Fuel transfer pump and control

• US 20010035215A1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carter Fuel Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worldwide Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tipton, Larry J., Harvey, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,494,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/571
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/077 with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03118 Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks supplementary tanks inside the fuel tank B60K2015/03105
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03138 Pumping means between the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03144 Fluid connections between the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting for LPG tanks B60K2015/03013
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03223 comprising at least two level fuel sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/003 Controlling the feeding of liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus control of electrical fuel pumps F02D41/3082, controlling fuel flow to a common rail F02D41/3845; Failure or leakage prevention; Diagnosis or detection of failure; Arrangement of sensors in the fuel system; Electric wiring; Electrostatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0047 Layout or arrangement of systems for feeding fuel fuel injection apparatus characterised by their conduits and venting means F02M55/00; fuel injection apparatus having a common rail F02M63/0225; arrangement of fuel conduits of low pressure fuel injection apparatus F02M69/462
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/007 characterised by its use in vehicles, in stationary plants or in small engines, e.g. hand held tools
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0088 Multiple separate fuel tanks or tanks being at least partially partitioned
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/363 using electromechanically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7316 Self-emptying tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86027 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86139 Serial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86187 Plural tanks or compartments connected for serial flow

Abstract

A fuel transfer apparatus for providing fuel to a vehicle engine from a plurality of fuel tanks. A transfer pump is positioned intermediate a pair of fuel tanks and is operable to transfer fuel therebetween. Fuel is provided to the engine from a first one of the two fuel tanks. Excess fuel is returned to the first one of the two fuel tanks. When the level in the first fuel tank is less than the level in the second fuel tank by a predetermined amount, the transfer pump transfers an amount of fuel from the second fuel tank to the first fuel tank. Fuel level sensors are utilized to monitor the level of fuel in the two fuel tanks and report to a microprocessor which controls the transfer pump. The microprocessor utilized to control the transfer pump may be incorporated into the transfer pump, may be a stand alone microprocessor, or may comprise an existing vehicle circuit board such as, e.g., the electronic control module (ECM). A three-way valve may be incorporated into the transfer pump so that the transfer pump can be additionally utilized to provide a priming feature for an engine driven fuel pump.

Claims

1. A fuel transfer apparatus for providing fuel to an engine, comprising:

a first fuel tank having a first fuel level sensor operably associated therewith;

a fuel supply line, said fuel supply line in direct fluid communication with said first fuel tank and the engine;

a second fuel tank having a second fuel level sensor operably associated therewith;

a fuel return line, said fuel return line in direct fluid communication with the engine and one of said first and said second fuel tanks;

a pump in fluid communication with said first fuel tank and said second fuel tank, said pump operable to transfer fuel from one of said first and said second fuel tanks to the other of said first and said second fuel tanks; and

a microprocessor communicatively connected to said first fuel level sensor and said second fuel level sensor, said microprocessor further communicatively connected to said pump, said microprocessor operable to compare a first fuel level value provided by said first fuel level sensor with a second fuel level value provided by said second fuel level sensor, said microprocessor signaling said pump to transfer fuel from said second fuel tank to said first fuel tank when said first fuel level value becomes less than said second fuel level value by a predetermined amount.

2. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microprocessor is integral with said pump.

3. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microprocessor comprises a vehicle electronic control module.

4. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microprocessor is operable to output a fuel level value to a fuel gauge, said fuel level value being computed based upon both said first fuel level value and said second fuel level value.

5. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said microprocessor is communicatively connected to the vehicle engine, and wherein said microprocessor thereby receives an indication of the operational status of the engine, and whereby the microprocessor is operable to discontinue operation of said pump responsive to a signal that the engine is not operating.

6. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a three-way valve, said three-way valve positioned intermediate said pump and said first fuel tank, said three-way valve having an entrance operably connected to said pump as well as a first and a second exit, said first exit in fluid communication with said first fuel tank, said second exit in fluid communication with said fuel supply line, said three-way valve operably connected to said microprocessor.

7. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 6

, wherein said three-way valve and said pump are housed in a single housing.

8. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 6

, further comprising:

a manual prime priming switch connected to said microprocessor, said manual priming switch operable to signal said microprocessor to close said first one of said exits of said three-way valve and open said second one of said exits of said three-way valve and thereafter energize said pump.

9. The fuel transfer apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein said pump is energized for 10 to 15 seconds in response to actuation of said manual priming switch.

