Excess Fuel Returned To Tank Patents (Class 123/514)
  • Patent number: 9163596
    Abstract: A thermal recirculation valve (TRV) is described that provides for effective fuel module heating during cold operation to mitigate fuel waxing or gelling issues. The TRV allows for the control of heated return fuel flow into the module dependent upon the module's outlet fuel temperature without the return fuel directly contacting the wax element. The wax element is isolated from direct contact with the higher temperature return fuel through use of an elastomeric seal which prevents return fuel from directly contacting the wax element. In addition, the wax element is positioned in the fuel outlet of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Fisher, Eric R. Burgan, J Bradley Groom
  • Patent number: 9133798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tank arrangement (2), comprising a fuel tank (4) comprising at least one fuel chamber (6, 6a, b), a tank installation unit (8) arranged in the fuel tank (4), a fuel pump element (10) arranged in the installation unit (8) and designed to make fuel (12) available from the tank arrangement (2) to a fuel user (14), a pump unit (6, 16a, b) arranged in the fuel chamber (6, 6a, b) and operatively connected to the fuel pump element (10) and designed to convey fuel (12) out of the fuel chamber (6, 6a, b) into the tank installation unit (8), and a pressure regulating element (18), functionally arranged between fuel pump element (10) and pump unit (16). The arrangement is characterized in that the pressure regulating element (18) is designed as a mechanical pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Gutscher, Andreas Posselt, Marko Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9038657
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a fuel supply system having a recirculation loop is provided. The fuel supply system comprises a fuel tank; a return line coupled fluidly to the fuel tank; a fuel manifold; and a recirculation loop, wherein the return line is coupled fluidly to the recirculation loop at a first node to return fuel from the recirculation loop to the fuel tank, and the recirculation loop comprises a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the fuel manifold and upstream of the first node. The recirculation loop may comprise an orifice positioned upstream of the heat exchanger and downstream of the fuel manifold. Additionally, the fuel supply system may further comprise a supply line coupled fluidly to the fuel tank and further coupled fluidly to the recirculation loop at a second node positioned upstream of the fuel manifold and downstream of the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Galen B. Wilkinson, Robert J. Fry, Charles Klose
  • Patent number: 8960161
    Abstract: The present application relates to a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine having an automatic stop-start system, the fuel injection system comprising a high pressure fuel pump, which via a fuel pump line delivers fuel towards a common fuel rail, to which a fuel return line is connected. It is proposed that the fuel return line comprise a control element system, which firstly discharges a fuel pressure to a fuel tank, when a first predefined pressure limit is reached in the fuel return line, and which secondly prevents a further flow of fuel from the return line into the fuel tank, but allows a flow of fuel from the fuel tank into the fuel return line, so that the return line is designed as a fuel pressure accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leonhard Bartsch, Dietmar Hermann, Claus Maerschank, David van Bebber
  • Patent number: 8955545
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel tank system wherein the liquid levels of fuel in two fuel storage portions can be equally maintained, and the fuel amount in each fuel tank can be estimated with a high degree of accuracy. The fuel tank system is provided with a fuel tank in which a main tank portion and a subsidiary tank portion are formed; a siphon tube which extends from the main tank portion to the subsidiary tank portion, to transfer fuel from one tank portion to the other tank portion; and an electronic control unit (ECU) for determining whether or not the fuel is transferred via the siphon tube (in the transfer state). The ECU determines that the fuel is in the transfer state when the change rate of a sender signal is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (VF_th).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Murabayashi, Tamon Kimura, Kiyofumi Shida, Hiroaki Watanabe, Kengo Kobayashi, Yutaka Utsumi
  • Patent number: 8944030
    Abstract: The fuel supply apparatus optimizes the timing of performing the fuel pressure change indication and the fuel injection timing to suppress the real fuel injection amount from being differentiated from the target fuel injection amount even at the time of the fuel pressure being changed, thereby improving fuel consumption. The ECU judges that the fuel pressure change request is generated (“YES” in Step S11), and calculates the change retarding time t1 (Step S12) when the fuel pressure is at the low pressure side, and the ECU determines that the vehicle is in the warming-up state, or that the fuel is at the high temperature. The ECU sets the change timing to avoid the timing of injecting the fuel from overlapping the changing timing of the fuel pressure with reference to the injection timing of the fuel injection control (Step S13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Suda, Koji Yoshida, Katsunori Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8931261
