Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6227176
-
Patent Number
6,227,176
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, July 13, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 8, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Yuen; Henry C.
- Gimie; Mahmoud M
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 123 516
- 123 518
- 123 514
- 261 35
- 261 721
- 261 DIG 68
- 261 362
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A pressure equalization system serves to prevent an undesired pressure level in a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine. An air/fuel mixture is fed to the internal combustion engine via the carburetor. The carburetor is, on one hand, connected to the clean air side of an intake air filter via an intake channel and, on the other hand, inducts fuel from a control chamber filled with fuel. This fuel flows from a fuel tank via an inlet valve into the control chamber, with the inlet valve being controlled by a control membrane. A start-assist device includes an intake line connected to the control chamber and a return line connected to the fuel tank. A pressure equalization valve connected to the return line of the start-assist device is provided for the fuel tank, with the pressure equalization valve also being connected to the intake channel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a pressure equalization system for a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine, in particular for handheld portable tools such as cutoff machines, chain saws and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A carburetor for an internal combustion engine in a tool, namely a chain saw, is known from EP 0 688 948 A2. The air required for combustion is inducted from the ambient air through an intake channel via an intake air filter while the fuel to be mixed with the air is supplied from a fuel tank via a carburetor. The carburetor has a control chamber which is delimited by a membrane and filled with fuel. On one hand, the membrane controls an inlet valve in the control chamber and, on the other hand, delimits a compensation chamber which lies on the dry side of the control membrane. A fuel pump is provided in the carburetor housing to move the fuel to the control chamber. From the control chamber, the fuel passes to nozzles through which the fuel enters the intake channel.
In addition, a start-assist device for the internal combustion engine is also provided in the known arrangement. This start-assist device removes the vapor bubbles which develop in the carburetor while the engine is at standstill. The vapor bubbles would otherwise prevent the internal combustion engine from starting at a subsequent attempt. This start-assist device, which is connected between the control chamber and the fuel tank, serves to flood the fuel system. Subsequent start attempts are then made with a filled fuel system which ensures that the internal combustion engine will start quickly with few attempts.
In such tools, the fuel tank is hermetically sealed in order to avoid leaks whatever the work position of the tool. The consumption of fuel due to the operation of the internal combustion engine leads to the formation of underpressure in the fuel tank. This can lead to a strong decrease in fuel volume such that malfunctions occur in the carburetor to be fed or in the internal combustion engine supplied by the carburetor.
A device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,843 which enables aeration, with the aeration valve being located at an additional opening provided in the fuel tank. A venting valve can also be arranged on the fuel tank to reduce any overpressure developed by heat. Such devices, in which the aeration and venting valves are in direct connection with the atmosphere, are known as “open systems”.
A “closed system” for the aeration and venting of a fuel tank is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,240. This system is based on the arrangement of a pressure equalization line together with an aeration and a venting valve between the intake channel and an equalizing vessel connected to the fuel tank itself. The connection of the pressure equalization line to the intake channel or a compensation channel connected to the compensation chamber, forms a closed system. If the tool is used correctly, this system largely prevents the escape of any fuel into the atmosphere.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object to provide a pressure equalization system with which an undesired pressure level in the fuel tank can be prevented at minimal effort and cost.
The pressure equalization system of the invention is for a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine for a portable handheld work tool such as a cutoff machine, motor-driven chain saw, brushcutter and the like. The pressure equalization system includes: a carburetor for supplying an air/fuel mixture to the engine; an intake air filter having a clean air side; the carburetor including a control membrane delimiting a control chamber filled with fuel and an intake channel into which fuel from the control chamber is drawn by suction; the intake channel being connected to the clean air side of the intake air filter; a fuel tank; a feed valve controlled by the control membrane for supplying fuel from the fuel tank to the control chamber; and, a start-assist device for flooding the control chamber before starting the engine; a suction line connecting the start-assist device to the control chamber; a return line connecting the start-assist device to the fuel tank; a pressure equalization valve connected to the return line; and, the pressure equalization valve being operatively connected to the intake channel.
The start-assist device includes, preferably, a starter pump with a combination valve which is connected to the control chamber via the suction line and to the fuel tank via the return line. The manual or automated actuation of the starter pump when the internal combustion engine is started circulates fuel together with the vapor bubbles or trapped air which form in the fuel while the internal combustion engine is at standstill. This fluid mixture of fuel, vapor bubbles and/or air is pumped through the suction line and the return line to the fuel tank. This forces the flooding of the control chamber with liquid fuel and guarantees a sufficient volume of fuel to start the internal combustion engine via idle nozzles. The arrangement of a pressure equalization valve connected to the return line between the start-assist device and the fuel tank avoids the need for an additional connection to the tank. The pressure equalization valve preferably comprises a duckbill valve for aeration and a mushroom-shaped valve head with a flexible sealing edge lying on a valve seat for venting.
