Fluid tank and mounting configuration

Abstract

A fluid tank is disclosed for use with a machine. The fluid tank may have a plurality of walls connected to each other to substantially enclose a volume. The fluid tank may also have a fill spout with a generally cylindrical shape and an external open end. The fill spout may be attached to at least one of the plurality of walls at only one axial side such that a majority of a periphery of the cylindrical shape is exposed to the atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid tank, comprising:
 a plurality of walls connected to each other to substantially enclose a volume; and   a fill spout having a generally cylindrical shape with an external open end, the fill spout being attached to at least one of the plurality of walls at only one axial side such that a majority of a periphery of the generally cylindrical shape is exposed to the atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , wherein about 270° of the generally cylindrical shape is exposed to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of walls includes a generally vertical side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of walls includes a generally horizontal upper wall. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including a cap configured to close off the external open end of the fill spout. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including a internal passage formed within the at least one of the plurality of walls and fluidly communicating the fill spout with an uppermost space within the substantially enclosed volume. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including at least one pocket formed within a generally vertical one of the plurality of walls, the at least one pocket configured to engage a protrusion of a mounting bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid tank of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the generally vertical one of the plurality of walls is a first wall;   the mounting bracket is a first type of mounting bracket; and   the fluid tank further includes at least one step formed within a second generally vertical one of the plurality of walls located opposite the first wall, the at least one step configured to engage a protrusion of a second type of mounting bracket different than the first type of mounting bracket.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including at least one step formed within at least one generally vertical wall of the plurality of walls and configured to engage a protrusion of a mounting bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid tank of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one step includes a plurality of vertical steps formed within each generally vertical wall of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid tank of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of walls and fill spout are integrally formed as a single component from a plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including a first mounting location formed within an upper generally horizontal wall of the plurality of walls, the first mounting location configured to receive at least one breather element. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid tank of  claim 12 , further including a hose connected to the at least one breather element and disposed within a channel formed within at least one of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid tank of  claim 12 , further including a second mounting location formed within the upper generally horizontal wall and configured to receive a sensing element. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid tank of  claim 14 , further including at least one curb surrounding at least one of the first and second mounting locations. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid tank of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second mounting locations is recessed within the upper generally horizontal wall. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid tank of  claim 15 , further including a space formed within the at least one curb to facilitate draining of the at least one of the first and second mounting locations. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid tank of  claim 14 , further including at least one plate configured to close off at least one of the first and second mounting locations. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid tank of  claim 14 , wherein the upper generally horizontal wall is sloped away from the first and second mounting locations. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of channels formed within the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid tank of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of channels includes:
 at least a first channel configured to receive a mounting bracket; and   at least a second channel configured to strengthen the fluid tank,   wherein the at least a first channel has a width greater than a width of the at least a second channel.   
     
     
         22 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including a quick fill mounting location located in at least one of a generally vertical side wall and a lower wall of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , further including at least one ledge formed within at least one of the plurality of walls, the at least one ledge configured to engage a mounting bracket and support the fluid tank. 
     
     
         24 . A fluid tank, comprising:
 a plurality of walls connected to each other to substantially enclose a volume;   at least one mounting location formed within an upper generally horizontal wall of the plurality of walls, the at least one mounting location configured to receive at least one external element; and   at least one curb surrounding the at least one mounting location.   
     
     
         25 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the at least one mounting location includes a first mounting location and a second mounting location; and   the at least one curb includes a first curb associated with the first mounting location and a second curb associated with the second mounting location.   
     
     
         26 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the at least one mounting location includes a first mounting location and a second mounting location;   the at least one curb is associated with only the first mounting location; and   the second mounting location is recessed within the upper generally horizontal wall.   
     
     
         27 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the at least one mounting location includes a first mounting location configured to receive a first external element and a second mounting location configured to receive a second external element;   the first external element is a breather element;   the second external element is a sensing element; and   the fluid tank further includes a hose connected to the breather element and disposed within a channel formed within at least one of the plurality of walls.   
     
     
         28 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including at least one pocket formed within a generally vertical one of the plurality of walls, the at least one pocket configured to engage a protrusion of a mounting bracket. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid tank of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the generally vertical one of the plurality of walls is a first wall;   the mounting bracket is a first type of mounting bracket; and   the fluid tank further includes at least one step formed within a second generally vertical one of the plurality of walls located opposite the first wall, the at least one step configured to engage a protrusion of a second type of mounting bracket different than the first type of mounting bracket.   
     
     
         30 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including at least one step formed within at least one generally vertical wall of the plurality of walls and configured to engage a protrusion of a mounting bracket. 
     
     
         31 . The fluid tank of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one step includes a plurality of vertical steps formed within each generally vertical wall of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         32 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of walls, at least one mounting location, and the at least one curb are integrally formed as a single component from a plastic material. 
     
     
         33 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including a space formed within the at least one curb to facilitate draining of the at least one mounting location. 
     
     
         34 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including at least one plate configured to close off at least one mounting location. 
     
     
         35 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , wherein the upper generally horizontal wall is sloped away from the at least one mounting location. 
     
     
         36 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including a plurality of channels formed within the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         37 . The fluid tank of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of channels includes:
 at least a first channel configured to receive a mounting bracket; and   at least a second channel configured to strengthen the fluid tank,   wherein the at least a first channel has a width greater than a width of the at least a second channel.   
     
     
         38 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including a quick fill mounting location located in at least one of a generally vertical side wall and a lower wall of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         39 . The fluid tank of  claim 24 , further including at least one ledge formed within at least one of the plurality of walls, the at least one ledge configured to engage a mounting bracket and support the fluid tank. 
     
     
         40 . A fluid tank, comprising:
 a plurality of walls connected to each other to substantially enclose a volume;   at least one step formed within a generally vertical wall of the plurality of walls and configured to engage a protrusion of a mounting bracket,   at least a first channel configured to receive the mounting bracket; and   at least a second channel configured to strengthen the fluid tank,   wherein:
 the at least a first channel has a width greater than a width of the at least a second channel; and 
 the plurality of walls, the at least one step, the at least a first channel, and the at least a second channel are integrally formed as a single component from a plastic material.