Method of adjusting the capacity of a tank, a method of producing a tank, and a tank using the methods

Abstract

A method of adjusting a capacity of a tank, including providing a mold assembly for the tank, the mold assembly configured to form the tank having a first full capacity, and installing an insert block in a cavity of the mold assembly, the mold assembly and insert block configured to form a tank having a second full capacity, the second full capacity being less than the first full capacity. A tank includes a tank main body, and an insert portion extending substantially vertically within the tank main body. A ratio between a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of the insert portion, and a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of an inside of the tank main body from which the cross-sectional area of the insert portion is removed, is substantially constant.

1 . A method of adjusting a capacity of a tank, comprising:
 providing a mold assembly for the tank, the mold assembly configured to form the tank having a first full capacity; and   installing an insert block in a cavity of the mold assembly, the mold assembly and insert block configured to form a tank having a second full capacity, the second full capacity being less than the first full capacity.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert block is detachably installed in the cavity. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of the insert block with respect to a height direction of the tank is designed such that a ratio, of a substantially horizontal area of liquid at any of a plurality of heights of the tank, between when the insert block is provided and when the insert block is not provided, is substantially equal to a ratio between the first full capacity of the tank and the second full capacity of the tank. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the mold assembly comprises an upper mold member and a lower mold member; and   the insert block comprises an upper mold insert block detachably attached to the upper mold member and protruding toward the lower mold member, and a lower mold insert block detachably attached to the lower mold member and protruding toward the upper mold member.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 a base end portion of the upper mold insert block and a base end portion of the lower mold insert block are configured to have a minimum draft angle; and   a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of each insert block is adjusted at a leading end portion of the upper mold insert block and a leading end portion of the lower mold insert block.   
   
   
       6 . A tank comprising:
 a tank main body; and   an insert portion extending substantially vertically within the tank main body,   wherein a ratio between a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of the insert portion, and a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of an inside of the tank main body from which the cross-sectional area of the insert portion is removed, is substantially constant.   
   
   
       7 . The tank according to  claim 6 , wherein the tank main body defines a first full capacity without the insert portion, and the tank main body defines a second full capacity with the insert portion, the first full capacity and the second full capacity attaining substantially the same full tank height. 
   
   
       8 . The tank according to  claim 6 , wherein the insert portion comprises a plurality of insert sections, including an upper insert section extending from an upper side to a lower side of the tank main body, and a lower insert section extending from the lower side to the upper side of the tank main body. 
   
   
       9 . The tank according to  claim 6 , wherein the insert portion is integral at a leading end with the tank main body. 
   
   
       10 . The tank according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a liquid level gauge that determines that the tank is full, whether the tank is configured without the insert portion, or with the insert portion.   
   
   
       11 . A tank comprising:
 a tank main body; and   liquid displacement means extending substantially vertically within the tank main body,   wherein a ratio between a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of the liquid displacement means, and a substantially horizontal cross-sectional area of an inside of the tank main body from which the cross-sectional area of the liquid displacement means is removed, is substantially constant.