Vibration rammer fuel tank

Abstract

A fuel tank for a piece of machinery able to be used in a generally vertical in-use position and able to be stored in a generally horizontal resting position. The fuel tank has a fill inlet neck extending at an angle from the tank so that fuel stored within the tank will not leak out of the inlet or attached fuel cap when the machinery is placed in its in-use position or in its resting position.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An improved fuel tank for use on and attaching to a compacting rammer having an engine for combusting fuel, said fuel tank generally located at the upper end of said rammer, said rammer having a generally vertically elongated rammer main body having a stamping plate at a lower end thereof and having fuel tank receiving means at its upper end, the length of said body defining a vertical axis, said rammer being positionable to a generally vertical orientation when in use, and to a transport and/or storage position in a generally horizontal orientation when not in use, wherein said fuel tank comprises: 
 a tank, of a given fuel capacity, for holding a supply of fuel for combustion in said engine, said tank attached to said fuel tank receiving means, said tank defining a generally horizontal first plane coincident to the surface of the fuel when the tank is filled to capacity and when said rammer is in the generally vertical orientation and a generally horizontal second plane when the tank is filled to capacity and when said rammer is in the transport and/or storage position; and  
 a fuel inlet spout fluidly connected to said reservoir for allowing a user to fill said reservoir with fuel, said fuel inlet spout defining an opening, said opening oriented in a plane oblique to said and tank and configured in shape and length such that said opening remains above said first plane when the rammer is in a generally vertical orientation and above said second plane when the rammer is in the transport and/or storage position.  
 
     
     
         2 . An improved fuel tank for use on a vibration rammer having an engine for combusting fuel, said rammer having a generally vertically elongated rammer main body having a stamping plate at a lower end thereof and having an upper end, the length of said body defining a vertical axis defining a top side and a bottom side, said rammer further having a generally horizontally elongated frame portion attaching to said main body at said upper end, the length of said frame portion defining a horizontal axis defining a front side and a back side, wherein said fuel tank comprises: 
 a reservoir for holding a supply of fuel for combustion in said engine, said reservoir likewise having a top, bottom, front and back sides, said front side facing said rammer main body, wherein said reservoir has a fuel inlet for allowing a user to fill said reservoir, said fuel inlet having a neck extending to an end which defines an opening, said neck extending obliquely from said reservoir away from said back side and said top side.    
     
     
         3 . A vibration rammer, said vibration rammer comprising: 
 an engine for combusting fuel;    a generally vertically elongated rammer main body having a stamping plate at a lower end thereof and having an upper end, the length of said body defining a vertical axis;    a generally horizontally elongated frame portion attaching to said main body at said upper end, the length of said frame portion defining a horizontal axis;    a fuel tank fluidly connected to said engine, said fuel tank for holding a supply of fuel for combustion in said engine, said fuel tank having a top side generally parallel to said horizontal axis and a back side generally parallel to said vertical axis; and    a fuel inlet fluidly connected to said fuel tank for allowing a user to fill said fuel tank, said fuel inlet having a neck defining an opening, said neck oriented in a plane oblique to said vertical axis and oblique to said horizontal axis, said fuel inlet adjacent said fuel tank top and back sides.    
     
     
         4 . A fuel tank for use on machinery having a generally vertical, in-use orientation defining a vertical axis, and a generally horizontal, at-rest orientation defining a horizontal axis, said fuel tank comprising: 
 a reservoir for holding a supply of fuel for combustion in said engine, said reservoir having a top side generally parallel to said horizontal axis and a back side generally parallel to said vertical axis, said supply of fuel when contained therein defining a fuel level; and    a fuel inlet fluidly connected to said reservoir for allowing a user to fill said reservoir with fuel, said fuel inlet having a neck defining an opening, said neck oriented in a plane oblique to said vertical axis and oblique to said horizontal axis, said fuel inlet adjacent said reservoir top and back sides;    whereby when said machinery is oriented in its generally vertical, in-use orientation, said fuel level is below said fuel inlet opening; and    whereby when said machinery is oriented in its generally horizontal, at-rest orientation, said fuel level is below said fuel inlet opening.