    Abstract: A pump component is removed from a port of a suction-side fluid cavity of a high-pressure fluid pump. The pump component performs a pump function for the high-pressure fluid pump. A primary coupler connects to the port. The pump component connects to the primary coupler. A diverter fluid passage diverts a low-pressure fluid from the primary coupler to an auxiliary fluid delivery system. The primary coupler communicates the low-pressure fluid through the pump component and primary coupler to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Carroll, III, Laszlo D. Tikk
  • Patent number: 8925523
    Abstract: A fuel pressure relief valve is positioned along a fuel circuit of an internal combustion engine. The pressure relief valve includes a valve body, a first plunger positioned within the valve body, a second plunger positioned within the first plunger, and a valve plug securing the first and second plungers in the valve body. A spring is positioned between the valve plug and the second plunger. Fuel leakage into the pressure relief valve causes the pressure relief valve to lift undesirably in the absence of excessive fuel pressure. The undesirable lifting undesirably affects the operation of the fuel rail and causes wear and shortened life of the pressure relief valve. The first plunger has at least one relief passage or groove located on an exterior surface, relieving the undesirable pressure buildup from a chamber formed between the valve body and the first plunger, eliminating undesirable liftoff events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Deepak Sahini, W. Joseph Satterfield, Robert P. Erickson, Jeffrey J. Sullivan, Donald J. Benson
  • Patent number: 8899263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection system having a return line connector, having a return inlet and at least two return outlets. To improve the service life of the fuel injection system, a check valve device, which prevents the passage of a fluid from the return outlets to the return inlet is integrated with the return line connector. A return line connector is provided for each fuel injector in the fuel injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Oliver Roehner, Paulo Jorge Ferreira Goncalves
  • Patent number: 8881764
    Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft includes a fuel collector downstream of a boost pump and upstream of an engine fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Joe James Burg, Robert R. Rogstad
  • Patent number: 8839764
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system for heavy oil common-rail injection systems for internal combustion engines, including a tank (1), a primary feed pump (3) for delivering heavy oil from the tank (1) to a high-pressure pump (5), wherein the high-pressure pump (5), via at least one high-pressure line (12), is connected to a high-pressure accumulator (rail) (6) feeding at least one injector (8), and, furthermore, a purge valve (9), which is connected to the high-pressure accumulator via a separate high-pressure line (15) for directing at least a portion of the heavy oil back into the tank (1) via a return line, the purge valve (9) includes a valve member (28) which is movable between an opened and a closed position, a high-pressure connection for a high-pressure line (15) communicating with a heavy oil high-pressure accumulator (rail) (6), a low-pressure connection for a return line, and actuating means for actuating the valve member (28), wherein the valve seat (29) of the valve member (28) is designed as a sliding seat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Graspeuntner, Joachim Lackner, Johannes Schnedt
  • Patent number: 8833147
    Abstract: Based on a detection signal of a fuel pressure sensor provided in a first fuel injector, an ECU determines whether a fuel pressure in a first fuel injector is increased over a specified amount when a second fuel injector provided with no fuel pressure sensor terminates a fuel injection. When the ECU determines that the fuel pressure in the first fuel injector is increased over a specified amount, it is diagnosed that the second fuel injector does not have a malfunction of continuous injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toyomori Tsuiki
  • Patent number: 8826889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool having working field illumination disposed in a housing, having an illumination mechanism and a transparent element which allows the light from the illumination mechanism to be led out toward the working field. A light beam can be deflected between the illumination mechanism and the transparent element. According to the invention, the transparent element forms a region of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Brigitte Roth
