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. 08, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2000
Bradley N. Kippe, Holly, MI (US);
Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
Fuel shut-off device for use in a diesel fuel tank to discontinue fuel flow to a fuel pump comprises a valve seat forming a fuel flow opening for fuel to flow from the fuel tank to the fuel pump, a fuel control valve cooperably disposed relative to the valve seat to control fuel flow from the fuel tank to the fuel pump, and a spring biasing the fuel inlet valve to a closed position against the valve seat. A diaphragm is provided having a first valve-actuating side for moving the fuel inlet valve relative to the valve seat against bias of the spring and a second side. The second side is communicated to a control chamber having an inlet orifice that is communicated to the fuel tank and an outlet orifice that is communicated to said fuel pump. An inlet orifice valve is disposed in the fuel tank and is actuated to open the inlet orifice to the fuel tank when the fuel level is above a predetermined low level to cause the diaphragm to move toward the fuel inlet valve to move it to an open position relative to the valve seat against bias of the spring and actuated to close the inlet orifice to the fuel tank when the fuel level is at the predetermined low level to cause the diaphragm to move away from the fuel inlet valve to allow the spring to move the fuel inlet valve to the closed position to provide insufficient fuel flow to the fuel pump to maintain engine operation, thereby preventing air from being ingested into the fuel pump.