Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle is provided in its interior with a component for reducing fuel surge movements. To avoid troublesome noises produced by fuel movement the component comprises a wall element at a spacing from the end of the tank that is the front end or the rear end in the direction of travel. The wall element extends at least over a substantial part of the height and the width of the tank and is so shaped that the wall element surfaces extend at least predominantly not in planes which extend perpendicularly to the direction of travel, to prevent fuel from impacting unimpededly against those surfaces perpendicularly thereto. Those surfaces thus represent divisions in the fuel tank. The volume of the fuel between the wall element and the respective tank wall surface to be shielded is not sufficient to produce noises which are a nuisance when travel movements occur.

Abstract: A low profile slosh attenuation system is disclosed for liquid propellant tanks of a launch vehicle (100). The slosh attenuation system provides a desired level of slosh damping while reducing or eliminating the need for conventional high profile slosh barrier rings. In one embodiment, the slosh attenuation system is integrated into structural grids (300) used to construct a propellant tank. The invention results in substantial reduction in tank mass, construction complexity and cost.

Abstract: A liquid stabilizing baffle is described in which first and second loops are formed by strips of flexible spring material. The first and second loops intersect one another at two intersection points along an axis. A third loop, formed of a flexible spring material strip may be joined with the first and second loops at points between the intersection points of the first and second loops.

Abstract: A fuel tank for motor vehicles is constructed so that the generation of noise in the fuel tank due to sloshing fuel is minimized. For this purpose, a dampener element, which is permeable to the flow of liquid fuel, is attached to the interior of the tank. According to the invention, the dampening element has a dimensionally stable lattice or similar network structure. This dampener element is attached near the bottom wall of the fuel tank and has a generally horizontal orientation.

Abstract: There is provided a baffle for suppressing slosh in a tank adapted for containing fluids, and a tank for incorporating same. The baffle includes an attachment portion adapted to connect the baffle to an inner sidewall of the tank, and a baffle body extending from the attachment portion and adapted to protrude into the tank. A smoothly curved corrugation is provided for operably connecting the attachment portion and the baffle body. The baffle body can also include a plurality of ribs extending from a proximal edge of each baffle to a distal edge. A plurality of baffles are operably attached at different peripheral locations on an inner sidewall of the tank of the present invention in order to reduce slosh.

Abstract: A baffle (1) for reducing hydraulic ram pressure in a liquid in a tank (5,9) in which it is located resulting from impact of a projectile on an external surface (6,10) of the tank, includes at least two outer walls (2) spaced apart to define therebetween at least one cavity (3) and a compressible gas or gaseous mixture at reduced, atmospheric or enhanced pressure contained in the cavity (3). The baffle outer walls (2) are sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure of the gas or gaseous material contained in the cavity (3) are sufficiently strong to resist the hydrostatic pressure of liquid in a tank (5,9), when the baffle (1) is located in the liquid in the tank (5,9), and are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to provide the cavity with a volume sufficient to allow a shock wave or waves in the liquid resulting from compression of the liquid by impact of a projectile on the tank external surface (6) to be reduced by expansion of the compressed liquid into the cavity volume.

Abstract: Large amounts of hazardous goods, especially liquid ones such as fuel, may be carried in safety containers, whether tank semitrailers, oil tankers, containers for hazardous goods or aircraft, and be transported with practically no risk for the environment, by completely filling the inside (10) of the container with glass wool, so that the hazardous materials or other fillings dispersed therein may not escape or be somehow spilled in the environment. The liquid components, for example hydrocarbons, are absorbed and held by a dense, water-proofed latticework (15), so that no oxygen can reach them. They are thus protected against explosions and spillage in the environment. At the same time, a safety container of this type acts as a kind of safety buoy, preventing water from entering the inside (10) of the container, so that the kerosene, gasoline or oil contained therein further increase buoyancy. As a whole, a simplification of the safety container design and a considerable increase in safety may be noted.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a tank including placing the tan lid on a support surface such that a surface of the lid faces downwardly, affixing first and second sides and first and second ends along and adjacent to a perimeter of the lid on an opposite surface of the lid, affixing a floor onto an edge of the first and second sides and the first and second ends opposite the lid, inverting the lid and the sides and the ends and the floor such that a surface of the floor faces downwardly, and affixing a cover over a hole formed in the floor. The hole in the floor is formed of a size suitable for allowing a human body to extend therethrough. All interior seams between the lid, the sides and the ends are welded internally. Similarly, all interior seams between the floor, the sides and the ends are welded internally. The cover has a surface which is welded solely externally to the floor.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for a vehicle includes a tank shell having a first half shell and a second half shell. The fuel tank assembly also includes a plurality of column supports disposed between and attached to the first half shell and the second half shell. The fuel tank assembly further includes a cradle baffle disposed between the first half shell and the second half shell and attached to the column supports. The cradle baffle has at least one compliant joint disposed between a pair of the column supports to allow the cradle baffle to distort when a force is applied to the tank shell.

