CA1083007A - Liquid safety dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An improved inflammable liquid safety tank compris-ing a double walled tank body with the tank walls being inter-connected by support plates. An intermediate container is formed by the inner wall structure of the tank and is adapted to hold inflammable liquid. A pressurized gas bottle is threadably mounted to a sleeve secured to and extending into the intermediate container. The pressurized gas bottle is selectively connected to the intermediate container to pres-surize liquid held in the intermediate container. The pres-surized gas bottle also communicates with the tank to pres-surize a foam, nonflammable fluid, or cleaning agent placed in the chamber or outer compartment defined by the outer wall structure of the intermediate container and the inner wall structure of the tank body so that the foam, fluid or agent will be expelled from the tank if the tank wall is accident-ally punctured. The outer compartment is preferably pressur-ized at a lower pressure than the intermediate container. A
conduit is connected to an inlet/discharge fitting and extends into the intermediate container adjacent the floor of the in-termediate container and below the level of liquid placed in the intermediate container. A flexible hose with an adjust-able nozzle is mounted to the tank body for selective communi-cation with either the outer compartment or the intermediate container so that the material contained within either of the containers can be selectively discharged from the nozzle.

Description

~08300~

BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION
: , The invention generally relates to contalners for combustible liquicls and more specifically relates to a com-bination fluid safety storage tank adapted to hold two sep-arate materials. The tank is constructed so that the explo-sion hazards inherent in the design of a storage tank for in-flammable fluids are substantially eliminated allowing the . ;
storage tank to be used in an automobile, airplane, motor boat, or other moving vehicle or simply as a storage device.

The safety storage tank is normally used for the storing of volatile fuels such as gasoline or other inflam-mable materials such as paint.
The term paint as used in the application is intend-ed to be a generic term and should be construed to have a broad meaning encompassing lacquers, primers, latex, enamels, -.~ i , sealers, stains, varnish, metallic based coatings and other -, similar materials.
` In ordinary conditions in the storage of inflammable liquids, air usually enters the tank as the liquid is removed from the tank. Under such conditions the upper part of the -~ partially filled tank contains a dangerous explosive mixture of the inflammable liquid vapor and air. If a spark occurs . ~ .
in the upper part of the tank tnrough the electrical discharge ~ ~
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~ 2 83~7 o~ static electricity or from contact with other structures, ~ire and explosion will result.
The present invention eliminates this explosive haz-ard by unique construction of the tank in that the air is re-placed in the space above the inflammable liquid by an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen which is heavier than air and which will not form an explosive mixture with the in-flammable liquid. The carbon dioxide is pressurized and a source of it is attached to the tank so that it automatically replaces the liquid as the liquid is discharged from the tank.

DESCRIPTION OF T~E PRIOR ART
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It is known in the prior art to place an inert gas in a storage tank to alleviate the explosive characteristics of the tank. United States Patent No. 2~ 153,555 discloses a tank in which the area in the space above the gasoline is re-placed by an inert gas which is carbon dioxide. In this pat-ent the gasoline is withdrawn by a pipe (not shown) and the carbon dioxide is used to fill the vacuum created in the tank by the discharged gas. A similar system is shown by United States Patent No. 2,406,373 which discloses a fixed fuel vapor purging apparatus with a vapor diluting medium such as carbon dioxide under pressure. Another system is shown by United States Patent No. 3,606,709 which teaches that there is a danger of an explosion in such a tank through the accumu- ! ~:~
lation of static electricity built up by the incoming inert gas in the tank. This patent teaches that static electricity `~
can build up into a spark discharge especially when gas in- -;

