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US 11,891,968 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for operating a dual valve tank
AssigneeFlex Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDarryl R. Scrudders, Brandon Nisewonger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved ball valve for use between dual fuel tanks having a non-circular outlet aperture leading to the fuel line and engine that can allow fuel to pass therethrough even when the ball contained within the valve rests in the opening of the outlet aperture.
Claims20
A valve comprising:
- a first inlet connected to a first fluid tank;
- a second inlet connected to a second fluid tank;
- an outlet having an elliptical aperture defined therein, the aperture having a width and a height, wherein the width of the aperture is greater than the height of the aperture;
- and
- a ball moveable between a first position wherein the ball is engaged with the first inlet, a second position wherein the ball is engaged with the second inlet, and a third position wherein the ball is engaged with the outlet aperture;
- wherein when the ball is engaged with the first inlet in the first position, fluid is blocked from entering the valve through the first inlet, when the ball is engaged with the second inlet in the second position, fluid is blocked from entering the valve through the second inlet, and wherein when the ball is engaged with the outlet aperture in the third position, fluid is not fully blocked from exiting the valve through the outlet.
3 more elements
A method of delivering fuel from multiple fuel tanks to an engine comprising:
- connecting a first fuel tank to a first inlet of a valve;
- connecting a second fuel tank to a second inlet of the valve;
- directing fuel from the first and second tanks through the first and the second inlets and out of the valve through an elliptical outlet aperture to an associated engine;
- rotating the valve to engage a ball within the valve with the outlet aperture;
- and
- delivering fuel to the engine through at least one gap defined between an edge of the outlet aperture and the ball when the ball is engaged with the outlet aperture.
3 more elements
A method of providing continuous fluid flow from dual fluid tanks comprising:
- delivering fluid from a first fluid tank into a valve through a first inlet defined in the valve;
- delivering fluid from a second fluid tank into the valve through a second inlet defined in the valve;
- and
- directing the fluids from the first and second fluid tanks out of the valve through at least one gap defined between an edge of an elliptical outlet aperture and a ball within the valve when the ball is engaged with the outlet aperture.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.