Storage tank for ice-slurry

Abstract

A storage tank comprises: a body having opposite open ends; end plates removably connected to the opposite open ends of the body, one of the end plates comprising an inlet and an outlet; and a piston floatably mounted within the body. The piston is movable towards the end plate having the inlet and the outlet during discharge of ice-slurry contained within the storage tank via the outlet.

1 . A storage tank comprising:
 a body having opposite open ends;   end plates removably connected to the opposite open ends of the body, one of the end plates comprising an inlet and an outlet; and   a piston floatably mounted within the body, the piston being movable towards the end plate having the inlet and the outlet during discharge of ice-slurry contained within the storage tank via the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The storage tank of  claim 1 , wherein the piston divides the storage tank into isolated first and second compartments, the first compartment being delineated by the piston and the end plate having the inlet and the outlet, and the second compartment being delineated by the piston and the other end plate. 
     
     
         3 . The storage tank of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal extending about a periphery of the piston, the seal being in contact with an interior surface of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The storage tank of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one agitator mounted within the body and configured to mix ice-slurry contained within the storage tank.   
     
     
         5 . The storage tank of  claim 4 , comprising a plurality of agitators mounted within the body at spaced locations. 
     
     
         6 . The storage tank of  claim 2 , comprising:
 at least one agitator mounted within the first compartment of the storage tank and configured to mix ice-slurry contained within the first compartment of the storage tank.   
     
     
         7 . The storage tank of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one agitator is positioned adjacent the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The storage tank of  claim 6 , comprising a plurality of agitators mounted within the first compartment of the storage tank at spaced locations. 
     
     
         9 . The storage tank of  claim 8 , wherein one agitator is positioned adjacent the outlet and wherein another agitator is positioned adjacent the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The storage tank of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is positioned at a location above the inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The storage tank of  claim 1 , wherein the storage tank is pressurized. 
     
     
         12 . The storage tank of  claim 2 , wherein the other end plate comprises an inlet to permit the ingress of a pressurizing medium into the second compartment of the storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . The storage tank of  claim 12 , wherein the pressurizing medium is water or air. 
     
     
         14 . The storage tank of  claim 1 , wherein the piston is semi-permeable to permit the flow of liquid or solution therethrough.