Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
O ~ I ~ I ) ( ) I ` '1~111 ` [ N V l: ~`J 'r I ( ) N
1303192
1. ri.~d ot~ t~lt' rnventioll
_ ~
'rhe present invelltion {eldtes to ~n app~lrdtus for
detecting air ~nd w~ter in .~nd elimin~ing dir dnd water from
t~le fuel in die~el-type interndl cornbustion enqines.
2. Description o~ the Prior ~rt
I~ is not known in the art to automatically eliminate alr
and water from the fuel in diesel-type internal combustion
engines.
In the past, air and water have been removed manually.
This procedure must be carried out by an operator who is
knowledged~le in tlle o~erati~ll o~ intern~l colnbuStion englnes.
In ~ddition, the procedure c~uses delay an~ hygienic problems.
In systems installed in more modern vehicles, if air
enters the system in small quantities, i.e., wilen fuel runs
dry in the tank, the pump can be primed and the air eliminated
by carrying out successive attempts of starting the engine.
Such attempts drain the battery, damage the starter and may
even cause damage to the injection system in cdses of air
overflow.
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1303192
Moreover, iE a leakage occurs in the feed system,
the pump will constantly be unprimed causing successive
engine stoppages, so that the operator has to perform
repeated attempts at starting the engine.
It has been found that most failures occurring in
internal combustion engines are due to the ingress of air
into the fuel injection pump which becomes unprimed as a
result.
The ingress of air may be caused by a rupture in
the main fuel system, by deficient sealing members in
joints, by partial obstructions in tubes or filters, by lack
of fuel and also if fuel filters are replaced without the
required bleeding being carried out.
In spite of substantial technical improvements
made in the past in fuel injection pumps, the automatic
discharge of air from fuel systems is not yet known.
Accordingly, it cannot be avoided that a pump becomes
unprimed when a mechanical or electrical fuel pump delivers
fuel mixed with air and pumps this mixture to the fuel
injection pump.
It is, therefore, the primary object of the
present invention to provide an automatically operated
apparatus for detecting air and water in and eliminating air
and water from the fuel in internal combustion engines.
Thus, the problems resulting from the unpriming of a fuel
injection pump in diesel-type internal combustion engines
when air is mixed into the fuel are to be avoided.
~303~9~
In accordance with the invention, the apparatus
for detecting air and water in and eliminating air and water
from fuel in diesel-type internal combustion engines,
comprises a chamber defined by a tubular casing having an
upper solid end part, and a lower solid end part sealingly
engaged therewith. The upper part defines first to fifth
openings, the first opening being connected to a connection
tube for taking in fuel from a fuel tank, the second opening
receiving a suction tube immersed in fuel contained in the
tubular casing and in communication with an injection pump.
The suction tube defines an inlet hole at the lower level
within the tubular casing which ensures that fuel is
conducted to the injection pump without air. The third
opening is in communication with a fuel return leakage of
the injection pump, the fourth opening receiving a warning
probe member which includes a float sliding in a guide
member. The float and guide member are axially disposed in
the chamber, the float being connected to first and second
magnetic switches, the first switch and the second switch
connected to an electronic circuit comprising means for
controlling an electromagnetic valve when the first switch
is activated. The second switch is connected to the
electronic circuit, the electronic circuit comprising means
for controlling the injection pump, when the second switch
is activated. The fifth opening serves as an air outlet
connected to the electromagnetic valve, the electromagnetic
valve being connected to an automatic air discharge means.
The warning probe comprises means for controlling the
discharge means, and the lower base body includes means for
removing water.
Also, in accordance with the invention, the
apparatus for detecting air and water in and eliminating air
and water from fuel in diesel-type internal combustion
engines, comprises a chamber defined by a tubular casing
B - 4 _
~303~9Z
having an upper solid end part, and a lower solid end part
connected sealingly engaged therewith. The lower part
includes means for removing water and defining an opening
receiving a suction tube immersed in fuel contained in the
tubular casing and in communication with an injection pump.
The suction tube defines an inlet hole at the lower level
within tubular casing which ensures that fuel is conducted
to the injection pump without air. The upper part defines
first through fourth openings. The first opening is connected
to a connection tube for taking in fuel from a fuel tank,
the second opening is in communication with a fuel return
leakage of the injection pump, and the third opening receives a
warning probe member including a float sliding in a guide
member. The float and the guide member are axially disposed in
the chamber, the float being connected to first and second
magnetic switches. The first switch and the second switch
and connected to an electronic circuit comprising means for
controlling an electromagnetic valve when the first switch
is activated. The second switch is connected to an
electronic circuit comprising means for controlling the
injection pump when the second switch is activated. A
fourth opening serves as an air outlet connected to the
electromagnetic valve, the electromagnetic valve being
connected to an automatic air discharge means. The warning
probe comprises means for controlling the discharge means.
Preferably the tubular casing is cylindrical and
transparent.
