NZ626596B - Fuel can adapter - Google Patents
Fuel can adapterInfo
- Publication number
- NZ626596B NZ626596B NZ626596A NZ62659614A NZ626596B NZ 626596 B NZ626596 B NZ 626596B NZ 626596 A NZ626596 A NZ 626596A NZ 62659614 A NZ62659614 A NZ 62659614A NZ 626596 B NZ626596 B NZ 626596B
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- plate
- elbow
- fuel
- neck
- adapter
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 94
- 210000001513 Elbow Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 70
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003502 gasoline Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
- B67D7/007—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes using siphoning arrangements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
- B67D7/04—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
- B67D7/06—Details or accessories
- B67D7/78—Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
Abstract
fuel can adapter is designed to be used with a fuel can (14), or portable fuel tank, having a neck (12) that is internally and externally threaded. The fuel can adapter includes a plate (26) having external threads for engaging internal threads of the neck, the plate including a hole. The adapter includes a sliding tube (24) mounted to slide within the hole in the plate. The adapter includes an elbow (30) mounted at an upper end of the tube, the elbow including an outlet. The adapter further includes a protrusion (34) extending from the plate beside the hole. The elbow bears against the protrusion to exert a torque on the plate that threads or unthreads the plate from the neck of the fuel can. includes a sliding tube (24) mounted to slide within the hole in the plate. The adapter includes an elbow (30) mounted at an upper end of the tube, the elbow including an outlet. The adapter further includes a protrusion (34) extending from the plate beside the hole. The elbow bears against the protrusion to exert a torque on the plate that threads or unthreads the plate from the neck of the fuel can.
Description
DSC510574NZPR
FUEL CAN ADAPTER
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to portable fuel tanks or fuel cans and, more
particularly, to adapters for fuel tanks or fuel cans.
OUND
Portable fuel tanks or fuel cans are used to contain and transport fuel.
These le fuel tanks or cans have a pouring neck for g fuel from the can or
for pouring fuel into the can. A fuel can adapter may be connected to the neck to
enable connection of a fuel-carrying tube or hose directly to a fuel intake line of an
internal combustion engine such as an outboard engine, generator, pump or any other
such equipment. This permits fuel to be siphoned or drawn from the fuel can. An
example of a fuel supply adapter is disclosed in Canadian Patent 407. This
adapter has a U—shaped cross-section defining a hollow top portion into which a
connector may be ed so as to not interfere with a cap. Radial gripping pins are
provided inside the bore to handle the adapter.
It would be desirable to improve the design of the fuel supply adapter by
providing a more ergonomic design that makes it easier to attach and detach the
adapter to a fuel can while also improving the fuel flow to an intake fuel line to which the
adapter is connected.
SUMMARY
The t invention provides, in l, a fuel can adapter having a
plate that can be detachably connected to a neck of a fuel can by threads. The fuel can
adapter has a sliding tube with an elbow that can slide in and out of the plate between
an extended fuelling position and a stowed transport on. The elbow, when stowed,
abuts and bears against a protrusion on the plate that enables a torque to be applied to
the plate by rotating the elbow against the protrusion.
One inventive aspect of the present invention is a fuel can adapter for use
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with a fuel can having a neck that is internally and externally threaded. The fuel can
adapter has a plate having external threads for engaging internal threads of the neck,
the plate ing a hole. The adapter has a sliding tube d to slide within the
hole in the plate. The adapter es an elbow mounted at an upper end of the tube,
the elbow including an outlet. The adapter further includes a sion extending from
the plate beside the hole. The elbow bears against the protrusion to exert a torque on
the plate that threads or unthreads the plate from the neck of the fuel can.
r inventive aspect of the present invention is a fuel can and adapter
system that includes a fuel can and a fuel can adapter. The system includes a fuel can
that defines a container for containing fuel and a neck having internal threads and
external threads. The system also comprises the fuel can adapter that includes a plate
having external threads for engaging internal threads of the neck, the plate including a
hole. The adapter of the system includes a sliding tube mounted to slide within the
hole in the plate and an elbow mounted at an upper end of the tube, the elbow including
an outlet. The adapter of the system further includes a protrusion extending from the
plate beside the hole, wherein the elbow bears against the sion to exert a torque
on the plate that s or unthreads the plate from the neck of the fuel can.
