Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – With fuel pump
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-02-20
Yuen, Henry C. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
With fuel pump
C123S19800E, C210S234000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189513
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuel conditioning for the purpose of supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine.
2. Background Information
Combination fuel pump and filter units which are mounted remotely from a vehicle fuel tank are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,822 discloses such a unit intended for use in a watercraft. A problem with the unit disclosed in the '822 patent resides in the fact that if the filter element is removed, the unit may nevertheless be used to transfer fuel, giving rise to the possibility of contaminating the fuel system downstream of the pump with impurities which are drawn and passed through the transfer pump in the absence of a filter. A fuel transfer and conditioning unit according to the present invention solves this problem by preventing the transfer of fuel if the filter is not installed in the unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fuel transfer and conditioning unit for supplying liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle includes a reservoir for receiving fuel from a tank, with the reservoir having a tank supply port, and engine supply port, an engine return port, and a tank return port. A generally cylindrical filter element is located within the reservoir. This element filters fuel flowing through the transfer and conditioning unit from the tank supply port and out through the engine supply port. A pump module located in a cavity extending within the filter element is adapted to move fuel from the tank supply port to the engine supply port. A combination valve operatively associated with the pump module prevents fuel from flowing through the pump module unless the filter element is installed within the reservoir.
As used herein, the term “tank supply port” means a connection which allows fuel to enter the fuel transfer and conditioning unit. The term “engine supply port” means the port or connection through which fuel flows to an engine. The term “engine return port” means the port or connection for receiving fuel flowing back from an engine. Finally, the term “tank return port” means a connection or port through which fuel flows from the fuel transfer and conditioning unit to the fuel tank.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a fuel transfer and conditioning unit further includes a fuel heater housed within the reservoir for warming fuel flowing through the fuel transfer and conditioning unit. A unit according to the present invention may further include a fuel pressure regulator interposed between the pump module and the engine supply port for controlling the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine.
A combination valve not only prevents fuel from flowing through the pump module unless a filter element is installed within the reservoir, but also prevents reverse flow of fuel from the engine through the engine supply port in the event that the filter element has been removed.
Another aspect of the present invention involves a thermally responsive valve which may be interposed between the engine return port and the tank return port for allowing fuel flowing from an engine to reenter the reservoir in the event that the temperature of fuel flowing from the engine is less than a predetermined threshold value.
It is an advantage of the present invention that a fuel transfer and conditioning unit according to the present invention not only provides filtering, recirculating, and thermal heating of fuel, but also prevents operation of the vehicle engine in the event that the filter cartridge is not installed. This is a decided advantage because in the past motorists facing engine stalling due to plugged cartridges would sometimes remove the cartridge, thereby allowing contaminant laden fuel to flow to the engine with the result that the fuel pump and/or injectors were damaged.
Other advantages as well as objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to the reader of this specification.
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Armesto Carlos
Brown Bradley Allen
Drouillard Jerome R.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Gimie Mahmoud M
Yuen Henry C.
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