US1473761A - Fuel-elevating device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13, 1923. 1,473,?611

H. B. GRANT v FUEL ELEVATING DEVICE Filed Dec 22, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fag 1,

- IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS 1T 0 .B Grazw.

Nov. 13, 1923.

H. B. GRANT FUEL ELEVATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZQQ/ I Z6 J i o 1% i 2f 2' @Z @l 5 19 14: O 17 5 I Z1 Z0 HH SOB.GIWZ% INVENTORI ATTORNEYS.

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entree Patented HUGO B. GRANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO STEWART-VJARHER SPEEDOJE ETER CORPORATIUN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR-PDRATION 01* VIRGINIA.

FUEL-ELEVATING DEVICE.

Application filed December 22, 2921. Serial No. 524,132.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Huoo B. GRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Elevating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus or devices for conveying liquids from a storage tank or other source of supply to another tank or receptacle located at a higher level, so that the liquid may liow from the latter by gravity to the place of use.

The apparatus has been designed more particularly for use in connection with motor vehicles driven by internal-comhustion engines, for "feeding; fuel to the warburetor, and it employs the well-known vacuum iced principle, a fuel receiving vessel being provided which is connected to the carburetor, and which is kept supplied with liquid fuel from a storage tank, the low ol fuel from said tank'to thoria-civing vesscl being produced by a vacuum r partial Vacuum in a-chamhcr having an inlehconmotion with the tank and an outlet connec-' tion with the receiving vcssol.

in fuel feeding systems of the kind stated wvliorethe vacuum is produced by the suction ofthe motor, it frequently happens that at low engine speed lllcre is not produced enough suction to draw fuel into the receiving vessel. and the invention thcrcl'orc has for its olijcol to eliminate this defect, and to provide a simpler and more eflicicnt means for producing a vacuunn and also to eliminate a greatmany working parts in the apparatus now in general use.

The object stated is attained by means of an electric-motor drivcn aiwpump having its cylinder opening into the vacuum chamlicr for drawing air thorcl'rom, and automatically controlled hy a novcl.and improved mechanism to he hercinal'lcr dcscrihcd and claimed. the vacuum chamhcr living also pro vidcd with a vcnt. valve which opens to admit air to the vacuum chamlicr whcn lho pump stops upon the liquid reaching a certain prodctcrmincd level in the receiving Vessel, in order that a. constant liquid lcvrl may be maintained in said vessel.

The objects stated ar-Ndllainrd by means of a combination and arrangcmcnt of parts to be ln-reinatter described and claimed and in order that the same may be better undcrstood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a of this specification.

in the drawings,

Figure 1 is a eross section of the apparatus on the line l1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 ol? Fig. 2.

illeterring specifically to the drawings, 5 denotes a liquid-receiving vessel having an outlet 6 at the bottom for connection to the carburetor. in the upper portion of the vessel located avacuum chamber 7 having a. bottom outlet 8 into the vessel. It plate 9 forming the top of the chamber 7 is provided with an air-pump cylinder 10 which opens into said chamber and contains a reciprocat'ory plunger 11 Which is driven by an electric motor 12 supported on the plate 9. Any suitable driving connection between the motlor shaft 1;; and the plunger 'il may be pro vidod. The drawings show the motor it coupled to a shalt i l carrying; a cam 1.. v n gageahle with the plunger for forcing it in one direction, and a spring 16 forcing it. in the opposite direction. The shaft 14 extends into the cylinder '10 and is journaled in a hearing 17 thereon,

The plate 9 is also provided with a suitable fuel connection 18 to the sup ily tank, said connection being arranged to discharge the Fuel drawn from said tank into the vacuum chamber 7. from which latter it is discharged into the vessel 5 through the outlet 8.

On the plate 9 is mounted a post 19 to which is t'ulcrnmcd at one of its ends a switch lever 20 adapted to ha vc its other end engage and bridge a pair of stationary switch contacts 21 to close the circuit of the motor 1'22, and to orcak said circuit upon leaving the contacts. At 22 are shown the lcad wires to the switch, and at the conductors lcading from the switch to the motor.

in the vessel 5 is located a float 23 having an upwardly extending stem 24 which is connected at the top to the outer end of a I lever 25 which is in cruined at its other end to the post 19. The outer ends of the levers 20 and are connected by a pair of parallel coilcd springs 26 said levers having lateral extensions at their ends to which the springs are anchored as shown in Fig. 2.

