Hands free device for filling tanks
OwnerAndrew G. Rayinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to novel devices and methods of filling tanks designed for holding non-hazardous fluids, especially tanks on recreational vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, the tank to be filled is a water tank. The device of the present invention incorporates several novel and non-obvious features to create a device that permits the filling of tanks in a hands-free manner while keeping water waste to a minimum and preventing the damaging of tank, fill neck or other tank or fill components due to the over filling of the tank.
Claims19
A device for filling tanks, said device comprising:
- An essentially cylindrical housing comprising a first opened end and a second opened end, said cylindrical housing also comprising and positioned between said first opened end and said second opened end i) a filter assembly, ii) a shut-off valve and iii) a self-regulating flow control device, said cylindrical housing further comprising a vented cap, said vented cap positioned between said first opened end and said second opened end and designed to couple said device to said tank or to a fill neck of said tank.
A method for filling a tank with fluid, said method comprising:
- a. attaching to a tank fill opening a fill device comprising:
- i) a cylindrical housing comprising two ends wherein one end comprises a barbed fitting and the other end comprises a screw fitting, said cylindrical housing also comprising ii) proximal to the end comprising the screw fitting a filter assembly and a shut-off valve and iii) proximal to the end comprising the barbed fitting a self-regulating flow control washer, said cylindrical housing further comprising a vented cap, said vented cap positioned between said barbed fitting and said screw fitting and designed to couple said device to said tank or to a tank fill neck;
- b. attaching to the screw fitting of said cylindrical housing a hose sized to fit said screw fitting;
- c. turning on at the source the fluid to be placed into the tank;
- d. opening said shut off valve located proximal to said screw fitting;
- e. filling the tank to a desired level;
- f turning off said shut off valve located proximal to said screw fitting;
- g. turning off fluid at source;
- h. disconnecting said hose from said screw fitting of said cylindrical housing;
- and
- i. removing said fill device from said tank.
A device for the filling of fresh water tanks on recreational vehicles, said device comprising:
- a. a cylindrical device, said device comprising i) a barbed hose fitting, ii) a hose swivel, said hose swivel optionally comprising an on-off valve and a filter, iii) an attachment means for attachment of the device to a tank opening wherein said attachment means also comprises a means for venting said tank to be filled, iv) a self-regulating flow control washer and, v) a flexible hose;
- b. wherein i) said female barbed hose fitting is connected to said hose swivel via a screw fitting, ii) said self-regulating flow control washer is positioned between said female barbed hose fitting and said hose swivel, iii) said flexible hose is connected to the barbed end of said female barbed hose fitting and, iv) said attachment means for attachment to said tank opening is positioned between said barbed hose fitting and said hose swivel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.