Fuel tank with four ports

[Dave Nyce]

I have a metal fuel tank having four ports (brass tubing).  Does anyone know the purpose for this type of tank? (Please see attached photo.)

[kenneth cook]

          That looks like a Veco pressure tank. I believe the top two are just vents. Obviously the outboard is the pickup whereas the inboard is where the pressure line connects to. If you pressurize the tank through what I'm referring to as the pressure nipple, you may find that there's a inline restrictor in that tube. I have one similar in a vintage combat plane.

[frank mccune]

          Kenneth has it correct.  I have one just like the one pictured.  After filling, a length of fuel line was used to close the filler and the vent on the top of the tank.

                                                                       Frank McCune

[Dave Nyce]

Thanks! 

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Convenient.  You can leave the draw and pressure lines hooked up, then have both fill and vent lines. 

Some Veco tanks also came with one-way valves, which could work out well in a uniflow setup for venting air out while fueling, yet not allowing air in during flight.

[Dennis Leonhardi]

          Kenneth has it correct.  I have one just like the one pictured.  After filling, a length of fuel line was used to close the filler and the vent on the top of the tank.

                                                                       Frank McCune

I much preferred those tanks (4 oz.) in combat models over pen bladders or pacifiers, because (1) you would get a 5 minute flight with a Fox 36X, and (2) they are very, very reliable.


Dennis

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Real easy to flood your engine with a tank like that. Best to pinch off the pressure and feed lines while filling.


Motorman

These tanks have a "check valve" - no problem with flooding, used them for many years.


Dennis