Carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6244572
  • Patent Number
    6,244,572
  • Date Filed
    Monday, October 4, 1999
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 12, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system includes a retaining screw having a threaded forward end, an intermediate portion having a plurality of transverse holes leading to an axial channel and an internally threaded end portion terminating in a hex head. An externally threaded insert engages the end portion and includes a tapered forward portion which engages tapered internal walls on the retaining screw to effect a seal, an internal channel and a hexagonal rear portion terminating in a cylindrical end for coupling a fuel line thereto. When the insert is loosened fuel flows through the holes in the screw into the screw channel and then outwardly through the insert channel to a fuel line. The fuel bowl may thus be safely drained.
Description




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Research and development of the present invention and application have not been Federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to carburetors and particularly to a carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system to facilitate service and to protect the environment by safely draining fuel from a carburetor.




DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR ยงยง1.97-1.98




The prior art includes traditional carburetors particularly of the Holley-type. In order to perform service on the carburetor it is necessary to drain the fuel therefrom. This can be a time consuming and risky job since the fuel cannot be allowed to come in contact with the hot engine. These problems are eliminated which proposes a retaining screw and drain screw all in one by the present invention. Furthermore, the fuel that was contained in the previous carburetor designs was discarded causing environmental concerns. The present invention permits reuse of the fuel.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to a carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system which permits fuel to be safely drained from a carburetor for servicing purposes. The unique screw assembly is inserted into the float bowl and permits fuel to be drained outwardly into a container through channels in the screw. The screw includes a threaded forward end to retain the bowl in position, an intermediate portion having a channel which extends outwardly through an exterior portion terminating in a hollow hex head.




An insert is threaded into the threaded hollow portion of the retaining screw and includes a tapered forward portion which effects a seal with a mating internal portion of the screw. The insert also includes a channel through which the fuel flows when the rear hex head portion of said insert is loosened. The fuel flows outwardly through a slip end over which a rubber hose is positioned.




Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved float bowl drain screw for carburetors.




Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved means to drain and recapture fuel from carburetors so that servicing can take place safely.




A further object of this invention is to provide a drain screw and retaining assembly of a unique nature which permit fuel to be safely drained from a carburetor float bowl into a container for recovery purposes.




A more specific object of this invention is to provide a unique screw drain which includes a channel extending into the float bowl and an outer portion which sealingly fastens against the outer wall of the bowl and an insert which threadingly engages the screw drain to control the flow from the channel.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The above and other objects and advantages of this invention may be more clearly seen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a carburetor showing the invention incorporated therein;





FIG. 2

is a partial cross-sectional view of the invention in combination with a carburetor float bowl;





FIG. 3

is a partial cross-sectional view of a fuel bowl drain screw; and,





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view of the threaded insert for the drain screw.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring now to the drawings, the invention comprises a fuel bowl drain screw


10


and recovery system


20


. The drain screw


10


permits fuel


13


to be safely drained from a carburetor


11


so that the bowl


12


can be removed permitting work to be performed on jets, metering blocks, floats, and other parts of the carburetor


11


. The invention promotes safety and answers environmental concerns by permitting the fuel


13


to be collected in a container


26


and reused.




The fuel float bowl


12


is mounted within a conventional carburetor


11


by means of a unique drain and retaining screw


10


which includes a threaded forward end


28


and an intermediate portion


29


having three equi-spaced transverse holes


14


which permit fuel


13


to enter into the longitudinal channel


16


. The drain screw


10


includes a hex head


19


at the rear end thereof for tightening the screw


10


against a gasket


22


which engages the outer wall


29


of the fuel bowl


12


.




