Fuel delivery system for a marine propulsion device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6527603
  • Patent Number
    6,527,603
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, March 7, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 4, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A fuel system for a marine propulsion system includes a reservoir that defines a cavity in which first and second fuel pumps are disposed. The first fuel pump is a lift pump which draws fuel from a fuel tank and pumps the fuel into the cavity of the reservoir. The second fuel pump is a high pressure pump which draws fuel from the cavity and pumps the fuel at a higher pressure to a fuel rail of an engine.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention is generally related to a fuel system for a marine propulsion system and, more particularly, to a fuel system that provides a fuel reservoir in which two pumps, a lift pump and a high pressure pump, are housed and disposed within a volume of fuel stored in the fuel reservoir.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Many different types of fuel delivery systems are known to those skilled in the art for use with marine propulsion systems. Certain fuel delivery systems incorporate fuel vapor separators, which act as a reservoir and a mechanism for separating fuel vapor from liquid fuel.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,711, which issued to Motose on Oct. 13, 1998, describes a vapor separator for a fuel injected engine. The fuel injection system of an engine, and particularly an outboard motor, includes a fuel vapor separator that is disposed on one side of the throttle bodies at the front of the engine. The fuel vapor separator is comprised of a housing assembly having a cover plate in which an integral fuel inlet fitting, an integral fuel outlet fitting, an integral vent fitting and an integral fuel return fitting are formed. The fuel injectors for the engine are disposed on the opposite side of the throttle bodies from the fuel vapor separator and are supplied with fuel through a vertically extending fuel rail. The pressure regulator is positioned at the top of the fuel rail and the fuel rail is directly affixed to the throttle bodies.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,578 which issued to Kato et al on Dec. 27, 1994, describes a high pressure fuel feeding device for a fuel injection engine. The injection system for an outboard motor includes a vapor fuel separator that has a fuel chamber in which the supply of fuel is maintained by a float valve and an air chamber positioned above the fuel chamber and to one side of it and which communicates with the fuel chamber through a perforated member. A fuel media fills the air chamber and an atmospheric air inlet is provided to the air chamber. Fuel pressure and fuel regulator valves are disposed in the area to the side of the air chamber and regulate fuel and air pressure by dumping fuel and air back to the fuel and air chambers, respectively, through integral internal conduits. The regulating system includes an arrangement for regulating the fuel pressure so that it will be at least greater than the air pressure by a predetermined amount and also for precluding the delivery of air under pressure if fuel under pressure is not supplied.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,740, which issued to Cotton et al on Dec. 3, 1996, describes a fuel handling system. The system is intended for use with an internal combustion engine having a vapor separator for receiving fuel from a remote tank and a pump for delivering the fuel under high pressure to a fuel injector of the engine while providing vapor separation. The separator has an inlet for receiving fuel from the tank, an outlet for enabling fuel to be removed and delivered to the engine, at least one return for enabling fuel not used by the engine to be returned to the separator, and a vent for removing fuel vapor from a gas dome above a pool of liquid fuel within the separator. The inlet has a valve controlled by a float in the reservoir for admitting fuel to maintain the level of liquid fuel in the separator. To retard foaming and excessive vaporization of liquid fuel in the separator, the separator has a perforate baffle between any return and the liquid fuel pool.