TANK TRAILER WITH A SECURITY SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field ofi tank trailer and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a tank trailer with a security system aimed at closing and locking the tank trailer in order to avoid any tampering of its content and to prove that the content of the tank has not been tampered.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known in the art are typical tank trailers used in the industry for transportation of liquid or solid powdered products. The tank trailers typically comprise a large stainless steel tank, made out of a single or of plural internal compartments, and an undercarriage such that they may be pulled on road by a tractor truck. Tank trailers may be used for transportation of liquid products in the food industry (such as milk, syrup or liquid sugar), in the chemical industry (peroxide, phenol, dangerous products) or in the petroleum industry (raw oils). They may also be used for
2 o transportation of solid powdered products used in different sectors such as cement, salt or plastic pellets.
The typical tank trailer comprises several openings that may be found in different locations according to its specific use. Usually, the tank trailer will contain an opening at one end to allow for the filling of the tank with the product, and ane or several openings at the bottom to allow for the emptying of the tank. Other than these, one will also find a vent, provided for air circulation during the filling and the emptying phases, and one or many manholes, the manholes being generally placed on the top of the tank trailer.
Typically, the tank trailer is firstly washed and disinfected before it leaves to be filled with the product to be transported. During the washing process, all of the openings are opened. The manholes on the top ofi the tank trailer are opened to allow the personnel into the tank, at least for inspection purposes. The manholes are usually closed by a flap cover hingedly mounted to the manhole ridge.. The vent, as well as the filling and the emptying openings, usually provide an external communication with the inside of the tank only when a specially adapted connector is used. They do not allow enough room for a person to pass through either.
Once the tank has been washed, disinfected and inspected, all the openings are tightly closed and the tank trailer is ready to leave for its destination in order to be filled. On destination, the tank trailer is filled with the product. The only openings 1 o that open are the filling opening and the vent, the others remaining closed. Once filled, the tank trailer is then brought to its final destination where the product will be delivered. The only openings that open then are the emptying openings and the vent, the others remaining closed. The tank trailer is then returned to its departure point for washing and sanitising in prevision of another transportation. One will notice that the manholes never need to be opened during the whole process of transportation.
Independently of the specific product transported inta such tank trailers, the industry in general, as well as the governments, are now more concerned with the potential 2 o danger associated with the tampering of the products inside these tank trailers. The poisoning of a batch of milk, either intentional or accidental, is one example among others of the damage that could result from a tampering of a tank trailer.
A common drawback with the trailer tanks of the prior art is that these do not allow 2 5 to lock in place the flap covers closing the manholes in order to eliminate any tampering of the product inside the trailer tank during transportation. The flap covers are easily operable from the outside of the tank trailer, only with the unscrewing of the latches. Moreover, these do not allow an operator to easily monitor, from the floor, if any tampering of the product has occurred during transportation.
3 There is still presently a need for a trailer tank that would allow for the locking in place of the manholes as well as for the monitoring of any tempering of the products during the transportation process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a tank trailer with a security system that satisfies the above mentionned need.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tank trailer with a security system that can securely lock in place the flap cover used to close the manholes while at the same time provide a seal to the tank to monitor if the content of the tank has been tempered.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tank trailer with a security system that allows for the monitoring of the continuous sealing of the tank by an operator standing on the ground.
As opposed to conventional tank trailers, the present invention allows the operator 2 0 to lock in place the flap covers closing the manholes and to monitor and ensure that the manholes have not been opened between to points of control.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a security system suitable for a tank trailer of the type comprising a tank with a manhole and a cover for covering the manhole. The security system comprises a locking means for removably locking the cover on the manhole from the ground and a sealing means associated with the locking means for verifying if the manhole has been opened or not.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tank comprises at 3 0 least one manhole on a top wall thereof. The manhole is covered by a flap cover that is hingedty attached to the tank, the flap cover being movable between an open position and a closed position
4 The locking means of the security system comprises a Pock pivotally mounted to the tank adjacent to the flap cover, the Pock being pivotable befinreen a lock position where it prevents the cover flap from being opened, and an unlock position allowing opening of the flap. The security system further comprises an on-off remote mechanical actuator for remotely actuating the lock between the lock and unlock position. The actuator can take an on position causing the lock to pivot to its lock position and an off position where the lock is pivotable to its unlock position.
The sealing means of the security system comprises a seal removably mounted to 1 o the actuator, the seal being movable between a sealed position for preventing the actuator from being set to its off position and an unseated position allowing the actuator to be set to its off position. The sealing means further comprises a breakable indicator that allows the sea! to move to its unsealed position only when it has been broken thereby ensuring that the cover has stayed in its closed position between two inspections.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only with reference 2 0 to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 5 These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which Figure 1 shows different views of a tank trailer with a security system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows in more details different parts of the tank trailer of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows in details different parts of a tank trailer with a security system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such
5 embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1n the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals and in order to weight down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a security system suitable for a tank trailer of the type comprising a tank 100 with a manhole 101 and a cover 102 for covering the manhole. The security system comprises a locking means 103 for removably locking the cover 102 on the manhole 101 from the ground and a sealing means 104 associated with the locking means 103 for verifying if the manhole 101 has been opened or not.
The tank 100 comprises at least one manhole 101 on a top wall thereof. The manhole 101 is covered by a flap cover 102 that is hingedly attached to the tank 100, the flap cover 102 being movable between an open position and a closed position.
The Locking means 103 of the security system comprises a lock 105 pivotally mounted to the tank 100 adjacent to the flap cover 102, the lock 105 being pivotable between a lock position where it prevents the cover flap 102 from being opened, and an unlock position allowing opening of the flap 102. The security system further comprises an on-off remote mechanical actuator 106 for remotely actuating the lock 105 between the lock and the unlock position. The actuator 106 can take an on position causing the lock 105 to pivot to its lock position and an off position where the lock 105 is pivotable to its unlock position.
The sealing means 104 of the security system comprises a seal 107 removably mounted to the actuator 106, the seat 107 being movable between a sealed position for preventing the actuator 106 from being set to its off position, and an unsealed position allowing the actuator 106 to be set to its off position, and comprising a breakable indicator 108 that allows the seal 107 to move to its unsealed position only when it has been broken, thereby ensuring that the cover 102 has stayed in its 1 o closed position between two inspections.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying dravvings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.