The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 17, 1999
Richard W. Harvey, Logansport, IN (US);
Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc., Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of controlling fuel temperature while supplying fuel from a fuel tank (,) to an array (,) of fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine (,) comprising the steps of pumping the fuel with a high pressure pump (,), flowing the fuel through a fuel line (,) from the fuel tank (,) to the high pressure pump (,), and flowing the fuel through a vapor separator (,) in the fuel line (,) between the tank (,) and the high pressure pump (,). The method is characterized by recirculating fuel (,) from the vapor separator (,) to the fuel line (,) for leveling fuel temperatures. The method is more specifically characterized by regulating (,) the pressure at which fuel is recirculated from the vapor separator (,) to the fuel line (,). An assembly for implementing the method includes a unitary housing comprising an upper cap (,) and a lower cap (,) for supporting the filter (,), the low pressure pump (,), the first pressure regulator (,), and the vapor separator (,). A baffle (,) is disposed at the bottom of the vapor separator (,) for separating fuel flow from the low pressure pump (,) on a first side of the baffle (,) from fuel returned by the return line (,) disposed on the second side of the baffle (,). The first pressure regulator (,) and the recirculation line (,) are also disposed on the first side of the baffle (,).