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,858, which issued to Kato on Apr. 11, 1995, describes a high pressure fuel feeding device for a fuel injection engine. An outboard motor is provided with a fuel injection system in which all of the major components of the fuel portion of the fuel/air injection system are contained within a sealed chamber having a fuel drain and the conduits that supply fuel to the fuel injectors are also contained within the fuel collecting conduits so that any fuel leaking will not escape to the atmosphere. In addition, the air pressure supplied to the fuel/air injectors is regulated and the air relieved for pressure regulation is returned to an air inlet device having a baffle for condensing any fuel in the regulated air and returning the condensed fuel to a vapor separator.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,245, which issued to Jaeger et al on Feb. 14, 1995, discloses a vapor separating unit for a fuel system. The vapor separating unit has particular application to a fuel system for a marine engine. The vapor separating unit includes a closed tank having a fuel inlet through which fuel is fed to the tank by a diaphragm pump. The liquid level in the tank is controlled by float-operated valve. An electric pump is located within the vapor separating tank and has an inlet disposed in the tank and an outlet connected to a fuel rail assembly of the engine. Excess fuel from the fuel rail assembly is conducted back to the upper end of the vapor separator tank. A vapor venting mechanism is incorporated in the tank to vent vapor from the tank.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,001, which issued to Roche on Nov. 29, 1994, describes a fuel handling system for an internal combustion engine which has a reservoir for receiving fuel under low pressure from a remote gas tank and a fuel pump for delivering the fuel under high pressure to a fuel injector of the engine while providing vapor separation. The reservoir has an inlet for receiving fuel from the tank, an outlet for removing fuel from the reservoir and delivering it to the engine, a fuel return for returning fuel not used by the engine, a drain for removing water, and a vapor vent for removing fuel vapors from a gas dome above the liquid within the reservoir. The inlet has a valve controlled by a float in the reservoir for admitting fuel to maintain the level of liquid in the reservoir so that the pump is supplied with fuel. To remove fuel, a fuel pickup is coupled to an inlet of the pump which has its outlet coupled to the reservoir outlet. The pickup has a diaphragm for filtering fuel entering the pump while preferably preventing the admission of gas or water. Preferably, a water sensor in the reservoir provides an electrical signal when it is immersed in water so that the drain can be opened to remove the water, preferably before the pickup is immersed and fuel flow to the pump and engine is cut off.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,793, which issued to Riese et al on Apr. 14, 1992, discloses a vapor separator for an internal combustion engine. The vapor separator includes a bowl member and a cover member. A fuel pump is located in the internal cavity of the bowl member and has its inlet located in the lower portion of the bowl member cavity, for supplying fuel thereto. The fuel pump is secured in position within the bowl member by engagement of the cover member with the fuel pump. The cover member includes a mounting portion for mounting a water separating filter element to the vapor separator assembly. The cover member includes structure for routing fuel from the discharge of the water separating filter element to the interior of the bowl member internal cavity. A compact arrangement is thus provided for the vapor separator, the fuel pump, and the water separating filter, eliminating a number of hose connections between such components as well as facilitating assembly of the engine.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,309, 885, which issued to Rawlings et al on May 10, 1994, describes a marine propulsion device including a fuel injected, four-cycle internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine comprises an engine block including a combustion chamber, a fuel vapor separator, a fuel supply mechanism for introducing fuel to the combustion chamber, a conduit communicating between the fuel vapor separator and the fuel supply mechanism for introducing fuel, and a cooling jacket for cooling the fuel vapor separator.




