Plastic tank base

Abstract

An improved pallet and tank assembly ( 10 ) is provided, including a metal tank ( 12 ) positioned atop and secured to a flat-bottomed, synthetic resin pallet ( 14 ). Preferably, the pallet ( 14 ) includes an upper tank-supporting slotted surface ( 40 ) which receives depending couplers ( 28 ) serving to secure the tank ( 12 ) to the pallet ( 14 ) and allowing field-replacement of the pallet ( 14 ) without the need for welding or the like. The pallet ( 14 ) presents a substantially flat bottom ( 44 ) having a plurality of enlarged foot structures ( 60 ) and interconnecting rails ( 62 ) serving to evenly distribute loaded weights.

1 . A tank and pallet assembly comprising:
 a tank presenting a base, upright, circumferentially extending sidewall structure, a top wall, and at least one depending connector extending from said base;   a pallet having a top surface matingly receiving and engaging said tank base, said pallet having at least one opening through said top surface and receiving said at least one connector, said pallet presenting a substantially flat bottom surface; and   a fastener operably coupling said at least one connector to said pallet.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said tank having a drain adjacent said base, said pallet having a recess receiving said drain. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said tank formed of metal, said pallet formed of synthetic resin material. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said pallet having upstanding peripheral wall structure engaging portions of said tank. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said tank top wall having a fill port. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said at least one connector further comprising a plurality of mated pairs of elongated, apertured connection tabs. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of openings comprising slots receiving said mated tab pairs. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further including a plurality of fasteners comprising a pin fastener extending through the apertures of mated tab pairs. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said pallet having recesses formed between the top and bottom surfaces thereof permitting insertion of lift tongues therein. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said pallet and tank being substantially quadrate in plan configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said pallet having a series of generally orthogonal strengthening walls below said top surface and defining a series of cells. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said pallet having supporting foot structures at the corners thereof, with intermediate supporting foot structure between the corner foot structures. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , including bottom surfaces extending between said foot structures. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said pallet being substantially quadrate in plan configuration, and having a pair of lift tongue-receiving recesses along each side thereof, such that the pallet and tank may be elevated using lift tongues inserted at any one of the four sides thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , there being four mated pairs of said fasteners, each mated pair being received within a corresponding pair of said pallet openings. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said at least one connector comprising a plurality of generally U-shaped elements. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , said fastener comprising at least one elongated connecting rod extending through said elements. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , including a pair of connecting rods extending through each of said elements.