US3684127A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel reservoir with filling signal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-26
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1991-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A fuel tank has a pouring bowl on top of it for receiving a liquid being discharged from a supply container. The bottom of the bowl has an outlet that opens into the tank, with a spout extending from the outlet down into the tank. A vent tube extends from inside the tank upwardly above it, and the bowl has a signal opening in its bottom communicating with the inside of the tank above the lower end of the tube, which is higher in the tank than the lower end of the spout. When the liquid level in the tank rises around the spout high enough during filling to close the lower end of the vent tube, air in the tank will start to escape through the signal opening and produce a string of bubbles in the liquid remaining in the bowl to signal that no more liquid should be poured into the bowl.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W Kruse Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A fuel reservoir comprising a tank, a pouring bowl on top of the tank for receiving a liquid, the bottom of the bowl having an outlet therein opening into the tank, a spout extending from said outlet down into the tank, and a vent tube extending from inside the tank upward above it, the lower end of the tube being higher in the tank than the lower end of said spout, the bowl having a signal opening in its bottom communicating with the inside of the tank above the lower end of said tube, whereby when the liquid level in the tank rises up around the spout high enough to close the lower end of the vent tube during filling of the tank, air in the tank will start to escape through said signal opening and produce a string of signal bubbles in the liquid remaining in said bowl.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A fuel reservoir comprising a tank, a pouring bowl on top of the tank for receiving a liquid, the bottom of the bowl having an outlet therein opening into the tank, a spout extending from said outlet down into the tank, and a vent tube extending from inside the tank upward above it, the lower end of the tube being higher in the tank than the lower end of said spout, the bowl having a signal opening in its bottom communicating with the inside of the tank above the lower end of said tube, whereby when the liquid level in the tank rises up around the spout high enough to close the lower end of the vent tube during filling of the tank, air in the tank will start to escape through said signal opening and produce a string of signal bubbles in the liquid remaining in said bowl.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 1, in which said vent tube extends through the bottom of said bowl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 1, in which the capacity of said bowl is less than the volume of the space in the tank above the level of the lower end of the vent tube, whereby the tank can accommodate the liquid remaining in the bowl after air bubbles start to rise in the bowl.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 1, in which the side wall of said bowl is formed by an upstanding neck around a filling opening in the top of the tank, the bottom of the bowl is formed by a disc mounted in the lower end of said neck, and said vent tube extends through said disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 4, in which the edge of said disc is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches and engages the encircling neck for support, said notches serving as signal openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 5, in which said neck is provided inside with an annular groove, and the edge of said disc fits in said groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 1, in which the top of the tank is provided with a filling opening encircled by an upstanding neck that encircles said spout and vent tube, and the vent tube is slidably mounted in the bottom of the bowl, said reservoir including a cross bar inside the tank secured to the lower end of the vent tube and engaging the inner surface of the tank at oppositE sides of said filling opening, and a screw extending down through the bottom of the bowl and screwed into the cross bar to clamp said neck between the bar and bowl.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 7, in which said spout is slidably mounted in said cross bar, whereby the bowl and spout can be separated from the vent tube and cross bar when said screw is removed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A fuel reservoir according to claim 7, in which said spout is slidably mounted in said cross bar, whereby the bowl and spout can be separated from the vent tube and cross bar when said screw is removed, and said cross bar is short enough to be removed from the tank by first moving the bar lengthwise to free one end of it from the tank and then tilting the vent tube to swing said free end of the bar up into said filling opening to permit the bar to be withdrawn through said neck.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |