Patent GB-573341-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to liquid storage tanks
IPC: B64D37/06
Filed: 1942-08-21
Abstract: 573,341. Tanks; valves. CURLE, E. Aug. 21, 1942, No: 11807. [Classes 69 (i) and 135] A liquid storage tank, such as a fuel tank for aircraft, comprises a number of individual liquid containers connected to a common outlet which leads to a main outlet conduit and is governed by a valve controlled by a float contained in a chamber with an outlet leading to said outlet conduit, a spill-tray beneath the containers trapping any liquid escaping therefrom and directing it to said chamber to actuate said float and cause said valve to close the common outlet until the escaped liquid has passed through said chamber. In Fig. 1, an outer covering 10 contains four tiers of liquid containers 11, 12, the containers 11 of the lowest tier being each connected by a pipe 15 to a common conduit 16 leading through pipes 17 to a chamber 18 connected to a main outlet conduit 19 and containing a float valve 20 which prevents liquid passing from the upper tiers until the lowest tier is empty; the containers 12 of the second tier are connected through pipes 15, a common conduit 23 and an outlet pipe 24 connected to chamber 25 of the control valve, while the containers 12 of the third and fourth tiers are connected to the containers 12 of the second tier through pipes 15, common conduits 27 and pipes 28 leading to containers 12 of the second and third tiers. Each pipe 15 contains a non-return valve preventing back-flow of fluid through a damaged container. A filler 13 is provided from which the fluid flows to the containers through pipes 14 and conduits 14a. Each container has a float-controlled non-return inlet valve 29 arranged in a dished part 30 adapted to catch free liquid. Below the containers is a spill tray 31 adapted to catch loose liquid and direct it through passages 32 to a control valve chamber 33 containing a float valve 34 which controls pipe 24 and prevents liquid flowing from the upper tiers until loose liquid has been utilized. Between the cover 10 and the containers 11, 12, are vertical corrugated metal sheets 37 and inclined plates 38 which direct loose liquid back to the containers or spill tray. Armour plate 22 is provided below the control valve, and a jettison valve 21 is also provided In Fig. 2, three tiers of containers 11, 12 are provided, the two lower tiers being supplemented by L-shaped containers 39, 40 ; each container has its own outlet pipe 42, the pipes 42 from the lower, intermediate and upper tiers terminating at lower, intermediate and upper parts of a conical face of a chamber 44 containing a float valve 45 which acts as a cam to control pivoted flap valves 46, whereby the outlet pipes 42 from the lowest tier are first opened, then those of the intermediate tier and finally those of the uppermost tier. A spilltray 31 is also provided and leads to a chamber 33 containing a float valve 34 which closes the chamber 44 until the chamber 33 is empty. A tube 47 admits air to the chamber 44 through openings 49. Each container has a dished, perforated inlet 41. Fluid admitted through inlet 13 fills the tank body before passing to the containers. The spill-tray in each case may be corrugated or it may be formed of closely packed pipes. Air may be displaced in the tank by gas such as CO2.