Citation

Swenson K. IMSA J. 2000; 38(4): 60-61.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, International Municipal Signal Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The inertia of large liquid loads moving around (sloshing) in partially full truck tanks can drastically affect their handling. In large tanks, literally tons of liquid shift forwards or backwards when the vehicles stop, accelerate, and turn, which can cause traffic accidents or rollovers. The typical solution is to install baffles--large, fixed plates or compartments--into tanks when they are built, thus reducing the surface area of liquid subject to movement and reducing the effect of movement on the vehicle. However, conventional fixed-tank baffles tend to only reduce surge front to back, tend to wear out, and are difficult to repair or retrofit into existing tanks. This article describes a unique anti-surge tank safety baffle system for stuck and semi liquid load shift control. Designed to greatly reduce surging while the liquid cargo is being transported, the baffle system consists of plastic strips joined to form spheres which are compressed and inserted into the tank and can dampen surge in over 1,000 direction due to their multi-leaf flex-absorbing construction. Examples of the system in use are provided.