Patent ID: 6929039

Claim:
A marine vessel fuel overflow tank system for use in the hull of a marine vessel that has a fuel system including a fuel vent line connecting a fuel tank to a vent that communicates with the atmosphere, said system comprising: a first vent line fitting adapted for direct parallel communication with the fuel vent line, wherein the internal cross sectional area of said first vent line fitting is approximately the same size as the internal cross sectional area of said fuel vent line; a second vent line fitting adapted for direct parallel communication with the fuel vent line, wherein the internal cross sectional area of said second vent line fitting is approximately the same size as the internal cross sectional area of said fuel vent line; and a fuel expansion tank comprising: a plurality of walls defining an enclosed chamber; a first restrictive orifice located in one of said walls in direct communication with said first vent line fitting, wherein said first restrictive orifice has an internal cross sectional area less than the internal cross sectional area of the fuel vent line; a second restrictive orifice located in one of said walls in direct communication with said second vent line fitting, wherein said second restrictive orifice has an internal cross sectional area less than the internal cross sectional area of the fuel vent line; and means for attaching said chamber to the hull with said first restrictive orifice being positioned above said second restrictive orifice and proximate to a top edge of said chamber, and said second restrictive orifice being positioned above said fuel tank and proximate to a bottom edge of said chamber.