The various features of novelty which
characterize the invention are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of
this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating
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1303192
advantages and specific objects attained by its use,
reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive
matter in which there ls illustrated and described a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA_ING
In the drawing:
Fig. l is an exploded side view of an apparatus
according to the present invention; and
Fig. 2 are side and transverse sectional views of
the upper part of the apparatus according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As illustrated in the drawing, the apparatus
according to the present invention is essentially composed
of an upper part I, an intermediate part F and a lower base
part G.
The upper part I defines five cylindrical openings
which serve the following purposes.
Referring to Fig. 2, opening A serves as an inlet
of fuel through a connection tube. Opening B receives a
suction hose provided with holes B' through which the fuel
is supplied to the injection pump.
~03~92
Opening C receives an electromagnetic valve for
discharging air. Opening D serves as an inlet of the back
leakage of a fuel injection pump, not shown. Opening E
receives a warning probe generally denoted by reference
character E'.
The warning probe E' includes a float E'5 which
slides within a guide member E'3 and incorporates magnets
E'4 which, in operation, are to be properly calibrated and
balanced. When the float reaches a certain level, it
actuates a magnetic switch E'l which, in turn, actuates an
electronic c~rcuit controlling the electromagnetic valve for
the air discharge through opening C. When the fuel and,
thus, the float, drops within the apparatus to a critical
level, the float actuates another magnetic switch E'2 which
is connected to the electronic circuit and, in systems
including solenoid valve control, causes an interruption of
the electric current to the injection pump and, at the same
time, actuates a warning lamp or some other type of alarm.
In systems without solenoid valves, the electronic circuit
merely actuates a warning lamp or some other type of alarm.
Instead of using a warning probe with a float, an electronic
means for detecting the fuel levels can be used.
The intermediate body F may be cylindrical and of
transparent material. The warning probe E' and the suction
tube mentioned above extend into this intermediate body.
During normal operation, the intermediate body F is
completely filled with fuel.
.
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~:~03~92
The lower base part G defines a hole in which an
automatic or non-automatic means for removing water and
other impurities is installed. The body G may further
include an electronic system for detecting and auto~atically
S eliminating the water which can sometimes be found in fuel.
The removal of water and other impurities is schematically
denoted by an arrow and reference character H in Fig. 1.
Without altering -the scope of the present
invention to the lower base part may be connected to a
horizontally or vertically extending suction hose for
discharging the fuel to the injection pump, replacing
opening B in the upper part.
In operation, the apparatus according to the
present invention is placed between a secondary fuel filter
and the injection pump. Preferably, the apparatus is placed
at a higher level than the injection pump. However, it is
also possible to place the apparatus at the same level or
even at a lower level than the injection pump, specifically
in the case of a rotary distributing pump.
Fuel is introduced into the apparatus through
opening A in the upper part I under pressure generated by a
mechanical or electric pump. The fuel leaves the apparatus
through opening cap B to the injection pump through a
suction hose B' which, for this purpose, is equipped with
holes provided at a certain level. Optionally, the fuel may
be conducted out of the apparatus through a horizontally or
vertically extending suction hose mounted in the lower base
part.
Instead of being connected to the fuel tank, the
back leakage or overflow tube of the injection pump is
connected to the apparatus through opening D.
During normal operating conditions of the engine
feeding system, the apparatus according to the present
invention is not in use.
1303192
llowever, if air enters the fuel system, for
example, caused by a small rupture in the circuit between
the fuel tank and the mechanical or electrical pump, the
injection pump becomes unprimed leading to a stoppage of the
engine.
In this situation, the apparatus according to the
present invention operates as follows:
Air occupies the upper part of the apparatus and
fuel without air is pumped to the fuel injection pump
;through suction tube B' whose inlet openings are at a lower
level within the intermediate part of the apparatus.
When the fuel drops to a certain level and the
warning probe float drops accordingly, the float actuates a
magnetic switch, which, in turn, closes an electronic
circuit which actuates the electromagnetic valve in opening
C. The outlet of this valve is now connected to the back
leakage tube of the tank, so that some fuel, drawn in by
air, may be lead to the tank.
When air is discharged, fuel rises in the
apparatus because the mechanical or electric pump has a
substantially higher output than the engine consumes.
In addition, the electronic system causes a
warning lamp to be switched on or off as the fuel level goes
up or down within the apparatus so as to indicate any
anomaly.
If the amount of air introduced is such that the
engine consumes more fuel than is conducted into the
apparatus. The warning light will remain switched on and
will indicate that the lack of fuel is increasing and the
engine will soon stop. Once the critical level is reached,
the float actuates a magnetic switch which is connected to
the electronic circuit which switches off the electric
current to the injection pump and/or maintains on a warning
lamp or some other type of alarm.
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1303192
If there wouldn't be a solenoid stop system, the
pre-warned operator must stop the engine.
Accordingly, even when the engine stops for lack
of feed, the pump does not become unprimed, and so any
person can easily eliminate the problem, since the cause of
the problem is clearly apparent.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has
been shown and described in detail to illustrate the
application of the inventive principles, it will be
understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
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