Fluid containers to evacuate spilled fluid from the interior of an enclosure of the fluid container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150364-B2
Application number	US-201615140692-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	Apr 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

Fluid containers to evacuate spilled fluid from the interior of an enclosure of the fluid container are disclosed. An example system includes an enclosure and a fluid container within the enclosure. The fluid container includes a fluid capture area at a top of the fluid container and a channel at a side of the fluid container. The fluid capture area directs the fluid to the channel, and the channel directs the fluid from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an enclosure; and
a fluid container within the enclosure, the fluid container comprising:
a fluid capture area at a top of the fluid container; and
a channel at a side of the fluid container, the fluid capture area to direct the fluid to the channel, the channel to direct the fluid from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a flange to direct the fluid from the channel to the exterior of the enclosure and the channel laps the flange.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fluid container is molded to include at least one of the fluid capture area or the channel.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fluid container comprises a fluid inlet at the top of the fluid container, the fluid capture area being adjacent and below the fluid inlet.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 , wherein the fluid capture area surrounds the fluid inlet to capture the fluid in any direction with respect to the fluid inlet.

5. A system, comprising:
an enclosure; and
a fluid container within the enclosure, the fluid container comprising:
a fluid capture area at a top of the fluid container; and
a channel at a side of the fluid container, the fluid capture area to direct the fluid to the channel, the channel to direct the fluid from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a door or removable panel to provide access to the fluid inlet.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 , wherein the fluid inlet of the fluid container is not accessible from an exterior of the enclosure when the door or the removable panel are in a closed position.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fluid capture area is pitched toward the channel to direct the fluid to the channel.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a side panel, the fluid container being mounted in the enclosure adjacent the side panel, the flange being integral with the side panel.

9. A power system, comprising:
an enclosure;
an engine installed within the enclosure; and
a fuel tank installed within the enclosure to store fuel for the engine, the fuel tank comprising:
a fuel capture area at a top of the fuel tank; and
a channel at a side of the fuel tank, the fuel capture area to direct the spilled fuel to the channel, the channel to direct the spilled fuel from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a flange to direct the spilled fuel from the channel to the exterior of the enclosure and the channel laps the flange.

10. The power system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the fuel tank is molded to include at least one of the fuel capture area or the channel.

11. The power system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the fuel tank comprises a fuel inlet at the top of the fuel tank, the fuel capture area being adjacent and below the fuel inlet.

12. The power system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the fuel capture area surrounds the fuel inlet to capture the spilled fuel in any direction with respect to the fuel inlet.

13. A power system, comprising:
an enclosure;
an engine installed within the enclosure; and
a fuel tank installed within the enclosure to store fuel for the engine, the fuel tank comprising:
a fuel inlet;
a fuel capture area at a top of the fuel tank; and
a channel at a side of the fuel tank, the fuel capture area to direct the spilled fuel to the channel, the channel to direct the spilled fuel from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a door or removable panel to provide access to the fuel inlet.

14. The power system as defined in claim 13 , wherein a fuel inlet of the fuel tank is not accessible from an exterior of the enclosure when the door or the removable panel are in a closed position.

15. The power system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the fuel capture area is pitched toward the channel to direct the fuel to the channel.

16. The power system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a side panel, the fuel tank being mounted in the enclosure adjacent the side panel, the flange being integral with the side panel.

17. A system, comprising:
an enclosure comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and a side panel; and
a fluid container within the enclosure, the fluid container comprising:
a fluid capture area at a top of the fluid container; and
a channel at a side of the fluid container, the fluid capture area to direct the fluid to the channel, the channel to direct the fluid from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior side of the side panel of the enclosure.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the side panel of the enclosure is substantially vertical.

19. A power system, comprising:
an enclosure comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and a side panel;
an engine installed within the enclosure; and
a fuel tank installed within the enclosure to store fuel for the engine, the fuel tank comprising:
a fuel capture area at a top of the fuel tank to capture spilled fuel; and
a channel at a side of the fuel tank, the fuel capture area to direct the spilled fuel to the channel, the channel to direct the spilled fuel from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior side of the side panel of the enclosure.

20. The power system as defined in claim 19 , wherein the side panel of the enclosure is substantially vertical.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Jochman Nathan Joe

Classifications

• B60K15/03 Primary

  Fuel tanks · CPC title

• F02B63/044

  the engine-generator unit being placed on a frame or in an housing · CPC title

• B60K15/04

  Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K2015/03381

  for preventing explosions · CPC title

• B60K2015/0477

  Details of the filler neck tank side · CPC title