Patent ID: 7059187

Claim:
A pressure vessel comprising: a seamless tank shell defining an interior space and having an outer surface wherein said tank shell is comprised of more than one boss, each of said bosses having a threaded portion; said outer surface having a fuel withdrawal assembly or a direct-sight fuel gauge mechanically fastened thereto; and said fuel withdrawal assembly includes a treaded portion engaged with said threaded portion of one of said plurality of bosses; and said fuel withdrawal assembly is engaged with said one of said plurality of bosses by one and one-half revolutions of sealing force; and said fuel withdrawal assembly includes a withdrawal outlet piece capable of 360 degree rotation when engaged with said fuel withdrawal assembly; and said one of said bosses which is engaged with said fuel withdrawal assembly is substantially engaged with said interior space of said tank shell and said fuel withdrawal assembly extends less than 1.5 inches above said outer surface of said tank shell; and the fuel withdrawal assembly comprises a split-nut housing including two mated halves, said mated halves defining an interior space and forming a continuous threaded portion, and, said withdrawal outlet piece rotatably engaged within said interior space defined by said mated halves; and said one of said plurality of bosses to which the fuel withdrawal assembly is connected is comprised of a substantially capped end, the fuel withdrawal assembly is comprised of a lower flange having a lower surface, and the lower surface engages the capped end to form a seal; the direct-sight fuel gauge having a threaded portion engaged with said threaded portion of one of said plurality of bosses; and the direct-sight fuel gauge comprises: a gauge neck having a lower portion having threads, an upper portion having threads, and an interior wall having a gauge cap having threads wherein the lower portion of the gauge neck is threadedly connected to said one of said plurality of bosses, the gauge cap is threadedly connected to said upper portion of the gauge neck.