IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0658685
(2003-09-08)
|
우선권정보 |
DE-102 41 522(2002-09-07) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
A liquid tank has an outlet opening and a drain stub extends therefrom and has a circular-sector-shaped partial flange on its free end. At least one complementary flange adjoins and complements the partial flange to form a complete first circular flange. The complementary flange may be another parti
A liquid tank has an outlet opening and a drain stub extends therefrom and has a circular-sector-shaped partial flange on its free end. At least one complementary flange adjoins and complements the partial flange to form a complete first circular flange. The complementary flange may be another partial flange with a throughhole connected to another tank, or a solid blind flange. The first circular flange is sealed and secured to a second circular flange connected to a single drain line. The two circular flanges may have the same diameter and the same aligned circle centerpoint. This provides a modular reconfigurable system allowing a selected plurality of liquid tanks to be connected to a single drain line through the flange arrangement.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An arrangement for storing and conveying a liquid comprising: a first liquid container having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a pipe-shaped first drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said liquid container; a first partial flange connected to an outlet end of
What is claimed is: 1. An arrangement for storing and conveying a liquid comprising: a first liquid container having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a pipe-shaped first drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said liquid container; a first partial flange connected to an outlet end of said drain stub; at least one complementary flange adjoining and complementing said partial flange so that said complementary and partial flanges together form a first circular flange; a second circular flange connected to said first circular flange; a drain line connected to said second circular flange, so as to establish liquid communication from said outlet opening of said first liquid container, through said first drain stub, said first partial flange, and said second circular flange into said drain line; and at least one additional liquid container arranged adjacent to said first liquid container about a fictitious upright axis extending vertically through a circle centerpoint of said first circular flange, wherein an outer diameter of said first circular flange is large enough so that said first circular flange extends radially outwardly from said upright axis to project under each one of said first liquid container and said at least one additional liquid container. 2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first circular flange and said second circular flange both have the same outer diameter and are arranged in registration with each other on a common circle centerpoint. 3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said drain line is unbranched and is further connected to a drain system. 4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said outlet opening is located in a floor of said first liquid container at a location offset from a vertical center axis of said first liquid container toward said upright axis. 5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said first drain stub extends vertically between said outlet opening of said first liquid container and said first circular flange. 6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one complementary flange comprises a blind flange that does not have an opening communicating therethrough and through said second circular flange into said drain line. 7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said first partial flange and said blind flange each respectively have a plan shape of a respective sector of a circle. 8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said plan shape of said first partial flange and of said blind flange is respectively selected from the group consisting of a one-quarter-circle sector, a one-third-circle sector, a one-half-circle sector, a two-thirds-circle sector, and a three-quarters-circle sector. 9. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said first liquid container is the single only liquid container connected to said second circular flange, and wherein said plan shape of said first partial flange and of said blind flange is selected from the group wherein said plan shape of said first partial flange is said one-half-circle sector, and said plan shape of said blind flange is said one-half-circle sector, said plan shape of said first partial flange is said one-third-circle sector and said plan shape of said blind flange is said two-thirds-circle sector, and said plan shape of said first partial flange is said one-quarter-circle sector and said plan shape of said blind flange is said three-quarters-circle sector. 10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said additional liquid container has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and further comprising a pipe-shaped second drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said additional liquid container, and wherein said at least one complementary flange comprises a second partial flange connected to an outlet end of said second drain stub so as to establish liquid communication from said outlet opening of said additional liquid container, through said second drain stub, said second partial flange, and said second circular flange into said drain line. 11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said first and second partial flanges each respectively have a plan shape of a respective sector of a circle. 12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said sector of a circle is respectively selected from the group consisting of a one-quarter-circle sector, a one-third-circle sector, and a one-half-circle sector. 13. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said at least one complementary flange further comprises a blind flange that does not have an opening communicating therethrough and through said second circular flange into said drain line. 14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first and second circular flanges each have a complete 360째 circular plan shape. 15. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a flange seal interposed between said first and second circular flanges, wherein said first partial flange, said flange seal and said second circular flange respectively have throughholes therein aligned with one another to establish said liquid communication. 16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said second circular flange has at least one additional throughhole therein under said at least one complementary flange, and wherein a total number of said throughholes in said second circular flange determines a maximum total number of liquid containers that can be connected to said drain line via said second circular flange. 17. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said second circular flange further has a plenum space that interconnects and communicates all of said throughholes in said second circular flange with said drain line connected to said second circular flange. 18. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said at least one complementary flange comprises a blind flange without a liquid communication throughhole therein, and wherein said flange seal has no throughhole under said blind flange. 19. An arrangement for storing and conveying a liquid comprising: a first liquid container having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a pipe-shaped first drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said liquid container; a first partial flange connected to an outlet end of said drain stub; at least one complementary flange adjoining and complementing said partial flange so that said complementary and partial flanges together form a first circular flange; a second circular flange connected to said first circular flange; a drain line connected to said second circular flange, so as to establish liquid communication from said outlet opening of said first liquid container, through said first drain stub, said first partial flange, and said second circular flange into said drain line; at least one additional liquid container arranged adjacent to said first liquid container and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; and a pipe-shaped second drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said additional liquid container; wherein said at least one complementary flange comprises a second partial flange connected to an outlet end of said second drain stub so as to establish liquid communication from said outlet opening of said additional liquid container, through said second drain stub, said second partial flange, and said second circular flange into said drain line; and wherein said drain line is the single only drain line connected to said second circular flange. 20. An arrangement for storing and conveying a liquid comprising: a first liquid container having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a pipe-shaped first drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said liquid container; a first partial flange connected to an outlet end of said drain stub; at least one complementary flange adjoining and complementing said partial flange so that said complementary and partial flanges together form a first circular flange; a second circular flange connected to said first circular flange; a drain line connected to said second circular flange, so as to establish liquid communication from said outlet opening of said first liquid container, through said first drain stub, said first partial flange, and said second circular flange into said drain line; at least one additional liquid container arranged adjacent to said first liquid container and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; and a pipe-shaped second drain stub connected to said outlet opening of said additional liquid container; wherein said at least one complementary flange comprises a second partial flange connected to an outlet end of said second drain stub so as to establish liquid communication from said outlet opening of said additional liquid container, through said second drain stub, said second partial flange, and said second circular flange into said drain line; and wherein said first liquid container and said at least one additional liquid container are arranged adjacent one another about a fictitious upright axis extending vertically through a circle centerpoint of said first and second circular flanges. 21. The arrangement according to claim 20, wherein each one of said liquid containers has a cross-sectional shape substantially corresponding to a sector of a circle centered at said upright axis. 22. The arrangement according to claim 21, wherein each one of said liquid containers has an outer wall comprising a cylindrically curved convex wall portion extending along a cylindrical arc about said upright axis, and at least one substantially straight wall portion extending along a radial plane radiating from said upright axis. 23. The arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said substantially straight wall portion has a concave depression therein. 24. The arrangement according to claim 22, wherein each one of said liquid containers is respectively a tank having a configuration of a one-half-cylinder, a one-third-cylinder, or a one-quarter-cylinder. 25. The arrangement according to claim 20, wherein each one of said liquid containers is respectively a tank having a cylindrical configuration. 26. The arrangement according to claim 25, wherein a diameter of said first circular flange centered on said upright axis is not greater than a clear space perpendicular to said upright axis between said liquid containers, so that said first circular flange does not extend radially outwardly from said upright axis to below said liquid containers, and wherein each one of said drain stubs extends at a downwardly sloping angle from a respective connected one of said liquid containers toward said upright axis to be connected with said partial flange thereof to said second circular flange.
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