Fuel bladder apparatus and method

Abstract

A fuel bladder apparatus includes a fuel bladder, tank, and cap. The fuel bladder includes an elastomeric envelope, fuel inlet, and fuel outlet. The elastomeric envelope has an upper section, lower section and side section. The fuel inlet is disposed at the upper section. The fuel outlet is disposed at the lower section. The tank includes a rigid housing, inlet port, outlet port, and air inlet. The inlet port is disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel inlet. The fuel inlet is sealed to the inlet port. The outlet port is disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel outlet. The cap is detachably secured to the inlet port. The cap detachably seals the fuel inlet.

1 . A fuel bladder apparatus comprising:
 a fuel bladder comprising:
 an elastomeric envelope having an upper section, lower section and side section; 
 a fuel inlet disposed at the upper section; 
 a fuel outlet disposed at the lower section; 
   a tank comprising:
 a rigid housing; 
 an inlet port disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel inlet, wherein the fuel inlet is sealed to the inlet port; 
 an outlet port disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel outlet; and 
 an air inlet; and 
   a cap detachably secured to the inlet port, wherein the cap detachably seals the fuel inlet.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric envelope comprises a rubberized fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric envelope comprises a rubberized fabric. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric envelope includes poly tetra fluoro ethylene. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric envelope includes poly ether ether ketone. 
   
   
       6 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric envelope includes thermoplastic urethane. 
   
   
       7 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tube extending inwardly with respect to the inlet port;   a float secured to the upper section of the elastomeric envelope; and   a seal configured to slidably engage the tube, the seal being secured to the float.   
   
   
       8 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a series of pleats along the side section.   
   
   
       9 . The fuel bladder apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter disposed within the air inlet..   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for supplying fuel to a yard equipment engine, the apparatus comprising:
 means for disposing a fuel bladder in a tank, the fuel bladder comprising:
 an elastomeric envelope having an upper section, lower section and side section; 
 a fuel inlet disposed at the upper section; 
 a fuel outlet disposed at the lower section; 
 the tank comprising:
 a rigid housing; 
 an inlet port disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel inlet; 
 an outlet port disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel outlet; and 
 an air port; and 
 
   means for sealing the fuel inlet to the inlet port to generate a fuel bladder volume and a tank volume, the fuel bladder volume being fluidly isolated from the tank volume, the tank volume being in fluid connection with the atmosphere via the air port, wherein air from the atmosphere enters the tank volume via the air port in response to fuel being removed from the fuel bladder and air.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for threading a fuel line through the outlet port, wherein the fuel line is in fluid connection with the fuel outlet.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 means for fluidly connecting the fuel line to the engine.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for slidably sealing the fuel inlet to a tube extending inwardly from the inlet port.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for pleating the elastomeric envelope.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for filtering air passing through the air port.   
   
   
       16 . A method of supplying fuel to a yard equipment engine, the method comprising:
 disposing a fuel bladder in a tank, the fuel bladder comprising:
 an elastomeric envelope having an upper section, lower section and side section; 
 a fuel inlet disposed at the upper section; 
 a fuel outlet disposed at the lower section; 
 the tank comprising:
 a rigid housing; 
 an inlet port disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel inlet; 
 
 an outlet port disposed in cooperative alignment with the fuel outlet; and
 an air port; and 
 
   sealing the fuel inlet to the inlet port to generate a fuel bladder volume and a tank volume, the fuel bladder volume being fluidly isolated from the tank volume, the tank volume being in fluid connection with the atmosphere via the air port, wherein air from the atmosphere enters the tank volume via the air port in response to fuel being removed from the fuel bladder and air.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 threading a fuel line through the outlet port, wherein the fuel line is in fluid connection with the fuel outlet.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 fluidly connecting the fuel line to the engine.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 slidably sealing the fuel inlet to a tube extending inwardly from the inlet port.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 pleating the elastomeric envelope.   
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 filtering air passing through the air port.