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 Title: |
US5904190:
Method to prevent explosions in fuel tanks
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Patel, C. Kumar; Los Angeles, CA
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| Assignee: |
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA
other patents from UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE REGENTS OF (599425) (approx. 4,840)
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| Published / Filed: |
1999-05-18
/ 1997-06-17
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| Application Number: |
US1997000877263
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A62C 3/06;
A62D 1/00;
B64D 37/32;
Core:
A62C 3/00;
B64D 37/00;
more...
IPC-7:
B64D 37//32;
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| ECLA Code: |
A62C3/06; A62D1/00G; B64D37/32;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
141/198;
141/095;
169/045;
169/066;
Original:
141/198;
141/095;
169/066;
169/045;
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| Field of Search: |
141/192,198,4,40,52,65,95
169/066,45
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| Priority Number: |
| 1997-06-17 |
US1997000877263 |
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| Abstract: |
A method for preventing explosions in closed tanks which hold flammable liquids and flammable vapors and air above these liquid fuels comprising filling the ullage with a pressurized gas which not only excludes oxygen from the ullage but also prevents transmission of fire initiating sparks. The method further comprises filling the ullage with an electronegative gas alone or in combination with an inert gas or gases. More specifically, the preferred electronegative gas is sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) which may also be used in combination with CO2 and/or N2. More particularly, the method is directed to the prevention of explosions in aircraft fuel tanks.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Loeb & Loeb LLP ;
Ram, Michael J. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Douglas, Steven O.;
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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| Designated Country: |
AL AM AP AT AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CZ DK EA EE ES FI GE GH GM GW HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KR KZ LC LK LR DE FR GB
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| Family: |
Show 4 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 11 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. An explosion proof fuel containment system for storing fuel under a blanket of inert gas comprising a fuel tank having a fuel filling spout and an inert gas exit line connected thereto and a pressure sensor and a fuel level sensor mounted therein,
- a. the fuel level sensor functioning to indicate the fuel level in the tank and to send controlling information to a fuel pump operatively connected to transfer fuel into the tank, said transfer being discontinued when the desired fuel volume in the tank is reached,
- b. the fuel filling spout including a hermetic seal therein to prevent air from entering the tank when a filling hose is inserted into the filling spout and to prevent an inert pressurized gas within the tank from escaping as fuel is transferred into the tank,
- c. the inert gas exit line functioning to permit movement of said inert pressurized gas from a remote gas storage tank to a space within the fuel tank above a liquid fuel also located therein, the inert gas exit line including a gas transfer means located between the fuel tank and the gas storage tank, said transfer means operatively connected to move the gas bi-directionally between the fuel tank and the gas tank, and
- d. the pressure sensor being operatively connected to the gas transfer means to maintain the ullage at a desired pressure by transfer of the inert pressurized gas between the gas storage tank and the fuel tank.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 6 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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