Entering fuel injection system of a diesel engine

• US 4,602,605 A
• Filed: 01/18/1985
• Issued: 07/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L. Adkins
• Original Assignee: James L. Adkins
• Inventors: Adkins, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Greenlief, Magdalen Y. C.
• Application Number:
  US06/692,728
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 123/516, 123/510-514, 123/198 DB, 123/198 D
• US Class Current: 123/516
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• 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: F02D 33/006 depending on engine operating conditions, e.g. start, stop or ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0017 related to fuel pipes or their connections, e.g. joints or sealings F02M55/004 takes precedence
• 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 37/0052 Details on the fuel return circuit; Arrangement of pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/32 characterised by filters or filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/42 Installation or removal of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/54 characterised by air purging means having priming pumps F02M37/16

Abstract

An automatic shut off device for preventing air from entering the fuel system of an internal combustion engine when the fuel supply becomes low. The device provides a fuel chamber having an inlet connected to a fuel supply line, a float switch and an outlet connected to the engine fuel pump or fuel system. When the fuel supply falls below a preselected low level, but before the level reaches a lower inlet to a standpipe, the float switch is actuated to shut down the engine before air can enter the engine fuel system, thereby eliminating the necessity of bleeding the fuel system when the fuel supply is restored. A bleed orifice at the top of the fuel chamber allows trapped air to escape and return to the fuel tank when fuel is restored to the device.

Claims

1. In a fuel system for an internal combustion engine having fuel injection means with cutoff means, relay means connectable to one or more engine sensors and to said cutoff means, a fuel supply tank, an automatic engine air removal and a shut off device located outside said fuel supply tank and comprising:

housing means forming a fuel chamber having an inlet passage adapted to be connected to said fuel supply having an outlet passage adapted to be connected to said engine fuel injection means;

conduit means connected to said outlet passage and extending downwardly therefrom within said fuel chamber, said conduit means having an inlet at its lower end located below said inlet passage and;

means within said chamber for sensing the level of fuel therein and for providing a signal to said relay means for stopping the engine when the fuel in said tank becomes exhausted but before the fuel in said chamber reaches a predetermined lower level within said chamber, thereby preventing air from entering said fuel injection means of the engine fuel system and;

fluid retainer means at the lower end of said conduit means within said chamber for holding a quantity of fuel and thereby preventing air from entering said conduit means even if the level of fuel in said chamber should fall below the end of said conduit means.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said fluid retainer means comprises a cup-like receptacle surrounding the end of and fixed to one side of said conduit means.

3. In a fuel system for an internal combustion engine having fuel injection means with cutoff means, relay means connectable to one or more engine sensors and to said cutoff means, a fuel supply tank, an automatic engine air removal and a shut off device located outside said fuel supply tank and comprising:

housing means forming a fuel chamber having an inlet passage adapted to be connected to said fuel supply and having an outlet passage adapted to be connected to said engine fuel injection means;

conduit means connected to said outlet passage and extending downwardly therefrom within said fuel chamber, said conduit means having an inlet at its lower end located below said inlet passage;

means within said chamber for sensing the level of fuel therein and for providing a signal to said relay means for stopping the engine when the fuel in said tank becomes exhausted but before the fuel in said chamber reaches a predetermined lower level within said chamber, thereby preventing air from entering said fuel injection means of the engine fuel system and;

means forming an air relief passage from an upper end of said chamber adapted to connect with a return line to said fuel supply tank including an orifice extending through said housing means located near said outlet passage.

4. In a fuel system for an internal combustion engine having fuel injection means with cutoff means, relay means connectable to one or more engine sensors and to said cutoff means, a fuel supply tank, an automatic engine air removal and shut-off device located outside of said fuel supply tank and comprising:

housing means forming a fuel chamber having an inlet passage adapted to be connected to said fuel supply and having an outlet passage adapted to be connected to said engine fuel injection means;

conduit means connected to said outlet passage and extending downwardly therefrom within said fuel chamber, said conduit means having an inlet end located below said inlet passage;

and a float switch within said chamber for sensing the level of fuel therein and for providing a signal to said relay means for stopping the engine when the fuel in said tank becomes exhausted but before the fuel in said chamber reaches a predetermined lower level within said chamber, thereby preventing air from entering said fuel injection means of the engine fuel system, said float switch comprising a tubular member that extends to a predetermined depth in said chamber, a conductor in said tubular member having a magnetically sensitive element at its bottom end which conducts current only when subjected to a magnetic field, and a buoyant member adapted to move up and down with the level of fuel in said chamber and having a magnet attached thereto, whereby when the fuel level in the chamber falls and reaches that of said sensitive element, current can flow in said conductor to provide a shut off signal to said fuel injection means.