Vapor separator

Claim 2

An engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine, said engine including a crankcase which creates a valve operating pressure, and a vapor separator including a fuel housing defining a chamber adapted to contain liquid fuel, a fuel inlet communicating with said chamber and adapted to communicate with a source of liquid fuel, a fuel outlet communicating with said chamber and with said engine for delivery thereto of liquid fuel, and a fuel vapor outlet communicating with said chamber and including valve means operatively connected to said engine for opening said fuel vapor outlet in response to operation of said engine and for closing said fuel vapor outlet in response to non-operation of said engine, said valve means opening said vapor outlet in response to creation in said crankcase of said valve operating pressure.

Claim 3

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vapor outlet communicates with said crankcase.

Claim 4

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes an outlet housing, a movable diaphragm dividing said outlet housing into first and second chambers, said first chamber communicating with said crankcase, and means for opening and closing said vapor outlet in response to movement of said diaphragm.

Claim 5

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said vapor outlet is opened in response to movement of said diaphragm in the direction decreasing the volume of said first chamber and is closed in response to movement of said diaphragm in the direction increasing the volume of said first chamber.

Claim 6

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said valve means also includes means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction increasing the volume of said first chamber.

Claim 7

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second chamber communicates with the atmosphere.

Claim 8

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said crankcase creates alternating high and low pressures, and wherein said valve means also includes means for permitting fluid flow from said first chamber to said crankcase and for preventing fluid flow from said crankcase to said first chamber, and means for permitting fluid flow from said crankcase to said second chamber and for preventing fluid flow from said second chamber to said crankcase.

Claim 9

An engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine, a source of alternating high and low pressure, and a vapor separator including a fuel housing defining a chamber adapted to contain liquid fuel, a fuel inlet communicating with said chamber and adapted to communicate with a source of liquid fuel, a fuel outlet communicating with said chamber and with said engine for delivery thereto of liquid fuel, and a fuel vapor outlet communicating with said chamber and including valve means for opening said fuel vapor outlet in response to pressure from said source of pressure.

Claim 10

An engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine, a source of alternating high and low pressure, and a vapor separator including a fuel housing defining a chamber adapted to contain liquid fuel, a fuel inlet communicating with said chamber and adapted to communicate with a source of liquid fuel, a fuel outlet communicating with said chamber and with said engine for delivery thereto of liquid fuel, and a fuel vapor outlet communicating with said chamber and including valve means for opening said fuel vapor outlet in response to pressure from said source of pressure.

Claim 11

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said valve means opens said vapor outlet in response to engine operation.

Claim 12

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said engine includes a crankcase, and wherein said source of pressure is said crankcase.

Claim 13

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said vapor outlet communicates with said crankcase.

Claim 14

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said valve means includes an outlet housing, a movable diaphragm dividing said outlet housing into opposite first and second chambers, said first chamber communicating with said source of pressure, and means for opening and closing said vapor outlet in response to movement of said diaphragm.

Claim 15

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said vapor outlet is opened in response to movement of said diaphragm in the direction decreasing the volume of said first chamber and is closed in response to movement of said diaphragm in the direction increasing the volume of said first chamber.

Claim 16

An engine assembly as set froth in claim 13 wherein said valve means also includes means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction increasing the volume of said first chamber.

Claim 17

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second chamber communicates with the atmosphere.

Claim 18

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said valve means also includes means for permitting fluid flow from said first chamber to said pressure source and for preventing fluid flow from said pressure source to said first chamber, and means for permitting fluid flow from said pressure source to said second chamber and for preventing fluid flow from said second chamber to said pressure source.

Claim 19

An engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine including a crankcase in which alternating high and low pressures are created and a vapor separator including a fuel housing defining a liquid fuel chamber adapted to contain liquid fuel, a fuel inlet communicating with said chamber and adapted to communicate with a source of liquid fuel, a fuel outlet communicating with said chamber and with said engine, and a vapor outlet communicating with said liquid fuel chamber, and including an outlet housing, a movable diaphragm dividing said outlet housing into first and second chambers, first means for permitting fluid flow from said first chamber to said crankcase and for preventing fluid flow from said crankcase to said first chamber, and second means for selectively and alternatively permitting and preventing communication between said liquid fuel chamber and said first chamber in response to movement of said diaphragm.

Claim 20

An engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine including a crankcase in which alternating high and low pressures are created and a vapor separator including a fuel housing defining a liquid fuel chamber adapted to contain liquid fuel, a fuel inlet communicating with said chamber and adapted to communicate with a source of liquid fuel, a fuel outlet communicating with said chamber and with said engine, and a vapor outlet communicating with said liquid fuel chamber, and including an outlet housing, a movable diaphragm dividing said outlet housing into first and second chambers, first means for permitting fluid flow from said first chamber to said crankcase and for preventing fluid flow from said crankcase to said first chamber, and second means for selectively and alternatively permitting and preventing communication between said liquid fuel chamber and said first chamber in response to movement of said diaphragm.

Claim 21

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second means permits communication in response to movement of said diaphragm in the direction decreasing the volume of said first chamber and prevents communication in response to movement of said diaphragm in the direction increasing the volume of said first chamber.

Claim 22

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said valve means also includes means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction increasing the volume of said first chamber.

Claim 23

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second chamber communicates with the atmosphere.

Claim 24

An engine assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said vapor separator further includes third means for permitting fluid flow from said crankcase to said second chamber and for preventing fluid flow from said second chamber to said crankcase.