Patent US4424776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4424776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel supply for a diesel engine
Assignee: IMO Industries Inc
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Filing: 1982-04-02
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Granted: 1984-01-10
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Expires: 2002-04-02
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates a continuously circulating pumped flow of diesel-engine fuel, involving thermodynamic coupling to the engine's coolant-circulation system (a) while the engine is operating and (b) involving selectively available thermodynamic coupling to an externally supplied electric-heater element during periods of engine shut-down. To assure fuel circulation during such operation of the heater element, a rectifier taps the external electric supply to provide pump excitation and thus not to drain the charge on the storage battery associated with the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter E. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:30
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M37/00; F02M37/0011; F02M37/0023; F02M37/0035; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/12; F02M31/125; F02M31/16; F02M37/0047; F02M37/22; F02M37/30; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
As an article of manufacture, a fuel-heating unit adapted for use with a diesel engine having a fuel-injection system and a circulating flow of liquid coolant, said unit being further adapted for use in a circulating fuel-supply system from which fuel is to be drawn for supply of the fuel-injection system, said article comprising a housing enclosure with coolant-in and coolant-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of liquid coolant and with fuel-in and fuel-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of fuel, the respective paths of coolant flow and of fuel flow within said enclosure being in hydraulically independent but thermodynamically coupled relation, thermostatic-valve means associated with the path of coolant flow and responsive to sensed coolant temperature to substantially curtail the rate of coolant flow for coolant temperatures below a predetermined normal operating range of coolant temperature, said thermostatic-valve means being further responsive to sensed coolant temperature within said range to permit an increased rate of coolant flow, and electrical heater-element means within said housing enclosure in heat-transfer relation with one of said paths, said last-defined means being adapted for selective external power-supply connection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
As an article of manufacture, a fuel-heating unit adapted for use with a diesel engine having a fuel-injection system and a circulating flow of liquid coolant, said unit being further adapted for use in a circulating fuel-supply system from which fuel is to be drawn for supply of the fuel-injection system, said article comprising a housing enclosure with coolant-in and coolant-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of liquid coolant and with fuel-in and fuel-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of fuel, the respective paths of coolant flow and of fuel flow within said enclosure being in hydraulically independent but thermodynamically coupled relation, thermostatic-valve means associated with the path of coolant flow and responsive to sensed coolant temperature to substantially curtail the rate of coolant flow for coolant temperatures below a predetermined normal operating range of coolant temperature, said thermostatic-valve means being further responsive to sensed coolant temperature within said range to permit an increased rate of coolant flow, and electrical heater-element means within said housing enclosure in heat-transfer relation with one of said paths, said last-defined means being adapted for selective external power-supply connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1, in which said heater-element means is in direct heat-transfer relation with the path of coolant flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The article of claim 1, in which said housing enclosure comprises spaced inner and outer shells, the path of fuel flow being in the space between said shells, and the path of coolant flow being within the inner shell, said heater-element means being positioned within said inner shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The article of claim 1, in which said path of coolant flow is one of two paths of coolant flow between said coolant-in and coolant-out ports, said one coolant path including said valve means and the other coolant path including bleed means for assuring at least a small flow of coolant in shunt with said one coolant path, said thermostatic-valve means including a heat-sensing element exposed to coolant in said other coolant path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The article of claim 1, in which further thermostatic-valve means is associated with the path of coolant flow and is responsive to sensed fuel temperature at or near the fuel-out port to substantially cut off the flow of coolant between the coolant-in and coolant-out ports for sensed fuel temperature at a predetermined upper safety limit of fuel temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
As an article of manufacture, a fuel-heating unit adapted for use with a diesel engine having a fuel-injection system and a circulating flow of liquid coolant, said unit being further adapted for use in a circulating fuel-supply system from which fuel is to be drawn for supply of the fuel-injection system, said article comprising a housing enclosure with coolant-in and coolant-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of liquid coolant and with fuel-in and fuel-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of fuel, the respective paths of coolant flow and of fuel flow within said enclosure being in hydraulically independent but thermodynamically coupled relation, thermostatic-valve means associated with the path of coolant flow and reponsive to sensed fuel temperature at or near the fuel-out port to substantially cut off the flow of coolant between the coolant-in and coolant-out ports for sensed fuel temperature at a predetermined upper safety limit of fuel temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
As an article of manufacture, a fuel-heating unit adapted for use with a diesel engine having a fuel-injection system and a circulating flow of liquid coolant, said unit being further adapted for use in a circulating fuel-supply system from which fuel is to be drawn for supply of the fuel-injection system, said article comprising a housing enclosure with coolant-in and coolant-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of liquid coolant and with fuel-in and fuel-out ports for series-connection in the circulating flow of fuel, the respective paths of coolant flow and of fuel flow within said enclosure being in hydraulically independent but thermodynamically coupled relation, thermostatic-valve means associated with the path of coolant flow and reponsive to sensed fuel temperature at or near the fuel-out port to substantially cut off the flow of coolant between the coolant-in and coolant-out ports for sensed fuel temperature at a predetermined upper safety limit of fuel temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 3, in which the outer surface of the inner shell is characterized by plural fins coursed by fuel flow in the region between shells, for enhanced heat transfer between said flows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1, in which said thermostatic-valve means includes a valve member actuated by a thermally responsive spring of the shape-memory-effect variety.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The article of claim 8, in which a preload spring normally urges said valve member in the direction to curtail the rate of coolant flow and in opposition to action of said thermally responsive spring, the bias-level of said preload spring being selected to be overcome for thermal-spring response to achievement of coolant temperature within said range thereby permitting an increased rate of coolant flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
The article of claim 4, in which said one path of coolant flow is the only path having thermodynamically coupled relation with the flow of fuel, and in which said thermostatic valve means is operative (a) to shut off coolant flow in said one path when coolant temperature sensed in said other path is below said range and (b) to open for coolant flow in said one path when coolant temperature sensed in said other path is within said range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The article of claim 10, in which thermostatic control means for said electric heater is positioned for response to coolant temperature in said one path, the sense of said control means being to supply electrical excitation to said heater when coolant temperature in said one path is below said range; whereby during periods of inadequate fuel-heating through heat exchange with circulating coolant, a circulating of fuel through said article may be electrically heated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |