Safety shut-off fuel system

• US 3,955,641 A
• Filed: 06/06/1975
• Issued: 05/11/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colt Industries Operating Corporation
• Original Assignee: Colt Industries Operating Corporation
• Inventors: Smitley, Marion L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siemens, Terrance L.
• Application Number:
  US05/584,650
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 180/82 R, 180/103 BF, 180/104, 123/198 D, 123/198 DB, 137/38, 137/39
• US Class Current: 180/282
• 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 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0023 Valves in the fuel supply and return system
• 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 5/12 Other details, e.g. floats, valves, setting devices or tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0777 With second control

Abstract

An automotive fuel system which has a fuel tank, a fuel pump, a fuel metering device for metering fuel flow to an associated fuel-consuming engine, and a fuel reservoir, as, for example, a carburetor fuel bowl with a float controlled fuel inlet valve, has a spring urging the float in a direction which results in a closing of the fuel inlet valve even against relatively high fluid pressure heads tending to open said inlet valve as may occur when the associated vehicle experiences a crash impact or a roll-over condition so as to terminate further flow of fuel from the fuel tank into the fuel reservoir.

Claims

1. In a regulated liquid reservoir, the combination of a float regulated liquid inlet and safety shut off valve means, comprising housing means defining chamber means, passage means carried by said housing means and effective for conveying said liquid from a remotely situated source of said liquid to said chamber means, float means pivotally retained within said chamber means, said float means being positioned as to be acted upon by the attendant buoyant force of said liquid within said chamber means, valving means situated in cooperative relationship to said passage means and effective to regulate the rate of flow of said liquid from said passage means into said chamber means, said valving means being operatively connected to said float means as to thereby be openable and closeable in accordance with associated movement of said float means, and resilient means operatively connected to said float means, said resilient means exhibiting a preload force of a magnitude sufficient to cause and maintain closure of said valving whenever said liquid reservoir and said source are positioned in an attitude considered abnormal to the accepted mode of operation of said reservoir, said preload force being of a magnitude at least equal to a counter-force developed against said valving means by the pressure head of said liquid within said source during the said abnormal attitude thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said float means comprises a float member, and wherein said relilient means comprises spring means operatively connected to said float means in the vicinity of said float member.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said float means comprises lever arm means secured for pivotal rotation within said chamber means and wherein said valving means is operatively connected to said lever arm means.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said float means comprises lever arm means secured for pivotal rotation within said chamber means, wherein said arm means is operatively connected to said valving means, and wherein said resilient means comprises spring means continually resiliently urging said lever arm means and said valving means in a direction of closing of said valving means.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said float means further comprises a float member, and wherein said float member is of a weight sufficient to prevent said spring means from by itself closing said valving means whenever said reservoir is in an operating position other than said abnormal attitude.

6. The combination according to claim 6 wherein during such operating position other than said abnormal attitude, said liquid within said chamber means provides a buoyant force sufficient in combination with the force of said spring means to close said valving means whenever the level of said liquid within said chamber means attains a predetermined selected level.