A drain element or insert


30


is threadingly mounted within the hollow end


41


of the screw


10


. The threads


42


on element


30


mesh with internal threads


43


on the screw


10


. The element


30


also includes a tapered forward end


44


having a recess


45


for a gasket or O-ring


46


and a similar recess


47


adjacent the screw threads


42


to accommodate gasket


48


. The gaskets


46


engage tapered walls


31


to effect a tight seal when the hex head


23


is tightened. The drain element


30


also includes a transverse channel


33


extending inwardly from its outer wall to a connecting central channel


35


which leads to an exit aperture


34


. The extreme rear portion of the element


30


includes a cylindrical exit portion


36


onto which a flexible line is mounted. A flexible rubber or plastic cover


60


is fitted over the insert


30


and screw


10


to keep dirt out of the fuel port


35


and to prevent the insert


30


from loosening up. The cover


60


includes inwardly extending portions


61


which grip the screw


10


while the cover


60


is fitted in engagement with the insert


30


and screw


10


.




In operation, the flexible screw


10


is inserted through the float bowl


12


and tightened with the hex head


49


so that the wall


51


engages gasket


22


against the outer wall


29


of the bowl


12


. The drain valve or element


30


is then tightened within the screw


10


sealing the channel


16


. The cover


60


is then snapped in place. When it is desired to remove the bowl


12


, the cover is removed and a flexible line


25


is inserted over the slip end


36


and the element


30


loosened by gripping the hex head


23


. The seal


26


moves outwardly opening the channel


17


so that fuel


13


flows into the channel


33


in the drain value


30


and then outwardly through exit aperture


35


into the container


26


. Three equally spaced holes


52


in the screw


10


permit fuel


13


to flow into the channel


16


and when the insert


30


is loosened about the tapered face


46


into channels


33


and


36


. The fuel


13


then flows outwardly through line


25


into container


26


. The carburetor, empty of fuel, may then be safely worked on.




While the invention has been explained by a detailed description of certain specific embodiments, it is understood that various modifications and substitutions can be made in any of them within the scope of the appended claims which are intended also to include equivalents of such embodiments.



Claims
  • 1. A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system for fuel comprises:a drain screw comprising a threaded forward portion for coupling to a carburetor, an intermediate portion having an axial channel, an outer wall and a plurality of transverse holes extending from the outer wall to the channel, and a hollow rear portion having an internally threaded aperture leading to the axial channel, a forward tapered internal portion on said aperture and an enlarged outer portion including a hex head; a hollow insert having a tapered forward portion to engage the tapered internal screw wall, an intermediate threaded outer wall to engage the internal screw threads, a hex nut portion and a cylindrical outer portion having an outlet aperture; wherein said insert can be loosed to permit fuel to flow from the drain screw through the insert to the cylindrical outer portion outlet to permit recovery thereof.
  • 2. A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system for fuel in accordance with claim 1 wherein:the rear portion includes a wall extending at right angles to the intermediate portion; and, a gasket mounted about the intermediate portion, said wall engaging the gasket against the carburetor for sealing purposes.
  • 3. A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system for fuel in accordance with claim 2 further including:a circumferential recess adjacent the end of the tapered forward portion of the insert; and, a gasket mounted in said recess.
  • 4. A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system for fuel in accordance with claim 3 further including:a circumferential recess in the outer wall adjacent the threads; and, a gasket mounted therein for sealing purposes.
  • 5. A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system for fuel in accordance with claim 1 wherein:the transverse holes comprise three equally spaced holes leading to the channel.
  • 6. A carburetor float bowl drain screw and recovery system for fuel in accordance with claim 1 wherein:a flexible cover mounted over the insert and extending inwardly in engagement therewith to grasp the drain screw to protect the outlet aperture and to prevent the insert from loosening within the drain screw.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to Provisional Application 60/103,133 filed Oct. 5, 1998.

US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
1625572 Simpson Apr 1927
1734232 Ryan et al. Nov 1929
1859126 Boeuf May 1932
3184091 Hoffman May 1965
4986502 Ceroke Jan 1991
5368181 Myers Nov 1994
5653270 Burrows Aug 1997
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/103133 Oct 1998 US