Fuel system

Claim 2

A heating apparatus for a fuel system having a container which stores the fuel, the heating apparatus comprising: a fuel pickup conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being insertable into the container; and heat exchanger means for heating both the fuel in the container and the fuel in the pickup conduit, the heat exchanger means including a heat conductive portion insertable into the container in contact with the fuel in the container, inlet means for admitting a heatable fluid into the heat conductive portion, outlet means for discharging the heatable fluid from the heat conductive portion, the heat conductive portion of the heat exchanger means surrounding a first portion of the fuel pickup conduit between the inlet and the outlet.

Claim 3

The heating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat conductive portion of the heat exchanger means includes a generally cylindrical casing mountable to and insertable into the container, said fuel pickup conduit being supported by the casing with the first portion of the fuel pickup conduit extending generally coaxially through the casing.

Claim 4

The heating apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outlet means includes an outlet tube extending away from the casing in contact with the fuel in the container and having first and second ends, the first end communicating with the casing within the container and the second end positionable external to the container.

Claim 5

The heating apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating unit including an electrical heating element mounted proximate the fluid pickup conduit and further including connector means for supplying electrical energy to the heating element.

Claim 6

The heating apparatus of claim 4 wherein the heating unit includes means for mounting the heating element within the fuel pickup conduit.

Claim 7

The heating apparatus of claim 5 wherein the heating unit includes means for sensing fuel temperature within the fuel pickup conduit.

Claim 8

The heating apparatus of claim 6 wherein the heating unit further includes switch means coupled to the temperature sensing means and the connector means for interrupting the supply of electrical energy to the heating element in response to fuel temperature.

Claim 9

A heating apparatus for a fuel system having a container for storing the fuel, said heating apparatus comprising: a casing including a cylindrical, heat conductive, external shell insertable into the container in contact with the fuel, inlet means for admitting a heatable fluid into the casing, and outlet means for discharging the heatable fluid from the casing; means for mounting the casing to the container; a fuel pickup conduit supported by the casing and including an inlet, an outlet, and a first portion extending generally coaxially through the shell of the casing and terminating with the inlet; and an electrical heating unit including a heating element mounted within the fuel pickup conduit, connector means for supplying electrical energy to the heating element, and means for sensing fuel temperature in the fuel pickup conduit.

Claim 10

A heating apparatus for a fuel system having a container for storing the fuel, said heating apparatus comprising: a casing including a cylindrical, heat conductive, external shell insertable into the container in contact with the fuel, inlet means for admitting a heatable fluid into the casing, and outlet means for discharging the heatable fluid from the casing; means for mounting the casing to the container; a fuel pickup conduit supported by the casing and including an inlet, an outlet, and a first portion extending generally coaxially through the shell of the casing and terminating with the inlet; and an electrical heating unit including a heating element mounted within the fuel pickup conduit, connector means for supplying electrical energy to the heating element, and means for sensing fuel temperature in the fuel pickup conduit.

Claim 11

The heating apparatus of claim 8 wherein the outlet means of the casing includes an outlet tube extending away from the shell and having first and second ends, the first end communicating with the shell and the second end positionable external to the container and wherein the casing mounting means includes means for mounting the outlet tube to the container.

Claim 12

The heating apparatus of claim 9 wherein the casing mounting means comprises a mounting plate attachable to the container, the casing and the outlet tube being attached to the mounting plate.

Claim 13

For an engine having an electrical system for providing electrical energy, a fuel system comprising: a container for storing the fuel; means for supplying the fuel from the container to the engine, said fuel supplying means including a fuel pickup conduit having a first portion extending into the container and terminating with an inlet for withdrawing fuel from the container; heat exchanger means for heating both the fuel in the container and the fuel in the pickup conduit, the heat exchanger means including a heat conductive casing surrounding the first portion of the fuel pickup conduit and inserted into the container in contact with the fuel in the container, inlet means for admitting a heatable fluid into the heat conductive casing, and outlet means for discharging the heatable fluid from the heat conductive casing; and an electrical heating unit coupled to the electrical system of the engine and including a heating element mounted near the first portion of the fuel pickup conduit and connector means for supplying electrical energy to the heating element.

Claim 14

For an engine having an electrical system for providing electrical energy, a fuel system comprising: a container for storing the fuel; means for supplying the fuel from the container to the engine, said fuel supplying means including a fuel pickup conduit having a first portion extending into the container and terminating with an inlet for withdrawing fuel from the container; heat exchanger means for heating both the fuel in the container and the fuel in the pickup conduit, the heat exchanger means including a heat conductive casing surrounding the first portion of the fuel pickup conduit and inserted into the container in contact with the fuel in the container, inlet means for admitting a heatable fluid into the heat conductive casing, and outlet means for discharging the heatable fluid from the heat conductive casing; and an electrical heating unit coupled to the electrical system of the engine and including a heating element mounted near the first portion of the fuel pickup conduit and connector means for supplying electrical energy to the heating element.

Claim 15

The fuel system of claim 11 wherein the engine further includes a cooling system for supplying a heatable fluid to the engine and wherein the heat exchanger means includes means for coupling the inlet means and outlet means to the cooling system, said inlet means being coupled to the cooling system downstream from the engine.

Claim 16

The fuel system of claim 12 wherein the heating unit further includes switch means coupled to the connector means for interrupting the supply of electrical energy to the heating element in response to engine temperature.