초록 ▼

A portable storage device to contain fuel. The device is designed to be relatively light-weight to allow for movement around a fueling facility, and to be delivered to the fueling facility through the air. The device includes a number of separate tanks each configured to contain fuel. A suspension p

A portable storage device to contain fuel. The device is designed to be relatively light-weight to allow for movement around a fueling facility, and to be delivered to the fueling facility through the air. The device includes a number of separate tanks each configured to contain fuel. A suspension protects the tanks by absorbing external forces that could occur in the event the device is dropped during air delivery.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A storage device to store and dispense fuel, the storage device comprising: a frame that includes a floor with a first side and an opposing second side, the frame also including a central column that extends upward above the first side of the floor;a base mounted to the frame below the floor;whee

1. A storage device to store and dispense fuel, the storage device comprising: a frame that includes a floor with a first side and an opposing second side, the frame also including a central column that extends upward above the first side of the floor;a base mounted to the frame below the floor;wheels mounted to the base;storage tanks comprising a master storage tank and slave storage tanks positioned on the first side of the floor and extending around the central column, the master and slave storage tanks being spaced apart with an overall weight of the master and slave storage tanks when full of fuel being evenly distributed across the frame;one or more conduits extending between the master storage tank and the slave storage tanks to move the fuel from the slave storage tanks to the master storage tank; anda suspension comprising resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the base to provide relative motion between the base and the frame, the suspension also comprising resilient spacers positioned between the master and slave storage tanks and the frame to provide relative motion between the master and slave storage tanks and the frame; anda processing circuit positioned within an interior of the central column to control the movement of fuel between the master and slave storage tanks. 2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the base are different than the resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the master and slave storage tanks. 3. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising an exterior casing mounted to the frame and that forms an enclosed interior space over the floor with the master and slave storage tanks positioned within the interior space. 4. A storage device to store and dispense fuel, the storage device comprising: a frame with a floor and a column that extends outward above the floor;a wheeled base mounted to the frame and positioned below the floor,storage tanks positioned on the floor and positioned to extend around the column, each of the storage tanks configured to contain fuel;one or more conduits extending between the storage tanks to move the fuel between the storage tanks;a retainer mounted to the column and including arms that extend radially outward from the column that are each connected to one of the storage tanks to secure the storage tanks, the retainer being axially spaced along the column above the floor to connect to an upper portion of the storage tanks;a suspension comprising resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the base to provide relative motion between the frame and the base, the suspension also comprising resilient spacers positioned between the storage tanks and the frame to provide relative motion between the storage tanks and the frame; anda processing circuit positioned within an interior of the column to control the movement of fuel between the storage tanks. 5. The storage device of claim 4, wherein each of the resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the base and between the storage tanks and the frame being deformable between a first configuration when no external forces are acting on the storage tanks and a different second configuration when external forces are acting on the storage tanks. 6. The storage device of claim 4, wherein the resilient spacers positioned between the storage tanks and the frame are positioned between a bottom of the storage tanks and the floor of the frame. 7. The storage device of claim 6, wherein the resilient spacers between the storage tanks and the frame are positioned between the retainer and the column for the retainer to be movably connected to the column. 8. The storage device of claim 4, wherein each of the storage tanks are independently configured to contain the fuel. 9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein each of the storage tanks includes the same capacity. 10. The storage device of claim 4, wherein a distal end of the column is positioned a greater distance from the floor than each of the storage tanks. 11. The storage device of claim 4, further comprising an exterior casing attached to the frame and that forms an enclosed interior space over the floor with the storage tanks positioned within the interior space. 12. The storage device of claim 4, further comprising support arms that extend between the column and a sidewall of the frame, the support arms forming receptacles spaced around the column that are each sized to contain one of the storage tanks. 13. The storage device of claim 4, wherein the resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the base being separate from and spaced away from the resilient spacers positioned between the storage tanks and the frame. 14. A storage device to store and dispense fuel, the storage device comprising: a frame that includes a floor with a first side and an opposing second side, a sidewall positioned around the floor and that extends upward above the first side of the floor, and a column at a center of the frame that extends upward above the first side of the floor;a connector positioned at the end of the column;a base mounted below the floor;wheels mounted to the base;storage tanks comprising a master storage tank and slave storage tanks positioned on the first side of the floor and within the sidewall, the master and slave storage tanks being spaced apart along the floor with an overall weight of the master and slave storage tanks when full of fuel being evenly distributed across the floor, the master and slave storage tanks positioned below the connector;one or more conduits extending between the master storage tank and the slave storage tanks to move the fuel from the slave storage tanks to the master storage tank;one or more first resilient spacers positioned between the master and slave storage tanks and the frame to provide relative movement between the master and slave storage tanks and the frame;one or more second resilient spacers positioned between the frame and the base to provide relative movement between the frame and the base, the one or more second resilient spacers being separate from and spaced away from the one or more first resilient spacers;each of the first and second resilient spacers being deformable between a first configuration when no external forces are acting on the master and slave storage tanks and a different second configuration when external forces are acting on the master and slave storage tanks. 15. The storage device of claim 14, wherein a distal end of the column opposite from the floor is positioned above the master and slave storage tanks. 16. The storage device of claim 14, wherein the first and second resilient spacers are each constructed from an elastic material. 17. The storage device of claim 14, further comprising an exterior casing attached to the frame and that forms an enclosed interior space over the floor with the master and slave storage tanks positioned within the interior space. 18. The storage device of claim 17, wherein a distal end of the column extends outward from the exterior casing. 19. The storage device of claim 14, wherein the one or more conduits extend through the floor of the frame with a first section of the one or more conduits positioned on the first side of the floor and a second section positioned on the second side of the floor. 20. The storage device of claim 14, further comprising support arms that extend between the column and the sidewall, the support arms forming receptacles spaced around the column that are each sized to contain one of the master and slave storage tanks.