Title of Invention

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STORAGE TANK FOR STORING LIQUID

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage tank for storing liquid, which comprises in combination : i) a main body of the tank( 1), made of inert polymeric material which does not enter into reaction with the contents thereof; ii) an opening on the top surface of the tank (2), which is wide enough to allow cleaning to be carried out in the inside region of the tank, the said opening being equipped with a lid connected with a hinge ; iii) an inlet (3), through which liquid is introduced in the tank and an overflow outlet (4), and iv) an outlet pipe (5), provided at the bottom region of the said tank, characterized in that the bottom surface is concavo-convex, in shape curving inwards (7), facilitating particulate matters and sediments present in the liquid to slide down and get collected in the annular space (9), provided at the tank bottom which can be removed through at least one outlet (6), provided slightly above the bottom surface of the tank and below the outlet pipe (5), and the exterior of the said tank (1), carries a plurality of ribs (8), uniformly spaced apart to impart structural stability and enhanced impact resistance.

Full Text

The present invention relates to a storage tank for storing liquid. More particularly this invention is concerned with an overhead storage tank for storing and supplying clear water ensuring collection of undissolved suspended impurities in a separate region of the tank which can conveniently be removed from time to time. Thus clear water is made available at all times from the tank free from all suspended impurities. Overhead tanks made by various manufactures including the present applicants were usually of different geometrical shapes, circular shape being most prevalent. These tanks had flat bottom without any separate region or arrangement for collection of suspended impurities and/or undissolved solids, and this often created difficulties for the user. Impurities and undissolved solid matters, usually in fine state of subdivision and just larger than colloidal state, collected or deposited at the bottom tended to get dispersed in the main body of clear water stored above these matters, particularly during filling operation when water impinged from top inlet pipe of the tank on the accumulated water, causing sufficient turbulence in the total mass of water resulting in sediments at the bottom mixing with clear water stored on top. In case of ground water having dissolved iron, calcium and magnesium salts, aerial oxidation favoured hydrolysis with the formation of near-insoluble or partially soluble hydroxides which tend to accumulate at the bottom of the tank as divided sludge, which also get dispersed under the influence of the incoming water jet and lend a turbid appearance to the clear water. Such foreign matters are a potential source of health hazard and cause diseases of intestinal tract. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a storage tank of improved design which overcomes the difficulties envisaged in conventional storage tanks. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved storage tank which has a specially designed dome-shaped bottom projecting inside the tank facilitating collection of sediments / foreign matters at the annular region in the bottom. A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved storage tank which does not allow' dispersion or mixing of sludge or sediment with the accumulated clear water. Another object of this invention is to provide a storage tank with a dome- shaped, concavo-convex bottom curving inwards, the upper surface of which is substantially smooth so that the suspended impurities cannot adhere to the curved surface and slide down to the annular space provided at the inside peripheral region of the tank. The foregoing objects are achieved by the present invention according to which there is provided a storage tank for storing liquid, which comprises in combination : i) a main body of the tank made of inert polymeric material which does not enter into reaction with the contents thereof; ii) an opening on the top surface of the tank which is wide enough to allow cleaning to be carried out in the inside region of the tank, the said opening being equipped with a lid connected with a hinge : iii) an inlet through which liquid is introduced in the tank and an over-flow outlet and iv) an outlet pipe provided at the bottom region of the said tank, Characterized in that the bottom surface is concavo-convex, in shape curving inwards facilitating particulate matters and sediments present in the liquid to slide down and get collected in the annular space provided at the tank bottom which can be removed through at least ore outlet provided slightly above the bottom surface of the tank and below the outlet pipe and the exterior of the said tank carries a plurality of ribs uniformly spaced apart to impart structural stability and enhanced impact resistance. As mentioned earlier, annular ring-like bands or ribs impart enhanced structural stability and impact resistance. Any accidental fall or faulty handling of the empty tank while installing or removing will not cause damage to the main body and the ribs will act as "shock-absorbers". The top surface of the tank has an opening which is off-centre and carries a detachable lid which fits snugly around the lip of the opening, which is normally slightly raised above the top surface of the tank and may in addition carry a bead all around the lip to provide a proper sealing. The lid may be attached to the upper surface of the main body of the tank by means of a hinge. The bottom part of the tank carries a plurality of legs or stands, evenly spaced, on which the tank with its content rests creating a clearance at the bottom of the tank. This enables the user to clean the surface on which the tank is made to rest or is situated. As already mentioned earlier, the concavo-convex, dome-shaped bottom surface of the tank curves inwardly and the upper surface thereof is substantially smooth. This prevents adherence of finely divided