Patent ID: 7621291

Claim:
A fuel tank for a spacecraft, for storing a liquid fuel and a pressurized propellant gas, said fuel tank comprising: a tank wall enclosing a tank interior space adapted to store the liquid fuel and the propellant gas therein; and a fuel extraction arrangement that communicates out of said tank interior space through said tank wall, and that comprises a fuel collection container and an outlet pipe; wherein: said fuel collection container includes a fuel collection container body that defines therein a fuel reservoir space communicating with said tank interior space through fuel feed passages; said outlet pipe extends from said fuel collection container outwardly away from said tank interior space; and said fuel collection container body has therein a hook-shaped fuel collection channel that communicates with said fuel reservoir space, and plural fuel flow channels that communicate from said fuel collection channel into said outlet pipe, wherein said fuel collection channel has a hook shape on a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said outlet pipe, wherein said hook shape hooks around or passes through said longitudinal axis in said plane, and wherein said hook shape includes a straight-extending outer leg, a straight-extending inner leg, and a curved or angled hook portion extending between and connecting said outer leg and said inner leg.