초록 ▼

A modular tank stand is lightweight and easily transportable, but also capable of supporting the weight of a large bulk storage container filled with flowable material. The modular tank stand includes a plurality of individual tank stand sections which are interconnectable with one another to form a

A modular tank stand is lightweight and easily transportable, but also capable of supporting the weight of a large bulk storage container filled with flowable material. The modular tank stand includes a plurality of individual tank stand sections which are interconnectable with one another to form a larger support surface sized to receive the bulk storage container. The individual sections include integral, vertically disposed support walls that provide both vertical support for the weight of the bulk storage container and resistance to collapse under shear forces arising from movement of the container. The interconnecting individual sections may be disconnected from one another and reconfigured to fit in a smaller space, such as onto a pallet or within a shipping container, thereby facilitating storage of the disassembled modular tank stand.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A modular tank stand assembled from a plurality of connectable tank stand sections, the modular tank stand comprising: a first tank stand section comprising: a first lower surface abutting a tank stand support surface;a first container support surface spaced vertically from said first surface;a f

1. A modular tank stand assembled from a plurality of connectable tank stand sections, the modular tank stand comprising: a first tank stand section comprising: a first lower surface abutting a tank stand support surface;a first container support surface spaced vertically from said first surface;a first wall monolithically formed with at least a portion of said first lower surface and said first container support surface, said first wall extending from said first lower surface to said first container support surface, said first wall extending substantially entirely around a periphery of at least one of said first lower surface and said first container support surface;at least one lobe formed as part of said first wall; anda second tank stand section comprising: a second lower surface abutting the tank stand support surface;a second container support surface spaced vertically from said second lower surface; anda second wall monolithically formed with at least a portion of said second lower surface and said second container support surface, said second wall extending from said second lower surface to said second container support surface, said second wall extending substantially entirely around a periphery of at least one of said second lower surface and said second container support surface; andat least one cavity formed protruding into said second wall, said cavity sized to receive said lobe along a vertical direction of insertion,said lobe and said cavity cooperating to restrain lateral movement of said first tank stand section with respect to said second tank stand section, while allowing vertical movement of said first tank stand section with respect to said second tank stand section,said first and second walls each comprising: a center wall;a perimeter wall opposite said center wall;a first side wall extending between said center wall and said perimeter wall; anda second side wall extending between said center wall and said perimeter wall and defining an acute angle with said first side wall, such that said first side wall and said second side wall converge toward said center wall and diverge toward said perimeter wall, andwherein said first and second tank stand sections are each generally wedge-shaped;the modular tank stand in combination with a bulk storage container disposed on said first container support surface and said second container support surface such that said bulk storage container is supported by each of said first and second container support surfaces and is supported directly through said first and second walls and said first and second lower surfaces of said tank stand sections. 2. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein said lobe is unitarily formed with said first tank stand section. 3. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein: said lobe defines a lateral lobe width, that increases as said lobe extends outwardly away from said first wall, andsaid cavity defines a lateral cavity width that increases as said cavity extends inwardly away from said second wall,whereby the increases in said lobe width cooperate with the increases in said cavity width to laterally interconnect said first tank stand section and said second tank stand section, while allowing said vertical movement of said first tank stand section with respect to said second tank stand section. 4. The modular tank stand of claim 1, further comprising: a lip extending upwardly from at least one of said first container support surface and said second container support surface, said lip disposed at a periphery of one of said first wall and said second wall respectively; andan anchoring assembly fixed to said lip, said anchoring assembly connectable to a cable. 5. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein said first and second walls are normal to said first and second container support surfaces, respectively, whereby said first and second walls are vertically oriented. 6. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first tank stand section and said second tank stand section is formed of a polymer. 7. The modular tank stand of claim 6, wherein said polymer comprises rotationally molded polyethylene. 8. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said first tank stand section is substantially identical to said second tank stand section. 9. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said first lower surface, said first container support surface, and said first wall form a first sealed enclosure. 10. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 9, wherein said first sealed enclosure comprises a single hollow cavity. 11. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 9, wherein said second lower surface, said second container support surface, and said second wall form a second sealed enclosure. 12. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 11, wherein said second sealed enclosure comprises a single hollow cavity. 13. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein said first tank stand section and said second tank stand section each comprise rotationally-molded monolithic structures having a substantially uniform material thickness. 14. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein said first tank stand section and said second tank stand section each comprise rigid polymer structures. 15. The modular tank stand of claim 1, wherein said first and second container support surfaces cooperate to form a conical surface. 