U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,470 B1, which issued to Clarkson et al on Jan. 9, 2001, discloses a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine. The fuel system provides first and second conduits that draw fuel from first and second positions, or locations, within a fuel reservoir. If water exists in the fuel reservoir, the second position is selected to be lower in the fuel reservoir than the first position so that accumulated water will be drawn through the second conduit under certain conditions, such as when the engine is operating at a speed above the minimum threshold. The fuel reservoir can be a fuel tank or auxiliary fuel tank of a vehicle or watercraft or, alternatively, it can be the housing of a fuel/water separator.




U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/550,720 which was filed by Wickman et al on Apr. 17, 2000 and assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses a fuel supply method for a marine propulsion engine. The method for controlling the operation of a fuel system of an outboard motor uses a lift pump to transfer fuel from a remote tank to a vapor separator tank. Only one level sensor is provided in the vapor separator tank and an engine control unit monitors the total fuel usage subsequent to the most recent filling of the tank. When the fuel usage indicates that the fuel level in the vapor separator tank has reached a predefined lower level, a lift pump is activated to draw fuel from a remote tank and provide that fuel to the vapor separator tank.




The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.




In marine propulsion systems, and particularly in outboard motors, it is advantageous if components can be packaged in a way that reduces the required volume for the assembly of components. It is also advantageous if the components of a fuel delivery system for a marine propulsion system can be cooled in a way that prevents the vaporization of liquid fuel in response to heat being transmitted to the fuel components.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by the marine propulsion system. It also comprises a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel supply and pumping the fuel at a first pressure magnitude into the cavity. The first pump is disposed within the cavity and in thermal communication with the liquid fuel. The present invention further comprises a second pump for drawing the fuel from the cavity and pumping the fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of the marine propulsion system. The second pump is disposed within the cavity and in thermal communication with the liquid fuel.




The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, further comprises a fuel tank that is connected as a fuel supply to an inlet of the first pump. A fuel filter is connected in fluid communication between the first tank and the first pump. The fuel filter can be a water separating fuel filter.




In certain embodiments of the present invention used in conjunction with fuel injected engines, the present invention further comprises a fuel rail connected in fluid communication with an outlet of the second pump. The fuel rail is connected in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel injectors which inject fuel either into a intake manifold of the engine or, in direct fuel injected (DFI) engines, directly into the combustion chambers of the engines.




A preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a fuel return line connected in fluid communication between an outlet of the fuel rail and the reservoir. A preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a pressure regulator connected between the outlet of the fuel rail and the reservoir in order to maintain a preselected pressure within the fuel rail. The pressure regulator is connected in fluid communication with an air intake manifold of the marine propulsion system in order to provide a reference pressure for the regulator. The preselected pressure within the fuel rail can be a preselected differential pressure magnitude above an air pressure within the air intake manifold of the engine.




The present invention can also comprise a fuel level sensor disposed within the reservoir to detect a fuel level within the reservoir. An engine control module (ECM) can be connected in signal communication with the first pump and in signal communication with the fuel reservoir, in order to turn the first pump on and off as a function of the level of liquid fuel within the reservoir.




In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first pressure magnitude is less than the second pressure magnitude and the marine propulsion system is an outboard motor. The reservoir, in one alternative embodiment of the present invention, is attached for support to a driveshaft housing of the outboard motor and, as a result of this location, the reservoir is at least partially submerged in water when a propeller of the marine propulsion system is not rotating.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will be more fully and completely understood from a reading of the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a schematic representation of a fuel system for a marine propulsion system made in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a section view of a reservoir of the present invention; and





FIG. 3

shows the reservoir of the present invention mounted for support to a midsection of an outboard motor.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Throughout the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, like components will be identified by like reference numerals.




In

FIG. 1

, the fuel system for a marine propulsion system, made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is represented schematically. A reservoir


10


encloses a cavity


12


for containing liquid fuel


16


for use by the marine propulsion system and, more particularly, for use by an engine of the marine propulsion system. A first pump


20


is provided for drawing fuel from a fuel supply, such as the fuel tank


22


, and for pumping the fuel at a first pressure magnitude into the cavity


12


. The fuel is drawn by the first pump


20


into in its inlet


24


and pumped out of its outlet


26


. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 1

, a conduit


28


is provided to direct the fuel, at the first pressure magnitude, toward the bottom portion of the cavity


12


.




A second pump


30


is provided for drawing fuel from the cavity


12


and pumping the fuel at a second pressure to an engine of the marine propulsion system. The engine is represented in

FIG. 1

as the fuel rail


40


and an air intake manifold


42


which is represented by a dashed line. The fuel rail provides fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors


44


which inject fuel into the air intake manifold


42


. Although the engine of a marine propulsion system comprises many other components, those components are not directly related to the present invention and are therefore not illustrated specifically in FIG.


1


.




