Explosion-resistant fuel tank device
OwnerHorace A. Tansillinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An explosion resistant fuel tank comprises an explosion resistant insert, which comprises a compressible resilient structure. The structure is placed within a conventional fuel tank, and has interconnecting capillary-sized cells for containing a liquid fuel. The cells have equivalent cross-sectional diameters of no more than about 0.005 inch. The fuel tank also comprises means for compressing the compressible structure to a reduced volume so that the liquid fuel contained therein passes out of the compressible structure. In one version, the compressible structure is a sponge. In another version, the compressible structure comprises an elongated honeycomb structure having elongated tubular cells lined up side by side. The honeycomb is substantially incompressible along the length of the tubular cells.
Claims31
An explosion-resistant fuel tank suitable for use in a vehicle, the fuel tank comprising:
- (a) a container suitable for holding a liquid fuel therein;
- (b) an explosion resistant insert comprising at least one compressible, resilient structure comprising a plurality of cells for containing liquid fuel, the compressible structure decreasing in volume from a first volume to a reduced second volume when subjected to a compressive force, the reduced second volume being no more than about 75% of the first volume, compression of the structure forcing liquid fuel out of the structure, the structure being sufficiently resilient that when the compressive force is released the structure returns to its first volume for soaking up additional liquid fuel, the insert being inside the container;
- and
- (c) means for compressing the compressible structure to the reduced second volume such that liquid fuel passes out of the compressible structure.
An explosion-resistant fuel tank suitable for use in a vehicle, the fuel tank comprising:
- (a) a container suitable for holding a liquid fuel therein;
- (b) an explosion resistant insert comprising at least one compressible, resilient structure comprising a plurality of cells for containing liquid fuel, the compressible structure decreasing in volume from a first volume to a reduced second volume when subject to a compressive force, the reduced second volume being no more than about 75% of the first volume, compression of the structure forcing the liquid fuel out of the structure, the structure being sufficiently resilient that when the compressive force is released the structure returns to its first volume for soaking up additional liquid fuel, the compressible structure being non-wicking, and comprising cells with equivalent cross-sectional diameters of no more than about 0.005 inch, the compressible structure being formed of a non-combustible, heat shrinkable material compatible with the liquid fuel, such that the surface of the compressible structure, when heated to a temperature above about 150.degree. C., shrinks to become substantially impervious to the liquid fuel, the insert being inside the container;
- and
- (c) means for compressing the compressible structure to the reduced second volume such that the liquid fuel passes out of the compressible structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.