Emergency Water Tank with Inflatable Elevation Device

Abstract

An inflatable or fixed-volume water tank that is equipped with one or more inflatable elevation means designed to elevate the tank while it is in use in order to enable convenient use of the tank and to enable water to flow from the tank by force of gravitation; An inflatable device designed to serve as an elevated platform for an inflatable or fixed-volume water tank.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to an emergency water tank that is equipped with an inflatable elevation device which is attached to the tank permanently or can be attached to it according to need and which elevates the tank to enable water to flow by force of gravitation and to enable efficient and convenient use.

BACKGROUND ART

Many entities, particularly public entities such as emergency security forces, municipalities, local and regional councils, and the like have water tanks designated to supply citizens in times of emergency, when it is impossible to supply the citizens with water via the regular water system. Such tanks are usually of various volumes, such as 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 5,000 liters, and so on, and are positioned at locations in different supply areas where citizens can come and fill bottles and smaller containers for residential use. In addition, smaller tanks of up to 500 liters are used for domestic use and outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, and so on.

There are, in general, two kinds of tanks: tanks with fixed volumes and inflatable tanks. The fixed-volume tanks are usually made of rigid plastic and their volume is fixed both when they are empty and when they are filled with water. Inflatable tanks, which were developed to facilitate storage and handling, are made of a tough outer layer, such as PVC or PVC combined with other plastic materials, and an inner layer that meets the standards for use with drinking water. When the inflatable tank is empty, it is deflated condition and is therefore easy to store and handle. The tank is equipped with a filling and emptying spigot through which the tank is filled with water and through which the water is consumed.

It is customary in times of emergency to distribute empty tanks at various locations for the benefit of the residents and have a water tanker fill the empty tanks with water. In some cases the tanks may be filled with water from natural, uncontaminated sources such as water wells. In order to prevent the tank from sitting on the ground or on the pavement in a way that hinders its use and the use of its spigot, it is customary to place the tank (preferably before filling it with water) on an elevation platform, usually about 100 cm from ground level. The standard elevation platform comprises several rods that form a frame with four legs; a flat plate is placed on the upper frame. Thus, the various public entities mentioned above must also have elevated platforms, distribute them in times of emergency to the appropriate locations, assemble them, and place the water tanks on them, all of which constitute a problem which the present patent application aspires to solve. Drawing No. 1 depicts a fixed-volume water tank (100) on an elevation platform (200) and Drawing No. 2 depicts an inflatable water tank (101) on an elevation platform (200).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The intention of the drawings attached to the application is not to limit the scope of the invention and its application.

The drawings are intended only to illustrate the invention and they constitute only one of its many possible implementations.

Drawing No. 1 depicts a fixed-volume water tank (100) on an elevation platform (200).

Drawing No. 2 depicts an inflatable water tank (100) on an elevation platform (200).

Drawings Nos. 3 and 4 respectively depict an empty water tank (1) and a full water tank (1) with an inflatable elevation device (2) attached to each.

Drawings Nos. 5 and 6 respectively depict an empty water tank (1) and a full water tank (1) with four inflatable elevation devices (2) attached to each.

Drawing No. 7 depicts an empty tank (1) with two inflatable elevation devices (2) attached to it.

Drawing No. 8 depicts a full water tank (1) with an inflatable elevation device (2) attached to it.

THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatable water tank (1), for use in times of emergency or in other outdoor activities such as camping, sports, etc., that is equipped with one or more inflatable devices designed to elevate the tank while in use in order to enable convenient use of the water tank and to enable water to flow from the tank by force of gravitation in a convenient, easy and efficient manner.

The tank (1), subject of the present invention, is in general made and assembled like a standard, currently available inflatable emergency tank, with or without an internal water-storage bag. The tank (1) can be designed and made from materials that are currently used, or that may be used in the future, to manufacture inflatable tanks.

Inflatable elevation device (2): The tank (1) is equipped with one or more elevation devices (2) that may be inflated so as to serve as a base and elevated platform for the tank (1). The inflatable elevation device (2) is made of rubber, plastic or any other material that is flat when deflated, has a relatively large volume when full of compressed air, and is strong enough to support the weight of the tank (1) when it is full of water. The inflatable device (2) may be made of flexible and strong materials like those used to manufacture inflatable devices used by rescue forces to lift heavy objects from demolished structures after earthquakes and so on.

The inflatable elevation device (2) can be an integral part of the tank (1), or permanently attached to it, or separate and attached only when needed. The tank (1) can and should have an attachment surface (3), which can be either flexible or rigid, such that one side of the attachment surface (3) is attached to the bottom of the tank (1) and the inflatable elevation device (2) attaches to its other side. The inflatable elevation device (2) may be inflated using an electric or manual air pump, a compressed air tank, or a vehicle's exhaust pipe.

Drawing No. 3 depicts an empty water tank (1) with a deflated inflatable elevation device (2) that is compatible with the dimensions of the tank (1). Drawing No. 4 depicts a tank (1) and an inflatable elevation device (2) whereby they are filled with water and air, respectively. Drawing No. 5 depicts an empty water tank (1) with four deflated inflatable elevation devices (2) attached to it and Drawing No. 6 depicts the same tank with inflatable elevation devices (2) whereby they are filled with water and air, respectively. The tank (1) may, for instance, be equipped with two inflatable elevation devices (2), as depicted in Drawing No. 7.

The present invention may also be implemented with a fixed-volume water tank and the second implementation of the present invention is a fixed-volume water tank (4) that is equipped with one or more inflatable elevation devices (2), all according to the principles and explanations given above for the inflatable water tank (1), as depicted in Drawing No. 8.

Claims

1. An inflatable water tank that is equipped with one or more inflatable elevation devices designed to elevate the tank and support it while it is in use in order to enable convenient use of the tank and to enable water to flow from the tank into any pipe or spigot by force of gravitation.

2. A fixed-volume water tank that is equipped with one or more inflatable elevation devices designed to elevate the tank and support it while it is in use in order to enable convenient use of the tank and to enable water to flow from the tank into any pipe or spigot by force of gravitation.

3. An inflatable device designed to serve as an elevated platform for an inflatable or fixed-volume water tank.