Auxiliary fuel tank

Claim 1

For use in connection with a motor vehicle which includes a standard equipment fuel tank having filler means and vent means, a fuel pump for drawing fuel from said standard equipment fuel tank, a fuel line communicating between said standard equipment fuel tank and said fuel pump, a spare tire receptacle sized and shaped to receive a wheel and tire assembly for said vehicle, and an anchor within said receptacle for attaining retaining means for detachably securing said wheel and tire assembly, an auxiliary fuel tank system comprising: a. a generally cylindrical fluid-tight tank having a pair of spaced end walls and sized and shaped to be received within said spare tire receptacle; b. a tube extending through said auxiliary tank and sealingly engaged with each said end wall; c. retaining means, extendable through said tube and engageable with said anchor, for detachably securing said auxiliary tank within said spare tire receptacle; d. filler means associated with said auxiliary tank including i. a filler neck extending from one of said end walls proximate said side wall, and ii. a cap sealingly engageable with said filler neck; e. a vent proximate said filler means for atmospheric relief of fuel vapors and pressure within said auxiliary tank and capable of connection to the vent means of said standard fuel tank; f. fluid pick-up means extending into said auxiliary tank and spaced diametrically from said filler means for receiving fuel from said auxiliary tank, whereby said tank is operative when placed in either horizontal or vertical spare tire receptacles; and g. a valve in said fuel line and communicating with said fluid pick-up means for operatively and selectively connecting either said standard equipment fuel tank or said auxiliary tank with saId fuel pump.