GB2434416A - A container for a combustible substance - Google Patents

A container for a combustible substance Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2434416A
GB2434416A GB0601033A GB0601033A GB2434416A GB 2434416 A GB2434416 A GB 2434416A GB 0601033 A GB0601033 A GB 0601033A GB 0601033 A GB0601033 A GB 0601033A GB 2434416 A GB2434416 A GB 2434416A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
container
fuel
combustible substance
container according
property
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0601033A
Other versions
GB0601033D0 (en
Inventor
Carlo B Chiarella
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0601033A priority Critical patent/GB2434416A/en
Publication of GB0601033D0 publication Critical patent/GB0601033D0/en
Publication of GB2434416A publication Critical patent/GB2434416A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/22—Safety features
    • B65D90/38—Means for reducing the vapour space or for reducing the formation of vapour within containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
    • B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
    • B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
    • B60K2015/03328—Arrangements or special measures related to fuel tanks or fuel handling
    • B60K2015/03381—Arrangements or special measures related to fuel tanks or fuel handling for preventing explosions

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

A container (10) for containing a combustible substance (12) such as fuel comprising an inflatable component (12); an inflation device (14) for inflating the inflatable component (12); a controller (20) operatively connected to the inflation device (14) for sensing a property relating to the combustible substance (12) and controlling operation of the inflation device (14) in response to a sensed property. The property may be pressure, rate of egress or amount of combustible substance.

Description

<p>A CONTAINER FOR A COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCE</p>
<p>The invention relates to container for containing a combustible substance, and more particularly to a container having an inflatable component for controlling fumes within the container.</p>
<p>The invention also relates to a method for reducing the build up of fumes within a container containing a combustible substance.</p>
<p>It is commonplace, especially in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries, to use a combustible substance for the provision of power or heat. In the majority of applications, the combustible substance is in the form of a non-solid fuel i.e. a liquid or gas.</p>
<p>The non-solid fuel is usually housed in a fuel tank. Fuel tanks may take different shapes and are usually defined by a specific volume enclosed by walls.</p>
<p>As the fuel within the tank is used, air space within the fuel tank is created occupying the area of the fuel tank previously occupied by the expended fuel.</p>
<p>However air space in a fuel tank allows the build up of fumes which are very combustible and could easily explode.</p>
<p>The present invention aims to reduce the build up of fumes within a fuel tank in order to reduce the risk of the fuel tank exploding due to the build up of fumes.</p>
<p>According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an inflation system compriSiflg an inflatable component; an inflation device for inflating the inflatable component; and a controller for controlling the inflation device.</p>
<p>Preferably the inflation system includes further features as defined in dependent Claims 2 to 4.</p>
<p>According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a container for containing a combustible substance comprising: an inflatable component; an inflation device for inflating the inflatable component; a controller operatively connected to the inflation device for sensing a property relating to the combustible substance and controlling operation of the inflation device in response to a sensed property.</p>
<p>Advantageously the container includes further features as defined in dependent Claims 6to 18.</p>
<p>According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for controlling fumes within a fuel tank containing fuel comprising the steps of: placing an inflatable component in the fuel tank; measuring a property relating to the fuel contained in the tank; and inflating the inflatable component in response to the measured property.</p>
<p>Conveniently the method for controlling fumes includes further features as defined in dependent Claims 20 to 22.</p>
<p>There now follows a description on a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is cross-sectional view of a container according to the invention for controlling fumes within the container.</p>
<p>Referring to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of a container 10 for containing a combustible substance according to the invention is shown. In the example shown, the container is a fuel tank for an aeroplane. The container may be embodied in other forms, such as hut not limited to fuel tanks for road vehicles, marine or rail use. In other embodiments the container may be eg. a static tank in a fuel depot or connected to supply fuel to machinery or to a building.</p>
<p>Furthermore the container need not necessarily be a fuel container. On the contrary, numerous other substances that are storable in containers may present explosion hazards. The invention is applicable to all such cases.</p>
<p>The fuel tank 10 comprises an inflatable component 12. The inflatable component 12 is in the form of a balloon type air bag or liner and is made to the same shape as the fuel tank 10. The inflatable component 12 is made out of a flexible type io material that is non-corrosive when in contact with a combustible substance 1 8 such as fuel, within the fuel tank 10. The inflatable component is a self contained unit that can easily be fitted to both new and existing fuel tanks 10.</p>
<p>The fuel tank 10 further comprises an outlet 22 for allowing the egress of fuel 1 8 from the fuel tank 10 and a fuel pump having a flow meter.</p>
<p>As the fuel 1 8 is being used out of the fuel tank 10 via the fuel outlet 22, which in this case gets pumped to feed the engine(s) of the aeroplane, the fuel pump/flow meter 20 will be connected to an inflation device 14, such as an air pump 14, to regulate how much air to inject into the balloon type air bag/liner 12 as to keep an even pressure and minimise the amount of dangerous air space 24 and hence fumes. As a result, the chance of an explosion is highly reduced.</p>
<p>When filling the fuel tank 10 with fuel 1 8 the balloon type air bag 12 will exhaust its air via passageway 16, such as an air release valve, allowing the fuel tank 10 to be refilled safely with no escape dangerous of fumes.</p>