put velocity is high and the carbon dioxide is derived from 33~)(t7 a source of liquid or solid state. Thls problem is solved by the use of the ~ixed emergency discharge facility which eli-minates the spark discharge through the use o~ a complex bath expansion chamber mounted on the roof of the tank.
; United States Patent No. 3,419,193 discloses an apparatus for dispensing fluid material from a container wherein the container with its top open is enclosed in an open topped vessel, the vessel is sealed in fluid tight - manner by means of a removable top closure.
United States Patent No. 3,527,391 teaches a means for expelling liquid ~rom a container by applied external pressure.
In any of the above described tanks a puncture of , the tank will result in the pressurized gas propelling the gasoline out of the tank in a high pressure stream.
If this stream of fuel is ignited by a spark~ static : electricity, heated manifold or other fire inducing medium ., ~ . .
the result is much like a flame thrower in that all areas in the path of the fuel stream are ignited by a burning fuel.
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Thus while the danger of fuel explosion has been decreased within the tank the danger of combustion outside the tank ,~
is greatly increased upon rupture of the tank. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a safety tank , which signi~icantly eliminates the danger of internal and :~
external combustion whlle also providing the option of using the tank as a fire extinguisher, painting apparatus or other ~' portable liquid discharging unit.

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.~083~7 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention utilizes a specific safety tank construction so that the comblnation of the carbon diGx-ide with an inflammable liquid such as gasoline and the input of carbon dioxide overcomes previous problems found in the prior art. In the present invention a carbon dioxide bottle, ,~
used to pressurize the liquid, is positioned in a sleeve in-side an intermediate container of the tank body. The inert gas, held by the pressurized carbon dioxide bottle, can be selectively delivered to the compartments of the tank by means ,~
of conduits extending below the surface of liquid held in the :.
' compartments to cool the liquid and discharge static electri-city carried by the inert gas before the carbon dioxide gas ~' contacts the vapor zone of the tank. The inert gas can sel-` ectively be fed dire,ctly into the top portions o~ the com-partments if such is desired. The gas flow conduits can serve ,~
, as both a carbon dioxide gas flow conduit and liquid carry-'~, ing conduits depending upon their intended use. When the,gas-- ~ , oline conduit operates to carry carbon dioxide gas, the gas --, is bubbled up through the gasoline thereby cooling ik and con- ' ; sequently keeping the fuel vapors down. This under-liquid , discharge prevents the heavier carbon dioxide from forming,an , air lock, thus preventing one source of explosion. `
When the conduit operates as a liquid carrying con- '~
duit the carbon dioxide previously entrained in the pipe when '~
the tank was initially pressurized operates as a safety de~
' vice against leakage since the carbon dioxide will be expelled before the liquid thus making it easier to determine leakage ` , before the actual liquid leakage takes place.

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1~8~ 7 In additlon the use of an outer pressurized foam or cleaning agent compartment in the tank reduces the danger from puncturing of the outer tank wall. The cleaning agent can also be used to act as a f:i.re extinguisher if an outer re-mote blaæe arises. If the gasoline or fuel container is punc-tured in addition to the outer wall then the foam or cleaning agent will mix with the inflammable liquid to retard combust-ion of the fuel as it is expelled into the atmosphere. Con-versely, when the apparatus is used for painting, the outer compartment can be used to clean the spray nozzle.
The outlets of the double walled tank are provided with quick disconnect hose connections leading to a nozzle.
The nozzle is valved so that the operator can select which mat-. . .
erial is desired to be discharged from its particular container.
The tank is also provided with a release valve in .- each of the compartments which will allow excess pressure to escape from either of the tank compartments which are prefer-ably kept at unequal pressures. A pressure indicating gauge is connected to the release valves to indicate to the operator the current pressure in each of the compartments of the tank.
Inlet connectors are provided on the tank to allow '`
inlet gas or other materials to be fed into the respective contalners of the tank. Liquid level valves are contained ` within the tank with the gauges preferably being set next to ,~ the inlet connections.
The use of a flexible conduit attached to the input-output valves of the tank allows it to be completely portable and reachable in areas which would be inaccessible with known prior art apparatus.

