Filler element for a tank
OwnerRonald L. Fentoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Filler elements for a tank of combustible fluid described herein are formed from a sheet of foil mesh material by a multiple fold technique. The folding process places the free edges of the sheet in the center of the filler element where they are protected and where any piece that breaks off will be trapped. The sides are first folded inwardly and then the ends are folded inwardly. Finally, this intermediate member is rolled, formed, molded or folded further into the final desired shape for the filler element. Folding is facilitated by use of a crushed crease along desired fold lines. To reduce nesting of the mesh, various sections of the mesh corresponding to the fold lines present openings of differing sizes.
Claims21
A fuel tank with filler elements therein, comprising:
- a fuel tank;
- a plurality of fuel permeable packets positioned within said fuel tank to provide thermal conduction within said tank,
- wherein each of said packets is formed from at least one sheet of foil mesh, so that at least one sheet of foil mesh is folded over several times whereby the peripheral free edges of said sheet are folded inwardly and disposed internally of each packet, and
- wherein flaking from said free edges of said sheets of foil mesh is contained within said respective packets.
A method of manufacturing a tank with explosion suppressing thermal filler mass elements therein comprising the steps of:
- forming sheets of foil mesh;
- and
- folding said respective sheets of foil mesh several times to form fuel permeable intermediate folded members of filler mass elements having peripheral free edges of said respective sheets disposed inwardly thereof,
- positioning said filler mass elements into a fuel tank,
- wherein said filler mass elements are arranged in thermal contact with said tank to provide thermal conduction within said tank, and
- wherein flaking from said free edges of said sheet of foil mesh is contained within said respective filler mass elements.
A method of forming a filler mass element for a tank comprising the steps of:
- forming a sheet of foil mesh having sections therein, wherein said sections exhibit openings of differing sizes and said sections correspond to folds in said sheet;
- and
- folding said sheet of foil mesh several times to form a fuel permeable intermediate folded member of a filler mass element having peripheral free edges of said sheet disposed inwardly of the filler mass element,
- wherein said filler mass element is arranged to provide thermal conduction within said tank, and
- wherein flaking from said free edges of said sheet of foil mesh is contained within said filler mass element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.