16. A modular tank stand assembled from a plurality of connectable tank stand sections, the modular tank stand comprising: a first tank stand section comprising: a first lower surface;a first container support surface spaced vertically from said first lower surface;a first wall monolithically formed with at least a portion of said first lower surface and said first container support surface, said first wall extending from said first lower surface to said first container support surface, said first wall extending substantially entirely around a periphery of at least one of said first lower surface and said first container support surface such that a substantially sealed, single hollow cavity is defined within said periphery and between said first container support surface and said first lower surface;at least one lobe formed as part of said first wall; anda second tank stand section comprising: a second lower surface;a second container support surface spaced vertically from said second lower surface; anda second wall monolithically formed with at least a portion of said second lower surface and said second container support surface, said second wall extending from said second lower surface to said second container support surface, said second wall extending substantially entirely around a periphery of at least one of said second lower surface and said second container support surface such that a substantially sealed, single hollow cavity is defined within said periphery and between said second container support surface and said second lower surface; andat least one cavity formed protruding into said second wall, said cavity sized to receive said lobe along a vertical direction of insertion,said lobe and said cavity configurable between a connected state and a disconnected state, said lobe and said cavity both vertically movable along the vertical direction of insertion and laterally inseparable relative to one another when said lobe and said cavity are in said connected state,wherein said first tank stand section and said second tank stand section each comprise rigid polymer structures, andthe modular tank stand in combination with a bulk storage container disposed on said first container support surface and said second container support surface such that said bulk storage container is supported by each of said first and second container support surfaces and is supported directly through said first and second walls and said first and second lower surfaces of said tank stand sections. 17. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 16, wherein said first tank stand section is substantially identical to said second tank stand section. 18. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 16, wherein said lobe is configured to be vertically lowered into said cavity in order to transition said lobe and said cavity from said disconnected state to said connected state, and wherein said lobe is configured to be vertically lifted away from said cavity in order to transition said lobe and said cavity from said connected state to said disconnected state. 19. The modular tank stand assembly of claim 16, wherein said lobe defines a lobe width that expands as said lobe extends away from said first wall, and said cavity defines a corresponding cavity width that expands as said cavity extends away from said second wall, such that said lobe laterally interconnects with said cavity when said lobe and said cavity are in said connected state. 20. The modular tank stand of claim 16, in combination with a bulk storage container disposed on said first container support surface and said second container support surface such that said bulk storage container is supported by each of said first container support surface and said second container support surface when said lobe and said cavity are in said connected state. 21. The modular tank stand of claim 16, wherein said first tank stand section and said second tank stand section each comprise rotationally-molded monolithic structures having a substantially uniform material thickness. 22. The modular tank stand of claim 16, wherein said first and second container support surfaces cooperate to form a conical surface. 23. A modular tank stand comprising: a plurality of tank stand sections interconnectable with one another into a tank stand assembly, the tank stand assembly defining an exterior perimeter around an aggregated container support surface, each tank stand section comprising: a lower surface;a container support surface spaced vertically from said lower surface and forming a respective portion of said aggregated container support surface;a wall extending from said lower surface to said container support surface, said wall comprising a center wall, a perimeter wall opposite said center wall, a first side wall extending between said center wall and said perimeter wall, and a second side wall extending between said center wall and said perimeter wall, said wall bounding an internal cavity;at least one lobe formed as part of said first side wall;at least one cavity formed protruding into said second side wall;said exterior perimeter defined by said perimeter walls of said plurality of tank stand sections when said plurality of tank stand sections are interconnected; andsaid center walls of said plurality of tank stand sections adjacent to one another at a central portion of the aggregated container support surface when said plurality of tank stand sections are interconnected, such that said walls of said plurality of tank stand sections provide increasing wall support per unit area of the aggregated container support surface from said exterior perimeter toward said central portion;said plurality of tank stand sections each being generally wedge-shaped, such that said first and second side walls of each of said plurality of tank stand sections converge toward a tip at said center wall and diverge toward said perimeter wall, whereby the amount of wall support per unit area of the container support surface continuously increases from respective perimeter walls toward respective center walls when said plurality of tank stand sections are interconnected. 24. The modular tank stand of claim 23, wherein said plurality of tank stand sections are substantially identical to one another, such that each of said plurality of tank stand sections is interconnectable with each other of said plurality of tank stand sections to form said tank stand assembly. 25. The modular tank stand of claim 24, wherein said lower surface, said container support surface and said wall cooperate to form a sealed enclosure for each of said plurality of tank stand sections. 26. The modular tank stand of claim 23, wherein each said wall defines a vertical tank stand section height extending from said lower surface to each said container support surface, each said wall extending substantially entirely around a periphery of at least one of each said lower surface and each said container support surface. 27. The modular tank stand of claim 23, in combination with a bulk storage container disposed on said an aggregated container support surface. 28. The modular tank stand of claim 23, wherein said plurality of tank stand sections each comprise rotationally-molded monolithic structures having a substantially uniform material thickness. 29. The modular tank stand of claim 23, wherein said plurality of tank stand sections each comprise rigid polymer structures. 30. The modular tank stand of claim 23, wherein said container support surfaces of said plurality of tank stand sections cooperate to form a conical surface.