The liquid fuel is drawn into the inlet


32


of the second pump


30


and pumped out of the outlet


34


, as represented by line


36


which can be a suitable conduit connected between the outlet of the second pump


30


and an inlet


46


of the fuel rail


40


. As can be seen in

FIG. 1

, both the first and second pumps,


20


and


30


, are disposed within the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


and disposed in thermal communication with the fuel


16


when the liquid fuel is within the cavity


12


. This relationship between the first and second pumps,


20


and


30


, and the fuel


16


provides for thermal exchange between the pumps and the liquid fuel. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention both the first and second pumps,


20


and


30


, are driven by electric motors. However, this is not a required characteristic of the pumps in all alternate embodiments.




With continued reference to

FIG. 1

, it can be seen that the fuel tank


22


is connected, as a fuel supply, to the inlet


24


of the first pump


20


. A fuel filter


50


is shown connected in fluid communication between the fuel tank


22


and the first pump


20


. This fuel filter


50


can be a water separating fuel filter in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.




The fuel rail


40


is connected in fluid communication with the outlet


34


of the second pump


30


and also in fluid communication with the plurality of fuel injectors


44


, as illustrated schematically in

FIG. 1. A

fuel return line


60


is connected in fluid communication between an outlet


48


of the fuel rail


40


and the reservoir


10


. More specifically, a pressure regulator


64


is connected between the outlet


48


of the fuel rail


40


and the reservoir


10


in order to maintain a preselected pressure within the fuel rail


40


. The pressure regulator


64


can be connected in fluid communication with the air intake manifold


42


of the marine propulsion system and the preselected pressure provided within the fuel rail


40


can be a preselected differential pressure magnitude above the air pressure within the air intake manifold


42


. Dashed line


66


represents the connection between the air intake manifold


42


and a reference pressure inlet


68


of the pressure regulator


64


. As a result, the pressure regulator


64


maintains a pressure within the fuel rail


40


that is a preselected magnitude greater than the pressure in line


66


. Excessive pressure, provided by the second pump


30


, is relieved by allowing the fuel to flow back into the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


, as represented by arrow


60


.




A preferred embodiment of the present invention also comprises a fuel level sensor


70


that is disposed within the reservoir


10


to detect a fuel level


72


within the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


. An engine control module (ECM)


80


is connected in signal communication with the first pump


20


, as represented by line


82


, and in signal communication with the fuel level sensor


70


, as represented by line


84


. In this way, the fuel level sensor


70


provides information on line


84


to the engine control module


80


which can represent the fact that the fuel level


72


has dropped below a preselected magnitude. When the engine control module


80


receives this signal, it provides a signal on line


82


to the first pump


20


to activate the first pump and draw more fuel from the fuel tank


22


and pump that fuel into the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


. In this way, the engine control module


80


can maintain the level


72


of liquid fuel


16


within a predetermined range.




With continued reference to

FIG. 1

, the first pressure magnitude at the outlet


26


of the first pump


20


is typically very low since it is intended to be used as a lift pump to draw fuel from a fuel tank to the reservoir and the second pressure magnitude at the outlet


34


of the second pump


30


is typically in the range of 30 PSI to 90 PSI, depending on the application and on the type of engine used.





FIG. 2

is a section view of the reservoir


10


illustrated to show the components located within the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


. The first pump


20


, the fuel level sensor


70


and the second pump


30


are all shown within the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


. In the representation of

FIG. 2

, the reservoir


10


comprises a lower portion


90


and an upper portion


92


that are bolted together to define the reservoir


10


. The reservoir, in turn, is attached by a plurality of bolts, at location


93


, to the marine propulsion system. In one embodiment of the present invention, which will be described in greater detail below in conjunction with

FIG. 3

, the reservoir


10


is attached to a driveshaft housing or mid portion of the leg of an outboard motor.




Also shown in

FIG. 2

are the regulator


64


, the outlet


34


of the second pump


30


, the outlet


26


of the first pump


20


, and a vent


96


which allows fuel vapor to escape from the ullage above the level


72


of the liquid fuel within the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


.