Claims (1)

  1. <p>CLAIMS</p>
    <p>1. An inflation system comprising: an inflatable component; an inflation device for inflating the inflatable component; and a controller for controlling the inflation device.</p>
    <p>2. An inflation system according to Claim I wherein the inflation device comprises an air pump.</p>
    <p>3. An inflation system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising a passageway for allowing the egress of fluid from the inflatable component.</p>
    <p>4. An inflation system according to Claim 3 wherein the passageway is comprises a valve.</p>
    <p>5. A container for containing a combustible substance comprising: an inflatable component; an inflation device for inflating the inflatable component; a controller operatively connected to the inflation device for sensing a property relating to the combustible substance and controlling operation of the inflation device in response to a sensed property.</p>
    <p>6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the inflation device comprises an air pump.</p>
    <p>7. A container according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the inflation component further comprises a passageway for allowing the egress of fluid therefrom.</p>
    <p>8. A container according to Claim 7 wherein the passageway comprises a valve.</p>
    <p>9. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 8 further comprising an outlet for allowing the egress of said combustible substance from the container.</p>
    <p>10. A container according to Claim 9 further comprising a channel in communication with said outlet.</p>
    <p>11. A container according to Claim 10 wherein said channel comprises a pump.</p>
    <p>12. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 11 wherein said property is the amount of said combustible substance in the container.</p>
    <p>13. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 11 wherein said property is the rate of egress of said combustible substance from the container.</p>
    <p>14. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 11 wherein said property is the pressure of the combustible substance within the container.</p>
    <p>15. A container according to Claim 12 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein the controller is a gauge.</p>
    <p>16. A container according to Claim 1 3 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein the controller is a flow meter.</p>
    <p>17. A container according to Claim 14 or any claim dependent therefrom wherein the controller is a gauge.</p>
    <p>1 8. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 17 wherein said combustible substance is a fuel.</p>
    <p>19. A method for controlling fumes within a fuel tank containing fuel comprising the steps of: placing an inflatable component in the fuel tank; measuring a property relating to the fuel contained in the tank; and inflating the inflatable component in response to the measured property.</p>
    <p>20. A method according to Claim 1 9 wherein said property is the rate of egress of the fuel from the container via a fuel outlet.</p>
    <p>21. A method according to Claim 20 wherein the rate of egress is measured by means of a flow meter in fluid communication with the fuel outlet.</p>
    <p>22. A method according to any of Claims 19 to 21 wherein said inflatable component is inflated by means of an air pump.</p>
    <p>23. An inflation system as generally hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.</p>
    <p>24. A container for containing a combustible substance as generally hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.</p>
    <p>25. A method for controlling fumes within a fuel tank containing fuel as generally hereinbefore described with referent to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.</p>
GB0601033A 2006-01-19 2006-01-19 A container for a combustible substance Withdrawn GB2434416A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0601033A GB2434416A (en) 2006-01-19 2006-01-19 A container for a combustible substance

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0601033A GB2434416A (en) 2006-01-19 2006-01-19 A container for a combustible substance

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0601033D0 GB0601033D0 (en) 2006-03-01
GB2434416A true GB2434416A (en) 2007-07-25

Family

ID=36010545

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0601033A Withdrawn GB2434416A (en) 2006-01-19 2006-01-19 A container for a combustible substance

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2434416A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2135805A2 (en) 2008-06-19 2009-12-23 Honeywell International Inc. Ambient pressure-responsive variable volume fuel tank
WO2010104379A3 (en) * 2009-03-13 2010-11-04 Erik Jeroen Eenkhoorn Inflatable element for use interiorly in a fuel tank of a vehicle, vessel or aeroplane
WO2011110881A1 (en) * 2010-03-09 2011-09-15 Rostislav Noskov Fuel tank
US9623980B2 (en) 2012-11-19 2017-04-18 Airbus Helicopters Fuel storage device, an aircraft, and a method
CN108674790A (en) * 2018-05-10 2018-10-19 彭云秋 A kind of petroleum load bucket being readily transported
CN109334438A (en) * 2018-10-29 2019-02-15 袁芳 A kind of automotive oil tank with fire-retardant construction

