Oil tank

Abstract

 The invention concerns an oil tank for use in a hydraulic system mounted as auxiliary equipment on a vehicle comprising a wall enclosing a storage volume.
In accordance with the invention the oil tank comprises two or more identical tank modules (1) mounted side by side against each other whereby a first fluid line connects the upper part of adjacent tank modules and a second fluid line connects the lower part of adjacent tank modules.

Description

[0001] The invention concerns an oil tank in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. Such oil tanks are often from steel and have a storage volume that is adapted to the requirements of the auxiliary equipment. The disadvantage of the known oil tanks is that there are many different sizes required for the different types of equipment. These different sizes require a lot of storage space as they are held in storage before they are built on a vehicle. A further disadvantage is that the larger oil tanks must have a splash shield to prevent sloshing of oil in oil tank while driving the vehicle. In order to overcome these disadvantages the oil tank is according to claim 1. In this way only tank modules of one relatively small size need to be stored whereby in the relatively small size tank module oil does not slosh and the tank modules can be assembled into oil tanks of varying sizes that are suitable for various different types of equipment.

[0002] In accordance with an embodiment the oil tank is according to claim 2. In this way, it is easy to assemble the tank modules to form an oil tank of varying volumes.

[0003] In accordance with an embodiment the oil tank is according to claim 3. In this way, the tank modules are linked together in a strong way.

[0004] In accordance with an embodiment the oil tank is according to claim 4. In this way, all tank modules can be identical.

[0005] In accordance with an embodiment the oil tank is according to claim 5. In this way, the tank modules are assembled in a quick and easy way to a stable assembly that can withstand the vibrations on a vehicle.

[0006] In accordance with an embodiment the oil tank is according to claim 6. In this way, the production of the manifolds is easy.

[0007] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments by means of a drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an oil tank made from two tank modules,

Figure 2 shows a cross section II-II of the oil tank of figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a top view of the oil tank of figure 1,

Figure 4 shows a side view of the oil tank of figure 1,

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of an oil tank made from two tank modules, and

Figure 6 shows a top view of the oil tank of figure 5.

[0008] Figure 1 - 4 show a first embodiment of the invention with two tank modules 1 lashed together with a belt 13 and a coupling 7 to a frame 10. The belt 13 might be in a recess that is at half of the heigth of the tank module 1. The tank modules 1 are made from plastic material. At one side of each tank module 1 extending outwards of a wall of the tank module 1 there are at the top two nozzles 6 and at the bottom two nozzles 8. The nozzles 6 and 8 have around their outer circumference an O-ring. At the other side of the tank module extending inwards of the wall of the tank module 1 there are at the top two nozzles 14' (not shown) and at the bottom two nozzles 14.

[0009] When two tank modules 1 are pushed with their sides against each other the nozzles 6 with their O-rings fit sealingly in the nozzles 14' and form a first fluid line connecting top of an inside volume of the tank modules 1. The nozzles 8 fit sealingly in the nozzles 14 and form a second fluid line connecting the bottom of the inside volume of the tank module 1. At the side of the tank module 1 away from the adjacent tank module 1 the nozzles are sealingly closed with stops 2, 6, 9, and 12. The first fluid line and the second fluid line ensure that fluid in both tank modules 1 has the same level.

[0010] The tank modules 1 have an opening at the top and an opening at the bottom. In one of the tank modules 1 the opening at the top has a line connection 3 that for instance connects to a return line from a pump or a breather (not shown). In one of the tank modules 1 the opening at the bottom has a line connection 11 that for instance connects to a suction line of the pump (not shown). The other openings in the tank modules 1 are closed with a cover 4.

[0011] Figures 5-6 show a second embodiment with two tank modules 15 that have identical nozzles 20 at the top and at the bottom of the tank module 15. At the bottom of the tank module 15 the nozzles 20 stand on a manifold 22 and nozzles 19 sealingly enclose nozzles 20. A line connection 21 connects the manifold 22 for instance to a suction line of a pump. At the top of the tank module 15 the nozzles 20 sealingly fit in nozzles 19 of manifold 17. Couplings 23 couple frames 16 to the modules 17 and 22 and the frames 16 ensure that the manifolds 17 and 22 remain form with the tank modules 15 a stable construction. The manifold 17 forms a first fluid line connecting top of an inside volume of the tank modules 15. The manifold 22 forms a second fluid line connecting the bottom of the inside volume of the tank module 15. The first fluid line and the second fluid line ensure that fluid in both tank modules 15 has the same level.

Claims

1. Oil tank for use in a hydraulic system mounted as auxiliary equipment on a vehicle comprising a wall enclosing a storage volume characterized in that the oil tank comprises two or more identical tank modules mounted side by side against each other whereby a first fluid line connects the upper part of adjacent tank modules and a second fluid line connects the lower part of adjacent tank modules.

2. Oil tank according to claim 1 wherein each tank module has in a first wall of the tank first nozzles with a seal extending outside the tank module and in a second wall opposite the first wall second nozzles extending into the tank module wherein the first nozzles sealingly fit in the second nozzles of the adjacent tank module to form the first and second fluid lines and wherein stops close the first and second nozzles not adjacent to a tank module.

3. Oil tank according to claim 2 wherein a belt surrounds the tank modules and holds them together and wherein each tank module might have a groove wherein the belt fits.

4. Oil tank according to claim 2 or 3 wherein each tank module has at the top and/or the bottom an opening with a fixture for connecting to an oil line or similar or to close the opening.

5. Oil tank according to claim 1 wherein each tank module has a top nozzle extending above the top and a bottom nozzle extending under the bottom and a first manifold sealingly fits around the top nozzles forming the first fluid line and a second manifold sealing fits around the bottom nozzles forming the second fluid line.

6. Oil tank according to claim 5 wherein the first manifold and/or the second manifold is/are made from plastic.

Drawing