US3712592A

US3712592A - Fuel blender

Info

Publication number: US3712592A
Application number: US00131598A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Heatcoat
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-18
Filing date: 1971-04-06
Publication date: 1973-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-23

Abstract

A fuel mixer, blender and container, said container being of a specific volume and having a spout through which the container is filled and from which contents in the container are dispensed. A stirring device for blending the fuel is rotatably mounted in the container and includes pairs of agitator blades mounted on a shaft and sloped in opposite directions relative to one another and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft on which they are mounted. The shaft is journalled in the top and bottom walls and rotated by a crank detachably connected thereto. Deflector blades, fixed to the container walls, are located within the container and are sloped at an angle to the axis of the shaft. The spout is located to provide a selected volume providing proper proportions of fuel and oil in a mixture for a two-cycle internal combustion engine.

Description

i] ite Heatcoat States late 19 [5 1 FUEL BLENDER [76] inventor: Edgar H. Heatcoat, Box 354, As-

siniboia, Canada [22] Filed: April6, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 131,598

[58] Field of Search .;259/107, 108, 122, 121, 111, 259/8, 116, 118, 119,125

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,506 1i/l889 Felt .Q .259/108 2,585,334 2/1952 McCauley... ....259/l22 6/1939 1 Heath ..2S9/l08 [4 1 Jan. 23, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Attorney-Lining & Siege] 57 ABSTRACT A fuel mixer, blender and container, said container being of a specific volume and having a spout through which the container is filled and from which contentsin the container are dispensed. A stirring device for blending the fuel is rotatably mounted in the container and includes pairs of agitator blades mounted on a shaft and sloped in opposite directions relative to one another and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft on which they are mounted. The shaft is journalled in the top and bottom walls and rotated by a crank detachably connected thereto, Deflector blades, fixed to the container walls, are located within the container and are sloped at an angle to the axis of the shaft. The spout is located to provide a selected volume providing proper proportions of fuel and oil in a mixture for a two-cycle internal combustion engine.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH23 1975 3,712,592

' SHEET 1 or 2 FUEL BLENDER This invention relates to a fuel blender, particularly for mixing and proportioning fuel oil mixtures for twocycle internal combustion engines.

The present practice of mixing fuel oil and proportioning consists of pouring a selected quantity of oil into a container and measuring a selected quantity of gasoline to provide the desired proportions and placing such quantity in the container, thereafter shaking the container with the mixture therein to provide an even mixture. This is undesirable in that it is necessary to measure each of the two quantities before placing the same in the container or, alternatively, measuring the same, for example, by dispensing gas from a metering pump while placing the same in the container. The present procedure is furthermore undesirable in that the mixture is not always homogenous as this is dependent upon the type of oil being used and varies with the amount of shaking action of the container for mixing.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple, portable container into which a selected quantity of oil is poured and further filling of the container to overflow with gasoline provides the appropriate fuel oil mixture for a two-cycle engine.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide a container with an agitator which effects complete blending of the fuel mixture in the container.

Accordingly, there is provided in accordance with the present invention, a fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising:

a. a container having a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, a single outlet and inlet spout in said top wall and positioned to limit the quantity of liquid held by the container to a specific amount;

' b. at least one deflector secured to the side wall of said container and located within the container, each said deflector comprising a plate-like member extending longitudinally along the side wall to which it is attached at an angle to the plane of the bottom wall of said container; and

c. a stirring device for'blending a fuel oil mixture in the container comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall and having respective portions located interiorly and exteriorly of the container, a crank attached to said exterior portion for rotating the shaft by hand, and at least one pair of agitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft, each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elements located one on each of opposite sides of the shaft and inclined in opposite directions with respect to one another relative to the length of the shaft.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a container blender combination constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along section 2-2 of FIG. 1, but illustrating a complete container; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevational view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, illustrated in FIG. 1 is a fuel mixture blender and container consisting of a container 10 having a rotatable agitator 20 for blending a fuel oil mixture in the container. The container 10 includes a top, dome-shaped wall 11, a flat bottom wall 12, and a cylindrical side wall 13 formed of sheet metal, plastic, or the like in any well known manner. A spout 14 is located in a recess 15 in the top wall 11 and has external threads for receiving a cover. The top of the spout 14 is located at such a position as to provide an overflow for contents in the container in excess of a given quantity. It will be obvious that in place of providing an overflow for such excess quantity, the desired volumetric measure or quantity measure may be in relation to any position on the interior of the spout, for example, the bottom end which first contacts liquid located in the container.

The agitator 20 consists of a shaft 21 journalled at opposed ends in nylon sleeve bearings 22 and 23 held captive in respective top and bottom walls 11 and 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the respective end walls have an inwardly turned lip 24 with the bearings held therein by an interference fit. The bottom bearing 23 has an end wall 23A to provide vertical support for the shaft 20 and vertical movement of the shaft in the opposite direction is limited by a cotter pin or the like 25 passing through the shaft and engageable with the lower face of the sleeve bearing 22. A crank 26 is detachably connected to the shaft 21 with the juncture thereof being approximately flush with the upper surface of top wall 11. In the embodiment, illustrated, crank 26 has offset

portions

27 and 28 interconnected by a portion 29. The crank portion 27 has an end portion 27A threaded into a correspondingly threaded recess 273 in the upper end of shaft 21.

