Fuel tank

“ To insure greater safety, the fuel supply was divided among sixteen tanks, all of which were interconnected with each other and the engines so that gasoline from any tank or tanks could be diverted to any particular engine. ”

“ The pressure tank is a lightweight, airplane-type cylinder, able to withstand the great pressure which it contains. The tank is charged with air or nitrogen at 1,700 to 2,100 pounds per square inch pressure by use of auxiliary equipment as described in Paragraphs 31 and 32. This pressure stays in the pressure tank until the weapon is ready to be fired. Opening of the pressure-tank valve releases air or nitrogen through the pressure regulator to the fuel tanks. Oxygen or combustible gases are never used in the tank because a violent explosion may result. ”

“ The rate of fuel supply to the engine would decrease as the level in the fuel tank dropped, but as the head being utilized was a matter of several feet and the height of the supply tank a matter of inches, the fuel-air ratio was still maintained well within the range that would ignite and burn properly in the contemplated one-power condition of their flight operation. ”

“ Petrol was supplied to the engine in the earlier days of the Mark IV machine by a pressure-fed system which gave a great deal of trouble, and, being also considered dangerous, was finally discarded in favour of the Autovac system, which sucked the fuel from the main supply in a tank outside of the machine and delivered it to the carburetter by gravity. ”

“ The practice of "doping" the fuel tank by adding to the gasoline ether or some other highly volatile liquid is not to be recommended to the average motorist. A few ounces of ether or chloroform added to the fuel will form a more volatile and consequently more powerful mixture, but unless the greatest care is taken, the motor is liable to be completely ruined by such a procedure. ”

“ It is also for the purpose of preventing an overflow of gasoline should the position of the car ever be such as would raise the fuel supply tank higher than the vacuum tank. Through this tube the lower or reservoir chamber is continually open to atmospheric pressure. T is the outlet at the bottom of the float chamber in which the flapper valve H is located. U is the float stem guide. V is a strainer which prevents foreign matter from passing into the vacuum chamber. W is a tap or vent through which gasoline may be fed into the upper chamber if the fuel tank is damaged or put out of commission. ”

“ Place the new * * * to 2 minutes. Slight pressure sometimes builds up in the fuel tanks, even though the pressure-tank valve has not been opened, and causes some overflow of fuel when the coupling plug is removed. ”

“ The two body fuel tanks, two wing tanks at the carry-through section, catwalk, and slurry tanks were broken open, charred, melted, and consumed by fire. Sections of the slurry tanks, slurry tank doors, doors uplocks and actuator arms, and fuel tank baffling fanned outward from the center fuselage section in a 30-degree arc extending along a 265 degree heading. Fire retardant chemical also fanned outward along the ground in this area. Fire retardant was observed on the east-facing sides of tree trunks in the area, extending from the roots of the trees upward approximately 15 to 30 feet. ”

“ Apart from the extreme nose of the fuselage and the elevators and the rudder, which are of light metal, the structure is entirely of steel, the fuselage being in sections bolted together. The central section of the fuselage comprises a cylindrical steel fuel tank of 150 gallons capacity behind which is a compartment containing two wire-bound spheres 1 ft. 91⁄4 in. diameter, filled with compressed air. In front of the fuel tank is the explosive charge weighing about 850 kg. in a steel casing approximately 2 mm. thick and designed to explode by means of sensitive impact fuzes. ”

“ Numerous cases are on record in which cylinder heads have been blown off or castings cracked by the force of some of the explosions when too much "dope" has found its way into the mixture.
Although the average motor gasoline obtainable nowadays is hardly all that could be desired as automobile fuel, a little care taken when filling the tank will eliminate many of the carburetor annoyances to which many cars seem to be subject. ”

