Multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can

A multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can that includes an upper fuel sampling and testing reservoir with integral lower catch can reservoir arranged such that a self-closing valve is placed between the upper sampling reservoir and the lower catch can. This self-closing valve can be easily opened and closed by a user to allow fuel in the upper sampling reservoir to drain down into the lower catch can reservoir. Embodiments of the invention include a means of spill-free dumping of fuel accumulated in the lower catch can reservoir via an integral no-drip pour spout.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fuel sampling containers, and, more particularly, to fuel sampling containers typically used in aviation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Among aircraft operators, sampling fuel before every flight is a common practice designed to promote aviation safety. However, some aircraft, especially more modern aircraft, may have multiple (e.g., as many as 13) fuel sumps located at various spots on the aircraft. With conventional fuel sampling containers, checking multiple fuel sumps can become very time-consuming.

It would therefore be desirable to have a fuel sampling container that speeds up the process of sampling fuel from multiple fuel sumps. Embodiments of the invention provide such a fuel sampling container. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can that includes an upper reservoir configured to hold a liquid, a lower reservoir coupled to the upper reservoir, the lower reservoir being larger than the upper reservoir, and a self-closing valve attached at the juncture of the upper and lower reservoirs. In an embodiment of the invention, the self-closing valve is configured to, when open, allow liquid in the upper reservoir to drain into the lower reservoir. An embodiment further includes a rod extending through at least a portion of the self-closing valve, through the interior of the upper reservoir and beyond an opening at the top of the upper reservoir, wherein the rod is configured to activate a fuel sump valve.

In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a fuel sampling tester with integral lower catch can arranged such that a self-closing valve is placed between the upper sampling reservoir and the lower catch can reservoir. This self-closing valve is configured to be easily opened and closed by the user to allow fuel in the upper sampling reservoir to drain down into the lower catch can reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can for sampling and visually inspecting aviation fuel from multiple fuel sumps on aircraft. One feature of the present invention is that it allows for each individual sample to be transferred to an integral lower catch can which holds multiple samples until all the sumps on the airplane have been checked. Once all the sumps have been checked, the fuel in the lower catch can be dumped into an appropriate fuel depository, or back into the airplane if the samples are clean. Embodiments of the invention allow for fuel from each sump to be individually inspected in the upper sampling reservoir before mixing with the larger fuel volume in the lower catch can. Embodiment of the invention combine the advantages of easy inspection of fuel from each sump with the advantage of a large volume to allow checking multiple sumps without having to empty each sample into a separate container. Further, embodiments of the present invention incorporate special pour spout features that eliminate spilling or dribbling when the lower catch can is emptied. In addition to sampling aviation fuel, embodiments of the invention have applications wherever fluids must be sampled and visually checked. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that this includes potential application on equipment and industries outside that of aircraft operation or maintenance.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100is shown inFIGS. 1-7and includes an upper sampling reservoir20, which in at least one embodiment is made clear plastic, and a lower catch can reservoir30that can also be made from clear plastic, opaque plastic, or metal. The multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100is typically held in a primarily upright position as shown inFIG. 1to perform properly as described below due to the necessity of gravity to hold fuel in the reservoirs20,30, which have open tops.

In an embodiment of the invention, the volume of the lower reservoir30is several times the volume of the upper reservoir20, allowing the lower reservoir30to hold many partial or full samples from the upper reservoir20. Connection of the upper reservoir20to the lower reservoir30incorporates a self-closing valve comprised of end cap40, O-ring50, upper reservoir20, and spring60. A screw70attaches the end cap40to the lower reservoir30and hence holds the entire self-closing valve, as described above, together. In at least one embodiment, the multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100has upper reservoir20, end cap40, and lower reservoir30made of clear plastic to allow for easy visual inspection of fuel samples for water or other contamination.

The design of the self-closing valve allows for finger pressure from any side to activate the valve and therefore allows users with different sized hands, or left or right hand preferences to activate the valve with equal ease. As used herein, a user is defined as one who would normally be expected to sample fuel from an aircraft, for example a licensed pilot or aircraft mechanic.

Referring now toFIG. 7, the upper reservoir20, which is comprised of a circular container with a bottom, which has a hole21. In an embodiment, upper reservoir20is formed or molded from clear plastic, which facilitates visual inspection of the fuel it contains during use. The hole21allows fuel to drain from the upper reservoir20into the lower reservoir30.

Now referring toFIG. 4in more detail, upper reservoir20is made to hold fuel by means of end cap40and O-ring50. End cap40is placed into the lower portion of the upper reservoir20with O-ring50, such that pressure between the end cap40and the upper reservoir20will cause compression of the O-ring50. Said compression results in a liquid tight seal being formed between end cap40and the inner bottom surface of the upper reservoir20.

Referring again toFIG. 7, end cap40includes an upper hole41for receiving a rod10. A lower hole44is for receiving screw70when the multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100is assembled. End cap40is further comprised of an extended section43, which is tapered as shown and whose size and taper angle match that of receiving socket31of lower reservoir30, such that, when assembled, extended section43comes in contact with the inner wall of socket31, as can be seen inFIG. 4. Referring toFIG. 7, end cap40has an extended hex portion42, which facilitates tightening of screw70by providing a means to attach a wrench to counteract the torque on end cap40as screw70is tightened. In an embodiment of the invention, the end cap40is formed or fabricated from a clear material to improve visual inspection of fuel in the upper reservoir20. End cap40has an outer diameter sized smaller than the inner diameter of the upper reservoir20, thus gap85is present when upper reservoir20is positioned to drain into the lower reservoir30, as shown inFIG. 6.

Referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 6, O-ring50is sized such that its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of upper reservoir20when in its natural state, i.e., not compressed. Thus, O-ring50must be slightly compressed when properly installed in the bottom inside of upper reservoir20. This compression generates friction which holds O-ring50in the position shown inFIG. 4, even when the upper reservoir20is tilted for draining, as shown inFIG. 6. As described, O-ring50stays in the installed position regardless of what direction or angle upper reservoir20is positioned. O-ring50is comprised of an elastomer, which maybe clear or opaque.

Referring toFIG. 7, rod10can be made of a metallic or non-metallic material of sufficient rigidity to maintain its straight shape even when under the axial force necessary to activate the aircrafts fuel sump valve (not shown). Rod10serves as a means to activate the fuel sump valve on an aircraft which requires upward force from a small rod. As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, rod10is sized such that it extends upward beyond upper reservoir20by a distance which allows for convenient activation of said fuel sump valve. In at least one embodiment, rod10has an outer diameter sized such that it is press fit into hole41of end cap40. Rod10is therefore rigidly fixed to end cap40by this means of this attachment. Since end cap40is rigidly fixed to lower reservoir30by means of screw70, rod10is therefore also rigidly fixed to lower reservoir30. As such, movement or force applied to the lower reservoir30by a users hand is directly translated to rod10, thus providing a means of activating an aircraft's fuel sump valve while the user holds lower reservoir30.

Now referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 7, lower reservoir30is described in further detail. In at least one embodiment, lower reservoir30is formed or fabricated from a clear or opaque metallic or non-metallic material. In this embodiment, the lower reservoir30is constructed of clear plastic to allow easy visual inspection of its contents and the level of liquid contained therein. Lower reservoir30includes an inner pedestal33, which provides a receiving socket31for the extended portion43of end cap40. The center of the receiving socket31contains a hole32through which screw70passes to engage in hole44of end cap40. Inner pedestal33has a ledge34for providing support to the lower end of spring60.

Now referring toFIG. 2, lower reservoir30is comprised of an upward extended section38, which allows tipping of the lower reservoir30to a greater angle during emptying. Increasing the tip angle allows greater control over the aim and direction of fuel as it empties from lower reservoir30via pour spout37. An increased tip angle during emptying also decreases the tendency of fuel to dribble down the outside of the lower reservoir30and, hence, decreases the likelihood that fuel will flow in a path not intended from pour spout37. Pour spout37provides accuracy to the direction of the flow of fuel as lower reservoir30is tipped and emptied. An extended surface36projects beyond the outer surface35of pour spout37. The distance of projection is selected to be greater than the distance that the fuel will naturally flow back up the surface of the material from which the lower reservoir30is constructed, based on the surface tension of the fuel, the force of gravity, and surface characteristics of the lower reservoir30. By exceeding this distance with extended surface36, fuel is kept from dribbling down the outside of lower reservoir30during tipping and emptying. As described above, extended section38and extended surface36combined with pour spout37are configured to keep fuel from being discharged in unwanted directions or locations during emptying of the lower reservoir30.

