초록 ▼

A hollow walled structure (22) includes a shell (36) having a wall defining an interior compartment (46). A first support, in the form of a baffle (48), is disposed within the interior compartment (46) and engages the shell (36) at two locations (52, 54). A second support, in the form of a post (83)

A hollow walled structure (22) includes a shell (36) having a wall defining an interior compartment (46). A first support, in the form of a baffle (48), is disposed within the interior compartment (46) and engages the shell (36) at two locations (52, 54). A second support, in the form of a post (83), engages the shell (36) and extends through the interior compartment (46) to intersect the baffle (48). The shell (36), baffle (48), and post (83) are formed concurrently from a thermoplastic material by a rotational molding process. The rotational molding process can entail operations of pre-heating interior portions of the mold, delivering heat to the interior portions of the mold, and/or filling the mold with excess thermoplastic material prior to preheating the mold. The rotationally molded structure (22) has sufficient strength to function as a tank for carrying a liquid (34) in a liquid transport apparatus (20).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A hollow walled structure for holding a liquid comprising: a shell defining an interior compartment; a first support disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a first location on said shell and a second location on said shell, said first support inc

What is claimed is: 1. A hollow walled structure for holding a liquid comprising: a shell defining an interior compartment; a first support disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a first location on said shell and a second location on said shell, said first support including side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall, said side walls being interconnected with said front wall and said rear wall to form a duct extending through said interior compartment, said duct having a first opening through said shell at said first location on said shell and having a second opening through said shell at said second location on said shell; and a second support engaging said shell at a third location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said first support. 2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shell comprises: a top surface elongated in a longitudinal direction and having an arced cross-section transverse to said longitudinal direction; a generally flat bottom surface elongated in said longitudinal direction and arranged to close said arced cross-section of said top surface. 3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second support is a tubular member having a third opening through said shell at said third location on said shell, and having a fourth opening through said duct of said first support. 4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first support is oriented substantially vertically between said first and second locations. 5. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said shell exhibits a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to said length dimension; and said first support is a baffle exhibiting a width that is greater than a thickness, said baffle being oriented such that said width is substantially parallel to said width dimension of said shell. 6. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said shell exhibits a length dimension; and said second support exhibits a longitudinal axis, said second support being oriented in said interior compartment such that said longitudinal axis is approximately transverse to said length dimension of said shell. 7. A structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a third support disposed in said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a fourth location on said shell and a fifth location on said shell. 8. A structure as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a fourth support engaging said shell at a sixth location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said third support. 9. A structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a third support engaging said shell at a fourth location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said first support. 10. A structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising parallel spaced indentations arranged along longitudinal sides of said shell. 11. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shell forms a tank for holding at least two hundred gallons of a liquid. 12. A hollow walled structure, said structure being configured for attachment to a wheeled trailer, and said structure comprising: a shell defining an interior compartment; a first support disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a first location on said shell and a second location on said shell; a second support engaging said shell at a third location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said first support; a first fender extending from a first exterior side of said shell; and a second fender extending from a second exterior side of said shell, said first and second fenders being configured to substantially cover wheels of said trailer. 13. A structure as claimed in claim 12 further comprising parallel spaced indentations arranged along longitudinal sides of said shell and extending through said first and second fenders. 14. A liquid transport apparatus comprising: a tank including: a shell defining an interior compartment; a first support disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a first location on said shell and a second location on said shell, said first support including side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall, said side walls being interconnected with said front wall and said rear wall to form a duct extending through said interior compartment, said duct having a first opening through said shell at said first location on said shell and having a second opening through said shell at said second location on said shell; and a second support engaging said shell at a third location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said first support; a frame supporting said tank; and wheels rotationally coupled to said frame. 15. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said shell comprises: a top surface elongated in a longitudinal direction and having an arced cross-section transverse to said longitudinal direction; a generally flat bottom surface elongated in said longitudinal direction and arranged to close said arced cross-section of said top surface. 16. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said second support is a tubular member having a third opening through said shell at said third location on said shell, and having a fourth opening through said duct of said first support. 17. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said tank further comprises a third support, said third support exhibiting second side walls, a second front wall, and a second rear wall, said second side walls being interconnected with said second front wall and said second rear wall to form a second duct extending through said interior compartment, said second duct having a third opening through said shell at a fourth location on said shell and having a fourth opening through said shell at a fifth location on said shell; and said apparatus further comprises a strap element directed through each of said duct and said second duct and about said frame to couple said tank to said frame. 18. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said shell exhibits a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to said length dimension; and said first support is a baffle exhibiting a width that is greater than a thickness, said battle being oriented such that said width is substantially parallel to said width dimension of said shell. 19. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said shell exhibits a length dimension; and said second support exhibits a longitudinal axis, said second support being oriented in said interior compartment such that said longitudinal axis is approximately transverse to said length dimension of said shell. 20. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said tank further comprises indentations arranged along longitudinal sides of said shell. 21. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said frame comprises arcuate rear corners; said tank includes a planar portion positioned proximate each of said arcuate rear corners; and said apparatus further comprises taillights mounted to said planar portion of said tank. 22. A liquid transport apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said tank includes an inlet port and an outlet port extending through said wall of said shell; and said apparatus further comprises a liquid tube disposed in said interior compartment for conveying a liquid between said inlet port and said outlet port. 23. A liquid transport apparatus comprising: a tank including: a shell defining an interior compartment; a first baffle disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a first location on said shell and a second location on said shell; and a support engaging said shell at a third location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said first support; a second baffle disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at fourth location on said shell and a fifth location on said shell, said second baffle being aligned with said first baffle; and a third baffle juxtaposed between said first and second baffles, said third baffle being removably engagable with one of said first and second baffles; a frame supporting said tank; and wheels rotationally coupled to said frame. 24. A liquid transport apparatus comprising: a tank including: a shell defining an interior compartment; a first support disposed within said interior compartment and engaging said shell at a first location on said shell and a second location on said shell; and a second support engaging said shell at a third location on said shell and extending through said interior compartment to intersect said first support; a frame supporting said tank; wheels rotationally coupled to said frame; a first fender extending from a first exterior side of said shell; and a second fender extending from a second exterior side of said shell, said first and second fenders substantially covering said wheels.