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6270991A (en) * 1985-09-25 1987-04-01 Hitachi Ltd Ic card
US4979249A (en) * 1990-02-12 1990-12-25 Meade Ii Carson H Inflatable pillow having controlled deflation
FR2679841A1 (en) * 1991-07-30 1993-02-05 Peugeot Fuel tank with inflatable pouch
US6527002B1 (en) * 1998-03-16 2003-03-04 Istvan Szakaly Apparatus and method for use with a container for storing a substance
US20040016492A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-01-29 Moore Thomas S. Electromagnetically activated on-wheel air pump
GB2396670A (en) * 2001-06-22 2004-06-30 Team Worldwide Corp Inflatable product provided with an electric air pump

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6270991A (en) * 1985-09-25 1987-04-01 Hitachi Ltd Ic card
US4979249A (en) * 1990-02-12 1990-12-25 Meade Ii Carson H Inflatable pillow having controlled deflation
FR2679841A1 (en) * 1991-07-30 1993-02-05 Peugeot Fuel tank with inflatable pouch
US6527002B1 (en) * 1998-03-16 2003-03-04 Istvan Szakaly Apparatus and method for use with a container for storing a substance
GB2396670A (en) * 2001-06-22 2004-06-30 Team Worldwide Corp Inflatable product provided with an electric air pump
US20040016492A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-01-29 Moore Thomas S. Electromagnetically activated on-wheel air pump

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2135805A2 (en) 2008-06-19 2009-12-23 Honeywell International Inc. Ambient pressure-responsive variable volume fuel tank
JP2010001007A (en) * 2008-06-19 2010-01-07 Honeywell Internatl Inc Ambient pressure-responsive variable volume fuel tank
EP2135805A3 (en) * 2008-06-19 2012-03-21 Honeywell International Inc. Ambient pressure-responsive variable volume fuel tank
WO2010104379A3 (en) * 2009-03-13 2010-11-04 Erik Jeroen Eenkhoorn Inflatable element for use interiorly in a fuel tank of a vehicle, vessel or aeroplane
WO2011110881A1 (en) * 2010-03-09 2011-09-15 Rostislav Noskov Fuel tank
CN102712248A (en) * 2010-03-09 2012-10-03 R·诺斯科夫 Fuel tank
CN102712248B (en) * 2010-03-09 2016-01-20 R·诺斯科夫 Fuel tank
US9623980B2 (en) 2012-11-19 2017-04-18 Airbus Helicopters Fuel storage device, an aircraft, and a method
CN108674790A (en) * 2018-05-10 2018-10-19 彭云秋 A kind of petroleum load bucket being readily transported
CN109334438A (en) * 2018-10-29 2019-02-15 袁芳 A kind of automotive oil tank with fire-retardant construction
CN109334438B (en) * 2018-10-29 2020-12-11 重庆林博汽车部件股份有限公司 Automobile fuel tank with flame-retardant structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0601033D0 (en) 2006-03-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
GB2434416A (en) A container for a combustible substance
US8794254B2 (en) Passive closing device for thermal self-protection of high pressure gas vessels
CN102810683B (en) Use of hydrogen sensor to detect hydrogen storage system pressure regulator failure
EP3303902B1 (en) Gas blanketing system for low-pressure hydrocarbon tanks
US11534639B2 (en) Fire extinguishing system
US9457772B2 (en) Inflation apparatus and methods
US20110041307A1 (en) Replaceable cartridge for liquid hydrogen
DE60208497D1 (en) Connection for a device for emptying cryogenic liquids
JP5756356B2 (en) Hydrogen station
JP5190538B2 (en) Leakage self-rescue storage container for storing dangerous chemicals
AU2014343680A1 (en) Fire extinguishing system
CA2830709A1 (en) Fuel storage device, aircraft and method
CN102186750B (en) Method and system for reducing and preventing emissions from liquid storage tanks
JP5519662B2 (en) Remedies for dangerous chemical leaks
CA2113845A1 (en) Control system for filling tanks with saturated liquids
US10065552B2 (en) Automatic product pump drive and controlled area network system for vehicles
US8413692B1 (en) Sealant dispenser apparatus and method
CN114180080A (en) Fuel storage system, aircraft and method for controlling the flammability of a fuel tank
CN216425496U (en) Balanced oil supply type tank storage device
JP4609709B2 (en) High pressure gas filling device
CN117897577A (en) Pressure vessel system
RU2191147C2 (en) Method of filling hydraulic lines of temperature control systems of manned spacecraft
RU2004131075A (en) METHOD FOR SEALING STORAGE WITHOUT PRESSURE OF HARMFUL OR FIRE HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS AND INSTALLATION FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION
JPS581318B2 (en) Ekikagasujiyutensouchi
MXPA00004136A (en) Automatic fluid container refill device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)