Engine protective apparatus with remote override

Claim 1

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system and comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein: (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said main body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and wherein said bypass fuel passageway is at least partly outside of boundaries which define said main fuel passageway, and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure, and said bypass valve is operated by a spring-biased bypass piston disposed at least partly outside said main body, and wherein said actuating piston is operable to open said bypass valve by moving said bypass piston.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system and comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein: (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said main body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and wherein said bypass fuel passageway is at least partly outside of boundaries which define said main fuel passageway, and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure, and said bypass valve is operated by a spring-biased bypass piston disposed at least partly outside said main body, and wherein said actuating piston is operable to open said bypass valve by moving said bypass piston.

Claim 6

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system and comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and wherein said bypass fuel passageway is at least partly outside of boundaries which define said main fuel passageway, and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a manually-operable pushbutton and means for locking said pushbutton in an on position corresponding to said bypass valve being open.

Claim 7

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system and comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and wherein said bypass fuel passageway is at least partly outside of boundaries which define said main fuel passageway, and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a manually-operable pushbutton and means for locking said pushbutton in an on position corresponding to said bypass valve being open.

Claim 9

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said main body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line, said bypass valve actuator including a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure, and wherein said bypass valve actuator affects the internal combustion engine only by operation of said bypass valve, and wherein said bypass valve is the only mechanism controlled by the pressurized fluid control line.

Claim 10

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said main body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line, said bypass valve actuator including a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure, and wherein said bypass valve actuator affects the internal combustion engine only by operation of said bypass valve, and wherein said bypass valve is the only mechanism controlled by the pressurized fluid control line.

Claim 15

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system, comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said main body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a control line; and wherein said bypass valve is part of a remote override assembly removably mounted to said main body and having a portion external to said main body, and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a manually-operable pushbutton and means for locking said pushbutton in an on position corresponding to said bypass valve being open.

Claim 16

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system, comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; (e) a bypass fuel passageway in said main body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (f) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (g) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a control line; and wherein said bypass valve is part of a remote override assembly removably mounted to said main body and having a portion external to said main body, and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a manually-operable pushbutton and means for locking said pushbutton in an on position corresponding to said bypass valve being open.

Claim 20

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1, said main valve includes an elongate movable main valve member which is spring-biased by a main valve spring to be normally closed, said main valve member including a bore therein, said bore having a bore inlet in communication with said fuel inlet port and a bore outlet in communication with said fuel outlet port such that fuel may flow through said bore from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (e) an override push rod disposed at least partially in said bore; (f) an override actuator selectively disposable in an off state and an override state, said override state allowing fuel flow in the fuel supply line of the engine even if the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; and wherein said override actuator is operable in its override state to allow fuel flow from said bore inlet to said bore outlet by moving said override push rod away from said lubricant pressure sensor, and (g) a bypass fuel passageway in said body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (h) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; (i) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and (j) a pressure-responsive bypass surface rigidly connected to said bypass valve and in contact with pressurized fluid from said control line; and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure.

Claim 21

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1, said main valve includes an elongate movable main valve member which is spring-biased by a main valve spring to be normally closed, said main valve member including a bore therein, said bore having a bore inlet in communication with said fuel inlet port and a bore outlet in communication with said fuel outlet port such that fuel may flow through said bore from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (e) an override push rod disposed at least partially in said bore; (f) an override actuator selectively disposable in an off state and an override state, said override state allowing fuel flow in the fuel supply line of the engine even if the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1; and wherein said override actuator is operable in its override state to allow fuel flow from said bore inlet to said bore outlet by moving said override push rod away from said lubricant pressure sensor, and (g) a bypass fuel passageway in said body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (h) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; (i) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and (j) a pressure-responsive bypass surface rigidly connected to said bypass valve and in contact with pressurized fluid from said control line; and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure.

Claim 24

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system, comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1, said main valve includes an elongate movable main valve member which is spring-biased by a main valve spring to be normally closed, said main valve member including a bore therein, said bore having a bore inlet in communication with said fuel inlet port and a bore outlet in communication with said fuel outlet port such that fuel may flow through said bore from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (e) an override valve disposed in said bore; (f) an override spring disposed at least partially within said main valve member and biasing said override valve; (g) an override actuator selectively disposable in an off state and an override state, said override state allowing fuel flow in the fuel supply line of the engine even if the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below said predetermined value P1; and wherein said override actuator is operable in its override state to allow fuel flow from said bore inlet to said bore outlet by moving said override valve against the bias of said override spring; (h) a bypass fuel passageway in said body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (i) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (j) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure.

Claim 25

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine in response to pressure in the engine's lubricating system, comprising: (a) a main body having a main fuel passageway therein; (b) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, each port communicating with said main fuel passageway and adapted to be connected to the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine; (c) a lubricant pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the engine's lubricating system; (d) a main valve in said main fuel passageway for controlling the normal flow of fuel between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port, said main valve closing when the lubricant pressure sensor indicates that the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below a predetermined value P1, said main valve includes an elongate movable main valve member which is spring-biased by a main valve spring to be normally closed, said main valve member including a bore therein, said bore having a bore inlet in communication with said fuel inlet port and a bore outlet in communication with said fuel outlet port such that fuel may flow through said bore from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (e) an override valve disposed in said bore; (f) an override spring disposed at least partially within said main valve member and biasing said override valve; (g) an override actuator selectively disposable in an off state and an override state, said override state allowing fuel flow in the fuel supply line of the engine even if the pressure in the engine's lubricating system is below said predetermined value P1; and wherein said override actuator is operable in its override state to allow fuel flow from said bore inlet to said bore outlet by moving said override valve against the bias of said override spring; (h) a bypass fuel passageway in said body, bypassing that portion of said main fuel passageway controlled by said main valve, and operable to allow a predetermined restricted amount of fuel to flow from said fuel inlet port to said fuel outlet port; (i) a normally closed bypass valve selectively blocking said bypass fuel passageway; and (j) a bypass valve actuator remote from said main body and controlling said bypass valve by a pressurized fluid control line; and wherein said bypass valve actuator includes a spring-biased actuating piston operable to place fluid in said control line under pressure.