Fuel cooler assembly

• US 8,528,774 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Iner M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): DALLO, JOSEPH J
• Application Number:
  US13/157,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20120312500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 123/514, 123/541, 123/563, 220562-564
• US Class Current: 220/563
• 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 2015/03105 with supplementary interior tanks inside the fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0777 in-tank reservoirs or baffles integrally manufactured with the fuel Tank
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0052 Details on the fuel return circuit; Arrangement of pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0082 Devices inside the fuel tank other than fuel pumps or filters electrical pumps submerged in fuel tanks F02M37/10, jet pumps F02M37/025
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0088 Multiple separate fuel tanks or tanks being at least partially partitioned

Abstract

A fuel cooler assembly formed in accordance with the present disclosure includes an outer tank shell, an inner tank shell disposed within the outer tank shell, and an access opening defined in the inner tank shell at a first location on the fuel tank. A fuel return cavity is defined between the inner and outer tanks shells, which is in fluid communication with the access opening. A fuel return opening is formed within the outer tank shell, which is in fluid communication with the fuel return cavity at a second location on the fuel tank.

Claims

1. A fuel cooler assembly, comprising:

(a) an outer tank shell;

(b) an inner tank shell disposed within the outer tank shell;

(c) an access opening defined in the inner tank shell at a first location on the fuel tank;

(d) a fuel return cavity defined between the inner and outer tanks shells, the fuel return cavity in fluid communication with the access opening; and

(e) a fuel return opening formed within the outer tank shell, the fuel return opening in fluid communication with the fuel return cavity at a second location on the fuel tank.

2. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel return opening is disposed near a bottom of the fuel tank, and the access opening is defined near a top of the fuel tank.

3. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 2, further comprising a fuel return line in communication with the fuel return opening, wherein the fuel return line is configured to transport fuel to the fuel tank from a fuel source.

4. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 3, wherein the fuel return line extends into the fuel return cavity and is configured to deposit fuel into a portion of the fuel return cavity near a bottom of the fuel tank.

5. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 3, further comprising a fuel supply opening formed in the outer shell and a fuel supply line in communication with the fuel supply opening, wherein the fuel supply line is configured to transport fuel from the fuel tank to a fuel source.

6. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 3, wherein the fuel source is an engine.

7. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the inner and outer shells, the protrusions extending at least partially into the fuel return cavity.

8. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 7, wherein the protrusions define one or more fluid passageways within the fuel return cavity, the fluid passageways in fluid communication with the fuel return opening and the access opening.

9. A fuel cooler assembly, comprising:

(a) an outer tank shell made from a first material having a first coefficient of heat transfer;

(b) an inner tank shell disposed within the outer tank shell, the inner tank shell formed from a second material having a second coefficient of heat transfer lower than the first coefficient of heat transfer;

(c) an access opening defined in the inner tank shell at a first location on the fuel tank; and

(d) a fuel return cavity defined between the inner and outer tanks shells, the fuel return cavity in fluid communication with the access opening; and

(e) a fuel return opening formed within the outer tank shell, the fuel return opening in fluid communication with the fuel return cavity at a second location on the fuel tank.

10. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 9, wherein the fuel return opening is disposed near a bottom of the fuel tank, and the access opening is defined near a top of the fuel tank.

11. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 9, further comprising a fuel return line in communication with the fuel return opening, wherein the fuel return line is configured to transport fuel to the fuel tank from a fuel source.

12. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 11, wherein the fuel return line extends into the fuel return cavity and is configured to deposit fuel into a portion of the fuel return cavity near a bottom of the fuel tank.

13. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 11, further comprising a fuel supply opening formed in the outer shell and a fuel supply line in communication with the fuel supply opening, wherein the fuel supply line is configured to transport fuel from the fuel tank to a fuel source.

14. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 13, wherein a portion of the fuel supply line extends through the outer shell and into an interior portion of the inner shell.

15. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 12, wherein the fuel source is an engine.

16. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the inner and outer shells, the protrusions extending at least partially into the fuel return cavity.

17. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 16, wherein the protrusions define one or more fluid passageways within the fuel return cavity, the fluid passageways in fluid communication with the fuel return opening and the access opening.

18. A fuel cooler assembly for a vehicle fuel tank, the vehicle having an engine, the fuel cooler assembly comprising:

(a) an outer tank shell made from a first material having a first coefficient of heat transfer;

(b) an inner tank shell disposed within the outer tank shell, the inner tank shell having an interior, the inner tank shell made from a second material having a second coefficient of heat transfer lower than the first coefficient of heat transfer;

(c) an access opening defined in the inner tank shell at an upper portion of the fuel tank;

(d) a fuel supply line in communication with the interior of the inner shell, wherein the fuel supply line is configured to transport fuel from the fuel tank to the engine;

(e) a fuel return cavity defined between the inner and outer tanks shells, the fuel return cavity in fluid communication with the access opening; and

(f) a fuel return line in fluid communication with the engine and the fuel return cavity at a bottom portion of the fuel tank, wherein the fuel return line is configured to transport fuel from the engine to the fuel return cavity.

19. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the inner and outer shells, the protrusions extending at least partially into the fuel return cavity.

20. The fuel cooler assembly of claim 18, wherein the protrusions define one or more fluid passageways within the fuel return cavity, the fluid passageways in fluid communication with the fuel return line and the access opening.