Fuel heating means

Claim 2

A fuel heating means for use in motor vehicle fuel systems which comprises: a. a fuel tank means; b. recycle conduit means operatively connected to, and in fluid communication with, said fuel tank means, said recycle conduit means allowing fuel to be withdrawn from said fuel tank means and returned thereto; c. a recycle pump in said recycle conduit means to pass fluid therethrough; d. heating means cooperating with said recycle conduit means to heat fuel passing therethrough prior to the fuel returning to said fuel tank means; and e. valve means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said recycle conduit means to the fuel pump of said vehicle, said valve means and said recycle pump being electrically connected so that eaCh of them is actuated at substantially the same time whereby fuel may be selectively diverted from said recycle conduit means to the engine of said vehicle via said fuel pump.

Claim 3

The fuel heating means of claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises resistance heating tape operatively connected to a power source and to said valve means and said recycle pump for concurrent energization of said heating tape, recycle pump and valve means.

Claim 4

The fuel heating means of claim 1 and further characterized as including thermostatically actuated switch means connected to said heating means and in thermal communication with said recycle conduit means for controlling said heating means in response to the flow of fuel in said recycle conduit means.

Claim 5

A diesel power plant system for mounting on trucks comprising: a diesel engine; a fuel pump for pumping diesel fuel to the engine; a fuel tank for supplying diesel fuel; a fuel heater and water separator device connected between the fuel tank and the engine for heating the diesel fuel and concurrently removing water therefrom, said heater and water separator device comprising: a pair of concentric tubular members; and baffle means disposed between said tubular members, the innermost of said tubular members being connected to said engine for receiving hot exhaust gases therefrom, and the outer of said tubular members being connected to said fuel tank for receiving diesel fuel therefrom and passing said fuel through said baffle means; A recycle conduit system for receiving fuel from said fuel heater and water separator device positioned upstream from said fuel pump, and for recycling the received diesel fuel to said fuel tank; a recycle pump positioned in said recycle conduit system for moving diesel fuel therethrough independently of said fuel pump; a valve for alternately permitting diesel fuel to pass from said water separator device to said fuel pump, or, from said water separator device to said recycle conduit system; and heating means extending around the outermost of the tubular members of said fuel heater and water separator device, and operative to heat fuel passed between said tubular members when said engine is inoperative, and hot engine exhaust gases are not passed through the innermost of said tubular members, whereby diesel fuel may be continuously heated, de-watered and circulated when said diesel engine is stopped, and also said heating and de-watering of the diesel fuel may be automatically accomplished when said engine is running by the common use of said fuel heating and water removal device in both statuses of the engine.

Claim 6

A diesel power plant system for mounting on trucks comprising: a diesel engine; a fuel pump for pumping diesel fuel to the engine; a fuel tank for supplying diesel fuel; a fuel heater and water separator device connected between the fuel tank and the engine for heating the diesel fuel and concurrently removing water therefrom, said heater and water separator device comprising: a pair of concentric tubular members; and baffle means disposed between said tubular members, the innermost of said tubular members being connected to said engine for receiving hot exhaust gases therefrom, and the outer of said tubular members being connected to said fuel tank for receiving diesel fuel therefrom and passing said fuel through said baffle means; A recycle conduit system for receiving fuel from said fuel heater and water separator device positioned upstream from said fuel pump, and for recycling the received diesel fuel to said fuel tank; a recycle pump positioned in said recycle conduit system for moving diesel fuel therethrough independently of said fuel pump; a valve for alternately permitting diesel fuel to pass from said water separator device to said fuel pump, or, from said water separator device to said recycle conduit system; and heating means extending around the outermost of the tubular members of said fuel heater and water separator device, and operative to heat fuel passed between said tubular members when said engine is inoperative, and hot engine exhaust gases are not passed through the innermost of said tubular members, whereby diesel fuel may be continuously heated, de-watered and circulated when said diesel engine is stopped, and also said heating and de-watering of the diesel fuel may be automatically accomplished when said engine is running by the common use of said fuel heating and water removal device in both statuses of the engine.

Claim 7

In a diesel power plant system which includes a diesel engine, a fuel pump for pumping diesel fuel to the engine, a fuel tank for supplying diesel fuel, and a device connected between the fuel tank and the engine for removing water from the diesel fuel and concurrently heating the fuel, the improvement which comprises: a recycle conduit system for receiving diesel fuel from the water removal device upstream from the fuel pump and recycling the received diesel fuel to the fuel tank; a recycle pump positioned in said recycle conduit system for moving diesel fuel therethrough independently of said fuel pump; a valve for alternately permitting diesel fuel to pass from said water removal device to said fuel pump, or from said water removal device to said recycle conduit system; means for heating fuel passing through said water removing device; and electrical control circuitry connected to said recycle pump, valve and heating means for selectively energizing the recycle pump, valve and heating means concurrently, or alternatively, the recycle pump and valve.

Claim 8

In a diesel power plant system which includes a diesel engine, a fuel pump for pumping diesel fuel to the engine, a fuel tank for supplying diesel fuel, and a device connected between the fuel tank and the engine for removing water from the diesel fuel and concurrently heating the fuel, the improvement which comprises: a recycle conduit system for receiving diesel fuel from the water removal device upstream from the fuel pump and recycling the received diesel fuel to the fuel tank; a recycle pump positioned in said recycle conduit system for moving diesel fuel therethrough independently of said fuel pump; a valve for alternately permitting diesel fuel to pass from said water removal device to said fuel pump, or from said water removal device to said recycle conduit system; means for heating fuel passing through said water removing device; and electrical control circuitry connected to said recycle pump, valve and heating means for selectively energizing the recycle pump, valve and heating means concurrently, or alternatively, the recycle pump and valve.