APPARATUS AND METHODS TO COUPLE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO FUEL TANKS
Apparatus and methods to couple fuel delivery system components to fuel tanks are described herein. An example liquid containment apparatus includes a fuel tank having a cavity to store a liquid fuel. The fuel tank includes only one opening in fluid communication with the cavity. A coupling apparatus is coupled to a portion of the fuel tank to provide a passage between an exterior surface of the fuel tank and the cavity. The coupling receives a plurality of components of a fuel delivery system.
1 . A liquid containment apparatus for use with a fuel delivery system, comprising:
a fuel tank having a cavity to store a liquid fuel, wherein the fuel tank includes only one opening in fluid communication with the cavity; and
a coupling apparatus coupled to the opening of the fuel tank to provide a passage between an exterior surface of the fuel tank and the cavity, wherein the coupling is to receive a plurality of components of a fuel delivery system.
2 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus receives at least a portion of a fuel fill apparatus to fluidly couple the fuel fill apparatus and the cavity of the fuel tank.
3 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the liquid containment apparatus is to be implemented with a marine vehicle, only one access or panel is required to enable access to the coupling apparatus.
4 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus provides a seal when the coupling apparatus is coupled to the fuel tank to prevent leakage of a fluid within the cavity to the exterior surface of the fuel tank.
5 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the coupling apparatus is coupled to the fuel tank via a clamp and a compression gasket to provide the seal.
6 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus comprises a plate having at least two apertures to receive the plurality of components.
7 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of components is disposed within the cavity at a distal end relative to the coupling apparatus.
8 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of components comprises a grade valve.
9 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the grade valve is coupled to an interior surface of the cavity.
10 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein tubing of the plurality of components is received by the coupling apparatus.
11 . A liquid containment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of components comprises a vent valve, an anti-siphon valve, or an inlet valve.
12 . A method to couple fuel components to a fuel tank, the method comprising:
disposing at least a portion of a plurality of components within a cavity of the fuel tank via a single opening of the fuel tank, wherein the fuel tank includes only the single opening in fluid communication with the cavity; and
mounting the plurality of components to the fuel tank via a coupling apparatus to be coupled to the fuel tank via the single opening.
13 . A method of claim 12 , further comprising mounting the coupling apparatus to the fuel tank via a clamp and a compression gasket to provide a seal between the cavity of the fuel tank and an exterior of the fuel tank.
14 . A method of claim 12 , further comprising coupling at least one of the plurality of components within the cavity of the fuel tank at a distal end relative to the single coupling.
15 . A method of claim 12 , further comprising fastening a portion of the at least one of the plurality of components to an interior surface of the cavity of the fuel tank.
16 . A method of claim 12 , further comprising routing tubing of the plurality of components via the single coupling.
17 . A method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of components comprises a valve, a vent, or a fuel fill apparatus.
18 . A fuel tank for use with a fuel delivery system, comprising:
means for providing only one passage between an exterior of the fuel tank and a cavity of the fuel tank; and
means for coupling a plurality of fuel components to the liquid containment apparatus.
19 . A fuel tank of claim 19 , wherein the means for providing only one passage comprises means for forming an aperture within a body portion of the liquid containment apparatus to provide the only one passage between the exterior of the fuel tank and the cavity of the fuel tank.
20 . A fuel tank of claim 19 , wherein the means for coupling comprises means for mounting a coupling to a surface of the fuel tank via the only one passage, wherein the means for mounting provides a seal between the cavity and the exterior surface of the fuel tank.