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A conduit extends into the foam compartment through ' which the foam i5 expelled. A flexible hose is connected to the conduit, the nozzle of which can then be directed to the situs of a fire.
Thus the simple sturdy construction of the tank res-ults in a strong structure able to withstand various pressures.
In the preferred embodiment, the tank is provided with a circular handle in the form of metal tubing which is ~ ;
supported above the surface of the tank by a plurality of outwardly extending brackets. The diameter of the circular handle is greater than the outside diameter of the tank body. The circular handle thus provides a convenient gripping means for transportation, protection for the tank's,gauges and flexible conduit lines from foreign ob~ects should the tank become accidentally moved ~rom its upright position and ;',~
additionally allows the tank to al~ays remain in a relatively ' ~ ~
upright position even if accidentally knocked over. ''~' It is desired that the tank always remain with the flexible disconnects above the surface of the,ground in order to prevent liquid from coming in contact with these units. If liquid should come in contact with,these units '~
then,pressure could conceivably blow liquid out through the ~, ;
disconnects if they were accidentally hooked up incorrectly.
Thus the handle serves an important'safety function in add- , ~
ition to its function as a convenient gripping means for facilitating transportation.
The outwardly extending brackets extend at an angle of 60 with respect to a horiæontal plane passing through the , tank. As previously mentioned, the handle is a larger diameker ,~
than the diameter of the tank. If the tank is inadvertantly ,-'-. ~; ;

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3~07 knocke~ from its upright position then the handle will prevent the side of the tank from resting flush on the ground surface.
The side of the tank is thus supported above the ground by the bot-tom edge of the tank ancl the circular handle. With the tank in the above ground position, the bracket defines approxi-mately a 45 angle with respect to the ground. With the handle thus supported, it is extremely easy to pick up the tank from any position.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the safety tank can be manufactured as the gasoline tank of an automobile. Thus if the car rolled over an embankment, the foam held within the outer compartment of the safety gas tank would significantly retard combustion of the gasoline. This retardation of the gasoline combustion could quite possibly enable the occupants of the automobile to escape serious harm.
The automobile embodiment is provided with a series of connecting conduits extending throughout the car body. The `-`i foam of the outside chamber of the safety tank is thus in oommunication with the conduits. A plurality of fusible links or heat sensitive valves, similar in function to those used in internal building sprinkler systems, are used in con-nection with the conduits. When the heat ~rom the automobile reaches a predetermined critical temperature, the fusible links will melt or the heat sensitive valves will sense the increase in temperature and thereby open allowing the foam to emanate through the conduits and retard or extinguish a ;
fire. In khis manner, a potentially hazardous fire or explos-~ ion can be extinguished or lessened.
; If the gasoline safety tank is used as the automo-"

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bile gasoline tank, then the internal container which gener-ally holds pressurized CO2 can serve a dual function. Not only would the pressurized CO2 be able to pressurize the gasoline holding container and thereby eliminate gasoline vapors, but the CO2 could also be connected to a passenger safety system, i.e., an air bag. The automobile could be provided with sever-al impact sensitive devices at various key locations such that upon a predetermined minimum impact force the CO2 will pass through a valve, now open due to the impact sensitive devices, and fill up and inflate the air bag.
It should be appreciated that the above mentioned additional functions of the safety gas tank installation in an automobile are all totally functional uses of the system `~-without compromising the safety characteristics of the safety tank itself. Thus it can be seen that one installed safety tank can perform a plurality of functions while sumultaneously preserving the safety characteristics of a gasoline tank.
The invention will further be described with refer-ence to the accompanying drawings of whlch: ;~
', BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS , Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of ~ :
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the double walled storage tank; ;~
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Figure la discloses a fragmented elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the handle of the storage tank; ;`
F~gure 2 is a top plan view of the storage tank body shown in figure l;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view partially in sec~
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tion of the double walled storage tank used in a tank truck ' embodiment; `~
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Figure 4 is a side elevational view partially in section of the double walled storage tank used in a boat em-bodiment;
Figure 5~1Ocated on the same sheet as Figure 1, is a side elevational view of the double walled storage tank used in a motor boat embodiment;
Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially in section of the double walled storage tank used in an automobile with a series of interconnecting conduits being shown; and Figure 7 is a perspective view, partially in section of the double walled storage tank used in an automobile with the tank being connected to a passenger restraint system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
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~ he present invention as shown by the drawings dis-closes a safety tank 10 comprising a tank body 60, and an inter-mediate smaller diameter cylindrically shaped container 62 mounted within the body 60 on a sleeve 61. Container 62 is supported and connected to body 60 by a plurality of support plates 63 which run longitudinally along the body 60 and intermediate container body 62 and interconnect the two. Each plate or fin 63 has a plurality o apertures 65 cut therein which allow the material held in the outer compartment to flow freely through the outer compartment.
me intermediate container is seated on a seat 66 formed from a cut pipe m~ber to provide additional support to the 0ntainer body within the tank body. A
pressurized gas container 64 is threadably mounted in the sleeve 61 which preferably takes the form of a cylinder with a closed end. The sleeve 61 is preferably welded to the intermediate oontainer tank body as indicated ~:

