초록 ▼

The present invention provides a tank vent device for venting gas from a tank 10 comprising a gas inlet 107 for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank, a gas outlet 109 for discharging the gas received, and a pressure valve 70 connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve

The present invention provides a tank vent device for venting gas from a tank 10 comprising a gas inlet 107 for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank, a gas outlet 109 for discharging the gas received, and a pressure valve 70 connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input 108 and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input, whereby, in use, the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The present invention also provides a vent tank 10, methods of venting gas and refueling an aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of venting gas from a tank, wherein the method includes the steps of: providing a tank vent assembly including: a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of a tank;a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from a vent outlet of the tank;a pressure valve connecting the gas inle

1. A method of venting gas from a tank, wherein the method includes the steps of: providing a tank vent assembly including: a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of a tank;a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from a vent outlet of the tank;a pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input, anda coaxial pipeline connected to the gas outlet of the tank vent device, wherein the coaxial pipeline is configured to be connected to a low pressure and control pressure supply;connecting the tank vent assembly to a vent tank, andventing gas from the vent tank through the gas inlet and gas outlet of the tank vent assembly. 2. A method of refuelling an aircraft, including the method of venting gas from a tank on the aircraft according to claim 1 and simultaneously supplying liquid fuel to a fuel tank on the aircraft. 3. A method to vent gas from a tank, the method comprising: providing a pressure valve to control the venting of gas from the tank, andproviding a control pressure to control opening and closing of the pressure valve wherein said control pressure is independent of pressure in said tank, andchanging an area over which the control pressure is supplied to the pressure valve so as to vary the pressure force on the pressure valve. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control pressure is lower than the pressure of the tank. 5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the area is changed based on a pressure differential between the pressure of the tank and a base pressure. 6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the method includes the step of providing a low pressure supply to an output of the pressure valve. 7. A method of venting gas from a tank comprising: providing a tank vent device, wherein the tank vent device includes; a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank,a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from the vent outlet of the tank, anda pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input, and the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the device further comprises a second pressure valve for controlling the pressure force supplied to the first pressure valve by the control pressure;connecting the device to a vent tank, andventing gas from the vent tank through the gas inlet and gas outlet of the device. 8. A method of venting gas from a tank comprising: providing a tank vent device including: a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank,a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from the vent outlet of the tank, anda pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input and the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the device is arranged to receive a coaxial pipeline such that the gas outlet can be connected to an inner section of the coaxial pipeline and that the control pressure can be supplied in an outer section of the coaxial pipeline, such that, in use, when the outer section of the coaxial pipeline is cut or severed, atmospheric pressure is supplied as the control pressure, causing the first pressure valve to close;connecting the device to a vent tank, andventing gas from the vent tank through the gas inlet and gas outlet of the device. 9. A method of venting gas from a tank comprising: providing a tank vent device including: a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from the vent outlet of the tank, anda pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input and the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the device further comprises a probe for connecting to a vent tank, the probe comprising a nozzle connected to the gas inlet such that gas can be vented from the tank, through the nozzle to the gas inlet;connecting the device to a vent tank, andventing gas from the vent tank through the gas inlet and gas outlet of the device. 10. A tank vent assembly comprising; a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of a tank;a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from a vent outlet of the tank;a pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input, anda coaxial pipeline connected to the gas outlet, wherein the coaxial pipeline is configured to be connected to a low pressure and control pressure supply. 11. A tank vent device for venting gas from a tank, the device comprising; a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank,a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from the vent outlet of the tank, anda pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input and the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the device is arranged to receive a coaxial pipeline such that the gas outlet can be connected to an inner section of the coaxial pipeline and that the control pressure can be supplied in an outer section of the coaxial pipeline, such that, in use, when the outer section of the coaxial pipeline is cut or severed, atmospheric pressure is supplied as the control pressure, causing the first pressure valve to close. 