  • Patent number: 8820350
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel pump module in which a portion of fuel transmitted from a fuel pump provided in a reservoir or fuel returned from an engine is supplied to a first jet and a second jet and a portion of the fuel is supplied from a first jet tower to a second jet tower through a connection tube connecting the first jet tower and the second jet tower to each other when the returned fuel passes through the first jet and the second jet and is then jetted to each of the first jet tower and the second jet tower to fill an inner portion of the second jet tower with the fuel, such that the fuel in a second space part of a fuel tank is rapidly transmitted, thereby making it possible to stably supply the fuel to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Coavis
    Inventors: Joonseup Kim, Wookeun Lee
  • Patent number: 8789512
    Abstract: A fluid pressure regulating device is i) provided with a pressure regulating member that forms a pressure regulating chamber inside a housing having introduction side and discharge side fuel passages, and communicates these passages according to introduced fuel pressure, and ii) is able to regulate the fuel pressure introduced into a fuel passage to a set pressure. The housing is provided with outer and inner annular valve seat portions that separate the fuel passages inside the pressure regulating chamber, and form another fuel passage inside the pressure regulating chamber. Different clearances are set between the pressure regulating member, and the outer annular valve seat portion and the inner annular valve seat portion, such that when the pressure regulating member abuts against one of the valve seat portions, a small gap is formed between the other valve seat portion and the pressure regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Akagi, Hiromasa Suzuki, Hideaki Nishibu, Koji Yoshida, Yuichi Murakoshi
  • Publication number: 20140174410
    Abstract: Embodiments may provide a fuel filter that may include a plurality of return fuel conduits axially traversing a filter medium. Each conduit may include an inlet in fluidic communication with the fuel recirculation passage. Each conduit may have a return fuel line exit port adjacent to a distal end of the filter medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Myers, Paul Victor Budgen
  • Patent number: 8757132
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processor has a fuel tank configured to reserve fuel, a canister containing adsorbent capable of adsorbing fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank, a separator receiving a fuel vapor containing gas from the fuel tank, a regulator controlling the volume of the fuel vapor containing gas supplied to the separator, and a suction unit capable of removing the fuel vapor from the canister. The separator selectively passes the fuel vapor therethrough in order to divide the fuel vapor containing gas into a first gas mainly containing the fuel vapor and a second gas having a fuel vapor density lower than the first gas. The suction unit suctions the first gas from the separator in order to return the first gas into the fuel tank. The second gas is introduced into the canister or is released into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Patent number: 8739821
    Abstract: A fuel introduction member is connected to an open end of a siphon tube which constitutes a part of a fuel tank. The fuel introduction member is provided with an opening through which a fuel is introduced from the tank into the siphon tube and from the siphon into the tank, a lid portion which is swung by the hydraulic pressure from the siphon tube so as to open the opening, and a float member which floats on the fuel in accordance with the rise of a fuel liquid surface in the tank to displace the lid portion in order to open the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Murabayashi, Kengo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8733324
    Abstract: This disclosure relates a system for heating fuel supplied by a common rail fuel supply to an internal combustion engine. The system includes a high pressure fuel line, plural fuel injectors connected in series along the high pressure fuel line in the common rail, and a continuous low pressure passage including a heat exchanging portion in close proximity to the high pressure fuel line. A heated fluid source is operative to fluidly communicate with the continuous low pressure passage and circulate heated fluid to heat fuel present in the high pressure fuel line prior to, and during a cold start operation of the internal combustion engine. Other embodiments relate to a method of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine that includes sensing the temperature of fuel supplied to a fuel system and determining whether the sensed fuel temperature is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman C. Blizard, Thomas O. Hahn, Cary J. Marston, Damon C. Salo, Kent A. Lobsiger
  • Patent number: 8720485