Referring again toFIG. 4, spring60is described in further detail. Spring60can be constructed of metallic or non-metallic material such that a compression spring is formed. In at least one embodiment, the multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100uses a spring60constructed of spring temper stainless steel wire. Spring60has an inner diameter and an outer diameter sized such that the lower end of spring60is contained on ledge34. Spring60has a natural length selected such that the spring must be compressed to fit between the bottom surface of upper reservoir20and ledge34. Thus, spring60applies an upward force on upper reservoir20when the multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100is fully assembled. This upward force presses the upper reservoir20against o-ring50and end cap40, which is rigidly fixed to lower reservoir30. As a result, the upper reservoir20is held upright and a seal is formed between the end cap40and the lower inside of upper reservoir20, which thusly is able to hold fuel.

As shown inFIG. 6, a lateral force in the direction of arrow92can be applied to the upper outside edge of the upper reservoir20. When this force is of sufficient strength to overcome the resultant force generated by spring60, upper reservoir20will tip as shown inFIG. 6. The level of force applied by spring60is selected such that O-ring50forms a full seal, but not with too high a force so that the amount of pressure required by one of the user's fingers in direction92would be uncomfortable or insufficient to tip the upper reservoir20, as shown inFIG. 6.

With upper reservoir20tipped as shown inFIG. 6, gaps85,86, and87are created, which allow fuel in the upper reservoir20to drain through gap85to gap86to gap87in sequence and, finally, into the lower reservoir30. By this means, tipping of the upper reservoir20in any direction around the central axis represented by rod10will similarly open gaps85,86, and87, allowing fuel to drain from upper reservoir20into lower reservoir30. Gaps85and86will be on the opposite side of upper reservoir20relative to the applied force, while gap87will be on the same side as the applied force. Examples of other such forces which may similarly tip the upper reservoir20, like the force in direction92, can be seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 3represented by arrows91,93,94, and95.

In operation, according to an embodiment of the invention, the multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100is held in the user's hand. The user presses rod10upward against the airplane's fuel sump valve (not shown), which causes fuel to flow down from the fuel sump valve into upper reservoir20. Rod10is fixed with reference to lower reservoir30and, therefore, allows control of the position and force applied to rod10through the user's hand, which may only grasp the lower reservoir30while operating the airplane's fuel sump valve. Once the user is satisfied with the quantity of fuel in the upper reservoir20, he user then stops fuel flow into the upper reservoir20by releasing upward pressure on the airplane's fuel sump valve through rod10. The user then visually inspects the fuel sample in upper reservoir20through its clear sides to determine if contamination of water or other foreign material is present in the sample.

Once visual inspection is complete, the fuel sample is transferred into the lower reservoir30by opening the self-closing valve located between the upper reservoir20and the lower reservoir30. This self-closing valve is opened as shown inFIG. 6when the user presses sideways on the upper portion of the upper reservoir20from any direction, as indicated by the arrows91,92,93,94(inFIGS. 2 and 3) showing the direction of the applied force, or even by a slight downward force applied to an outer rim of the upper reservoir, as shown by arrow95(inFIG. 2). Once the fuel sample has drained from the upper reservoir20into the lower reservoir30, the user releases side pressure and the self-closing valve closes. This process continues until all the fuel sumps on the aircraft have been checked, or until the lower reservoir30becomes full. When one of the above conditions occurs, the user empties the lower reservoir30by tipping it sideways such that the fuel pours out of lower reservoir30through pour spout37into the airplane's fuel tank or other container for proper disposal of sampled fuel.

In view of the above, embodiments of the present invention include a multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100with both an upper and lower reservoir20,30separated by a self-closing valve, which allows fuel to drain from the upper reservoir20into the lower reservoir30by gravity. Further, embodiments of the invention feature a lower reservoir30sized larger than the upper reservoir20such that a number of full volumes of the upper reservoir20can drain into the lower reservoir30without causing it to overflow. In at least one embodiment, the self-closing valve between the upper and lower reservoirs20,30being an integral part of the bottom of the upper reservoir20. Embodiments also feature both upper and lower reservoirs20,30constructed of a clear material to allow easy inspection of fuel in both the upper and lower reservoirs20,30. Another feature of embodiments of the invention is that the multiple sump fuel sampler with catch can100can be operated through all functions with only one hand. Further, embodiments include a special pour spout37extension that keeps fuel from running back down the outside of the lower reservoir30during emptying. This allows dumping of the lower reservoir30without dribbling fuel in unwanted directions or areas. Another feature of embodiments of the invention is that both upper and lower reservoirs20,30are open to the atmosphere at the top to allow fuel vapors to escape.