SPUD ASSEMBLY FOR A FUEL TANK

摘要

A spud assembly (10) for use with a fuel tank (12) having a body (14) defining an interior chamber (16) and having an outer periphery (18). The spud assembly (10) includes a base (20) attached to the outer periphery (18) of the fuel tank (12) and the base (20) has a throughbore (26) open to both the interior chamber (16) of the tank (12) as well as exteriorly of the tank. An elongated spud (40) having an axial throughbore (42) is movable relative to the base (20) between a connected and an unconnected position. In its connected position, the spud (40) is positioned through the base throughbore (26) so that the spud (40) fluidly connects the interior of the fuel tank (12) to the spud (40). Additionally, when the spud (40) is moved to its fully connected position, a locking finger (128) on the base (20) engages a lock abutment surface (156) on the spud (40) to secure the spud (40) and base (20) together. In an alternate embodiment, a locking ring (62) is coaxially disposed over the spud (40) and base (20) when the spud (40) is in its connected position. The locking ring (62) is rotatable between an unlocked position in which the spud (40) and base (20) can be disconnected from each other, and a locked position in which the spud (40) and base (20) are secured together.