Fuel valve locking device

Claim 2

In a motor vehicle wherein a fuel supply passage for delivery of fuel to an engine is provided with a valve member disposed in the passage and a valve seat movable toward and away from the valve member to control the supply of fuel to the engine, the combination therewith of: valve closure control means including an extension plate interconnected in spaced parallel relation to the valve seat and movable with the valve seat toward and away from the valve member to close and open the fuel passage, position control means extending transversely into the space between the valve seat and extension plate being movable between a position engaging the valve seat to hold the seat closed against the valve member and a position engaging the extension plate to hold the valve seat open with respect to the valve member and permit uninterrupted flow of fuel through the fuel passage, and locking means engageable with said position control means to lock said position control means in one of said open and closed positions.

Claim 3

In a motor vehicle according to claim 1, said position control means being further characterized by yieldingly engaging the valve seat to retain it in the closed position against the valve.

Claim 4

In a motor vehicle according to claim 1, said position control means being further movable to a neutral position spaced between the valve seat and extension plate to permit movement of the valve seat and extension plate between the open and closed positions independently of said position control means.

Claim 5

In a motor vehicle according to claim 1, said position control means including a cylindrical shank portion provided with longitudinal slots therein, said shank portion being rotatable to advance said position control means between the open and closed positions, and said locking means provided with a locking element movable into one of the slots on said cylindrical shank to lock said position control means in a selected position with respect to said valve closure control means.

Claim 6

In a motor vehicle according to claim 4, said locking means being further characterized by a key actuated lock having a rotatable cam element thereon defining the locking element which is movable into a selected one of the slots on said cylindrical shank.

Claim 7

In a diesel engine having a fuel valve interpositioned between a fuel pump and engine cylinders wherein a solenoid is axially aligned with the end of a tubular valve member and is selectively energized in regulating the flow of fuel between the fuel pump and engine, the combination therewith of a locking device comprising: valve control means interpositioned between the facing ends of said solenoid and the valve member and normally arranged for free slidable movemEnt between the valve member and the plunger, said valve control means including a valve seat and an extension plate in spaced but connected relation to the valve seat, a rotatable position control member including a locking cam at its free distal end projecting transversely into the space between the extension plate and the valve seat, said locking cam being rotatable between a closed position engaging the valve seat to hold same against the valve member to interrupt the flow of fuel to the valve to the engine and a neutral position permitting free slidable movement of the valve control means in direct response to energization and de-energization of the solenoid, and locking means engageable with said position control member to selectively retain said locking cam in either of said closed or distal positions.

Claim 8

In a diesel engine having a fuel valve interpositioned between a fuel pump and engine cylinders wherein a solenoid is axially aligned with the end of a tubular valve member and is selectively energized in regulating the flow of fuel between the fuel pump and engine, the combination therewith of a locking device comprising: valve control means interpositioned between the facing ends of said solenoid and the valve member and normally arranged for free slidable movemEnt between the valve member and the plunger, said valve control means including a valve seat and an extension plate in spaced but connected relation to the valve seat, a rotatable position control member including a locking cam at its free distal end projecting transversely into the space between the extension plate and the valve seat, said locking cam being rotatable between a closed position engaging the valve seat to hold same against the valve member to interrupt the flow of fuel to the valve to the engine and a neutral position permitting free slidable movement of the valve control means in direct response to energization and de-energization of the solenoid, and locking means engageable with said position control member to selectively retain said locking cam in either of said closed or distal positions.

Claim 9

In a diesel engine according to claim 6, said position control member further including a cylindrical shank provided with manually rotatable means at one end opposite to the locking cam for manual rotation of said locking cam between the closed and neutral positions.

Claim 10

In a diesel engine according to claim 6, said locking cam being further movable to an open position engaging said extension plate to hold said valve control means open in spaced relation to the end of said valve member for uninterrupted flow of fuel through the fuel passage.