sludge and/or foreign particles to the surface which slide down and get collected in the annular region of the tank bottom. The bottom region of the tank may have a plurality of opening in the form of drain pipes for quick and efficient removal of accumulated sludge. It has been observed that certain carbonates and bicarbonates going out of liquid phase tend to set or harden on "ageing". Hence, periodic cleaning of the tank bottom is desirable as prolonged deposition of such undesirable materials may even clog the outlets. As the liquid handled is mostly water, this situation could very well arise depending on hardness. The invention will now be more particularly illustrated by means of the drawing accompanying this specification, in which - (1) is the main body of the tank, (2) is the opening on the top surface with a lid, (3) is the inlet through which water is introduced inside the tank, (4) is the over-flow outlet, (5) is the outlet provided at the bottom, (6) is the drain pipe opening below the outlet pipe level, (7) is the dome-shaped bottom curving inwards, (8) denotes a plurality of ribs and (9) denotes the annular space provided around the dome-shaped bottom for allowing the sludge or suspended impurities to collect. From the figure of the tank shown in the accompanying drawings it may be observed that the peripheral region of the tank bottom is substantially rounded which further facilitates removal of the accumulated insoluble, solid impurities. Though the aforesaid storage tanks are primarily meant for holding water mainly for domestic or industrial use, similar containers may well be used for storing non- aqueous liquids which do not react on storage with the tank body. While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without deviating or departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the disclosure contained herein includes within its ambit the obvious equivalents and substitutes as well. Having described the invention in detail with particular reference to the illustrative drawing accompanying this specification, it will now be more specifically defined by means of claims appended hereafter. I claim : 1. A storage tank for storing liquid, which comprises in combination : i) a main body of the tank made of inert polymeric material which does not enter into reaction with the contents thereof; ii) an opening on the top surface of the tank which is wide enough to allow cleaning to be carried out in the inside region of the tank, the said opening being equipped with a lid connected with a hinge ; iii) an inlet through which liquid is introduced in the tank and an over-flow outlet and iv) an outlet pipe provided at the bottom region of the said tank, characterized in that the bottom surface is concavo-convex, in shape curving inwards facilitating particulate matters and sediments present in the liquid to slide down and get collected in the annular space provided at the tank bottom which can be removed through at least one outlet provided slightly above the bottom surface of the tank and below the outlet pipe and the exterior of the said tank carries a plurality of ribs uniformly spaced apart to impart structural stability and enhanced impact resistance. 2. A storage tank as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the said lid is detachably affixed to the said opening providing a hermetic closure. 3. A storage tank as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the upper surface of the concavo-convex bottom part is substantially smooth which prevents accumulation of sludge and/or particulate matter on the surface thereof. 4. A storage tank as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is provided a plurality of legs or stands on which the tank with its content rests, creating a clearance at the bottom, thereby enabling cleaning of the area on which the tank rests. 5. A storage tank as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid stored in the tank is water. 6. A storage tank for storing liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention relates to a storage tank for storing liquid, which comprises in combination : i) a main body of the tank( 1), made of inert polymeric material which does not enter into reaction with the contents thereof; ii) an opening on the top surface of the tank (2), which is wide enough to allow cleaning to be carried out in the inside region of the tank, the said opening being equipped with a lid connected with a hinge ; iii) an inlet (3), through which liquid is introduced in the tank and an overflow outlet (4), and iv) an outlet pipe (5), provided at the bottom region of the said tank, characterized in that the bottom surface is concavo-convex, in shape curving inwards (7), facilitating particulate matters and sediments present in the liquid to slide down and get collected in the annular space (9), provided at the tank bottom which can be removed through at least one outlet (6), provided slightly above the bottom surface of the tank and below the outlet pipe (5), and the exterior of the said tank (1), carries a plurality of ribs (8), uniformly spaced apart to impart structural stability and enhanced impact resistance.

Documents:

726-CAL-2002-(30-03-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

726-CAL-2002-(30-03-2012)-FORM-27.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-abstract.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-claims.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-correspondence.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-description (complete).pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-drawings.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-examination report.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-form 1.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-form 13.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-form 18.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-form 2.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-form 3.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-pa.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

726-cal-2002-granted-specification.pdf