12. A tank vent assembly comprising; the tank vent device of claim 11, anda coaxial pipeline connected to the gas outlet of the tank vent device for connection to a low pressure and control pressure supply. 13. A tank vent device for venting gas from a tank, the device comprising; a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank,a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from the vent outlet of the tank, anda pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input and the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the device further comprises a probe for connecting to a vent tank, the probe comprising a nozzle connected to the gas inlet such that gas can be vented from the tank, through the nozzle to the gas inlet. 14. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the probe further comprises a locking mechanism for securing the probe to the tank during use. 15. A tank vent assembly comprising; the tank vent device of claim 13, anda coaxial pipeline connected to the gas outlet of the tank vent device for connection to a low pressure and control pressure supply. 16. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 13, wherein a shroud is mounted on the probe, such that, in use, the shroud provides a seal around the probe and wherein the shroud can be moved between a deployed position, wherein, in use, the shroud provides a seal around the probe, and a collapsed position, such that the device can be stored. 17. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shroud comprises a lever mechanism, such that, when in the deployed position, the levers are over-centred so as to help maintain the shroud in the deployed position. 18. A vent tank comprising a valve assembly for connecting to the vent tank device of claim 13, the valve assembly comprising; a valve such that when the probe is inserted in the valve assembly, the valve can be opened to allow gas in the vent tank to vent into the probe, anda securing mechanism for releasably securing the probe to the vent tank. 19. A vent tank as claimed in claim 18, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a rotatable joint to allow the probe to move rotationally in relation to the tank. 20. An aircraft wing comprising the vent tank of claim 18. 21. An aircraft comprising the vent tank of claim 18. 22. A tank vent device for venting gas from a tank, the device comprising; a gas inlet for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank,a gas outlet for discharging the gas received from the vent outlet of the tank, anda pressure valve connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input, and the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the device further comprises a second pressure valve for controlling the pressure force supplied to the first pressure valve by the control pressure. 23. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 22, wherein, in use, the second pressure valve controls the pressure force supplied to the first pressure valve by controlling the area over which the control pressure is supplied to the first pressure valve. 24. A tank vent assembly comprising; the tank vent device of claim 22, anda coaxial pipeline connected to the gas outlet of the tank vent device for connection to a low pressure and control pressure supply. 25. A tank vent device as in any of claims 22, 11 and 13 whereby the pressure valve is configured to be controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet, wherein the gas inlet and gas outlet both act on a first side of a moveable diaphragm of the pressure valve and wherein the control pressure input acts on a second, opposite side of the diaphragm. 26. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cross-sectional area of the gas inlet and the cross-sectional area of the gas outlet acting on the diaphragm of the first pressure valve are dimensioned such that, in use, when the gas inlet experiences a higher than atmospheric pressure from the tank and the gas outlet experiences a lower than atmospheric pressure from a low pressure supply, there is little overall pressure force acting on the diaphragm from the combination of the gas inlet and gas outlet. 27. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second pressure valve is controllable based on a pressure differential between two pressure inputs including a first pressure input corresponding to the pressure in the tank being vented. 28. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 27, wherein a second pressure input to the second pressure valve corresponds to a base pressure. 29. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second pressure valve comprises a moveable diaphragm, with the first pressure input on one side of the diaphragm and a second pressure input on the second, opposite side of the diaphragm. 30. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the diaphragm of the second pressure valve is connected to a piston, such that when the diaphragm moves in a first direction towards the second pressure input side, the piston is caused to move in the same direction, from a closed position against a first seat to an open position. 31. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first seat is on the second, opposite side of the first pressure valve, such that lifting of the piston from the first seat opens the control pressure input of the first pressure valve, enabling a pressure force to be supplied to the first pressure valve by the control pressure. 32. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the diaphragm of the second pressure valve is also connected to a second piston, such that when the diaphragm moves in a second direction towards the first pressure input side, the second piston is caused to move in the second direction, thereby urging the second piston towards a restricting position with respect to the control pressure input of the first pressure valve. 33. A tank vent device as claimed in claim 32, wherein once the second piston is in its restricting position, further movement of the diaphragm in the second direction causes the first piston to move in the second direction towards its closed position against the first seat to seal off the control pressure input of the first pressure valve.