FIG. 3

shows a midsection


100


of an outboard motor with the reservoir


10


attached to it. Those skilled in the art of outboard motor design and manufacture are familiar with the overall structure of the midsection


100


, or driveshaft housing, and the details will not be described herein. The anti-cavitation plate


102


is shown for reference at the bottom portion of the midsection


100


. A driveshaft (not shown) extends downward in a vertical direction through the midsection


100


and connects the crankshaft of an engine located above the midsection


100


to a gear housing


105


and propeller shaft which are not shown in FIG.


3


. The propeller


107


and gear housing (


105


) are illustrated in

FIG. 3

to show that the gear housing


105


is supported at the bottom portion of the midsection


100


, or driveshaft housing, and the gear housing


105


, in turn, supports a propeller shaft to which a propeller


107


is attached. The internal portion of the midsection


100


also provides a conduit


110


for the downward transmission of exhaust gases from the engine to an outlet located in the gear housing


105


.




With continued reference to

FIG. 3

, it can be appreciated that the location of the reservoir


10


on the midsection


100


at the position shown in

FIG. 3

causes the reservoir


10


to be immersed in water when the propulsion system is not actively driving a marine vessel on plane. When the marine propulsion system is inactive and the marine vessel settles to a resting position on the water, the reservoir


10


is lowered to a position that disposes it at least partially under the surface of the body of water in which the marine vessel is operated. This serves to provide additional cooling to the liquid and vapors within the reservoir


10


and further prevent the vaporization of liquid fuel within the components of the fuel delivery system as a result of heat transferred to the fuel delivery system from the engine after water drains from the engine cooling system and heat begins to be conducted outwardly from the combustion chambers to surrounding components, including components of the fuel delivery system. This transfer of heat from the engine to the components of the fuel delivery system after the engine is turned off typically results in vaporization of the fuel and the situation referred to as “vapor lock”. By immersing the reservoir


10


in the cooler water of a body of water when the marine vessel is stationary, this deleterious situation is avoided.




With reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, it can be seen that the present invention provides a reservoir


10


in which a first pump


20


and a second pump


30


are disposed in thermal communication with liquid fuel stored within the reservoir


10


. Liquid fuel can be pumped from a fuel tank


22


into the reservoir


10


and from the cavity


12


of the reservoir


10


to an internal combustion engine of the marine propulsion system. Both the first and second pumps,


20


and


30


, are disposed in thermal communication within the liquid fuel in order to moderate the temperature of the two pumps. In addition, when mounted on the driveshaft housing


100


, or midsection, a further benefit can be achieved when the reservoir


10


is at least partially submerged in the water in which the marine vessel is operated when the marine propulsion unit is not actively propelling the marine vessel on plane. When the marine vessel stops its forward movement, it settles to a position that disposes the reservoir


10


in thermal communication with lake water or sea water and this action further reduces the temperature of the reservoir


10


and its contents, which include the liquid fuel


16


, the first and second pumps, and the various conduits through which liquid fuel is pumped by the fuel system. The present invention provides advantages which include the compactness of its design, which reduces the volumetric space required for the components, and the additional temperature moderation provided to the components of the fuel system which reduces the likelihood that “vapor lock” will occur. When the marine vessel is not operating on plane, the reservoir


10


is naturally lowered to a position illustrated in

FIG. 3

with respect to dashed line


110


which approximates the level of the body of water in which the marine vessel is operated.




Although the present invention has been described with particular detail to illustrate several embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that alternate embodiments are also within its scope.



Claims
  • 1. A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, comprising:a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by said marine propulsion system; a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel tank and pumping said fuel at a first pressure magnitude into said cavity, said first pump being disposed within said cavity, said reservoir and said first pump each being spaced apart from said fuel tank, said fuel tank being connected in fluid communication with said first pump by a fluid conduit; and a second pump for drawing said fuel from said cavity and pumping said fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of said marine propulsion system, said second pump being disposed within said cavity, said first and second pumps being disposed in thermal communication with said fuel when said fuel is within said cavity.
  • 2. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:a fuel filter connected in fluid communication between said fuel tank and said first pump.
  • 3. The fuel system of claim 2, wherein:said fuel filter is a water separating fuel filter.
  • 4. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:a fuel rail connected in fluid communication with an outlet of said second pump, said fuel rail being connected in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel injectors.
  • 5. The fuel system of claim 4, further comprising:a fuel return line connected in fluid communication between an outlet of said fuel rail and said reservoir.
  • 6. The fuel system of claim 5, further comprising:a pressure regulator connected between said outlet of said fuel rail and said reservoir to maintain a preselected pressure within said fuel rail.
  • 7. The fuel system of claim 6, wherein:said pressure regulator is connectable in fluid communication with an air intake manifold of said marine propulsion system and said preselected pressure is a preselected differential pressure magnitude above an air pressure within said air intake manifold.
  • 8. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:a fuel level sensor disposed within said reservoir to detect a fuel level within said reservoir.
  • 9. The fuel system of claim 8, further comprising:an engine control module connected in signal communication with said first pump and in signal communication with said fuel level sensor.
  • 10. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein:said first pressure magnitude is less than said second pressure magnitude.
  • 11. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein:said marine propulsion system is an outboard motor.
  • 12. A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, comprising:a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by said marine propulsion system; a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel tank and pumping said fuel at a first pressure magnitude into said cavity, said first pump being disposed within said cavity, said reservoir and said first pump each being spaced apart from said fuel tank, said fuel tank being connected in fluid communication with said first pump by a fluid conduit; a second pump for drawing said fuel from said cavity and pumping said fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of said marine propulsion system, said second pump being disposed within said cavity, said first and second pumps being disposed in thermal communication with said fuel when said fuel is within said cavity; a fuel rail connected in fluid communication with an outlet of said second pump, said fuel rail being connected in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel injectors; and a fuel level sensor disposed within said reservoir to detect a fuel level within said reservoir.
  • 13. The fuel system of claim 12, further comprising:a fuel filter connected in fluid communication between said fuel tank and said first pump.
  • 14. The fuel system of claim 13, further comprising:a fuel return line connected in fluid communication between an outlet of said fuel rail and said reservoir; and a pressure regulator connected between said outlet of said fuel rail and said reservoir to maintain a preselected pressure within said fuel rail, said pressure regulator being connectable in fluid communication with an air intake manifold of said marine propulsion system and said preselected pressure being a preselected differential pressure magnitude above an air pressure within said air intake manifold, said first pressure magnitude being less than said second pressure magnitude.
  • 15. The fuel system of claim 14, further comprising:an engine control module connected in signal communication with said first pump and in signal communication with said fuel level sensor.