Claim 11

In a diesel engine according to claim 8, said position control means further including a cylindrical shank with said locking cam in offset relation at the free distal end of said cylindrical shank for rotation between the open and neutral positions and for rotation to an open position holding said valve control means away from the end of said valve member.

Claim 12

In a diesel engine according to claim 9, said cylindrical shank provided with circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots on its external surface, and said locking means being defined by a rotatable locking member extending transversely of said cylindrical shank and having a rotatable locking element at one end movable into a selected one of said slots to retain said locking cam in a selected position with respect to said valve control means.

Claim 13

In a motor vehicle wherein a fuel supply passage is provided for delivery of fuel to an engine, the combination therewith of: a fuel valve provided with a tubular valve member disposed concentrically within the fuel passage to regulate the flow of fuel between the annular space outside of the valve member and the space within the valve member; and a locking device including a body portion provided with an extension sleeve interpositioned between said fuel valve and solenoid-operated plunger to define an axial extension of said valve casing and the flow passage therein, valve control means arranged for slidable movement within said extension sleeve axially between the valve member and solenoid, said valve control means including a valve seat in facing relation to the end of the valve member and an extension plate in spaced but connected relation to the valve seat, said extension plate disposed in facing relation to the solenoid core, a rotatable position control member including a cylindrical shank portion extending through a shank-receiving passage in said body and including a locking cam at its free distal end projecting through said extension sleeve into the space between said valve seat and extension plate, manual control means on said cylindrical shank portion rotatable to advance said locking dog between a closed position engaging said valve seat to hold same against the valve member to interrupt the flow of fuel through the fuel passage, an open position engaging the extension plate to hold the valve seat open with respect to the valve member and permit uninterrupted flow of fuel through the fuel passage, and a neutral position spaced between said valve seat and extension plate to permit free slidable movement of said valve control means, and a locking member extending through a passAge in said body transversely of said cylindrical shank and selectively engageable with said cylindrical shank to retain said locking cam in a selected one of said open, closed and neutral positions.

Claim 14

In a motor vehicle wherein a fuel supply passage is provided for delivery of fuel to an engine, the combination therewith of: a fuel valve provided with a tubular valve member disposed concentrically within the fuel passage to regulate the flow of fuel between the annular space outside of the valve member and the space within the valve member; and a locking device including a body portion provided with an extension sleeve interpositioned between said fuel valve and solenoid-operated plunger to define an axial extension of said valve casing and the flow passage therein, valve control means arranged for slidable movement within said extension sleeve axially between the valve member and solenoid, said valve control means including a valve seat in facing relation to the end of the valve member and an extension plate in spaced but connected relation to the valve seat, said extension plate disposed in facing relation to the solenoid core, a rotatable position control member including a cylindrical shank portion extending through a shank-receiving passage in said body and including a locking cam at its free distal end projecting through said extension sleeve into the space between said valve seat and extension plate, manual control means on said cylindrical shank portion rotatable to advance said locking dog between a closed position engaging said valve seat to hold same against the valve member to interrupt the flow of fuel through the fuel passage, an open position engaging the extension plate to hold the valve seat open with respect to the valve member and permit uninterrupted flow of fuel through the fuel passage, and a neutral position spaced between said valve seat and extension plate to permit free slidable movement of said valve control means, and a locking member extending through a passAge in said body transversely of said cylindrical shank and selectively engageable with said cylindrical shank to retain said locking cam in a selected one of said open, closed and neutral positions.

Claim 15

In a motor vehicle according to claim 11, said valve seat provided with a spring element in facing relation to said locking cam, and said locking cam engaging said spring element in the closed position to yieldingly urge said valve seat against the valve member.

Claim 16

In a motor vehicle according to claim 11, said cylindrical shank provided with circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots opposite to said locking member, and said locking member being defined by a key-operated lock provided with a rotatable cam at its inner end being movable into an aligned slot on said cylindrical slot to selectively retain said locking cam in one of the open, closed or neutral positions.