    Abstract: A fuel system for use in a fuel tank having first and second tank portions includes first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively. A first fuel reservoir is provided in the first tank portion and a second fuel reservoir is provided in the second tank portion. A first crossover fuel line extends between the first and second tank portions, and a second crossover fuel line extends between the first and second tank portions. A first jet pump in the first tank portion communicates with the first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel through the first crossover fuel line to the second tank portion, and a second jet pump in the second tank portion communicates with the second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel through the second crossover fuel line to the first tank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: R. Paul Mason
  • Patent number: 8678226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel tank (1) consisting of thermoplastic, with at least one continuous seam (3), with a filler orifice, with means for aeration and venting and with means for the conveyance and extraction of fuel which are in the form of at least one fuel conveying unit (11) arranged inside the fuel tank (1). In the fuel tank (1) according to the invention, with the exception of the filler orifice, no orifices or perforations which are substantially larger than the diameter of the line to be led through are provided in the tank wall, instead the fluid lines and/or electrical lines led out of or into the fuel tank (1) pass through the seam (3) of the fuel tank (1) so as to extend at an angle with respect to the profile of the seam (3), and/or are led partially through the filler orifice and, if appropriate, a filler neck adjoining the filler orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Eulitz
  • Patent number: 8651089
    Abstract: An injection system for an internal combustion engine has a prefeed pump for delivering fuel from a fuel tank, a high pressure pump for delivering the fuel to a fuel accumulator arranged downstream of the prefeed pump, an accumulator return line arranged downstream of the fuel accumulator and used to return the fuel from the fuel accumulator to the fuel tank, and a valve arranged in the accumulator return line and by which the fuel can be optionally supplied to the fuel tank or to a tank bypass line which hydraulically leads to a point between the prefeed pump and the high pressure pump. A pressure relief valve is arranged in the accumulator return line downstream of the valve and upstream of the fuel tank. The pressure relief valve is suitably designed to allow adjustment of a fuel pressure in the accumulator return line upstream of the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anetsberger, Andrej Astachow, Christoph Klesse
  • Publication number: 20140026869
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided herein. The fuel delivery system may include a fuel tank storing a liquid fuel, a return fuel line including an outlet opening into the fuel tank, and a heat pipe assembly including a first end positioned in a surrounding atmosphere, and a second end positioned at and coupled to the return fuel line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shiguang Zhou, Thomas A. McCarthy, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Carlos Armesto, Syed K. Ali, Lawrence Marshall, Peter Kanefsky, Michael Levin, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Scott Donald Cooper
  • Patent number: 8635991
    Abstract: A fuel pump temperature is regulated by selectively directing liquid fuel to an expansion section to evaporate the liquid fuel and create a drop in temperature to thermally cool the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20130340723
    Abstract: A fuel system having a fuel module for use within a fuel tank of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The fuel module includes a fuel reservoir having an inlet for receiving fuel from the fuel tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the reservoir through a fuel supply line and a temperature sensitive valve having a first port for receiving fuel from a return line, a second port for outputting the received fuel into the fuel reservoir, and a third port for outputting the received fuel into the fuel tank and external to the fuel reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8607743
    Abstract: A fuel reforming catalyst is installed in an internal combustion engine, the catalyst generating a combustible gas from a reforming fuel by using heat of the exhaust gas. In the reforming control, the combustible gas generated by action of the fuel reforming catalyst is refluxed into the intake system. An ECU varies a lower limit temperature of the reforming control depending on a mixture ratio of a gasoline and an ethanol in the reforming fuel. If the temperature of the fuel reforming catalyst is lower than the lower limit temperature, the ECU suspends the injection of the reforming fuel. The device can enlarge a temperature range to perform reforming control as much as possible, and perform the reforming control under suitable temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Yahagi
  • Patent number: 8590563
    Abstract: The present invention includes a device that comprises a suction jet pump, that is arranged in a reservoir pot and has a nozzle and a mixing duct provided downstream the nozzle and arranged perpendicular to a pot base of the reservoir pot. The outlet of the mixing duct has a deflection means, which the jet of the nozzle impinges when the mixing duct is unfilled and has an additional volume formed at the outlet of the mixer by an offset widening of the mixer duct. This additional volume prevents the column of liquid in the mixing duct from being forced out by the propulsion jet of the suction jet pump. Thus the lead time of the suction jet pump is approximately equal in all operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eugen Martin, Ludger Kuermann, Miloslav Gabris
  • Patent number: 8590565
    Abstract: An improved fuel tank is disclosed. In the fuel tank, a shock-absorbing member comprising a plurality of foam members is mounted to an in-tank functional component provided inside a resin fuel tank body. When the fuel inside the tank sloshes up and down, the fuel strikes the shock-absorbing member, causing the force of the waves to be dispersed, and reducing the fuel sloshing sound created by the sloshing of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Watanabe, Shinya Murabayashi, Kiyofumi Shida
  • Patent number: 8579332
    Abstract: A tank arrangement for a vehicle, particularly a truck, includes at least a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank which are connected by a balancing pipe, a suction pipe for feeding fuel to an engine and a return pipe for feeding fuel from the engine to at least one of the fuel tanks. The balancing pipe is provided with a first end to supply fuel to the first tank and a second end to suck fuel from the second tan, wherein a check valve is arranged upstream of the return pipe in the balancing pipe between the at least two tanks allowing a flow direction from the second tank to the first tank and blocking a flow in the reverse direction. Suction of fuel to the engine is from the first tank only. The check valve provides an automatic purging of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagner AB
    Inventors: Sigurd Sonderegger, Anders Ivarsson
  • Patent number: 8534316
    Abstract: A reservoir structure of a fuel suction unit or pump module for a diesel vehicle is provided. The reservoir structure includes a reservoir 10 having a bottom surface 14. A primary opening 12 is provided in the bottom surface for permitting fuel to pass from a fuel tank of the vehicle into the reservoir. A secondary opening 16 is provided in the reservoir 10 that is elevated from the bottom surface 14. A valve member 18 is associated with the secondary opening 16. The valve member 18 is constructed and arranged to close the secondary opening under certain pressure conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir different from the certain pressure conditions, to permit fuel to enter the reservoir through the secondary opening in the event the primary opening is substantially blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Nederegger, Thomas Sippel, Sabine Reichelt
  • Publication number: 20130233285
    Abstract: A filter device has a sub-tank to be provided in a fuel tank. The sub-tank has an outer tubular portion and a bottom wall. A communication hole is formed in the bottom wall. An upper-side filter element is fixed to an upper side of the bottom wall to form an upper-side filter space between them, while a lower-side filter element is fixed to a lower side of the bottom wall to form a lower-side filter space between them. An inlet port of a fuel pump is connected to the upper-side filter element. Apart of fuel can be reserved in a fuel holding portion of the inside of the sub-tank and/or in the upper-side filter space, even when fuel amount in the fuel tank is decreased and the fuel tank is inclined with respect to a horizontal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhisa YAMADA, Masaaki TANAKA, Tetsuro OKAZONO, Kazuki MATSUBARA
  • Patent number: 8517050
    Abstract: A pressure regulating device that regulates a pressure of a fuel, including a housing that includes a fuel introduction passage into which the fuel to be supplied into a fuel consuming unit is introduced and a fuel discharge passage from which the fuel is discharged, wherein the fuel discharge passage includes a plurality of discharge passage portions; a pressure regulating provided so as to partition the housing, and that communicates the fuel introduction passage with the fuel discharge passage and cuts off the fuel introduction passage from the fuel discharge passage, according to a pressure of the fuel in the housing; an impelling mechanism that impels the pressure regulating member in a direction of cutting off the fuel introduction passage from the fuel discharge passage; and a discharge restricting mechanism, provided in the fuel discharge passage, that selectively restricts discharge of the fuel from the discharge passage portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Akagi, Hideaki Nishibu
  • Patent number: 8518248