  • 16. A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, comprising:a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by said marine propulsion system, said reservoir being at least partially submerged in water when a propeller of said marine propulsion system is not operative; a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel tank and pumping said fuel at a first pressure magnitude into said cavity, said first pump being disposed within said cavity, said reservoir and said first pump each being spaced apart from said fuel tank, said fuel tank being connected in fluid communication with said first pump by a fluid conduit; a second pump for drawing said fuel from said cavity and pumping said fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of said marine propulsion system, said second pump being disposed within said cavity, said first and second pumps being disposed in thermal communication with said fuel when said fuel is within said cavity; a fuel rail connected in fluid communication with an outlet of said second pump, said fuel rail being connected in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel injectors; a fuel level sensor disposed within said reservoir to detect a fuel level within said reservoir; and a fuel return line connected in fluid communication between an outlet of said fuel rail and said reservoir; and a pressure regulator connected between said outlet of said fuel rail and said reservoir to maintain a preselected pressure within said fuel rail, said pressure regulator being connectable in fluid communication with an air intake manifold of said marine propulsion system and said preselected pressure being a preselected differential pressure magnitude above an air pressure within said air intake manifold, said first pressure magnitude being less than said second pressure magnitude.
  • 17. The fuel system of claim 16, further comprising:a fuel filter connected in fluid communication between said fuel tank and said first pump; and an engine control module connected in signal communication with said first pump and in signal communication with said fuel level sensor.
  • 18. A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, comprising:a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by said marine propulsion system; a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel tank and pumping said fuel at a first pressure magnitude into said cavity, said first pump being disposed within said cavity, said reservoir and said first pump each being spaced apart from said fuel tank, said fuel tank being connected in fluid communication with said first pump by a fluid conduit; a second pump for drawing said fuel from said cavity and pumping said fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of said marine propulsion system, said second pump being disposed within said cavity, said first and second pumps being disposed in thermal communication with said fuel when said fuel is within said cavity; a fuel level sensor disposed within said reservoir to detect a fuel level within said reservoir; and an engine control module connected in signal communication with said first pump and in signal communication with said fuel level sensor.
  • 19. A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, comprising:a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by said marine propulsion system; a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel tank and pumping said fuel at a first pressure magnitude into said cavity, said first pump being disposed within said cavity, said reservoir and said first pump each being spaced apart from said fuel tank, said fuel tank being connected in fluid communication with said first pump by a fluid conduit; and a second pump for drawing said fuel from said cavity and pumping said fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of said marine propulsion system, said second pump being disposed within said cavity, said first and second pumps being disposed in thermal communication with said fuel when said fuel is within said cavity, said first pressure magnitude being less than said second pressure magnitude.
  • 20. A fuel system for a marine propulsion system, comprising:a reservoir having a cavity for containing liquid fuel for use by said marine propulsion system; a first pump for drawing fuel from a fuel tank and pumping said fuel at a first pressure magnitude into said cavity, said first pump being disposed within said cavity, said reservoir and saif first pump each being spaced apart from said fuel tank, said fuel tank being connected in fluid communication with said first pump by a fluid conduit; and a second pump for drawing said fuel from said cavity and pumping said fuel at a second pressure magnitude to an engine of said marine propulsion system, said second pump being disposed within said cavity, said first and second pumps being disposed in thermal communication with said fuel when said fuel is within said cavity, said marine propulsion system being an outboard motor.
US Referenced Citations (31)
Number Name Date Kind
4535862 LeBlanc Aug 1985 A
4672937 Fales et al. Jun 1987 A
4860714 Bucci Aug 1989 A
4928657 Asselin May 1990 A
4979482 Bartlett Dec 1990 A
5050567 Suzuki Sep 1991 A
5070849 Rich et al. Dec 1991 A
5096391 Tuckey Mar 1992 A
5103793 Riese et al. Apr 1992 A
5111844 Emmert et al. May 1992 A
5139000 Sawert Aug 1992 A
5197444 Lang et al. Mar 1993 A
5218942 Coha et al. Jun 1993 A
5309885 Rawlings et al. May 1994 A
5368001 Roche Nov 1994 A
5375578 Kato et al. Dec 1994 A
5389245 Jaeger et al. Feb 1995 A
5404858 Kato Apr 1995 A
5415146 Tuckey May 1995 A
5579740 Cotton et al. Dec 1996 A
5642718 Nakai et al. Jul 1997 A
5692479 Ford et al. Dec 1997 A
5732684 Thompson Mar 1998 A
5819711 Motose Oct 1998 A
5855197 Kato Jan 1999 A
5960775 Tuckey Oct 1999 A
5983932 Wagner et al. Nov 1999 A
6123511 Sertier Sep 2000 A
6170470 Clarkson et al. Jan 2001 B1
6276342 Sinz et al. Aug 2001 B1
6283142 Wheeler et al. Sep 2001 B1