2-14. TM 5-543010-12 Section   III.   OPERATING   PROCEDURES If  equipment  fails  to  operate,  refer  to troubleshooting, procedures in Chapter 3, Section  III. General. The operator should be thoroughly familiar with the location and function of every ;on- trol  before  operating  the  system.  Other  personnel comprising the crew should be thoroughly briefed in the operation of the system and be familiar with any shutdown or stopping procedures under emergency conditions. 2-15. Controls and Instruments. a.  Filler   and   Discharge   Valve   (Tanks,   NSN 5430-00-268-8187,  NSN  5430-01-215-7525,  and  NSN 5430-00-182-8181). The filler and discharge control valve  (fig.  2-12)  is  the  shut-off  mechanism  between  the collapsible  tank  and  any  other  portion  of  the  system. The filler and discharge control valves for tanks, NSN 5430-00-052-3412  and  NSN  5430-00-641-8552  and  also typically illustrated in figure 2-12. b. Vent Assembly (All Tanks). The vent assembly (fig. 2-3) contains a pressure relief cap which opens when the tank is subjected to an internal pressure of 0.10  psi  (0.00680  atmospheres). c. Drain   Control   Valve   (Excluding   Tank   NSN 5430-00-268-8187). The drain control valve allows the residual fuel or water and sludge blanket to be drain- ed from the tank when it becomes necessary (fig. 2-8). 2-16. a. Operation. Filling Tank (All Tanks). Over age tanks can become weakened and rupture, thereby spilling flammable fuel on the ground. Care must be taken to ensure that over age tanks are not left in opera- tion. Failure to heed this warning can cause injury or death to personnel. Persons   operating   the   tank   must periodically check dates on data plates to verify that the tank is safe for use. Each tank has a one (1) year service life begin- ning on the date when it is first filled. Shelf storage life is five (5) years from the date of manufacture. Users must initiate action to replace over age tanks. Failure to heed this caution can cause tank rupture. (1)  Inspect  tank  to  verify  that  it  is  set  up  as shown in figures 1-1, 1-2, 1-2.1, or 1-3. (2) Check drain control valve (fig 2-8) to verify that it is in closed position. (Excluding Tank, NSN 5430-00-268-8187.) (3) Check the vent assembly pressure relief valve (fig. 2-3) to verify freedom of operation. (4) Check the filler  and discharge elbow at the op- posite end of tank to verify the installation of dust cap (fig. 2-5). (Tanks, NSN 5430-00-182-8181 and NSN 5430-01-215-7525  only.) (5) Check the control valve (figs. 2-10 and 2-11) to verify it is in the closed position. (6) Attach source of fuel to the control valve. (7) Activate  source  of  fuel. (8) Open  the  control  valve  by  turning  handle counterclockwise (fig. 2-12). (9) Close the control valve when tank is filled. NOTE Place a filled sandbag under the filler discharge elbow as shown in figure 2-17. This support will reduce the stress on the tank fitting, gasket in the hose coupling, and the filler-discharge elbow coupling. It is also recommended that hose connections on the ground be elevated slightly by placing sandbags or blocks of wood under the connection. This will make a bad con- nection or a leaking connection much easier to see and avoid creating a fire hazard. (10) Deactivate source of fuel. (11) Disconnect source of fuel from the control valve. b. Emptying  Tank  (All  Tanks) (1)  Inspect  tank  to  verify  that  it  is  set  up properly. (2) Attach emptying source to the control valve. (3) Open the control  valve. (4) Activate  emptying  source. (5) Close the control valve when tank is empty. (6) Deactivate  emptying  source. (7) Disconnect  emptying  source  from  the  control valve. c.  Draining (Excluding Tank, NSN 5430-00-268-8187). (1) Empty fuel from tank (para. 2-15b.). (2) Disconnect  the  filler  and  discharge  hose  from the  elbow. Change 6 2-17