10. A method of providing fuel from a pair of fuel tanks to an engine, comprising:

placing a first of the pair of fuel tanks in fluid communication with the engine;

placing a second of the pair of fuel tanks in fluid communication with the first of the pair of fuel tanks;

monitoring the amount of fuel in both the first and the second fuel tanks; and

transferring fuel from the second fuel tank to the first fuel tank when the amount of fuel in the first fuel tank drops below the amount of fuel in the second fuel tank by a predetermined amount.

11. The method of

claim 10

, wherein said step of monitoring the amount of fuel in both the first and the second fuel tanks comprises:

reading a first fuel level sensor operably positioned within the first of the pair of fuel tanks;

reading a second fuel level sensor operably positioned within the second of the pair of fuel tanks; and

comparing a reading from the first sensor with a reading from the second sensor.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein said step of monitoring the amount of fuel in both the first and the second fuel tanks further comprises:

providing a microprocessor communicatively connected to the first fuel level sensor and the second fuel level sensor;

placing a pump in fluid communication with the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank; and

communicatively connecting said microprocessor to said pump, said microprocessor being operable to perform said comparing step, said microprocessor energizing said pump to perform said transferring step.

13. The method of

claim 10

, further comprising:

monitoring the engine; and

discontinuing fuel transfer from the second fuel tank to the first fuel tank if the engine is not operational.

14. The method of

claim 10

, further comprising:

monitoring the operational status of the engine prior to the transferring step; and

eliminating the transferring step is the engine is not operating.

15. The method of

claim 12

, further comprising:

prior to said monitoring step, placing a three-way valve in fluid communication with said pump, said first of the pair of fuel tanks, and a fuel supply line connecting the first fuel tank and the engine, said three-way valve having an inlet connected to said pump, a first outlet connected to said first fuel tank, and a second outlet connected to said fuel supply line, said three-way valve communicatively connected to said microprocessor;

said microprocessor opening said inlet and said first outlet prior to said transferring step;

said microprocessor monitoring the status of a vehicle ignition switch; and

responsive to an indication that the ignition switch has been actuated, said microprocessor closing the first outlet, opening the second outlet, and energizing said pump to transfer fuel to said fuel supply line.

16. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising:

providing a manual priming switch connected to said microprocessor, said manual priming switch being operable to signal said microprocessor to close the first outlet, open the second outlet, and energize said pump to transfer fuel to said fuel supply line.

17. The method of

claim 12

, further comprising:

in said microprocessor, computing a weighted average of a first fuel level value relative to a capacity value for said first fuel tank and a second fuel level value relative to a capacity value for said second fuel tank, said first fuel level value and said second fuel level value provided to said microprocessor from said first fuel level sensor and said second fuel level sensor, respectively; and

transmitting the result of said averaging step to a fuel gauge.

18. The method of

claim 12

, further comprising:

in said microprocessor, summing a first fuel level value provided to said microprocessor from said first fuel level sensor and a second fuel level value provided to said microprocessor from said second fuel level sensor;

comparing a value of cumulative fuel volume determined in said summing step to a value of available fuel volume to determine a value of available fuel relative to said available fuel volume; and

transmitting the result of said comparing step to a fuel gauge.

19. A fuel transfer apparatus for providing fuel to an engine, comprising:

a first fuel tank having a first fuel level sensor operably associated therewith;

a fuel supply line, said fuel supply line in direct fluid communication with said first fuel tank and the engine;

a second fuel tank having a second fuel level sensor operably associated therewith;

a fuel return line, said fuel return line in direct fluid communication with the engine and one of said first and said second fuel tanks;

a pump in fluid communication with said first fuel tank and said second fuel tank, said pump operable to transfer fuel from one of said first and said fuel tanks to the other of said first and said second fuel tanks;

a microprocessor communicatively connected to said first fuel level sensor and said second fuel level sensor, said microprocessor further communicatively connected to said pump, said microprocessor operable to compare a first fuel level value provided by said first fuel level sensor with a second fuel level value provided by said second fuel level sensor, said microprocessor signaling said pump to transfer fuel from said second fuel tank to said first fuel tank when said first fuel level value becomes less than said second fuel level value by a predetermined amount; and

a three-way valve positioned intermediate said pump and said first fuel tank, said three-way valve including an inlet operably connected to said pump, said three-way valve further including a first outlet in fluid communication with said first fuel tank and a second outlet in fluid communication with said fuel supply line, said three-way valve communicatively connected to said microprocessor.