The levers 20 and 25 are so arranged that when the maximum liquid level is obtained in the vessel 5 and the float 23 has risen, the lever 20 has been swung free of the contacts 21 so that the motor circuit is now broken and the air pump is not operating, and as there is now no suction in the vessel 5, the ,flow thereinto from the supply tank ceases. "lhs the liquid flows from the vessel 5 to the carburetor, its level is giadually ireduced, and when a predetermined low level is reached, the descending float 23, through its stem 24: swings lever 25 to engage lever 20 with the contacts 21 to close the motor cir cuit. The air pump now operates to create suction in the chamber 7, and the flow of fuel into said chamber from the-supply tank is resumed. When the maximum liquid level is again obtained in the vessel 5. the motor circuit is again automatically broken to stop the motor and the air pump.

The chamber 7 also has an air vent port 27, the same being made in the top plate fl. This port is provided with a valve 28w which is connected to the switch lever it! so that simultaneous with the breaking of the -motor circuit, the valve is opened to destroy the suction, whereas when the motor circuit 'is closed, the valve is also closed.

The current. for operatine the motor 1; may be obtained from any suitable source on the car, preferably the one which supplies current to the ignition system. so that when the ignition switch is turned on, the apparatus is also cut in for operation.

The apparatus is highly cliicient in operation at all engine speeds, as the vacuum is not produced by the suction strokes of the engine. The apparatus eliminates the necessity oi changing years to low speed for the purpose of speeding, up the engine to produce more vacuum, as is frequently necessary with ape paratus in which the suction in the apparatus is produced by the engine. In this type of apparatus it frequently happens that with a wide open throttle on a full load there is not produced enough suction to obtain a feed of fuel from the. supply tank to the apparatus. This trouble is entirely eliminated by the motor-driven air pump controlled as hereinbel'ore described. The engine will not be called upon to do anything but to propel the car, and hence it will be able to operate at full capacity at all times, and with increased power and re duced Wear from racing the engine 011 hard pulls by shifting to lower speeds. Hard pulls and steep grades can be negotiated in high gear bccause the fuel suppl will be ever present to supply the engine at all speeds.

I claim:

1. In a liquid luel supply-mpparatus,'a liquid receiving vessel having; an outlet, avacuum chamber having a liquid outlet to the vcsscl and a liquid inlet. and also provided with an air-vent port. ail air pump having its cylinder opening into the vacuum tllillllllti'. an electric motor driving the pump. a switch controlling the motor circuit. a valve l'or the vent port, and means for simultam-ouslv operating said switch and valve.

e. In a liquid-fuel supply-iqiparatus, a liquid receiving vessel having an outlet, a vacuum chamber havinga liquid outlet to the vessel and a liquid inlet, and also provided with an air vcnt port, an air pump having its cylinder opening into the vacuum chamber. an electric motor driving the pump, a switch controlling the motor circuit. a valve for the vent port, a float in the vessel. and an operative connection be tween the lloat and the switch and valve for simultaneously operating said switch and valve.

:3. In a liquid-fuel supply-apparatus, a liquid receiving vessel having an outlet, a vacuum chamber having a liquid outlet to the vessel and a liquid inlet, and also provided with an air-vent port, an air pump havin; its cylinder opening, into the vacuum chamber, an electric motor driving the pump, a switch controlling the motor circuit, said switch including a lever, a valve for the vent port operatively connected to the lever, a float in the vessel, and an operative connection between the float and the lever. I

t. In a liquid-fuel supply-apparatus, a liquid receiving vessel having an outlet, a vacuum chamber having a liquid outlet to the vessel and a liquid inlet, and also provided with an air-vent port, an air pump havingitscyliiider opening into the vacuum chamber, means for operating the pump, a valve..'for the vent port, and means-controlled by the liquid level in the vessel for controlling the pump and the valve simul taneously.

In testimony whereof I afiix mylsignature.

HUGO B. GRANT.

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