Fuel delivery system for a boat

Marine propulsion – Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids – Cooling for engine

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C123S468000, C123S514000, C123S518000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06244917

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to fuel delivery systems, and more particularly, to marine fuel delivery systems including a fuel tank inside a boat, and means for supplying fuel from the fuel tank to the engine of a marine propulsion device mounted on the boat. through the fuel distribution system. This negative pressure, however, can cause the fuel to vaporize in the fuel supply line. The result can be inability of the fuel distribution system to supply liquid fuel to the engine at a given fuel flow rate due to excessive fuel vapor generation, often referred to as vapor lock.
A known method of preventing vapor lock is to pump the fuel under pressure through the fuel distribution system to the engine. Pumping the fuel under pressure will eliminate the tendency of the fuel to vaporize because it is at a positive pressure. However, leakage of a pressurized fuel line would allow fuel to leak into the bilge of a boat.
Attention is directed to Ellis U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,638, issued Nov. 22, 1983, which discloses a fuel distribution system including a casing surrounding the upstream portion of a gas feed pipe between the boat transom and the carburetor of the engine. The casing is not connected to the source of fuel and does not surround the entire portion of the fuel pipe located interiorly of the boat.
Attention is further directed to Baltz U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,708 that is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is herein incorporate by reference. As further described below, the Baltz patent advantageously overcomes the drawbacks of the foregoing Ellis patent. It would be desirable, however, to provide a return path to the fuel source to any fuel that could spill within a housing that surrounds the portion of any fuel conduit located interiorly of the boat. It would be further desirable to prevent fuel flow from the fuel tank into the housing, such as could occur during an overflow condition of the fuel tank. It would also be desirable to provide a marine propulsion system that uses a reliable and user-friendly installation kit that safely and economically allows for relatively quick maintenance and substantially trouble-free operation of the fuel delivery system therein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking the present invention fulfills the foregoing needs by providing a fuel delivery system for a boat having an engine. The system provides a source of fuel. A fuel supply conduit is connected to the source of fuel to deliver fuel to the engine. A fuel impermeable housing has a proximate end coupled to the source of fuel and defines a passageway that receives the fuel supply conduit interiorly of the boat. The passageway is hermetically sealed relative to the interior of the boat and provides a return path into the fuel source to any fuel that may spill in the passageway.
The present invention further fulfills the foregoing needs by providing a marine propulsion system, such as an outboard propulsion system, in a boat having a transom including an opening. The propulsion system includes a propulsion unit mounted exteriorly of the transom and including an engine. A source of fuel is located interiorly of the boat. A fuel supply conduit is connected between the source of fuel and the engine and has a section located interiorly of the boat. A fuel impermeable housing is connected to the source of fuel and defines a sealed passageway relative to the interior of the boat. The passageway receives that section of the supply conduit and provides a return path into the fuel source to any fuel that may spill therein. An interface assembly is provided to connect the housing to the transom of the boat so that the passageway defined by the housing is in communication with the transom opening. A vent is provided to communicate with the passageway defined by the housing to vent any fuel vapors from the fuel source to the exterior of the boat.
The present invention still further fulfills the foregoing needs by providing a marine propulsion system, such as a stern drive, in a boat having a transom. The propulsion system in this case includes an engine mounted interiorly of the boat. A propulsion unit is mounted on the boat exteriorly of the transom. A source of fuel is located interiorly of the boat. A fuel supply conduit extends interiorly of the boat and communicates between the source of fuel and the engine. A fuel impermeable housing is connected to the source of fuel and defines a sealed passageway relative to the interior of the boat. The passageway receives the fuel supply conduit and provides a return path into the fuel source to any fuel that may spill therein. Means for venting the passageway including a conduit communicating the passageway with the engine for venting any fuel vapors therein into the engine. Alternatively, the conduit could communicate with the exterior of the boat so as to vent any fuel vapors to the exterior of the boat.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4416638 (1983-11-01), Ellis
patent: 4722708 (1988-02-01), Baltz
patent: 4809666 (1989-03-01), Baltz
patent: 5076242 (1991-12-01), Parker
patent: 5598827 (1997-02-01), Kato

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