“ Check trigger for operation. Lubricate. (Par 49)
e. Fuel tanks and passages. Remove plugs (Par 69 b) . Drain any remaining fuel. Use gasoline to remove residues of thickened fuels before they have a chance to harden and obstruct passages. If necessary, fill tanks with gasoline and allow to stand for several hours, shaking occasionally. Drain and repeat if necessary.
f. Safety head. Check head to see if it is ruptured; if it is, replace. (Par 69) Follow test procedure. (Par 56 b)
g. Pressure-tank valve. If weapon is to be stored, open pressure-tank valve and leave it open until next charging. ”

“ We believe positive protection against fuel tank explosion from static discharge ignited fuel/air mixtures at fuel tank vent outlets can be provided by flame arrestors having sufficient depth.A possible alternative to No. 2 that may be considered is to render the mixture emitting from the vent outlet non-ignitable by the introduction of air into the vent tube.We believe the surge tanks located just outboard of the reserve tanks, by virtue of their location near the wing tip, are vulnerable with respect to lightning strikes. ”

“ As the rapidly accumulating mechanism passes on, different workmen adjust the mufflers, exhaust pipes, the radiator, and the wheels which, as already indicated, arrive on the scene completely tired. Then a workman seats himself on the gasoline tank, which contains a small quantity of its indispensable fuel, starts the engine, and the thing moves out the door under its own power. ”

“ Cavitating venturis, located in the gas generator lines, control propellant flow to the gas generator. Propellant pressures open the check valves installed in the lines, allowing propellant to enter the gas generator. The propellants ignite hypergolically and a fuel-rich gas is produced which enters the turbine inlet, drives the turbine, and thereby sustains turbopump assembly operation. An autogenous pressurization system is used for inflight propellant tank pressurization. The system utilizes a small portion of cooled exhaust gas to pressurize the fuel tank. ”

“ Squads of mechanics set to work, each man knowing exactly what was required of him, and doing it expeditiously and without undue noise. The petrol tank was filled by means of hose pipes communicating with the distant fuel reservoir, hydrogen was pumped into the pressure cylinders and thence into the envelope, until the manometer registered the requisite lifting power. ”

“ They had some emergency fuel, but they didn't want to use it. Like having a can of kerosene in the car when the tank runs dry, I suppose. It will work, but it messes up the engine. You understand so far? ”

“ When the fuel inlet valve opens, the heavy fuel is forced into the cylinder by means of compressed air which presses on the fuel in the supply tank. The instant the fuel strikes the hot air in the cylinder it ignites and burns, and as it burns it expands just as the gases of burning powder in a cartridge expand. This forces the piston down and makes the power stroke as shown in B, Fig. 32.
Here, then, is another great advantage of the Diesel engine over the ordinary gasoline engine: it does not need an electric spark or any other kind of flame to fire it. ”

“ Water in the fuel is an annoyance that is often encountered by the automobilist and the motor boatman, and this will make its presence known by causing the motor to skip when all adjustments and connections seem to be in perfect condition. Water is much heavier than gasoline and has no affinity for it, and consequently, as it sinks to the bottom of the tank, a few drops in a large amount of gasoline will cause trouble by passing out through the needle valve at intermittent intervals and forming an unexplosive mixture. ”

“ When making a small model traction engine or a locomotive the question arises, "What shall the fuel be?" If you have decided to use gasoline, then a suitable burner is necessary. A piece of brass tubing about 3 in. in diameter and 6 in. long with caps screwed on both ends and fitted with a filling plug and a bicycle valve makes a good gasoline supply tank, says the Model Engineer, London. The bicycle valve is used to give the tank an air pressure which forces the gasoline to the burner. ”

“ They examined the tank for air-leaks that would reduce the pressure to the point where the fuel would not feed. But the gauge registered five pounds—more than enough. Then they began tracing the slender feed-pipe from the tank to the carburetor. Almost immediately the trouble was found. Some one had disconnected one of the joints and had stopped up the pipe with soap, so of course the gasolene could not flow.
“We have our friends, the lieutenants, to thank for that,” Stanley said bitterly. “It’s hard to believe that any one could do such a thing.” ”

