System and Method for Inhibiting Vaporization from Liquids

Abstract

A liquid tank such as a liquid fuel tank, as well as a method of operating such a tank and a structure for implementation in such a tank, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the liquid tank is a liquid fuel tank that includes a housing have an inner chamber capable of containing liquid fuel as well as an air space above an upper surface of the liquid fuel, and a floating member included within the inner chamber, where the floating member is configured to float proximate the upper surface of the liquid fuel when the liquid fuel is present within the inner chamber. The floating member includes at least one tapered surface, and the floating member covers a majority of the upper surface of the liquid fuel, whereby the liquid fuel evaporates to a lesser degree than would occur if the floating member was absent.

1 . A liquid fuel tank comprising:
 a housing have an inner chamber capable of containing liquid fuel as well as an air space above an upper surface of the liquid fuel; and   a floating member included within the inner chamber, wherein the floating member is configured to float proximate the upper surface of the liquid fuel when the liquid fuel is present within the inner chamber,   wherein the floating member includes at least one tapered surface, and   wherein the floating member covers a majority of the upper surface of the liquid fuel,   whereby the liquid fuel evaporates to a lesser degree than would occur if the floating member was absent.   
   
   
       2 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the floating member is made of a plastic material. 
   
   
       3 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the floating member is made of a metal material. 
   
   
       4 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the floating member covers more than three-quarters of the upper surface of the liquid fuel. 
   
   
       5 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is substantially circular in cross-section. 
   
   
       6 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the floating member has a tapered top and includes a substantially circular base. 
   
   
       7 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 6 , wherein the tank is substantially circular in cross-section, and wherein an annular portion of the upper surface remains uncovered by the floating member. 
   
   
       8 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the floating member includes first and second tapered surfaces that are positioned back-to-back. 
   
   
       9 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 8 , wherein a rim around a junction between the first and second tapered surfaces is configured to remain slightly below a portion of the upper surface of the liquid fuel when the floating member is floating within the liquid fuel. 
   
   
       10 . An internal combustion engine comprising the liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a small off-road engine (SORE). 
   
   
       12 . A lawn mower comprising the internal combustion engine of  claim 10 . 
   
   
       13 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein a fuel input port is located above the floating member and wherein, when the liquid fuel condenses upon the floating member or is provided into the fuel tank via the fuel input port, the fuel streams down the at least one tapered surface. 
   
   
       14 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the floating member includes at least one hollow interior region. 
   
   
       15 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 14 , wherein the floating member is a hollow cone having an orifice along a base of the cone. 
   
   
       16 . The liquid fuel tank of  claim 1 , further comprising an output port by which the fuel can exit the inner chamber. 
   
   
       17 . A liquid tank comprising:
 a portion of a liquid capable of evaporation;   an interior region within which the portion of the liquid is positioned, and further within which is located an air space above an upper surface of the portion of the liquid; and   means for covering at least a majority of the upper surface, wherein a covered part of the upper surface is separated from the air space,   whereby the evaporation of the liquid occurs at a reduced level due to the means for covering.   
   
   
       18 . The liquid tank of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, crude oil, another petroleum-based fuel, ethanol-based fuels, a mineral oil, acetone, benzene, another organic fluid, and another volatile fluid. 
   
   
       19 . The liquid tank of  claim 17 , wherein the means for covering includes at least one tapered surface. 
   
   
       20 . The liquid tank of  claim 19 , wherein the means for covering includes at least one substantially cone-shaped surface. 
   
   
       21 . A method of operating a fuel tank, the method comprising:
 filling the fuel tank with an amount of a liquid fuel, wherein an air space remains above an upper surface of the liquid fuel; and   floating a structure within the fuel tank, wherein the structure floats proximate the upper surface of the liquid fuel and extends upward out of the liquid fuel above the upper surface,   wherein the structure includes a tapered surface such that a cross-sectional area of the structure becomes increasingly smaller as one proceeds upward along the structure away from the upper surface, and   wherein a portion of the upper surface is separated from the air space due to the structure.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving the liquid fuel atop the structure, and   allowing the liquid fuel to run down the tapered surface of the structure and arrive at the upper surface.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the tapered surface includes at least one substantially cone-shaped portion. 
   
   
       24 . A structure for implementation in a liquid fuel tank, the structure comprising:
 at least one tapered surface, wherein the structure is configured to float along an upper surface of liquid fuel within the liquid fuel tank and reduce an exposed area of the upper surface so as to reduce evaporation of the liquid fuel.