Multiple tank circulating fuel system
AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorsAlan D. Osterkil, John W. Stuart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for the balancing of fuel among tanks in a circulating fuel system. The tanks in the system have both a draw conduit and a return conduit mounted to and extending into the tank. Flow restriction devices are mounted in both the draw and the return conduits and are controlled by a fuel level detection system, which detects the fuel in the tank.
Claims19
An apparatus for balancing fuel in a circulating fuel system having a fuel consumption system comprising:
- at least two tanks;
- a draw conduit mounted to each said tank and having a first end extending into said tank;
- a second end of said draw conduit adaptedly connected to the fuel consumption system;
- a return conduit mounted to each said tank and having a first end extending into each said tank;
- a second end of said return conduit adaptedly connected to the fuel consumption system;
- a draw restriction device attached to said draw conduit;
- a return restriction device attached to said return conduit;
- and
- a fuel level detection system, which is mountable inside each said tank, for use in detecting a fuel level and using said fuel level to control said draw restriction device and said return restriction device.
An engine system having a circulating fuel supply system which balances fuel among multiple fuel storage containers comprising:
- at least two tanks;
- a draw conduit mounted to each said tank, and having a first end extending into said tank;
- a pump adaptedly connected to a second end of said draw conduit;
- a fuel consuming engine connected to said pump;
- a return conduit mounted to each said tank and having a first end extending into each tank;
- a second end of said return conduit adaptedly connected to said fuel consuming engine;
- a shaft having a first end rotatably mounted to said draw conduit and extendable into said draw conduit;
- a second end of said shaft rotatably mounted to said return conduit and extendable into said return conduit;
- a float arm with a first end connected to said shaft;
- a float connected to a second end of said float arm;
- a draw butterfly valve mounted to said first end of said shaft;
- and
- a return butterfly valve mounted to said second end of said shaft.
A vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- an fuel consuming engine mounted to said chassis;
- a fuel pump mounted to said chassis and connected to said fuel consuming engine;
- at least two tanks mounted to said chassis;
- a draw conduit mounted to each said tank;
- a first end of said draw conduit extending into each said tank;
- a second end of said draw conduit connected to said fuel pump;
- a return conduit mounted to each said tank;
- a first end of said return conduit extending into each said tank;
- a second end of said return conduit connected to said fuel rail of said engine;
- a draw restriction device attached to said draw conduit;
- a return restriction device attached to said return conduit;
- and
- a fuel level detection system mounted inside each said tank for detection of a fuel level for use in the control of both said draw restriction device and said return restriction device.
A method for balancing the fuel in a circulating fuel system with at least two tanks comprising:
- drawing fuel from the at least two tanks to a fuel consumption system;
- returning fuel to the at least two tunics from said fuel consumption system;
- detecting a fuel level in each of the at least two tanks;
- restricting a flow of fuel returned to each of the at least two tanks based on said fuel level;
- and
- restricting a flow of fuel drawn from each of the at least two tanks based on paid fuel level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.