Patent US4567918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4567918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid reservoir and method of dispensing a liquid therefrom by means of a vehicle
Assignee: General Dynamics Land Systems Inc
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Filing: 1985-01-28
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2005-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of dispensing a liquid including providing a liquid containing resilient storage reservoir, positioning the reservoir in the path of traction means of the vehicle and moving the vehicle so as to cause the traction means to run over at least a portion of the resilient liquid storage reservoir in a longitudinal axial direction to thereby urge liquid out of the reservoir while resisting substantial lateral expansion of said reservoir in front of said traction means. The method and reservoir may be employed to refuel a vehicle by connecting the reservoir with a fuel inlet of the vehicle. The reservoir is preferably composed of a resiliently deformable material. It is preferably elongated and has tapered end. The reservoir may advantageously have tread means on the upper surface and/or lower surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoram Curiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:18
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of dispensing a liquid by means of a vehicle comprising providing an elongated liquid containing resilient storage reservoir having an outlet opening, positioning said reservoir in a path of traction means of said vehicle, and moving said vehicle so as to cause said traction means to run over at least a portion of said reservoir in a longitudinal axial direction to progressively compress said reservoir and progressively urge said liquid out of said reservoir while resisting substantial lateral expansion of said reservoir in front of said traction means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of dispensing a liquid by means of a vehicle comprising providing an elongated liquid containing resilient storage reservoir having an outlet opening, positioning said reservoir in a path of traction means of said vehicle, and moving said vehicle so as to cause said traction means to run over at least a portion of said reservoir in a longitudinal axial direction to progressively compress said reservoir and progressively urge said liquid out of said reservoir while resisting substantial lateral expansion of said reservoir in front of said traction means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dispensing method of claim 1 including providing said liquid as a fire extinguishing material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The dispensing method of claim 1 including providing said resilient reservoir as a fuel storage reservoir, providing fuel as said liquid in said reservoir, and prior to urging said fuel out of said reservoir connecting said resilient storage reservoir with a fuel inlet of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dispensing method of claim 3 including providing a filler tube connecting said reservoir to said vehicle, whereby fuel urged out of said reservoir will travel through said filler tube into said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 3 including providing said reservoir with an elongated body having an enlarged portion and an adjacent tapered portion, and causing said traction means to engage said tapered portion before engaging said enlarged portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 5 including providing said reservoir with said enlarged portion being substantially cylindrical and said tapered portion being substantially conical, and placing at least a portion of said enlarged portion in contact with the ground.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 5 including providing valve means operatively associated with said outlet means to alternately restrict or permit flow of fuel out of said reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 7 including reservoir lifting means secured to the exterior of said reservoir, and lifting said reservoir by said lifting means and placing said reservoir on the ground.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 5 including providing said reservoir with a substantially flat lower surface, and placing said lower surface in contact with the ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 9 including providing said reservoir with an upper surface having at least a portion which is angularly downwardly oriented, and placing said angularly downwardly portion at the end of said reservoir first contacted by said vehicle traction means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 9 including providing said vehicle as a military tank having traction means in the form of endless tread means, and running one of said endless tread means over said storage reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of refueling a vehicle of claim 11 comprising controlling the rate of speed of said vehicle so as to achieve a desired rate of flow of fuel into said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A collapsible liquid storage and dispensing reservoir comprising an elongated unitary resilient member composed of a resiliently compressible material, and said reservoir having a body portion and an adjacent tapered portion, whereby vehicle traction means running over said reservoir in a longitudinal axial direction will compress said reservoir progressively to urge said liquid from said reservoir while resisting substantial lateral expansion of said reservoir in front of said traction means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A collapsible liquid storage and dispensing reservoir comprising an elongated unitary resilient member composed of a resiliently compressible material, and said reservoir having a body portion and an adjacent tapered portion, whereby vehicle traction means running over said reservoir in a longitudinal axial direction will compress said reservoir progressively to urge said liquid from said reservoir while resisting substantial lateral expansion of said reservoir in front of said traction means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 13 including said elongated portion being generally cylindrical and said tapered portion being generally conical.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 14 including at least a portion of said reservoir having tread means to facilitate more efficient engagement by traction means of a vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 15 including said reservoir having a storage capacity of about 10 to 200 gallons.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 15 including reservoir engaging means secured to the exterior thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 17 including said reservoir engaging means including an elongated member secured, at least in part in spaced relationship with respect to the exterior surface of said reservoir.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 13 including said body portion having a generally flat ground engaging lower surface, and said tapered portion having a portion extending generally angularly downwardly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 19 including said reservoir having an upper surface portion adjacent to said angularly downwardly extending portion and being substantially parallel to said lower surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 13 including said storage reservoir being elongated and having an outlet disposed adjacent one end thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 21 including said angularly downwardly extending portion disposed at or adjacent the end opposite of said outlet end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 21 including valve means operatively associated with said outlet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 21 including outlet tube means secured to said reservoir outlet for directing the flow of said liquid urged out of said reservoir.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 21 including second valve means operatively associated with said reservoir for introduction of compressed air therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 13 including a plurality of inwardly open channels formed within the wall of said reservoir.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The collapsible liquid storage reservoir of claim 26 including said channels being oriented generally longitudinally within said reservoir.
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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) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |