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:
Sep. 23, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2001
Terry L. Miller, Morton, IL (US);
Phillip M. Hall, Fairfield, IL (US);
Jeffrey L. Castleman, Normal, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
Over aeration of fuel has been identified as a problem in some fuel injection systems. For instance, engineers have learned that it is desirable to reduce the amount of air in the fuel circulation plumbing of a pump and line fuel injection system in order to reduce timing retardation of the fuel injection and avoid engine power loss. A fuel conditioning module addresses this problem by separating out the air from the fuel before reaching the fuel injectors. The fuel conditioning module includes an inlet cavity separated from an outlet cavity by a baffle. An inlet passage opens to the inlet cavity, and an outlet passage opens to the outlet cavity at locations elevationally below the top of the baffle. A vent passage opens to the outlet cavity at a location elevationally above the top of the outlet passage. When the fuel air mixture flows over the baffle, the air is directed into the vent passage and the relatively pure fuel is directed to the outlet passage for delivery to the fuel injectors.