Abstract: A rotomolded hydraulic oil tank includes an integral dividing baffle which strengthens the tank structure, and diverts and slows returning oil for better air removal and oil mixing. This occurs by positioning the dividing baffle so that the top of the baffle is just below the oil level in the tank so that returning oil must flow a greater distance around the baffle at a reduced velocity thereby increasing the time the oil is in the tank before exiting the tank through the tank suction. The lower velocity of the oil and the increased passage time allows air in the returning oil more time to float to the surface of the oil in the tank.

Abstract: A tank within a ship providing for both fuel storage and water ballast, has external walls enclosing compartments formed between internal intersect walls having flow regulating openings therein that are located and sized to establish separate interfaced flow paths along which segregated flows of fuel and water are concentrated to minimize mixing of fuel and water during refueling operation and reduce retention of water within the tank.

Abstract: A liquid storage tank and non-permanent baffle system, wherein the storage tank encloses a liquid storage space, wherein the system includes the liquid storage tank, an opening provided in a surface of the liquid storage tank, and a plurality of spherical baffle balls introduced into the liquid storage tank through the opening, wherein the baffle balls substantially fill the liquid storage space within the liquid storage tank, and wherein the diameter of the baffle balls is slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening in the liquid storage tank.

Abstract: In a hollow resin container, at a connecting portion between a separator and a resin layer, through-holes, each of which has a surface which is coplanar with and continuous with an inner side surface of the hollow resin container and whose axial direction cross-sectional configuration is triangular, are formed at a base portion of the separator. The surfaces of bottom portions of the through-holes, which surfaces are coplanar with and continuous with the inner side surface of the hollow resin container, are covered with the gas barrier sheet. Namely, a cross-sectional area S of the separator at the connecting portion in a plane which is coplanar with the inner side surface of the hollow resin container is smaller than a cross-sectional area S4 of the separator in a plane parallel to the aforementioned plane and at a region at which the through-holes are not formed (S4>S).

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for a tank with an opening and with a device for damping a splashing movement, porous filler bodies which fit through the opening are introduced as a damping device into the tank until the tank is completely filled with them. Accordingly, a tank with an opening and a device for damping a splashing movement is characterized in that the device for damping comprises porous filler bodies which fit through the opening.

Abstract: A baffle located within a receptacle for liquid to control surging particularly suitable for use with firefighting vehicles having a water supply wherein the baffle is formed of polymeric intersecting longitudinal and transverse plate members having intermeshing slots and reinforcing inserts located in each plate member receive the end region of the intersecting plate member to support the end regions against deformation and displacement.

Abstract: A liquid stabilizing baffle system is described in which a plurality of elongated strips are provided, each being formed of a flexible spring material. Each strip includes longitudinal side edges joining opposed ends. At least one end hole is formed in each strip inwardly adjacent each end, and each strip is foldable into a loop configuration with ends overlapping. Fastener members are provided to be received through aligned end holes of the strips. A connector is provided on each strip, configured to enable a plurality of the strips to be linked in succession with the strips folded into loop configurations to form a strand.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank is made from a plastic molding process in which various models of the tank are required with differently oriented fuel filler necks. One of the mold halves for the tank is provided with a mold insert over that portion of the mold half which forms the fuel filler neck. Different mold inserts are provided each one of which provides a differently oriented version of the fuel filler neck. Different models of the tank are molded with different mold inserts in place such that each tank has an integrally molded fuel filler neck oriented in the proper manner. In addition, a through pocket is integrally molded into the tank between the sides of the tank to form a transverse baffle for preventing fuel from sloshing from one side of the tank to the other.

