US3976572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft fuel contaminant tester
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-01-08
•
Granted: 1976-08-24
•
Expires: 1995-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A test unit for indicating the presence of water and other contaminants in aircraft fuel. The unit is constituted by a transparent cylinder closed at its bottom and having a filter element therein which divides the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Mounted at the top end of the cylinder and projecting therefrom is a valve-actuating pin adapted to engage the sump drain valve in the fuel tank to be tested to cause a fuel sample to flow into the upper chamber. The filter element is formed of a selectively-permeable hydrophobic material which blocks the flow of water and other contaminants and is permeable only to the fuel whereby should the fuel contain contaminants, the pure fuel will pass into the lower chamber and the contaminants will be retained in the upper chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin G. Reick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:02
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/08; B01D17/10; C; C08; C08J; C08J2425/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/255
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A unit for visually testing fuel for the presence of water, said unit comprising a transparent cylinder whose bottom is closed and whose top is open, said cylinder being divided by a filter element into a transparent upper chamber and a transparent lower chamber, said lower chamber including a vent open to the atmosphere, said element being constituted by a selectively-permeable hydrophobic material which passes only the fuel component in a sample supplied to the upper chamber into the lower chamber where it is visible to an observer and completely blocks the passage of the water component contained in the sample so that the water is retained in the upper chamber where it is visible to the observer, whereby the presence of water is positively indicated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A unit for visually testing fuel for the presence of water, said unit comprising a transparent cylinder whose bottom is closed and whose top is open, said cylinder being divided by a filter element into a transparent upper chamber and a transparent lower chamber, said lower chamber including a vent open to the atmosphere, said element being constituted by a selectively-permeable hydrophobic material which passes only the fuel component in a sample supplied to the upper chamber into the lower chamber where it is visible to an observer and completely blocks the passage of the water component contained in the sample so that the water is retained in the upper chamber where it is visible to the observer, whereby the presence of water is positively indicated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower chamber is closed by a removable stopper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vent is an air hole adjacent said filter element to exhaust air therefrom as it is filled with fuel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pin is anchored at the top of said upper chamber and extends upwardly therefrom, said pin being adapted to actuate a fuel drain valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filter element is constituted by a hollow conical plug extending into said upper chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filter material is formed of a porous substrate having a coating thereon of hydrophobic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein said substrate is formed into a hollow plug whose surface is coated with said hydrophobic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
A unit for visually testing fuel for the presence of water, said unit comprising a transparent cylinder whose bottom is closed and whose top is open, said cylinder being divided by a filter element into a transparent upper chamber and a transparent lower chamber, said lower chamber including a vent open to the atmosphere, said element being constituted by a selectively permeable hydrophobic material which passes only the fuel component in a sample supplied to the upper chamber into the lower chamber where it is visible to an observer and completely blocks the passage of the water component contained in the sample so that the water is retained in the upper chamber where it is visible to the observer, whereby the presence of water is positively indicated, said filter element being formed of a porous substrate constituted by non-woven, spunbonded fibers selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and polyester fibers, said fibers having a hydrophobic coating therein which includes fumed silicon dioxide particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A unit for visually testing fuel for the presence of water, said unit comprising a transparent cylinder whose bottom is closed and whose top is open, said cylinder being divided by a filter element into a transparent upper chamber and a transparent lower chamber, said lower chamber including a vent open to the atmosphere, said element being constituted by a selectively permeable hydrophobic material which passes only the fuel component in a sample supplied to the upper chamber into the lower chamber where it is visible to an observer and completely blocks the passage of the water component contained in the sample so that the water is retained in the upper chamber where it is visible to the observer, whereby the presence of water is positively indicated, said filter element being formed of a porous substrate constituted by non-woven, spunbonded fibers selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and polyester fibers, said fibers having a hydrophobic coating therein which includes fumed silicon dioxide particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein said particles are bonded to said substrate by a silicon rubber binder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |