote filling of the tank and the kick plates are formed from a solid material to provide structural support for the staircase. 
     
     
         10 . The tank of  claim 8  in which the kick plates are formed from an open grating material to allow fluid to pass through the kick plates and promote filling of the tank and the steps are formed from a solid material to provide structural support for the staircase. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for the containment of liquids comprising:
 transverse front and rear bulkheads;   a plurality of opposed longitudinally extending side plates affixed to the front and rear bulkheads;   a longitudinally extending floor and a longitudinally extending top affixed to the front bulkhead, to the rear bulkhead, and to each of the side plates, the top, floor, side plates and front and rear bulkheads thereby forming an interior of the tank, the floor, front bulkhead, rear bulkhead, and the side plates thereby forming a tank that is structurally capable of withstanding the forces of contained liquids; and   a port formed in the tank and located at an upper end of a staircase that descends into the interior of the tank, the port and staircase thereby providing walking access through at least one of the top, the front bulkhead, the back bulkhead, or one of the side plates of the tank and down to the floor of the tank.   
     
     
         12 . The tank of  claim 11  in which the staircase is adapted to be removed from the interior of the tank. 
     
     
         13 . The tank of  claim 11  wherein the port is a first fill port and the tank further comprises a second fill port located in the top. 
     
     
         14 . The tank of  claim 11  further comprising at least one of:
 an access door formed in one of the front bulkhead, the rear bulkhead, and one of the side plates; 
 a plurality of vent holes in the top of the tank; 
 at least one ventilation port in at least one of the front bulkhead and the rear bulkhead, the ventilation ports adaptable to mount circulation fans to assist in ventilating the interior of the tank; 
 at least one handrail that descends into the interior alongside the staircase; and 
 an external access opening directly in line with the stairway to provide walking access to the exterior of the tank. 
 
     
     
         15 . The tank of  claim 11  in which the tank is adapted to be removably mounted on a truck body. 
     
     
         16 . The tank of  claim 11  further comprising a baffle system in the interior of the tank adapted to control fluid surge in the longitudinal, transverse, or vertical direction, the baffle system comprising:
 at least one longitudinal baffle in the interior of the tank; 
 at least one transverse baffle in the interior of the tank; 
 at least one horizontal baffle in the interior of the tank; and 
 a baffle opening in at least one of the longitudinal and transverse baffles, the baffle opening sized so that a person of average stature may freely pass therethrough. 
 
     
     
         17 . The tank of  claim 11  in which the port further comprises at least one of:
 a plurality of plates and hinged access covers adapted to assist in fluid containment, splash back reduction, debris filtration, and fall protection; 
 a safety guardrail; and 
 a handrail. 
 
     
     
         18 . The tank of  claim 11  in which the staircase comprises a plurality of steps and kick plates adapted to assist in controlling fluid surge. 
     
     
         19 . The tank of  claim 18  in which the steps are formed from an open grating material to allow fluid to pass through the steps and promote filling of the tank and the kick plates are formed from a solid material to provide structural support for the staircase. 
     
     
         20 . The tank of  claim 18  in which the kick plates are formed from an open grating material to allow fluid to pass through the kick plates and promote filling of the tank and the steps are formed from a solid material to provide structural support for the staircase.