Abstract: A fuel tank system includes a fuel tank defined by an external wrapper or skin within which fuel tank reinforcing support structures are incorporated, the fuel tank support structures further incorporating a tank mounting system for producing simplified mounting of the fuel tank system to a desired portion of a frame rail of a vehicle. The unibody construction produces an enhanced, significantly elevated level of ground clearance for the fuel tank system, the clearance being defined by the bottom wall surface of the fuel tank of the system.

Abstract: A space-efficient fuel tank for use in a small watercraft powered by an outboard motor is disclosed. The fuel tank is securely but removably mounted to the interior of the watercraft in the previously unusable space immediately underneath and adjacent the outboard motor in its tilted-up condition. In the preferred embodiment, the shell of the fuel tank is generally "U"-shaped in order to optimize the storage space efficiency of the fuel tank when it is positioned in the space underneath the outboard motor. The fuel tank is securely mounted to the watercraft by brackets, which adjustably attach to the top of the fuel tank and extend out and over the back portion of the watercraft near the outboard motor to secure the tank in position immediately underneath and adjacent to the outboard motor.

Abstract: A road trailer for carrying both fluid and dry freight which includes an elongated bulk liquid tank which is clad with sheet metal and has a flat base surface which is stepped across its length from a forward low volume zone of the tank to a lower second level, high volume tank zone, a first pair of parallel spine beams which extend over the length of the tank and are attached to its upper surface cladding, a second pair of parallel spine beams which extend over the length of the tank, and follow the stepped contour of the base surface cladding and are again stepped upwardly to project rearwardly from the high volume zone of the tank, vertical planar spacer elements which are located in and spaced over the length of the tank and are fixed directly to the second pair of spine beams and the inner surface walls of the tank cladding, a load deck arrangement over the upper outer surface of the tank, a hitch device on the underside of the low volume zone of the tank, and a wheel and suspension arrangement which is

Abstract: The tank and baffle system comprises a tank for transporting liquids, having a plurality of baffles for controlling surges and excess liquid movement produced by movement of the tank. The present invention is particularly useful where there is a large ratio of tank width to tank support and lateral bending loads may be in excess of longitudinal bending. The baffles are rigidly secured to a tunnel structure that spans longitudinally from the front to the rear of the tank, and forms a continuous structure in both longitudinal and transverse directions. A further aspect of the invention is the use of chamfered corners on the baffle plates to provide fluid communication between chambers of the tank, as well as to reduce surging of the liquid contents and reduce or eliminate joint fatigue. Access ports in the baffles that are covered by access covers during use are another aspect of the invention.

Abstract: A portable oil container including a housing having an air port and an air vent, a carrying handle at the top of the housing, a handhold at one peripheral side of the housing, a wing screw adapted to seal the air vent, a feed pipe adapted to be connected to the oil port, a sealing cap adapted to seal the oil port when the feed pipe is not connected to the oil port, a springy pipe clamp welded to the housing at the top and adapted for holding the feed pipe when it is not in use, and a plurality of flat bumpers transversely disposed in parallel inside the housing and adapted to buffer contained oil when the housing is moved or turned.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus designed to be used for enriching specific cell types from cell mixtures. The apparatus includes a centrifugable device that includes a constriction defining a lower region and a defined cell separation medium. The constriction prevents mixing between the upper and lower portions of the device. Also disclosed are methods that use precisely defined cell separation media to isolate specific cells from cell mixtures, including CD34.sup.+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from blood or bone marrow, nucleated fetal cells from maternal blood, specific tumor cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and natural suppressor cells from various body fluids, and for enrichment or depletion of T cell lymphocytes. Also disclosed is a density adjusted cell separation technique used to augment the above apparatus and enrichment methods. The apparatus and enrichment methods are useful in various diagnostic and therapeutic regimens.

