초록 ▼

A dual tank storage system for fuel having gaseous and liquid phases where one tank is a main storage tank and the other is an expansion tank. The system has a valve assembly on the exterior of the system for permitting fuel to flow from the main storage tank to the expansion tank in order to reliev

A dual tank storage system for fuel having gaseous and liquid phases where one tank is a main storage tank and the other is an expansion tank. The system has a valve assembly on the exterior of the system for permitting fuel to flow from the main storage tank to the expansion tank in order to relieve pressure in the main storage tank. The valve assembly permits only the main storage tank to be filled. The fact that fuel can flow from the main storage compartment to the expansion compartment to relieve pressure from the main storage compartment allows the main storage tank to be filled to 100% capacity. The valve assembly includes a valve chamber and a valve plunger movable in the chamber between a normal operating position and a tank filling position. A coil spring biases the plunger towards the normal operating position. A filling port for fuel leads to the valve chamber which opens into a port of the storage tank. Fuel is drawn only from the expansion tank. The system may include a back pressure relief valve which allows fuel that is trapped in the lines and fittings between the tank shut off valve and the fuel lock-off to flow back into the tank when a maximum pressure is reached in the line between the tank shut-off valve and the fuel lock-off.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I therefore claim:] [1.] A fuel storage system for a fuel having liquid and gaseous phases comprising:a main storage tank having a main tank port for the passage of fuel into said storage tank;an expansion tank having an inlet port for the passage of fuel into said expansion tank and an outlet for

[ I therefore claim:] [1.] A fuel storage system for a fuel having liquid and gaseous phases comprising:a main storage tank having a main tank port for the passage of fuel into said storage tank;an expansion tank having an inlet port for the passage of fuel into said expansion tank and an outlet for said fuel, said expansion tank being substantially smaller than said storage tank;a valve arrangement for filling said main storage tank with said fuel and for permitting said fuel to flow from said main storage tank to said expansion tank during normal use of the system, said arrangement including a valve chamber, a valve member movable in said chamber between a normal operating position and a tank filling position, means for biasing said valve member towards said normal operating position, and a filling port leading to said valve chamber and through which said fuel under pressure can be fed into said valve chamber, wherein said chamber opens into said main tank port and the flow of fuel under pressure into said valve chamber in order to fill said storage tank causes said valve member to move to said tank filling position, thereby permitting free flow of said fuel from said chamber and through said main tank port into said storage tank;and a fuel passage extending from said chamber to said expansion tank, said valve member acting to close said fuel passage when said valve member is in said tank filling position,wherein, when pressure in said storage tank exceeds pressure in said expansion tank and said valve member is in said normal operating position, said fuel is able to flow from said storage tank, through said chamber, and through said fuel passage into said expansion tank.