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US 5,950,688 AGranted
Apparatus and method for preventing fuel spillage
AssigneeLNG & K, Inc.
InventorJoseph R. Langlois
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeLNG & K, Inc.
InventorJoseph R. Langlois
Estimating the term…
An apparatus is provided for preventing the spillage of fuel into the water or onto a marine vessel when filling a fuel tank on the vessel. A vent line is coupled between the fuel tank and a vent port of the vessel, at least one valve assembly coupled within the vent line, and an overflow container is coupled within the vent line between the valve assembly and the vent port. The valve assembly defines a drain hole for permitting small quantities of fuel, gases and/or vapors to pass through the valve assembly and into the overflow container. A fill container defines an inlet port for receiving a fuel nozzle to fill the fuel tank with fuel and an outlet port coupled in fluid communication with a fill line for receiving a fuel nozzle to fill the fuel tank with fuel, and an outlet port coupled in fluid communication with a fill line for the passage of fuel between the fill container and the fuel tank. A by-pass line is coupled between the fill container and the overflow container for the passage of overflow fuel through the fill container, and an indicator system is mounted within the fill container for signaling to an attendant when the fuel tank is filled. Upon filling the fuel tank with fuel, the overflow fuel backs up into the fill container, and in turn flows through the by-pass line and into the overflow container. The backed-up fuel also activates the indicator system for signaling to the attendant to turnoff the fuel nozzle, and the drain hole permits the backed-up fuel in the fill container and fill line to drain downwardly into the fuel tank.
A method for preventing fuel spillage during and after refueling of a marine vessel having an inlet port for receiving a fuel nozzle for supplying fuel, a fuel tank including a fuel chamber coupled in fluid communication with the inlet port, a fill line coupled in fluid communication to the inlet port and to the fuel tank, a fill container defining a fill chamber coupled in fluid communication with the inlet port and with the fill line, a vent line coupled in fluid communication with the fuel chamber, and a vent port coupled in fluid communication with the vent line, comprising the steps of:
An apparatus for preventing fuel spillage during and after refueling of a marine vessel comprising:
An apparatus for preventing fuel spillage during and after refueling of a marine vessel, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.