~83(~7 by numeral 67. However, if the walls of the tank are thick enough to support threading, the sleeve 61 could be threaded and screwed into the inner walls to provide an air tight seal.
The walls forming intermediate container 62 must have a wall thickness which provides suitable support to main-tain liquids contained therein under lOO psi pressure. While it has been found that the invention has worked well under a 60 psi pressure the intermediate container should be capable ;
of holding at least a 250 psi pressure. Thus any material such as plastic or metal which would be able to withstand pressures of this magnitude and not be affected by the cor~
rosive nature of the various volatile fuels would be accept-able.
The outer compartment 68, formed by the intermediate container outer surface and the tank body inner surface which preferably holds the foam material, is preferably pressurized at a higher pressure than the intermediate container. This pressurization is an additional safety precaution to keep the inflammable liquid from lea~ing into the outer compartment if there is a slight rupture in the intermediate container. ~ .
Thus the preferred embodiment would have container 64 at 1000 psi; the intermediate container at 60-150 psi and the outer compartment at 200 psi~
As best shown in figure 1, the tank 10 is provided ~ ;
with a circular carrying handle 12. The circular carrying -~
handle 12 is constructed of metal tubing. The handle 12 is supported above the surface of the tank by a plurality of mounts 14. The mounts 14 are connected to the exterior ~33~

wall of the tank and the handle by suitable conventional means as by welding. The longitudinal axis of the mounts extend, in the preferred embodiment, at a 60 angle to a horizontal plane. The diameter of -the carrying handle 12 is greater than the outside diameter of the tank body.
Thus it can be seen that a handle for facilitating transpor-tation is disclosed. Additionally, the handle 12 serves to protect the flexible lines and the quick disconnect couplings 82, 84, lOLI and 106. In transporting the tank body, the handle 12 prevents foreign objects from coming into contact with the disconnect couplings and release valves and possibly damaging the same.
I~ the tank is accidentally knocked over onto its side, the fact that the diameter of the handle is greater ;
than the diameter of the tank body precludes the possibility o~ the disconnects,coming into contact with any liquid which `
may be present on the ground. I~` liquid comes into contact with these units pressure could conceivably blow liquid out through the disconnects if they were accidentally hooked up incorrectly. Thus the handle provides an added sa~ety ~eature plus a handle for facilitating transportation in addition to providing protection to the gauges located in the center of the tank. ;~
Thus it can be seen that if the tank is accidentally overturned then the quick disconnects and C02 bottle will be supported above the ground due to the fact that the circular handle is of a greater diameter than the diameter of the tank body. When the tank is overturned, it will be supported by two points i.e. the intersection of the circular base with ~ ' :::

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the exterior side wall of the tank and the exterior edge o~
the circular handle. The mount opposite the mount proxlmate to the ground will be at an angle of 45 with respect to the ground when the tank is kurned on its side which substantially facili~ates gripping of the handle and tank from any location for immediate uprighting.
In an alternate embodiment, four carrying handles 71 formed by cutting out portions of the tank body are provided upon the upper or outer surface of the tank body 60 as seen in figure la for facilitating transportation of the portable tank.
Brackets (not shown) are secured to the outer surface of the tank to hold the flexible discharge hoses when they are not being used.
Two pressure release valves 72, communicate with the intermediate container 62 and the outer compartment 68 to limit the pressure in these areas. The pressure re-lease valves are set to release gas at a set desired pres-sure, as for example, 225 psi to prevent carbon dioxide build-up from the carbon dioxide container 64 into the container 62 and compartment 68. Conduits 74 and 76 are constructed to receive a funnel, through which gasoline, paint, foam or other material may be poured for filling each respective compartment. A fluid level indicator 75 extends into the chamber 70 of the intermediate container 62 to measure the level o~ the liquid or material contained in the chamber. ;i~
The gauge is preferably of a float type construction.
All of the conduits 74, 76, 81 and 89 are provided with quick disconnect couplings 82, 84, 104 and 106 of a standard manufacture which allows flexible conduits having '.,:' ~
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qulck disconnect en~s to be coupled from the pressurized gas container 64 -to a respec-tive coupling so that gas can be dis-charged to pressurize either or both compar-tments depending upon the valve setting. An alternate transfer line 86 in-tersected by valve 88 leads ~rom the carbon dioxide container 64 ~o conduits 74 and 76 so that continuous or selective pressure can be applied to either of the compartments without the need for transferring the flexible conduit. However the pressure of either compartment 62 or compartment 70 can be varied before or during use to accomodate various requirements and materials.
An outlet valve 77 communicates with both compartments and functions as a vapor bleed-out valve for both compartments 68 and 70. This allows vapors to be bled off while the com-partments are being pressurized. The valve can be selectively set for either compartment, or for both compartments. If de-sired the valve may only communicate with compartment 70.
Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or any other suitable inert gas is provided in the threaded inner container 64 by prefilling the container or cartridge 64 and then mounting the same into the threaded sleeve 61. The compartment 68 formed by the inner surface of the tank body and outer surface of the intermediate container can be filled with foam pressurized by an inert gas such as carbon dioxide through its respective quick disconnect coupling 76 via permanent feeder connecting line 86. Valve assem-bly 88 can direct selective gas pressure flow from container 64 to either of the two compartments 68 or 70. Valve assembly 88 is also constructed to selectively stop gas flow into either of the compartments. If paint is contained in the intermediate 14 ~-., . - , . . . , . . , . ~ ~ .:

~L~83~7 container 62 then compartment 6~ can be filled with a cleaning agent which can be selectively run through the line 120 and nozzle lOO in order to clean the noz~le.
When the carbon dioxide is discharged into the bottom of the tank through conduit 81, the gas vapors rise, opening the pre-set outlet valve 77 which lets the excess air out of the intermediate container so there will be no air locks.
Since the air is lighter than the carbon dioxide the air will be forced upward and out of the outlet release valve 77. The elimination of air locks thus cuts down the potential of ex-plosions. This bubbling cools the volatile liquid and di~ini- ~
shes the occurrance of a gasoline vapor-carbon dioxide envi- ~`
ronment at the top of the intermediate container since the cooler the gasoline the lower the vapor pressure. This further eliminates possible explosions when spark discharges occur.
Furthermore, the bubbling provides an effective means of dis-charging static electricity within the intermediate container ;
as the static electricity created by the incoming carbon diox- ` ~
ide is discharged within the liquid. Thus there is no build- ~ -up of static electricity causing a discharge spark to go into the vapor which is highly explosive. The bleeder valve 77~ al- `
so f~mctions as a gauge so that the pressure of the gas on the ~ ;
liquid gasoline or the pressure under which the gasoline is placed can be quickly determined. One or more tanks may be interlocked together by flexible conduits and used with their own pressure. Thus an interlocking pressurized system can be ;
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formed.

Should the tank body 60 become punctured, rupturing only the tank wall, then the foam and inert gas of compartment 68 will merely discharge through the puncture. The interme-~0839D~7 diate container 62 and the interior gas contalner 64 will re-main, however, under pressure independently and therefore cause no danger to the surrounding environment.
I~ the puncture would cause a hole through both the tank wall and the intermediate container 62, then the inflam-mable liquid would be forced by pressure through the rupture hole at the intermediate container wall to contact the ~`
foam held in the compartment 68. The foam and the inflam-mable liquid will become thoroughly mixed as the foam act 5 upon the volatile liquid and when the mixture exits through the puncture in the tank wall the mixture will be a rela~iuely safe non-volatile neutralized substance.
While the safety tank is being transported it is also available ~or use as an emergency fire extinguisher. A flex-ible hose 96, having two conduit lines 120 and 122, and a ~`~
selectively manual operable valve 124, is connected to quick ~~
disconnect couplings 104 and 106. The other ends of conduit lines 120 and 122 are also provided with quick disconnect couplings. Any of the couplings can selectively ~it onto the ^~
manual valve assembly 124, the carbon dioxide valve asse~bly , ~;
88 or the other quick disconnects 82 and 84. Thus both ends of conduit lines 120 and 122 are provided with quick dis- ~ ;
connect couplings which are readily transferable and useable in any transferance capacity. The carbon dioxide gas from the bottle 64 has previously pressurized the foam, contained in the area 68 defined between the outer wall of the intermediate ;~
container 62 and the tank wall 60. If a fire occurs the valve ~
124 is manually opened. This causes the pressurized foam to be -forced through conduit 89, through flexible hose 120, through ;~
selective valve 124 and through the nozzle 100. Consequently, .`,, :^ ` ' ~083~7 the foam will extinguish the fire when appliecl directly to the fire. Obviously if a cleaner agent is held in compartment 68 the same procedure could be used to clean the nozzle from the paint previously used.
In addition to the previously stated usage the gas tank can be used singularly or in tandem with an outboard ~ -motor 300 as shown in Figure 5 with the outer compartment 68 being pressurized with an inert gas or foam that would make the tank buoyant. In a modification as shown in Figure 3 the invention has been converted into a tank truck 200. -In this modification the tank illustrated in Figure l has~
been substantially enlarged with the front end of the truck ~ -trailer holding the carbon dioxide container 264. In this embodiment the supporting plates 263 are circumferentially positioned arolmd the intermediate container 262 and the dis~
charge outlet is designed as 206 while the inlet is-designated `~ -~
as 284. The embodiment is also provided with pressure relie~
valves in the same manner as previously disclosed. If desired a separate manifold 211 can be placed in the top of the truck to facilitate loading of the fuel. The outer compartment ' 267 is preferable filled with a fire extinguishing material. '-The embodiment as shown in Figure 4 is identical `~
to that shown in Figure 3 except that the tanks are now used ;
in a ship in combination with fire extinguishing apparatus. ~ -As best seen in figures 4, 6 and 7, the double ~alled safety tank 400 is shown installed into an ordinary passenger car 402 or water craft 500. The installation is performed in any conventional manner, as by brackets, for example. `~
A series of interconnected conduits 404 extend throughout the `
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:IL0~3~7 automobile chassis and ship structure and are in direct com-munication with the outside compartment of the safety tank.
The automobile and ship are also provided with a plurality of fusible link mechanisms 406 or heat sensitive valves which are well known in the art along the series of conduits. The fusible link mechanisms are constructed so as to melt when the heat immediately proximate to the valve reaches a pre-determined temperature. If temperature sensitive valves are used then quite obviously they would be constructed so as to open when the heat proximate thereto reaches a predetermined temperature. Thus~ it can be seen that the pressurized foa~, held within the exterior compartment of the safety tank 400, is capable of being rushed to the site of existing high temp~
ature. The foam will serve to substantially retard combust-ion, and consequently allow the passengers of the vehicle or ship to possibly escape without serious burns.
In operation, a series of interconnected conduits and fusible link mechanisms are installed in an ordinary passenger automobile or water craft and connected to a novel gasoline tank of the previously described construction. Th~ ;~
conduits are pressurized and communicate with the pressurized foam compartment of the safety tank. When sufficient heat is generated to melt the fusible link the mechanism opens allow-ing the foam from the double walled safety tank to travel through the conduit system under pressure from the CO2 bottle in the internal container, and out through the fusible link mechanism into the automobile or water craft. As pre-viously mentioned, the foam from the safety tank will act as ; ~`
a fire extinguisher or fire retardent. The conduits can be prefilled with fire extinguishable material or filled from the safety tank.

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r. ', ~L083~ 7 In an additional modlfication the passenger automo-bile 408 can be equipped wlth an air bag l~lo which can be in-flated by the C02 container wlthin the center cylinder contain-er of the double walled safety tank 412. As best seen in ~ig-ure 7, an ordinary automoblle 408 is again provided with the inventive double walled safety tank as a replacement for the traditional automotive gasoline tank. A plurality of impact . .
sensing devices 414 are mounted to the automobile. These ~ - -impact sensing devices, well known in the art, can be ad~usted to activate a valve when the automobile is struck or impacts with a predetermlned minimum force.
In operation, when the automobile collides with ~
an ob~ect at a predetermined force, greater than the pre- -determined lmpact force, the valve will be opened causing the restraining air bag to be fully inflated with C02 gas from the gas cyl~nder of the double walled safety tank. ~;
This inflation of the safety air bag will occur only when ;-the impact force of the vehicle exceeds the predet`ermined minimum impact force required to activate khe impact sens-ing means. The impact sensing means will, in turn, cause the valve of the C02 container to open which allows the free ~;
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passage of C02 to the air bag.
Thus it can be seen khat many commercial uses are readily adaptable from the present invention in the transfer of volatile fluids from various areas and also in the trans-fer o~ volatile fluids for combustion.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood that the invention is not ;~
limited to such an embodiment since it may be otherwise embodied in the scope of the appended claims. ;
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Claims (13)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A portable safety tank comprising a tank body, a sleeve member secured to said tank body and ex-tending inside said tank body, an intermediate container mounted inside said tank body to said sleeve member, an inner container mounted in said sleeve member, means in said intermediate container to receive a liquid material into its interior, said inner container containing a pressurized inert gas, conduit means connecting said inner container to said intermediate container and allowing selective communication of the pressurized gas from said inner container to said intermediate container and to a compartment defined by the outer wall surface of the intermediate container and the inner wall surface of said tank body, a plurality of support members mounted to said tank body inner wall surface extending into said compartment to support and space said intermediate container from said tank body inner wall surface, a second material placed in said compartment defined by the inner wall surface of said tank body and the outer wall surface of said intermediate container and discharge means mounted to said tank body, said discharge means being selectively adapted to communicate with said intermediate container and said compartment to discharge the material contained therein.

2. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support members define a plurality of apertures and an end member is connected to said inter-mediate container and said tank body.

3. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, including a first conduit connected to an inlet formed in said intermediate container, said conduit extending substantially to the bottom of said intermediate con-tainer, the other end of said conduit being provided with quick disconnect means, a second conduit connected to the tank body and extending into the compartment formed by the inner wall surface of the tank body and the outer wall of the intermediate container, said conduit extending past the bottom of the intermediate container and in proximity to the bottom of the tank body bottom.

4. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve member is threaded and adapted to receive said inner container.

5. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, including material level detection means mounted to said tank body, said material level detection means being adapted to indicate the amount of material held in said intermediate container.

6. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said safety tank is a double walled tank body.

7. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer wall structure of said tank body is provided with a circular handle, said handle being supported above the tank body by a plurality of mounts, the diameter of said circular handle being greater than the outside diameter of the tank body.

8. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, including a fluid transfer means mounted to said outer tank surface and communicating with an outer chamber defined by the inner surface of the tank body's outer wall and the outer wall of the intermediate container, a second fluid transfer means mounted to said tank body and communicating with said intermediate container and a pressurized gas container assembly including a pressurized gas container removably mounted to said sleeve means and positioned within said intermediate container, said gas container assembly comprising means for selectively connecting said gas container for communication with at least one of said fluid transfer means to discharge pressurizzed gas into said intermediate container and outer chamber.

9. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said support members defines a plurality of apertures therein and includes an end member secured to the inner surface of said outer wall structure and engaging the outer surface of said intermediate container to support and space said intermediate container.

10. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharge means comprises a flexible conduit means with quick disconnect means on one end and nozzle means on the other end.

11. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second material is a liquid fire retardant foam.

12. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressurized gas is carbon dioxide.

13. A portable safety tank as claimed in claim 1, including pressure release valve means communicating with said intermediate container interior, said pressure release valve means discharging gas from said intermediate container into the atmosphere when said gas reaches a predetermined pressure.