A pair of

agitator blades

31 and 32 are secured to the portion of the shaft 20 located interiorly of the container and each consists of a flat planar portion 33 having a marginal upwardly turned lip 34. The flat planar portions 33, of

respective blades

31 and 32, are sloped in opposite directions relative to one another and with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 21. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the

agitator blades

31 and 32 are attached to the shaft intermediate their respective opposed ends and adjacent edges of the blades are in spaced relation relative to one another. This permits fluid to pass therebetween during mixing. If desired, however, the blades may pass beyond the shaft to opposite side such that they are in slight overlapping relationship in top plan view.

To further facilitate mixing a plurality of deflectors 40 are attached to the side wall 13 of the container. Each deflector has a substantially flat planar portion inclined to the horizontal, notched at 41 to permit rotation of the agitator blades having upper terminal ends overlapping the lower ends of the deflectors. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the deflectors are not completely flat but, instead, have a slight curvature from one end to the other with the lower end sloping inwardly and downwardly while the upper end slopes inwardly and upwardly.

The foregoing container is designed primarily for proportioning and mixing fuel and oil in the proper proportion for two-cycle combustion engines. The volume of the container is selected such that a quart of oil is first poured into the container and is thereafter filled with gasoline to a position in proximity ofoverflowing from the spout, this providing the proper mixture required. In a mixture of 25 to 1 as is common in twocycle engines, the overall volume is 5 gallons and l quart. Blending of the fuel and oil is effected by rotating shaft 20 by the crank 26, the positioning of the deflectors and agitator blades being such as to effect complete mixing of the ingredients.

The container is provided with a carrying handle 50 having opposed hooked ends 51 and 52 projecting through an aperture in respective ones of bales or

cars

53 and 54 secured to the container side wall 13 in a conventional manner. In place of a single wire handle 50, there may be provided hand-grips in the sides of the container for lifting the same or, alternatively, individual handles projecting outwardly from the container wall, all of which carrying means are well known in the art.

I claim:

1. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising:

a. a container having a top wall having a depression therein, a bottom wall and a side wall, a combined single outlet and inlet spout located in the depression in said top wall and having a terminal edge positioned to limit the quantity of liquid held by the container to a preselected specific amount;

. a plurality of deflectors secured to the side wall of said container and located within the container, in spaced relation relative to one another, each said deflector extending longitudinally along the side wall to which it is attached and at an angle relative to the plane of the bottom wall, said deflectors being curved and having a portion extending inwardly into the container to a greater extent than the remainder thereof; and

. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall and having respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of the container, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secured directly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair of agitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft, each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elements located one on each of 0pposite sides of the shaft and inclined, in opposite directions with respect to one another and relative to the length of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flange extending along the longitudinal marginal edge thereof remote from said shaft.

2. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising:

b. at least one deflector secured to the side wall of said container and located within the container, each said deflector extending longitudinally along the side wall to which it is attached and at an angle relative to the plane of the bottom wall; and

. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall and having respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of the container, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secured directly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair of agitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft, each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elements located one on each of opposite sides of the shaft and inclined, in opposite directions with respect to one another and relative to the length of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flange extending longitudinally along a marginal edge thereof remote from said shaft.

3. A fuel blender and container combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle portion is detachably connected to said shaft at a position in close proximity to the upper wall of the container.

Claims

1. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising: a. a container having a top wall having a depression therein, a bottom wall and a side wall, a combined single outlet and inlet spout located in the depression in said top wall and having a terminal edge positioned to limit the quantity of liquid held by the container to a preselected specific amount; b. a plurality of deflectors secured to the side wall of said container and located within the container, in spaced relation relative to one another, each said deflector extending longitudinally along the side wall to which it is attached and at an angle relative to the plane of the bottom wall, said deflectors being curved and having a portion extending inwardly into the container to a greater extent than the remainder thereof; and c. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall and having respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of the container, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secured directly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair of agitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft, each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elements located one on each of opposite sides of the shaft and inclined, in opposite directions with respect to one another and relative to the length of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flange extending along the longitudinal marginal edge thereof remote from said shaft.

2. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising: a. a container having a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, a single outlet and inlet spout in said top wall and positioned to limit the quantity of liquid held by the container to a specific amount; b. at least one deflector secured to the side wall of said container and located within the container, each said deflector extending longitudinally along the side wall to which it is attached and at an angle relative to the plane of the bottom wall; and c. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall and having respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of the container, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secured directly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair of agitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft, each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elements located one on each of opposite sides of the shaft and inclined, in opposite directions with respect to one another and relative to the length of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flange extending longitudinally along a marginal edge thereof remote from said shaft.