    Abstract: An oil strainer includes a body member which includes a circumferential wall projecting in a first (downward) direction toward an oil pan, and a cover member covering an inside space surrounded by the circumferential wall, and including a suction hole to suck an oil from the oil pan. The body member further includes a communication hole opened into the inside space surrounded by the circumferential wall and adapted to lead to the inlet side of an oil pump, and a discharge hole opened into the inside spaces, and adapted to receive the oil discharged from a pressure regulating valve. The body member further includes a partition wall extending from the circumferential wall, and separating the communication hole and the discharge hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Ishii, Masaru Shimada, Hideki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8511284
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus of an internal combustion engine is provided which can discharge air bubbles or air from within fuel supply paths while increasing pressure within a common rail up to a predetermined pressure level before a start of the internal combustion engine, can reduce a period of time of cranking from when an ignition switch is switched on and which can reduce noise that occurs when the air bubbles or air are being discharged. The fuel supply apparatus is provided with a flow rate control valve that adjusts a flow rate of fuel supplied to the common rail and a pressure control valve that reduces the pressure within the common rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuki, Hirotaka Kaneko, Muneyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8474439
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processor has a fuel tank, a canister, a recovery pipe, a fuel pump, a negative pressure generator, a pressure regulator, a fuel intake pipe and a fuel intake regulator. The vapor pipe leads the fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank into the canister for trapping the fuel vapor. The recovery pipe connects the fuel tank and the canister for recovering the fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the fuel tank. The fuel intake pipe directly connects the fuel pump provided in the fuel tank with the negative pressure generator for leading fuel to the negative pressure generator. The negative pressure generator generates negative pressure depending on an amount of fuel supplied to the negative pressure generator from the fuel pump. The fuel vapor trapped in the canister is recovered to the fuel tank through the recovery pipe due to the negative pressure. The pressure regulator is connected with the fuel pump for returning excess fuel discharged from the fuel pump into the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Junya Kimoto, Masanobu Shinagawa, Takashi Mani, Masakazu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8469008
    Abstract: A fuel pump module mounted to a fuel tank may employ a flange on a top surface of the fuel tank, a fuel inlet pipe that passes through the flange, a fuel reservoir situated near a bottom interior surface of the fuel tank, and a fuel diffuser, which may be attached to the fuel inlet pipe, that protrudes away from the flange into an interior volume of the reservoir. A fuel cylinder may surround at least part of a longitudinal length of the fuel diffuser to control passage of fuel and bubbles and may have a first end that is open and a second end that is attached to a top surface of a bottom wall of the reservoir. Alternatively, the fuel cylinder may be attached at a first end to the fuel inlet pipe and define a second end that is open such that the fuel cylinder and a reservoir bottom define a gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Powell, J. Blair Miller
  • Patent number: 8464693
    Abstract: A fuel pump module including a reservoir and a sender gauge. The reservoir includes an outer wall, an inner wall spaced radially inward from the outer wall, a floor connecting the inner and outer walls, and N sets of supports fixed to the floor and disposed between the inner and outer walls and around the inner wall. The sender gauge is supported and retained by one of the N sets of supports, wherein N is an integer greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Powell, Kishore Tammineedi
  • Patent number: 8442745
    Abstract: In control executed by a fuel supply apparatus having a delivery passage that delivers fuel to a fuel injection valve, a fuel pump that pumps the fuel from a fuel tank to the delivery passage, and a check valve that allows the fuel to flow out of the delivery passage into the fuel tank, that opens when a first fuel pressure on the delivery passage is higher than a second fuel pressure on the fuel tank by at least a set pressure, when the first fuel pressure is lower than a lower limit pressure being higher than the set pressure in a case where fuel injection is to be stopped, the fuel pump is controlled so that the first fuel pressure rises to or above the lower limit pressure, and after the first fuel pressure has reached or exceeded the lower limit pressure, the abnormality diagnosis is executed on the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 8439016
    Abstract: A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel assembly may include a fuel rail and a flow control mechanism. The fuel rail may have an inlet in communication with a pressurized LPG fuel source, an injection passageway in communication with the inlet and a fuel injector that provides fuel to a combustion chamber of an engine, and an outlet in communication with the fuel injection passageway. The flow control mechanism may be in communication with the outlet of the fuel rail and a LPG fuel tank and may be operable in first and second modes. The second mode may provide a greater flow restriction than the first mode to control a fuel flow from the outlet of the fuel rail to the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Nicholas Carter
  • Patent number: 8434459
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes an engine management system (EMS), a return line connected to a low-pressure fuel system, a common rail for storing and supplying a relatively high-pressure fuel to an injector, and an automatic isolating valve installed between the common rail and the injector. The injector has a nozzle for injecting fuel into the engine. A valve is operated by the EMS and installed between the common rail and the nozzle. A spill valve is operated by the EMS and connected by its inlet to the outlet of the valve and by its outlet to the return line. A check valve is installed between the nozzle and the return line, the inlet of the check valve being connected to the inlet of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Sergi Yudanov
  • Patent number: 8424508
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulating system for an internal combustion engine has a pressure accumulator which is used to store fuel under pressure and to feed the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine by fuel-supplying injectors, a high-pressure pump which supplies a fuel mass flux to the pressure accumulator, a first valve via which the fuel can be guided out of the pressure accumulator, and a second valve for restricting the fuel mass flux. The system is provided with a first control loop having the first valve as an actuator for regulating the pressure in the pressure accumulator, and a second control loop having the second valve as an actuator for regulating the pressure in the pressure accumulator, and the two control loops are embodied as cascade regulators, the first control loop being a master regulator and the second control loop being a follower regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Adler, Uwe Jung, Hui Li, Michael Wirkowski, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8418440
    Abstract: A pump component is removed from a port of a suction-side fluid cavity of a high-pressure fluid pump. The pump component performs a pump function for the high-pressure fluid pump. A primary coupler connects to the port. The pump component connects to the primary coupler. A diverter fluid passage diverts a low-pressure fluid from the primary coupler to an auxiliary fluid delivery system. The primary coupler communicates the low-pressure fluid through the pump component and primary coupler to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Carroll, III, Laszlo D. Tikk
  • Patent number: 8371267
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure fuel pump comprising a drive shaft supported by bearings, and fuel flows through the bearings in a forced manner in such a way that the mechanical and thermal load-carrying capacity of the bearings, and thus the entire high-pressure fuel pump, is significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Kristen, Achim Koehler, Sascha Ambrock, Walter Fuchs, Dietmar Ottenbacher, Bertram Schweitzer, Christian Langenbach, Joerg Wuerz, Saban Akmese, Marco Lamm, Karl-Heinz Traub
  • Patent number: 8360033
    Abstract: A lubricant vent structure of a fuel pump for a vehicle, may include a mounting unit mounted to a pumping unit, a plurality of link units having a support link and a stopper restricting a rotatable range of the support link, wherein the plurality of link units is pivotally connected each other in a series by an elastic member respectively and the elastic member elastically supports the support link in the direction of the maximum rotatable range thereof, and a vent tube having an open end fixed to the last support link of the link units and communicating with a lubrication space of the pumping unit of the fuel pump, wherein the support link of the first link of the link units is pivotally fixed to the mounting unit of the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Changjun Park
  • Patent number: 8348176
    Abstract: Proposed is a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a housing in which are arranged an injection valve element with a nozzle needle, a pressure boosting device, and a first control valve, and a second control valve. The first control valve controls a control space of the nozzle needle and the second control valve controls a differential pressure space of the pressure boosting device. A first return flow connection is provided for discharging the control quantity of the control space of the nozzle needle, and a second return flow connection is provided for discharging the control quantity of the pressure boosting device. The two return flow connections are arranged on different housing parts of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Frasch, Heinz-Bernd Haiser, Christoph Butscher, Hans-Christoph Magel, Stephan Wehr
