Patent US3915255A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3915255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicle roll-over engine fuel line shut-off valve
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1974-12-19
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A fuel line for a motor vehicle engine contains a fuel flow shut-off device having a number of valves which upon lateral rollover of the vehicle and engine move to shut off fuel flow through the line, regardless of the direction of rollover.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry L Springer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/10; B60K28/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0753
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A fuel flow control device for use in connection with a motor vehicle having a fuel containing line connecting a fuel source to a portion of the engine induction system, the device comprising a hollow housing secured in the line in an initial upright position connecting two parts of the line and extending laterally of and essentially at right angles to the direction of fuel flow through the line at that point, the housing having a fuel inlet port essentially axially aligned with a fuel outlet port in the direction of fuel flow, the housing defining a chamber connecting the ports and containing a separator plate dividing the chamber into a pair of compartments, and blocking communication of fuel between the ports, the plate having an opening at a point remote from the axis of the ports for communiCating fuel from one port to the other through the plate, and a valve in each of the compartments movable from a normal initial position permitting free communication between the ports to other positions blocking flow through at least one of the ports or the plate opening, the valves being movable by gravity in response to a predetermined tilting angular movement of the housing in either direction from the upright position upon a corresponding predetermined tilting of the engine about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A fuel flow control device for use in connection with a motor vehicle having a fuel containing line connecting a fuel source to a portion of the engine induction system, the device comprising a hollow housing secured in the line in an initial upright position connecting two parts of the line and extending laterally of and essentially at right angles to the direction of fuel flow through the line at that point, the housing having a fuel inlet port essentially axially aligned with a fuel outlet port in the direction of fuel flow, the housing defining a chamber connecting the ports and containing a separator plate dividing the chamber into a pair of compartments, and blocking communication of fuel between the ports, the plate having an opening at a point remote from the axis of the ports for communiCating fuel from one port to the other through the plate, and a valve in each of the compartments movable from a normal initial position permitting free communication between the ports to other positions blocking flow through at least one of the ports or the plate opening, the valves being movable by gravity in response to a predetermined tilting angular movement of the housing in either direction from the upright position upon a corresponding predetermined tilting of the engine about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A control device as in claim 1, each of the compartments having a clover-like shape with a plurality of interconnected nodes extending at angles to each other, the ports being located one in a first one of the nodes of each compartment, the separator plate opening communicating with a second node of the remaining plurality of nodes in each compartment, and the valves each being located in a further one of the plurality of nodes and movable therefrom selectively into the first and second nodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control device as in claim 2, the valve means comprising a number of valves greater than one and one less than the number of nodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A control device as in claim 3, the valves comprising a disc rollable separately across one of the ports at times and across the separator plate opening at other times, as a function of the direction of tilting movement of the housing to maintain fuel flow blocked at all times when the housing is in a predetermined position other than the upright position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
A control device as in claim 1, the housing compartments each having a heart-like shape with two angled upstanding nodular portions joined to a depending central portion with each portion spaced angularly from each other, the ports being located in corresponding parts of the first of the upstanding portions, each of the depending nodes containing a valve rollable by gravity towards the first upstanding nodes to block flow through the ports upon predetermined tilting movement of the housing in one direction from the upright position, the valves being rollable by gravity towards the second upstanding portions to block flow through the separator plate opening upon predetermined tilting movement of the housing in the opposite direction from the upright position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A control device as in claim 5, the housing being flat and the valves consisting of flat discs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
A control device as in claim 1, the housing consisting of a pair of flat bottomed cup-shaped members in face-to-face relationship with a separator disc therebetween to define a pair of separated chambers, each chamber having a heart-like shape when in the installed upright position with a pair of upper angled finger-like portions spaced from each other and joined to a lower centrally located portion, the ports being located one in each of the corresponding upper portions, the separator plate having a hole opening into each of the other upper angled corresponding portions, each of the lower portions containing a flat disc valve selectively rollable alternately towards the ports or hole to block at least one or the other as a function of the direction of tilting movement of the housing and in response to a predetermined angular tilting movement of the housing from the upright position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A control device as in claim 1, the pressure of fuel acting against at least one of the valves when the valves are in a position blocking flow through the ports or hole aiding in sealing the valve against the ports or hole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |