GB488105A - Improvements in petrol tanks - Google Patents

Abstract

488,105. Aircraft emergency fittings. HALL, F. H. Dec. 31, 1936, No. 35784. [Class 4] [Also in Groups XVII and XXVIII] An aircraft petrol tank has an outlet 3 for the normal discharge of the petrol, means for admitting gas under pressure to the tank, a normally closed discharge siphon 5 independent of the normal outlet, means for automatically opening the siphon when the pressure is admitted to the tank, an air inlet 4 and means for closing the air inlet when said fluid pressure is admitted. When a cable 27 is pulled a cartridge 19 is fired and the resultant gases, passing through a flame trap 28 and pipes 16a, 16, push a piston-valve 9 to the left and thus, via links 13, 14, close the air-cock 15, open the siphon-cock 6 and uncover a gas inlet 8. Similarly, gases passing through a pipe 41 close the petrol outlet cock 31 and open a cock 34 which normally closes the air inlet or a petrol reserve chamber 30. A single large cartridge may supply pressure to several siphon-fitted tanks ; or one tank only may have a siphon, the other tanks being arranged to drain quickly into the said tank. The cock 6 may be dispensed with, the end of the siphon being normally closed by a disc of tin foil which is burst by the pressure of the gas on the petrol. Instead of a cartridge, compressed air may be used. Two or more cartridges in separate chambers may be fired in succession to obtain any desired pressure ; or the gas from the cartridge chamber(s) may be stored in a reservoir and passed to the tank through a cock or valve. The leg 5a of the siphon may depend into a sump or well in the tank. The Provisional Specification, which refers to Specification 433,198, [Group XXXI], mentions that the foil disc may be made of lead, that the lower end of the leg 5a may be perforated and that compressed carbon dioxide may be used.