US4878474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vent apparatus for fuel injection system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-18
•
Granted: 1989-11-07
•
Expires: 2008-11-18
Abstract
Abstract Vent or bleed apparatus for venting or bleeding air from a fuel injection system includes a manual valve and a solenoid controlled valve. The solenoid controlled valve is remotely operated from within the driver's compartment of a vehicle in which the apparatus is installed. The solenoid controlled valve vents or bleeds the air to a return line which extends from the fuel control system to the fuel tank of the vehicle. The bleed apparatus of the present invention replaces a manual bleed valve installed in fuel injection systems in many vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Roy Hack, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:55
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M55/00; F02M55/007; F02M37/00; F02M37/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
In a fuel injection system having a fuel rail, a pressure relief valve connected to the fuel rail, a fuel return line extending from the pressure relief valve, and a bleed valve for bleeding air pressure from the fuel rail, including a valve housing connected to the fuel rail and a removable manually actuated valve core, the improvement comprising, in combination: valve housing means connected to the valve housing for providing a manual bleed valve and a remotely actuable bleed valve; means for receiving and connecting the manually actuated valve core in and to the valve housing means for providing a manual bleed valve; and remotely actuable valve means connected to the valve housing means for remotely bleeding air pressure from the fuel rail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a fuel injection system having a fuel rail, a pressure relief valve connected to the fuel rail, a fuel return line extending from the pressure relief valve, and a bleed valve for bleeding air pressure from the fuel rail, including a valve housing connected to the fuel rail and a removable manually actuated valve core, the improvement comprising, in combination: valve housing means connected to the valve housing for providing a manual bleed valve and a remotely actuable bleed valve; means for receiving and connecting the manually actuated valve core in and to the valve housing means for providing a manual bleed valve; and remotely actuable valve means connected to the valve housing means for remotely bleeding air pressure from the fuel rail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the remotely actuable valve means includes a remotely actuable valve and conduit means extending from the remotely actuable valve to the return line for venting the bled air to the return line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the housing means includes a first portion connected to the valve housing, a second portion connected to the first portion for receiving the manually actuated valve core, and a third portion connected to the first portion, the second portion, and to the remotely actuable valve means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the remotely actuable valve means includes an electrically actuable solenoid valve, a source of electric current, and a switch connecting the source of electric current to the electrically actuable solenoid valve for remotely actuating the solenoid valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A fuel injection system including a fuel tank and a fuel rail for receiving fuel from the fuel tank, the improvement comprising, in combination: valve means connected to the fuel rail for selectively bleeding pressure from the fuel rail, including a first valve manually actuable, a second valve remotely actuable, and housing means for housing the first and second valves; and means for venting pressure from the second valve to the fuel tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A fuel injection system including a fuel tank and a fuel rail for receiving fuel from the fuel tank, the improvement comprising, in combination: valve means connected to the fuel rail for selectively bleeding pressure from the fuel rail, including a first valve manually actuable, a second valve remotely actuable, and housing means for housing the first and second valves; and means for venting pressure from the second valve to the fuel tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the remotely actuable valve is selectively actuable for venting the fuel rail to the fuel tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the second valve includes an electrically actuable solenoid controlled valve and a switch for electrically and remotely actuating the solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the housing means includes a first valve housing connected to the fuel rail and a second valve housing connected to the first valve housing, and the first and second valves are disposed in the second valve housing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for bleeding a fuel rail of fuel injection system, comprising, in combination, the steps of: providing a first valve housing for the fuel rail of the fuel injection system; providing a removable valve core in the first valve housing; removing the removable valve core from the first valve housing; providing a second valve housing; securing the second valve housing to the first valve housing; securing the removable valve core to the second valve housing to provide a manual bleed valve; providing a remotely actuable bleed valve; and securing the remotely actuable valve to the second valve housing.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for bleeding a fuel rail of fuel injection system, comprising, in combination, the steps of: providing a first valve housing for the fuel rail of the fuel injection system; providing a removable valve core in the first valve housing; removing the removable valve core from the first valve housing; providing a second valve housing; securing the second valve housing to the first valve housing; securing the removable valve core to the second valve housing to provide a manual bleed valve; providing a remotely actuable bleed valve; and securing the remotely actuable valve to the second valve housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 which further includes the step of providing a fuel return line for the fuel rail.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 which further includes the step of connecting the remotely actuable valve to the fuel return line.
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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) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |