Patent JPS6177533A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4874013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Emergency fuel system apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-10
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Granted: 1989-10-17
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Expires: 2008-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Emergency fuel system apparatus includes two emergency fuel tanks, a relatively primary fuel tank or reservoir disposed adjacent to a vehicle in a fuel tank and a secondary fuel reservoir which holds a relatively small amount of fuel, disposed adjacent to a carburetor or to a fuel injection system. The secondary emergency fuel reservoir provides immediate fuel for an engine during the interval between the time when fuel starvation announces that the vehicle has run out of fuel and the time required for fuel to flow from the primary emergency fuel reservoir to the carburetor or fuel injection system.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Roy Hack, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:21
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M37/00; F02M37/0047; B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/077; F02M37/0076; F02M37/0088; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/85978; Y10T137/86131; Y10T137/86187
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
In a vehicle having a main tank, an engine, a main fuel conduit extending from the main fuel tank to the engine, and a fuel pump for pumping fuel from the main fuel tank to the engine, emergency fuel reservoir apparatus, comprising, in combination: primary emergency fuel tank means adjacent to the main fuel tank for holding a first quantity of fuel; first conduit means extending between the primary emergency fuel tank means and the main fuel conduit; first valve means in the first conduit means for controlling the flow of fuel from the primary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel conduit; secondary emergency fuel tank means disposed adjacent to the engine for holding a second quantity of fuel; second conduit means extending between the secondary emergency fuel tank means and the main fuel conduit; second valve means in the second conduit for controlling the flow of fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel conduit; and means for controlling the first valve means and the second valve means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a vehicle having a main tank, an engine, a main fuel conduit extending from the main fuel tank to the engine, and a fuel pump for pumping fuel from the main fuel tank to the engine, emergency fuel reservoir apparatus, comprising, in combination: primary emergency fuel tank means adjacent to the main fuel tank for holding a first quantity of fuel; first conduit means extending between the primary emergency fuel tank means and the main fuel conduit; first valve means in the first conduit means for controlling the flow of fuel from the primary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel conduit; secondary emergency fuel tank means disposed adjacent to the engine for holding a second quantity of fuel; second conduit means extending between the secondary emergency fuel tank means and the main fuel conduit; second valve means in the second conduit for controlling the flow of fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel conduit; and means for controlling the first valve means and the second valve means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first quantity of fuel in the primary fuel tank means is substantially greater than the second quantity of fuel in the secondary fuel tank means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second conduit means includes pump means for pumping the second quantity of fuel from the secondary fuel tank means to the main fuel conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
Fuel apparatus for an engine, comprising, in combination: a main fuel tank; primary emergency fuel tank means for holding a first quantity of fuel; secondary emergency fuel tank means disposed adjacent to the engine for holding a second quantity of fuel; main fuel conduit means extending from the main fuel tank to the engine and through the primary and secondary emergency fuel tank means for providing the primary and secondary emergency fuel tank means with fuel; a main fuel pump for pumping fuel from the main fuel tank in the main fuel conduit means; first conduit means extending between the primary emergency fuel tank means and the main fuel conduit; first valve means for controlling the flow of fuel in the first conduit means; second conduit means extending from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel pump; second valve means for controlling the flow of fuel in the second conduit means; and means for actuating the first and second valve means for providing the first and second quantities of fuel for the engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
Fuel apparatus for an engine, comprising, in combination: a main fuel tank; primary emergency fuel tank means for holding a first quantity of fuel; secondary emergency fuel tank means disposed adjacent to the engine for holding a second quantity of fuel; main fuel conduit means extending from the main fuel tank to the engine and through the primary and secondary emergency fuel tank means for providing the primary and secondary emergency fuel tank means with fuel; a main fuel pump for pumping fuel from the main fuel tank in the main fuel conduit means; first conduit means extending between the primary emergency fuel tank means and the main fuel conduit; first valve means for controlling the flow of fuel in the first conduit means; second conduit means extending from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel pump; second valve means for controlling the flow of fuel in the second conduit means; and means for actuating the first and second valve means for providing the first and second quantities of fuel for the engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the