US 4,640,328 A · Collapsible liquid container particularly for transportation by helicopter

Abstract

A collapsible liquid container apparatus, particularly for use with helicopters for carrying and storing fuel, has a bladder-like tank having closable ports to admit and discharge fuel. The apparatus has a frame to support the tank, and a harness cooperating with the tank and the frame to suspend the tank from the frame. Preferably, the frame has three legs and the tank is suspended between the three legs, and is restrained against excessive lateral movement relative to the frame. The harness includes a plurality of flexible tension links which extend from peripherally spaced locations on the tank. The locations are within a generally horizontal plane positioned approximately mid-way between uppermost and lowermost portions of the tank when filled to permit an upper portion of the tank to collapse inside a lower portion of the tank as the tank empties. The tank is suspended clear of obstructions on the ground, thus reducing chances of rupture, and when filled is easily transported beneath a helicopter due to its symmetrical shape. When emptied, it can be folded into a small volume and stored inside the helicopter.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A flexible fully collapsible and emptyable fluid container apparatus for aerial transport or the like comprising:

(a) a collapsible container having a first upper portion and a second lower portion and a third central portion;
(b) ground engageable support means for supporting said container;
(c) said first upper portion of said container having a first collapsed position when said container is empty and a second expanded position when said container is full;
(d) said second lower and said third central portions having a substantially bowl-like configuration at all times;
(e) said support means including rigid means engageable with said third central portion for maintaining said second lower and said third central portions in said bowl-like configuration at all times;
(f) said first upper position of said container including means for permitting said first upper portion to collapse fully into said bowl-like configuration of said second lower and said third central portions whereby, when said first upper portion is fully collapsed into said second central and said third lower portions, said container is fully emptied and said fully collapsed position can be observed by visual inspection to confirm full drainage of fluid in the container;
(g) said ground engageable support means includes three legs;
(h) said rigid means connects said three legs together;
and,
(i) harness means cooperating with said container and said ground engageable support means to suspend the container from the support means.

7 more elements

A flexible fully collapsible and emptyable fluid container apparatus for aerial transport, comprising:

(a) a collapsible container having a first upper portion and a second lower portion and a third central portion;
(b) ground engageable support means for supporting said container;
(c) said first upper portion of said container having a first collapsed position when said container is empty and a second expanded position when said container is full;
(d) said second lower and third central portions having a substantially bowl-like configuration at all times;
(e) said support means including rigid means engageable with said third central portion for maintaining said second lower and said third central portions in said bowl-like configuration at all times;
(f) said first upper portion of said container including means for permitting said first upper portion to collapse fully into said bowl-like configuration of said second lower and third central portions whereby, when said first upper portion is fully collapsed into said second central and third lower portions, said container is fully emptied and said fully collapsed position can be observed by visual inspection from above to confirm full drainage of fluid in the container;
(g) means in said lower portion for emptying said container;
(h) means in said first upper portion for filling said container including non-breather means permitting said upper portion to collapse against said second lower and third central portions as a result of the vacuum created in said container as said container is emptied;
(i) said ground engageable support means includes three legs;
(j) said rigid means connects said three legs together;
and,
(k) harness means cooperating with said container and said ground engageable support means to suspend the container from said support means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible liquid container particularly for transportation by helicopter

Life of this patent

Collapsible liquid container particularly for transportation by helicopter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14