WHY? or alternate title: Can one of you Brits explain this to me?

[rob love]

So here in the colonies, occasionally it comes time to add fuel to a vehicle and a gas station or a fuel bowser are nowhere to be seen. Much like our British brethren, we will use fuel cans in a convenient 5 gallon size to replenish the fuel. To make it easier to get into the fuel neck, occasionally we may use tools such as these:

1) spout, flexible (aka the horsecock); weight approx 1.5 pounds
2) funnel, steel (also available in lighter plastic); weight approx 2-1/4 pounds

[rob love]

But recently I have come into possession of these monstrosities. Weight of the basic item (less the hose and outlet tap) is over 27 pounds. Sure, it neatly folds up in a beautiful British over-engineered manor, but it's just so damn heavy. So can someone explain to me why this contraption exists? I am sure there has to be a good reason.

[Robin Craig]

Dear Rob and others,

This has to be explained as a bit of a private joke between Rob and myself but let us leave that alone for the minute.

To explain his question, the answer is simple, "because we can".

The contraption you show us Rob was designed for rapid filling of big thirsty AFVs by multiple jerry cans by the clever use of physics.

Once a full jerry can is opened and up ended into the filter funnel assembly it self empties as the level drops and allows more fuel out. Just liek the dog water bowl systems you see with a bottle of water above.

It also screens the fuel and prevents debris entering the vehicle fuel system.

It is really for the Centurions and other behemoths that it is best suited.

Quite a fantastically complex device over engineered and over thought out but as mother and father always said "we know best" and that is why you need it.

Or more correctly, why I need it.

Your a blighter Mr Love, I guess we need to have a discussion in private!

That is my explanation.

Let us see what others say.

Regards

Robin

[rob love]

If you look in the photo that has both the collapsible funnel next to the "spout, flexible", one would wonder why they wouldn't just make a horsecock with a larger diameter tube, so as to allow the fuel out more quickly. But then again, I have had the "spout, flexible" come off the can and the fuel rapidly spill down my leg. Something tells me that refueling over the top engine decks of a monstrosity like the Centurian could result in a human torch should the spout come off and the fuel runs all over a hot engine.

Surely the monarchy must have knighted the engineering team that designed and perfected this thing of beauty.

[Lynn Eades]

Batman and Robin, you missed out that it is such a lovely colour and that it can be operated by both left and right handed human torches, along with being able to filter out pound after pound of jerry can interior paint lumps.
The knighthood would likely have gone to someone of a more political appointment.
Doesn't it sometimes make you wonder how "our side" won?
Thanks for posting guys. I had a laugh from each of you.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

It is over-engineered like the Rolls-Royce engines it was supposed to fuel. So it is a matter of keeping up appearances like the British do.

Plus it alleviates the crew from having to hold the excellent German invention while being emptied - it holds two cans sitting upside down emptying themselves so the crew can brew up in the meantime.

All in all a very British piece of kit!

H.