Abstract: The method of distributing biological material suspended in a liquid sample comprises the steps of directing the liquid sample into a centrifuge sample chamber along a tortuous path of vertically spaced surfaces in the chamber, each of the surfaces being in communication with a discharge opening from the chamber to one surface of the microscope slide, continuing to direct the sample into the chamber until some of the biological material is deposited on portions of at least one of the surfaces and centrifuging the sample chamber whereby the biological material on each of the surfaces of the chamber passes through the discharge opening on the one surface of the slide.

Abstract: A cytology chamber comprises a sample holding portion, a funnel through which the fluid sample is directed into the holding portion of the chamber, a generally flat, solid flange member defining an upright support surface and having an opening through the flange member in communication with the holding portion, and baffle plates in the holding portion define a tortuous path of flow for collecting at least some of the sediment in the fluid prior to reaching the bottom of the holding portion.

Abstract: A method for making a storage tank with an integral vane starts with a feed pipe. A thin, flat vane has a shape which defines an inner and outer curve extending between attachment and second ends. The outer curve of the vane is dimensioned to lie just within the inner periphery of the tank, spaced therefrom by a particular gap. The attachment end of the vane is affixed to a first part of a coupling region of the feed pipe, with the pipe axis lying in the plane of the vane. The vane-pipe combination is placed in the cavity of a mold having the desired interior shape of the tank, with the edge of the outer curve of the vane spaces away from the wall of the mold by the desired gap. A dissolvable, hardenable liquid is injected into the mold and hardened. The mold is removed, leaving a soluble mandrel in the shape of the cavity of the tank. A copper coating is applied to the mandrel and the pipe, to form a metal liner including a neck extending over the feed pipe.

Abstract: A ceramic composite comprising ceramic fibers and glass microparticles bound together as a porous matrix with a ceramic binder provides baffles for cryogenic fluids in a storage container.

Abstract: A liquid transport apparatus including an elongated liquid vessel for transporting compressible liquids, such as LPG. One or more longitudinal conduits having lower solid surfaces in the vapor space of compressible liquid are positioned within the liquid vessel. The compressible liquid within the conduits dissipates or eliminates the water hammer pressure resulting from the impact and prevents the walls of the liquid vessel from failing. The conduits can be in the form of one or more longitudinal pipes in the upper vapor space of the vessel with rupture discs at one or both ends thereof. A plurality of spaced apertures can be formed along the pipes. Further, a longitudinal baffle can be secured inside the vessel beneath the vessel top wall. The baffle can be used with or without the pipes, and if used with the pipes, it is positioned directly beneath them.

Abstract: Conformal fuel tank which includes an elongate, flexible or rigid, tubular member having a storage chamber therein. The tubular member is bent into a coiled configuration which can conform to a variety of irregular two and three dimensional shapes. Preformed saddle members are provided which include channel members thereon which receive bent portions of the tubular member and maintain them in a bent condition which corresponds to the curved channels. Cap members are provided on the end portions of the tubular members for closing the storage chamber, thereby enabling fuel to be stored therein. The tubular member may include an inner core made of a nylon monomer or copolymer, an intermediate layer around the core made of a fiber-reinforced composite material, and an outer protective layer of polyurethane or the like. The conformal fuel tank is particularly adapted for use in storing fuel such as methane or propane under high pressure in irregular spaces available in a vehicle or the like.

Abstract: A fluid transport apparatus including an elongated fluid vessel for transporting fluid, such as LPG. One or more breakable containers of compressible fluid are positioned within the fluid vessel. The containers are adapted to break by the force of the vessel fluid surging against them when the fluid vessel is impacted. The compressible fluid within the containers dissipates or eliminates the water hammer pressure resulting from the impact and thereby prevents the walls of the fluid vessel from failing. The breakable containers can be end partitions with one or more rupture discs thereon or collapsible pressurized containers, such as ordinary tennis balls, held at one or both vessel ends by internal breakaway partition walls.

Abstract: A liquid fuel tank filling and venting device including a hollow body member containing a chamber, an inlet opening for supplying fuel downwardly into the chamber, a fuel outlet opening for supplying fuel from the chamber, and an overflow opening connected with the chamber, each of the fuel outlet and overflow outlets being independently connected with the fuel tank, whereby overflow fuel is returned to the chamber via the overflow outlet. A fuel cap is provided for closing the inlet opening, the fuel cap containing a vent passageway including a removably mounted filter, so that the tank is continuously vented to atmosphere when the fuel cap is in either the open or closed position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel tank having a top surface and a side surface. The side surface has a first aperture and a second aperture below the first aperture. A fuel filler pipe communicates with the second aperture and a sensing tube communicates with the first aperture. An internal communicating means between the first aperture and an ullage point located below the top surface permits the tank to be filled through the filler pipe to a level not exceeding the ullage point.

Abstract: A portable liquid reservoir comprising an open container mounted on a moveable frame. The reservoir is intended for fire fighting and has a liquid drain in which whirlpool prevention devices are incorporated to prevent the formation of whirlpools and allow water to be removed from the reservoir at a relatively high rate.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly comprising first and second fuel tank walls comprising a reservoir therebetween. The reservoir has a resilient portion which biases the reservoir in place against the first and second fuel tank walls.

Abstract: A tank (2) specially suited for transporting slurries, such as wine grapes (60), while reducing the tendency of the slurry to surge during transport. The tank includes an outer frame (6) and an inner container (4). The frame, typically made of steel, defines a central open region (5) within which the container is supported. The container is preferably plastic, or other thermal insulating material, to reduce heat transfer through the walls of the containers to the slurry. The circumferential sidewall (8) of the container has vertical corrugations (52) sized and spaced to inhibit surging of the slurry material within the tank during transport on a truck (47).

Abstract: This invention relates to an explosion suppressive foil inserted within a container charged with inflammable or explosive liquid. This explosion suppressive foil is made of an aluminum alloy foil substrate having a number of slant surfaces having cylindrical walls are arranged side by side so as to be adjoined together thereon, and a circular hole is defined on every annular slant surface.

Abstract: A reservoir for aircraft, such as a helicopter, containing a fluid and having at least orifices in its side wall close to its bottom and to which a fluid feed and return ducts can be connected. The reservoir has to allow the aircraft to effect temporary flight phases under negative load factor, a plate having a passage, for retarding the movement of the fluid contained in the reservoir, so that the fluid, moving from the bottom to the top of the reservoir during the temporary flight phases and passing through the passage of the retarding means, remains in communication with the orifice for the duration of the flight phases, while avoiding the entry of air into the duct.

Abstract: A novel fuel tank is disclosed for a vehicle. The fuel tank includes a first and second housing part, each having an outer peripheral flange. The flanges are adapted to abut against each other and, in doing so, form a chamber between the central portions of the housing parts. These flanges are then sealingly secured together. Each housing part is a laminate structure having an outer layer constructed of an abrasion and impact resistant material, a vapor barrier layer constructed of a material impervious to hydrocarbon vapors, and a chemically resistant layer constructed of a material resistant to erosion from hydrocarbons and conventional fuel additives. Each housing part may also have additional layers, such as a heat and light reflective layer adjacent the outermost abrasion resistant layer, as well as a structural layer to add strength and rigidity to the overall tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel tank comprising a generally planar fuel tank bottom and upstanding wall on the fuel tank bottom. A passage within the wall has a throat area for admitting fuel to the reservoir. A baffle attached to the wall and placed adjacent the throat area deflects fuel away from the passage. The reservoir is designed to contain a first minimum quantity of fuel when the vehicle is approximately level and a second minimum quantity of fuel when the vehicle is inclined, the second quantity of fuel being roughly one-third the first minimum quantity of fuel. The reservoir acts to confine fuel within an area to be withdrawn by a fuel pump or pick-up nozzle and supplied to an engine.

Abstract: An improved oil tank for storing hydraulic fluid and the hydraulically-powered system is fabricated from a polymeric material which is resistant to chemical breakdown from oil. The tank is constructed in a manner which facilitates internal circulation of hydraulic oil during use. The novel configuration of the tank lends itself to inexpensive fabrication through a rotational molding process. The tank is lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture, and is particularly advantageous for use in vehicle-mounted hydraulic drive systems.

Abstract: A baffle assembly for a fuel tank includes a baffle frame formed with an opening and a baffle member installed in the opening. The baffle member is formed from a mass of synthetic resin strings which are joined collectively into a sponge-like structure.