main fuel pump is disposed in the main fuel line between the first conduit means and the secondary fuel tank means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the secondary emergency fuel tank means is disposed adjacent to the engine for providing the second quantity of fuel to the engine substantially immediately upon the actuation of the second valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the second conduit means includes fuel pump means for pumping the second quantity of fuel from the secondary fuel tank means to the main fuel conduit and to the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the primary emergency fuel tank means is disposed adjacent to the main fuel tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for actuating the first and second valve means includes switch means connected to the first and second valve means for actuating the first and second valves substantially simultaneously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the second conduit means includes a pump for pumping the second quantity of fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the main fuel line, and the means for actuating the first and second valve means further includes means for actuating the pump substantially simultaneously with the actuation of the first and second valve means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
278 words
Fuel apparatus for a vehicle having an engine, comprising, in combination: a main fuel tank for holding a first quantity of fuel; a primary emergency fuel tank for holding a second quantity of fuel; a secondary emergency fuel tank disposed adjacent to the engine for holding a third quantity of fuel; first fuel conduit means extending from the main fuel tank to the primary emergency fuel tank and to the secondary emergency fuel tank for providing fuel to the primary and secondary emergency fuel tanks; second fuel conduit means for extending from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the engine for providing fuel to the engine; third fuel conduit means extending from the primary emergency fuel tank to the first fuel conduit means for providing a first flow of emergency fuel from the primary emergency tank to the first fuel conduit; fuel pump means in the first fuel conduit means for pumping fuel from the main fuel tank and the primary emergency fuel tank to the engine; first valve means in the third fuel conduit means for controlling the first flow of emergency fuel from the primary emergency fuel tank to the first fuel conduit means; fourth fuel conduit means extending from the secondary emergency fuel tank to the second fuel conduit means for providing a second flow of emergency fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank to the second fuel conduit means while the first flow of emergency fuel is flowing from the primary emergency fuel tank; and second valve means in the fourth fuel conduit for controlling the second flow of emergency fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank to the second fuel conduit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
278 words
Fuel apparatus for a vehicle having an engine, comprising, in combination: a main fuel tank for holding a first quantity of fuel; a primary emergency fuel tank for holding a second quantity of fuel; a secondary emergency fuel tank disposed adjacent to the engine for holding a third quantity of fuel; first fuel conduit means extending from the main fuel tank to the primary emergency fuel tank and to the secondary emergency fuel tank for providing fuel to the primary and secondary emergency fuel tanks; second fuel conduit means for extending from the secondary emergency fuel tank means to the engine for providing fuel to the engine; third fuel conduit means extending from the primary emergency fuel tank to the first fuel conduit means for providing a first flow of emergency fuel from the primary emergency tank to the first fuel conduit; fuel pump means in the first fuel conduit means for pumping fuel from the main fuel tank and the primary emergency fuel tank to the engine; first valve means in the third fuel conduit means for controlling the first flow of emergency fuel from the primary emergency fuel tank to the first fuel conduit means; fourth fuel conduit means extending from the secondary emergency fuel tank to the second fuel conduit means for providing a second flow of emergency fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank to the second fuel conduit means while the first flow of emergency fuel is flowing from the primary emergency fuel tank; and second valve means in the fourth fuel conduit for controlling the second flow of emergency fuel from the secondary emergency fuel tank to the second fuel conduit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the first fuel conduit means extends through the primary emergency fuel tank means for filling the primary emergency fuel tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which the first fuel conduit means includes apertures within the primary fuel tank through which fuel flows to fill the primary emergency fuel tank.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the first and second valve means include first and second valves, respectively, and the first and second valves are remotely actuable for providing the first and second flows of emergency fuel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the secondary emergency fuel tank is disposed above the engine to provide for the gravity flow of the second emergency flow of fuel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the fuel pump means is disposed in the first fuel conduit means between the third fuel conduit means and the secondary emergency fuel tank.
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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) | 1992-10-16 | 1993-04-17 | 1993-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-16 | 1997-04-17 | 1997-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-16 | 2001-04-17 | 2001-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |