Fool-proof plug in fluid system
AssigneeSuntec Industries Incorporated
InventorsDale L. Hunsberger, Jack A. Price
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug for plugging a first port and blocking insertion of a second plug into a second port of a fluid system. The plug includes a threaded plug portion and a blocking stem portion extending from the threaded plug portion. The stem portion projects into the second port and blocks insertion or mounting of a second plug and thereby keeps the second port unplugged. In a disclosed embodiment, the plug is mounted into the return port of an oil pump unit of an oil burner to block bypassed flow from returning to the local reservoir of the oil pump unit. This prevents two plugs from being inadvertently mounted that could otherwise block all bypass flow in the pump unit and cause excess pressure build ups and blown seals.
Claims14
A fuel pump assembly adapted to be connected between a fuel tank and a combustion chamber of a burner for pumping fuel from the fuel tank to the combustion chamber, the fuel pump assembly comprising:
- a local reservoir having an inlet for receiving fuel from the fuel tank;
- a pump adapted to pump fuel from the local reservoir;
- a fuel regulator adapted to regulate flow of fuel from the pump to the combustion chamber, the fuel regulator having a bypass conduit for recirculating fuel;
- a first return port adapted to connect the bypass conduit to the local reservoir;
- a second return port adapted to connect the bypass conduit to the fuel tank;
- and
- a plug mounted into and plugging one of the first and second return ports, the plug having an stem portion extending into a different one of the first and second return ports, the stem portion blocking mounting of a second plug into the a different one of the first and second return ports.
A fluid system comprising:
- a fluid conduit;
- a pair of plugged and unplugged ports fluidically connected to the fluid conduit providing separate flow paths for fluid exiting the fluid conduit;
- and
- a first plug plugging the plugged port and blocking one of the flow paths, the plug blocking mounting of a second plug into the unplugged port.
A plug for plugging a first port and blocking insertion of a second plug into a second port of a fluid system, the plug comprising:
- a threaded plug portion;
- and
- a stem portion extending from the threaded plug portion, the stem portion extending sufficiently from the threaded plug portion such that when the plug is mounted in the first port, the stem portion projects into the second port and blocks insertion of the second plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.