Pass the pipe, Jerry can modification..

I have been bouncing an idea around inside my head for a long time now. I am thinking of modifing the cap on a blitz jerry can. On this I want to mount a feed hose that will reach the bottom of the can, a connection to allow me to run a rubber hose to the gas tank filler and an air fitting so I can pressurize the can.

Here is what I was thinking. Drill a hole and mount a tire valvestem for the air inlet. It is self sealing and should not be effected by the gas.
Drill a larger hole right next to is and mount one of the air quick disconnects on it with a hose bib on the inside. Put a piece of fuel line that is long enough to reach the bottom of the can on the bib.

This way I could simply pull the original cap on a full can. Put the modified cap on with the feed tube inside. Put the quick connect on with a piece of fuel line long enough to feed into the tank. Then Use the OBA via a pressure regulator (2 to 3 psi) to pump the fuel from the jerry can to the fuel tank. faster and easier then unstrapping the jerry can, putting on the filler nozzle and then holding the can for 20 minutes while it slowly drizzles out.

This way you would only have to modify one cap and you could use in on any compatible can.

Okay, now shoot away. I have already considered the possibility of an explosion caused by a spark of static electricity. But since all the parts in question are grounded to the same plane this risk seems minimal.

 

Boom!

 

Yeh thats my thought... BOOM!

 

Dunno, but won't the rubber dissolve in gasoline?

I'd be leary of drilling into a gas can. I've never seen a spark when drilling, but there's a first time for everything.

Just doesn't sound worth the trouble. Unhook the thing and turn it upside down at the gas cap.

 

seems like a Darwin award winner


(hudsonhawk, please don't take that personally)

 

I'm not so sure...maybe boom...however, I'm not an expert. As I think, I come up with an alternative that is gravity enabled, not pressure and does not involve changing a fitting/cap. I believe you have 2 tanks mounted on your rear mounted spare tire carrier..am I right? Simply drill a hole in the bottom of each jerry can on the carrier, install a fitting in each tank & fab metal fuel lines that lead to a rubber hose (allows for the carrier to swing) back to a metal line that is connected to the main fuel tank or the main tank fuel filler neck. Gravity, not pressure, allows the fuel in the cans to simply flow into the Jeeps main tank as the fuel in the main tank is consumed. The down side is that your fuel guage will read full until the 2 cans on the carrier are empty and the fuel in the main tank starts to be utilized, then the guage will begin to read as normal. I am sure that I have not thought of something that will render this idea useless. As of right now I can not think of what it might be. Someone please feel free to shoot this down...on the surface it seems too easy.

 

I was toying with a similar idea, only I was going to turn the Jerrican into a WVO tank.

 

Personally, I am thinking of installing a tank under the drivers seat of my 74 CJ5 as an option. For me, it seems to be a good alternative and relatively inexpensive. Buy a tank, body filler plate, another fuel sending unit, a selector valve and Voila, dual tanks with 20 gallon capacity held internally. The down side is I cannot help anyone stranded on the side of the road out of gas... I guess I will keep the 5 gal jerry can, no matter what.

 

I am not talking about modifying the tank itself just the cap. Can be done without risk of explosion as the cap can be washed and dried out before you work on it.

Fuel line will not degrade in gasoline. And you can use neoprene seals that again are not effected by gasoline.

As for preasure build up. There is an outlet as long as you connect the drain hose from the can to the tank first. I am pretty sure the Blitz cans do not have a vent in them.

The big issue I still have is the possibility of a spark in a fuel rich environment with a good supply of oxygen.

 

Ok CRAZY idea here, why not have a 20oz CO2 tank from a paintball gun and use that to "pressurize" the jerrycan. They are fairly cheap to refill( used to be $4) and I am sure you could get 2 or more Jerrycans out of one tank. The CO2 would not be flamable and it would put an inert gas into your cans so if a spark was to form in the can there would not be enough O2 for an explosion.
edit: oh yeh use a tank with an on off valve and you could even regulate the speed of the flow.

 

The CO2 is something I had not thought of before. Interesting.

And CO2 could be used on air tools if necassary.

 

Ah a powertank... that could also work. I was just thinking small CO2 canister.

 

You need a mil tent heater jerry can adapter. It suctions fuel and is already adapted for the jerry can.


I'm still looking but there is one in the upper left corner of this ad.

http://cgi.ebay.com/M-1941-Military...Z6599198265QQcategoryZ588QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Found one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Military-surplu...Z4721QQitemZ6605579624QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

If your problem is how long it takes to drain the Blitz can, you could modify a cap nozzle to have a larger diameter opening and larger vent hole.

Ala the plastic racing gas jugs, which are designed to drain quickly.
http://www.atvconnection.com/atvconnection/Community/Chat/Hunsaker.cfm

 

Sounds like an over complicated way to empty a gas can(I'm surprised I haven't thought of thatR) ), when all you need is a fuel siphon hose. I've bought these siphons from the tool truck guys at work. Its called a "magic siphon" and it has a check valve in one end. All you need to do is set can on a higher surface than the tank, drop the hose end with check valve down into can and shake. The shaking action pushes fuel past the check valve and starts the siphoning process. Once started you just need to wait, or you can go do something else. Takes only a couple minutes to empty a can and there is no more holding or spilling to deal with. I think they cost anywhere from $18-$25 or so. I won't use any other method now and I just last week made my boss buy one for the shop. I don't know why more jeepers don't have these. It seems like an essential jeep tool.

Kevo

 

No way No how....
I work in the chemical tanker industry, and we never off load any flamible products with air pressure...The pressure produces heat and static electricity...Mix that with gas and..!!!!! You can only use nitrogen to pressure a flamible product....Just didn't want anyone to get hurt...