“ The engine drives a three-bladed propeller through a long shaft with a disconnecting clutch between, so that for starting or stopping temporarily the screw can be disconnected from the engine. The petrol, which serves as fuel for the engine, is carried in a metal tank stored away inside the forward "end" box, where it is beyond any possibility of accidental damage. Sufficient fuel for a continuous run of over ten hours is carried. The engine is started by a handle fitted on the fore side of the case, which can be worked by two men. ”

“ The cap of the tank should never be taken off when the air is filled with particles of dust that are liable to find their way into the fuel, and care should be taken to111 see that no pieces of the rubber or leather washer or packing drop into the gasoline when the cap is removed. Foreign matter and water that may be in the gasoline when purchased may be removed by straining the fuel through a chamois skin placed inside of the funnel through which the tank is filled. ”

“ Detachable pressure tank and valve assemblies (par. 66.1) make possible the use of packboards for transporting pressure tanks, 5-gallon cans of fuel, wrenches, and additional ignition cylinders close to the front line of combat to troops using flame throwers. As packboards are not manufactured specifically for servicing flame throwers, standard quartermaster-issue packboards are used. Packboard transportation is practicable only with pourable fuel. (Pourable fuels include some thickened fuels and all liquid fuels.) ”

“ The nozzle should be cleaned with a small wire run back and forth throughout the opening.
CLOGGED AIR VENT in the float chamber will change the level of the fuel, and will either “starve” the engine, or flood the carburetor. The air in the float chamber is a very small hole, and is likely to clog.
HOT FUEL PIPE. If the fuel pipe that connects the tank with the carburetor, becomes hot, due to its proximity to the exhaust pipe of cylinders, vapor will be formed in the pipe that will interfere with the flow of fuel. ”

“ Standard nozzles furnished with the burner will produce the stamped rated capacity when used with Commercial Standard No. 2 Fuel Oil, and operated with a pressure of 100 lbs. per square inch. The standard setting of the fuel unit is 100 lbs. Due to difference in tank elevations, the pressure should be adjusted at the time of start up.
FUEL LINES
Care should be employed when attaching the oil lines to the fuel unit. Overtightening or twisting will twist the pump-motor mounting plate and put a stress on the motor bearings. ”

“ The threads in the fuel-valve body will be damaged by frequent screwing and unscrewing of the hose because the body is a lightweight aluminum casting. Fuel hose is replaced as a unit and is not disassembled in the second echelon. To disconnect from tank group, see Paragraph 70 b.
c. Installation of fuel-hose assembly.
(1) To install in tank group, see Paragraph 70 c.
(2) To install in gun, apply anti-seize compound (from service kit) lightly to threads and screw hose in fuel-valve body by hand. Use wrench only enough to make a secure connection.
d. Maintenance of fuel-hose assembly. ”

“ The fan is driven from the circulating pumps, and passes the air through 175the chamber in a direction opposite to that of the water, baffles being placed so that correct circulation is maintained.
The small loss is made up by connecting the ball cock in the tanks with another tank charged from the works well by means of a self-starting rotary pump, electrically driven. Very little power is required for the pumps and cooler. Fuel oil is stored in a tank outside the building, the oil being supplied to the tanks from an oil wagon by means of a small hand pump. ”

“ Already, there are hundreds of fueling stations that use a blend of ethanol and gasoline known as E85, and there are millions of cars on the road with the flexible-fuel tanks necessary to use this fuel - including my own right here in Illinois. ”

“ A is engine cylinder. H is gasoline supply tank located outside of building and under ground. I is air-suction pipe. E is gasoline pump. O is suction pipe from gasoline tank. N is pipe from pump E leading to reservoir P. Q is igniter tube. R is chimney surrounding tube. T is tank supplying Bunsen burner for heating tube.
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Gas engines are governed in various ways. One method is to attach a ball governor similar to the Waters on the steam engine. When the speed is too high, the balls go out, and a valve is closed or partly closed, cutting off the fuel supply. ”