Yet another inventive aspect of the present ion is a method of using
an adapter for a fuel can defining a container for containing fuel and a neck having
internal threads and external threads. The method entails steps of threading the
adapter into the neck of the fuel can by (i) sliding a sliding tube through a hole in a plate
of the adapter into the container of the fuel can until an elbow connected to the sliding
tube abuts a protrusion mounted to a plate of the r and disposed beside the -
center hole and (ii) exerting a torque on the elbow to cause the elbow to bear against
the protrusion to thereby cause the plate to thread or unthread. The method further
entails steps of extending the sliding tube through the in the plate and connecting an
outlet disposed on the elbow to a fuel line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
is an isometric cutaway view of a fuel can r in accordance
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with an embodiment of the present invention;
is an isometric view of the fuel can adapter extended upwardly into
a g position; and
is another ment of the fuel can adapter in which the sliding
tube is hexagonal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
is an isometric cutaway view of a fuel can adapter 10 in accordance
with an embodiment of the present ion. The fuel can adapter 10 is threaded into a
neck 12 of a fuel can 14 (or fuel tank or fuel supply). The fuel may be gasoline (petrol),
diesel, or any other liquid combustible substance used as a fuel. The neck is threaded
both externally and internally as shown in In other words, the neck 12 has
external threads 16 and al s 18. The external threads 16 receive a fuel cap
. The fuel cap 20 has internal s 22 which thread onto the complementary
external threads 16 of the neck 12 of the fuel can. The cap is screwed onto the fuel can
for storage and transport. The cap may be unscrewed to insert or remove the fuel can
adapter 10 or to access or utilize the fuel can adapter, e.g. to pour fuel into or out of the
can or to connect the adapter to a fuel intake line of an engine.
As depicted by way of example in the fuel can adapter 10 includes
a slidable tube 24 extending downwardly into the bottom portion of the fuel can (e.g. to
the bottom interior surface of the fuel can) for extracting fuel from the can. The tube
may be rigid or flexible and it may be made of a polymer or other suitable material. The
fuel can adapter 10 also es a generally circular plate 26 with external threads 28
for threading onto the complementary internal threads 18 of the neck.
As further depicted by way of example in the fuel can adapter 10
includes an elbow 30 and a quick-connect outlet 32 with an internal valve (not shown)
disposed within the outlet to selectively control the outflow of . The elbow 30
provides a substantially orthogonal bend (or curved conduit) to permit fuel to flow up the
tube and out the outlet 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet 32 is substantially
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orthogonal to the plate 26 although in other embodiments it may have a different angle,
i.e. it need not be orthogonal. In the illustrated embodiment of the elbow 30 is
mounted through a hole in the plate which is off-center relative to a geometrical center
(or centroid) of the plate although the hole may be on—center in other embodiments.
The off-center hole shown by way of example in provides an eccentric load point
to exert a torque on the plate. The elbow in this illustrated embodiment is ore also
mounted off—center trically) relative to the plate. Mounted to the plate is a
protrusion in the form of a rectangular block 34. The block may be formed integrally
with the plate or it may be fastened, welded or othenNise permanently affixed to the
plate. A first side face 36 of the elbow abuts and bears against a surface of the block
causing the block and plate to rotate if sufficient torque is d by a user. This
permits a user to thread or unthread the plate from the neck simply by manually
applying torque to the elbow and block against which the elbow abuts. To turn the
plate one way requires the elbow to abut one surface of the block whereas to turn the
plate the opposite direction requires the elbow to abut a different e of the block.
In other words, a first face of the elbow bears against one side of the block when turning
clockwise and bears against a second side of the block when turning r-clockwise.
In another embodiment, the hole may be on center as opposed to nter provided
that the threaded fitting or connect fitting is compact enough to fit inside the neck
after assembly.
In an alternative embodiment, the protrusion from the plate may be a pair
of pins (or other rigidly mounted structures) on either side of the hole in the plate such
that the plate may be threaded or aded by turning the elbow one way or the other
to cause the elbow to bear against one pin or the other. Therefore, the elbow not only
serves as a bent fluid conduit but it also acts as a lever to exert torque on the plate.
is an isometric view of the fuel can adapter 10 extended upwardly
into a working ing) position. The slidable tube 24 is pulled upwardly by the user.
The slidable tube slides upwardly through the hole in the plate 26. The hole in the plate
and the slidable tube may be dimensioned with suitable tolerances to provide a sliding
fit or other appropriate fit that enables the tube to slide within the hole. The quick-
DSC510574NZPR
connect outlet 32 may be a male connect outlet as shown in This male
quick-connect may be connected to a female quick-connect socket 38 which connects
to the fuel intake line 40 or fuel conduit of a fuel-combusting engine or other such
machine. in the fuelling position, the elbow is spaced above the protrusion (block) 34
and thus cannot, in that position, exert any torque on the block and plate. Only when
the elbow is lowered against, or in close ity to, the plate can the elbow abut and
bear against the block. in another embodiment, the quick-connect outlet may be
replaced with a threaded connection. In such an embodiment the sliding tube makes it
easier to install a threaded connection (threaded g) since this may be done outside
the confinement of the fuel tank neck. For example, a fuel line inlet may have a female
threaded tor which is threaded onto a male threaded elbow using two tools to
tighten the connector and elbow together. The tools may be freely operated outside of
the confines of the fuel tank neck, thereby tating connection of the male threaded
elbow to the female threaded connector of the fuel line inlet.
] is another embodiment of the fuel can adapter in which the sliding
tube is a hexagonal tube 24a. At least the upper section of the tube must be rigid to
transfer torque to the plate. The hole in the plate is a hexagonal hole 25 in this
embodiment. This design eliminates the need for the protrusion (e.g. rectangular
. Turning the elbow causes the rigid hexagonal tube section to rotate the plate.
The hexagonal hole is off—center (eccentric) to generate torque on the plate. The
hexagonal design is presented to rate that other non-circular shapes of holes and
tubes (or tube sections) may be used to provide the torque needed to turn the plate.
Alternatively, the tube may be provided with a keyway (or rib) that engages a keyway
(or slot) in the hole. For example, the tube may have splines to transmit torque to
corresponding spline-matching grooves in the plate.
This invention provides numerous advantages over the prior art adapter
described in the background.
] Firstly, the design is more ergonomic in that it makes it easier for a user to
attach or detach the adapter to and from the fuel can. The present design provides
30365 8653
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more finger space or wrench space inside the neck to turn the adapter than does a
prior-art U-shaped . The design uses the elbow itself to turn the plate, eliminating
the need for radial gripping pins.
Secondly, the elimination of the U-shaped body, which is made of metal,
reduces the weight of the adapter, making it easier to carry, and reduces the amount of
material ed to fabricate the adapter, saving cost.
Thirdly, the elbow design simplifies access to most fuel intake lines. In
other words, the elbow design enables the user to draw out the fuel connection so that
the hose does not need to go straight up and then form a radius or bend back down.
With the prior art design, the fuel line is higher in elevation causing more issues with air
ment, which could cause engines to run lean by restricting the siphon. The elbow
design also requires less fuel line to reach the intake fuel line as the return bend radius
is about half with the elbow design.
The embodiments of the present invention that are described herein are
intended to be exemplary only. Persons of ry skill in the art will appreciate that
ions, modifications and refinements may be made to the inventive concept(s)
presented herein.
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Claims (12)
1. A fuel can adapter for use with a fuel can having a neck that is ally and externally threaded, the fuel can adapter comprising: a plate having external threads for engaging internal threads of the neck, the plate including a hole; a sliding tube mounted to slide within the hole in the plate; an elbow mounted at an upper end of the tube, the elbow including an outlet; a protrusion ing from the plate beside the hole, wherein the elbow bears against the protrusion to exert a torque on the plate that threads or unthreads the plate from the neck of the fuel can.
2. The adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein an outlet of the elbow is ntially onal to the plate and wherein a length of the elbow is less than an internal diameter of the neck.
3. The adapter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elbow comprises a first side surface for bearing against one side of a block mounted to the plate for threading the plate onto the neck and comprises a second side surface for bearing against r side of the block for unthreading the plate from the neck.
4. The adapter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the plate comprises a hexagonal hole and wherein the elbow comprises a rigid hexagonal tube for exerting a torque on the plate via the nal hole.
5. A fuel can and adapter system comprising: a fuel can defining a container for containing fuel and a neck having internal 303658653 DSC510574NZPR threads and external threads; a fuel can adapter having: a plate having external threads for engaging internal threads of the neck, the plate including a hole; a sliding tube mounted to slide within the hole in the plate; an elbow mounted at an upper end of the tube, the elbow including an outlet; a protrusion extending from the plate beside the hole, wherein the elbow bears against the protrusion to exert a torque on the plate that threads or unthreads the plate from the neck of the fuel can.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein an outlet of the elbow is substantially orthogonal to the plate and wherein a length of the elbow is less than an al diameter of the neck.
7. The system as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 n the elbow comprises a first side surface for g t one side of a block mounted to the plate for threading the plate onto the neck and comprises a second side surface for bearing against another side of the block for unthreading the plate from the neck.
8. The system as d in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the plate comprises a hexagonal hole and n the elbow comprises a rigid hexagonal tube for exerting a torque on the plate via the hexagonal hole.
9. A method of using an adapter for a fuel can defining a container for containing fuel and a neck having internal threads and external threads, the method comprising: threading the adapter into the neck of the fuel can by (i) sliding a sliding tube 303658653 DSC510574NZPR through a hole in a plate of the adapter into the container of the fuel can until an elbow connected to the sliding tube abuts a protrusion mounted to a plate of the adapter and disposed beside the hole and (ii) exerting a torque on the elbow to cause the elbow to bear against the protrusion to thereby cause the plate to thread or unthread; extending the sliding tube through the hole in the plate; and connecting an outlet disposed on the elbow to a fuel line.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein ng a torque on the elbow to cause the elbow to bear against the protrusion ses causing a first side surface of the elbow to bear against one side of a block mounted to the plate for threading the plate onto the neck and comprises causing a second side surface of the elbow to bear against another side of the block for ading the plate from the neck.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein exerting a torque on the elbow to cause the elbow to bear against the protrusion ses causing a rigid hexagonal tube of the elbow to bear against a hexagonal hole in the plate.
12. The method as d in claim 9 further comprising: disconnecting the outlet from the fuel line; sliding the sliding tube back into the fuel can until the elbow abuts the plate; threading a fuel cap to the external threads of the neck to cover the adapter.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361846339P | 2013-07-15 | 2013-07-15 | |
US61/846,339 | 2013-07-15 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ626596A NZ626596A (en) | 2014-11-28 |
NZ626596B true NZ626596B (en) | 2015-03-03 |
Family
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