  • Patent number: 8333177
    Abstract: A fuel system (10) of an engine (16) has a first fuel tank (12), a second fuel tank (14), and a pump (36) for pumping fuel from the tanks to the engine. A first valve mechanism (32) is selectively operable to a first position that allows fuel to be pumped concurrently from both the first and second tanks to the engine, a second position that allows fuel to be pumped from the first tank, but not the second, and a third position that allows fuel to be pumped from the second tank, but not the first. A second valve mechanism (34) is selectively operable to a first position that allows fuel to return from the engine concurrently to both the first and second tanks, a second position that allows fuel to return to the first tank, but not the second, and a third position that allows fuel to return to the second tank, but not the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Steven P. Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20120312280
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel supply system (1) for injecting liquefied vapour under high pressure, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), into a combustion chamber (3-6) of an internal combustion engine (2). The fuel supply system (1) comprises a fuel supply for liquefied vapour connected to a high-pressure pump (11) via a duct. The high-pressure pump (11) has a high-pressure chamber (105) which is embodied thereby to increase the pressure of the liquefied vapour. A high-pressure discharge of the high-pressure pump (11) is connected to a high-pressure rail (7) which comprises one or several injectors for injecting liquefied vapour into a combustion chamber. According to the invention, the fuel supply system is provided with a discharge F unit (20) for purging fuel, in particular fuel vapour, between the high-pressure chamber and the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Servatius Alfons Maria Jaasma
  • Patent number: 8327827
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed, having at least one combustion chamber disposed in an engine casing. At least one fuel injector is mounted to the engine casing for supplying fuel to the at least one combustion chamber. The at least one fuel injector has at least one fuel supply inlet. A fuel supply assembly is mounted to the at least one fuel injector. The assembly is mounted adjacent to the at least one fuel injector for supplying the fuel to the fuel injector. The assembly has at least one fuel supply outlet. The assembly is mounted to the at least one fuel injector by a cooperative fit, such that the at least one fuel supply inlet and the at least one fuel supply outlet align in a sealed relationship to allow fluid communication therebetween. A method of assembling an engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: Devlin Hunt, John Feuerstein
  • Publication number: 20120298075
    Abstract: A pressure regulator is connected to a fuel pipe to which fuel is supplied by a feed pump. There is formed a fuel channel in the pressure regulator for returning fuel from within the fuel pipe to the fuel tank. In the pressure regulator, there is also formed a stopper which can come into contact with a valve body when the valve body is displaced as a result of an increase in fuel pressure within the fuel pipe. The stopper reduces the fuel flow area of the fuel channel when the valve body is displaced as a result of the increase in the fuel pressure within the fuel pipe. Thus, the fuel flow area of the fuel channel is reduced as mentioned above when the fuel pressure within the fuel pipe is high. This makes the fuel within the fuel pipe less likely to be released through the aforementioned fuel channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihide Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8316885
    Abstract: A fluid supply system is provided, especially for delivering liquid hydrocarbon to a fuel-operated vehicle heater or to a reformer. The system includes a fluid reservoir (12), a first fluid line (28) from the fluid reservoir (12) to an on-off valve (30), a second fluid line (32) from the on-off valve (30) to a first system area (14) to be fed with fluid, and a third fluid line (34) from the on-off valve (30) to the reservoir (12). The on-off valve (30) establishes a connection between the first fluid line (28) and the second fluid line (32) in a first valve position and establishes a connection between the second fluid line (32) and the third fluid line (34) in a second valve position. A first fluid delivery arrangement (26) is provided for delivering fluid from the reservoir (12) into the second fluid line (12). A second fluid delivery arrangement (20, 24) is provided for delivering fluid from the third fluid line (34) into the reservoir (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Bauer