US 8,899,213 B2Granted

Vacuum carburetor fuel drain systems and methods

AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.

InventorsAndrew E. Bejcek, Nathaniel A. Lenfert

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Abstract

Systems and methods for draining fuel from a carburetor of a combustion engine can include a first control valve in communication between a fuel source and a fuel chamber of a carburetor and a second control valve in communication between the fuel chamber of the carburetor and a drain reservoir. The first and second control valves can be coupled and operable such that, upon disengagement of the engine, the first control valve can be closed to block a supply of fuel to the fuel chamber, and the second control valve can be opened to connect the drain reservoir to the fuel chamber, which can operate to draw liquid fuel from the fuel chamber into the drain reservoir. The fuel can then be moved from the drain reservoir into a fuel storage tank, where it can be stored until needed by the carburetor.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A control assembly for a fuel delivery and recovery system for use with a combustion engine, the control assembly comprising:

a fuel source in liquid communication with a fuel chamber of a carburetor;
a first control valve in fluid communication with the fuel source and the fuel chamber, the first control valve being movable between an open position in which fuel is able to flow from the fuel source to the fuel chamber and a closed position in which fuel is prevented from flowing from the fuel source to the fuel chamber;
a second control valve in fluid communication with the fuel chamber of the carburetor and a drain reservoir, the second control valve being movable between an open position allowing flow of fuel from the fuel chamber to the drain reservoir and a closed position preventing flow of fuel from the fuel chamber to the drain reservoir;
and
an ignition control switch movable between an “ON” position in which the engine is engaged and an “OFF” position in which the engine is disengaged;
wherein the first control valve, the second control valve, and the ignition control switch are coupled and operable such that the second control valve is in its closed position and the first control valve is in its open position when the ignition control switch is in its “ON” position, and the second control valve is in its open position and the first control valve is in its closed position when the ignition control switch is in its “OFF” position.

3 more elements

A fuel delivery and recovery system for use with a combustion engine, the system comprising:

a fuel source;
a carburetor comprising a fuel chamber in communication with the fuel source for receiving liquid fuel from the fuel source;
a first control valve in communication with the fuel source and the carburetor, the first control valve being movable between an open position in which fuel is able to flow from the fuel source to the carburetor and a closed position in which fuel is prevented from flowing from the fuel source to the carburetor;
a drain reservoir connected to the fuel chamber, the fuel source, and a vacuum source, the vacuum source being operable to reduce the air pressure in the drain reservoir to be less than an air pressure in the fuel chamber;
and
a second control valve in communication with the fuel chamber of the carburetor and the drain reservoir, the second control valve being movable between an open position in which fuel is able to flow from the fuel chamber to the drain reservoir and a closed position in which fuel is prevented from flowing from the fuel chamber to the drain reservoir;
wherein the first control valve and the second control valve are coupled and operable such that the second control valve is in its open position when the first control valve is in its closed position, and the second control valve is in its closed position when the first control valve is in its open position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.