GB920976A - Liquid fuel supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

920,976. Jet propulsion plant. UNION OIL CO. OF CALIFORNIA. Sept. 26, 1960, No. 32982/60. Class 110 (3). [Also in Group XXVII] A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprises a fuel tank, an intermediate fuel reservoir, such as a carburetter chamber, connected between the tank and the engine and means at least partially to void the reservoir to the tank when the engine is stopped. The invention is applicable to jet engines including a jet engine that utilizes the surrounding air in the combustion of a liquid fuel or a rocket-type jet engine that carries a liquid fuel and all the oxygen needed for combustion. The invention is described as applied to a fuel system including a carburetter float bowl (Fig. 3). When the tank 200 is filled to the desired level, tank cap 230 seals the inlet conduit 226. The tank cap 230 is a pressure relief cap comprising a check valve 232 which maintains the fuel tank under a positive pressure between 0 and 2 p.s.i. Fuel from tank 200 is supplied to carburetter float bowl 210 via line 202, fuel pump 204, line 205, fuel pressure regulator 206 and line 208. Fuel pump 204 is an electrically operated pump which functions whenever the ignition is on. It could be a vacuum operated pump or mechanical pump. The fuel drain-back system comprises a line 220 opening from the bottom of the float bowl 210, vacuum operated drain valve 221, line 222, shut-off valve 223 and line 224 which communicates with the permanent vapour space in the fuel tank 200 via the inlet conduit 226. Fuel tank 200 is in communication with the atmosphere via line 234, vacuum operated vent valve 236 and conduit 238. The operation of valve 221 in the fuel drain-back system is controlled by a vacuum delay system comprising conduit 242, a small vacuum reservoir tank 244, a check valve 248 and a vacuum supply conduit 250. When the engine is started, vacuum-actuated valves 221 and 236 open and valve 223 closes. When the engine is shut off the closing of the valves 221 and 236 is delayed by the action of the tank 244. The vacuumactuated valves can be electrically or mechanically operated, their operation being controlled by the vacuum delay system shown or by a conventional mechanical or electric delay system. Modified arrangements are described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 (not shown). Pressure fuel injectors may draw from small intermediate fuel reservoirs located in the engine compartment.