When the engine is running, an underpressure builds up in the fuel tank due to the withdrawal of fuel therefrom. Since the pressure equalization valve is configured for aeration, for example, in the form of a duckbill valve, an underpressure can be avoided by means of inflowing air. This air is taken in from the clean air side of the air filter via the pressure equalization line, thus ensuring that no dirt can enter the fuel.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the pressure equalization valve is also designed to vent air from the fuel tank. If an overpressure builds up in the fuel tank, the pressure lifts the sealing edge from the valve seat and the fuel-enriched vapors can be fed directly to the clean air side of the intake air filter via the pressure equalization line. Since the venting opening is not cleared by the sealing edge until a certain threshold value in the fuel tank is exceeded, no fuel flows out of the control chamber through the aeration system while the start-assist device is pumping since the pressure built up during this phase lies below the threshold value. However, the pressure equalization valve does allow the escape of air, with fuel vapors where present, at a predetermined pressure increase in the tank. Even if a small volume of fuel escapes through the equalization valve into the pressure equalization line during the process, there is no disadvantageous effect on the operating performance since, when the fuel enters the intake channel and the air filter box, it is absorbed by inflowing combustion air and carried through the carburetor venturi to the internal combustion engine.
There is no need for a further connection to the fuel tank because an existing line is used as a connection for the aeration and venting system of the fuel tank. In this way, the tank ventilation system can be positioned in a protected position well adapted to the tool. This makes a space-saving position near the diaphragm carburetor and the fuel tank possible and also results in lower manufacturing costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
shows a schematic representation of a fuel supply system with a membrane carburetor for an internal combustion engine; and,
FIGS. 1
a,
1
b
and
1
c
show different embodiments of a valve in a venting line of the fuel supply system of FIG.
1
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The fuel supply system illustrated in
FIG. 1
(with the valve alternatives shown in
FIGS. 1
a,
1
b
and
1
c
) essentially comprises a membrane carburetor
1
for an internal combustion engine
9
, an intake channel
13
, a fuel tank
16
and a start-assist device
21
. The fuel tank
16
has a fill opening
6
with a tank cap
18
. The internal combustion engine
9
consists of a crankcase
10
having a cylinder
11
to which an air/fuel mixture can be fed via an intake channel
13
to operate the internal combustion engine
9
. The air/fuel mixture is formed in the membrane carburetor
1
which, on one hand, takes in combustion air via an intake air filter
14
and to which, on the other hand, fuel is fed from a control chamber
4
via nozzles, of which only one main fuel nozzle
8
is shown in the venturi section
15
. The fuel entering the intake channel
13
mixes with the air in the channel. The fuel is fed from the fuel tank
16
via an inlet valve
7
to the control chamber
4
.
A fuel pump
20
is provided to pump the fuel. The intake connection of the fuel pump
20
is connected to the fuel tank
16
via a fuel line
19
a.
The pressure connection to the fuel pump
20
is connected to the inlet valve
7
via a fuel line
19
b.
The inlet valve
7
is controlled by a control membrane
2
which delimits the control chamber
4
.
On its dry side, the control membrane
2
also delimits a compensation chamber
3
which is connected via a compensation channel
12
to the equalization portion of intake channel
13
between the carburetor
1
and the intake air filter
14
, that is, the clean air side
27
thereof. This means that the underpressure which increases on the clean air side
27
as the dirt in the air filter
14
increases is also present in the compensation chamber
3
, thereby increasing the underpressure required to open the inlet valve
7
in the control chamber
4
. In this manner, the volume of air which decreases as the air filter becomes increasingly dirty is equalized by a corresponding reduction in the supply of fuel, that is, the air/fuel mixture remains unchanged.
The fuel tank
16
is connected to a start-assist device
21
via a return line
24
and to the control chamber
4
of the membrane carburetor
1
via an intake line
23
. The start-assist device
21
comprises a combination valve
22
consisting, namely, of a duck-bill valve
22
b
and a mushroom valve
22
a.
Before starting the tool, the control chamber
4
is flooded by means of the start-assist device
21
. For this purpose, pressure is repeatedly exerted upon an elastic membrane cover
21
a,
which has the size of a finger, on the start-assist device
21
. When the membrane cover
21
a
is emptied, the fuel under the cover, including the vapor bubbles or trapped air contained therein, is fed to the fuel tank
16
via the duck-bill valve
22
b
of the combination valve
22
via the return line
24
. With the automatic return of the cover
21
a,
an underpressure develops in the space delimited by the cover. This leads, on one hand, to the closure of the passage at the end of the duck-bill valve
22
b
facing the return line
24
and, on the other hand, to the opening of intake line
23
which is otherwise closed by the mushroom valve
22
a
of the combination valve
22
. In this way, air/fuel mixture is inducted from the control chamber
4
via the intake line
23
.
A pressure equalization valve
25
in the manner of a combined mushroom/duck-bill valve
25
a
/
25
b
for venting and aerating the fuel tank
16
is arranged in a joint valve housing. The mushroom valve
25
a
has a flexible sealing edge
25
d
which lies on the valve seat when the mushroom valve is in the closed position. The pressure equalization valve
25
is connected, on one hand, to the return line
24
of the start-assist device
21
and, on the other hand, via a venting line
26
to the intake channel
13
on the clean air side
27
of the intake air filter
14
.
When the tool is in continuous operation fuel from the tank
16
is consumed. Because the fuel tank
16
is hermetically sealed, a reduction in the volume of fuel (indicated in
FIG. 1
by fuel level
17
) is associated with a simultaneous drop of the pressure in the fuel tank
16
. In order to avoid malfunctions in the internal combustion engine
9
due to an insufficient supply of fuel, air, preferably at atmospheric pressure, is resupplied. This is effected by means of the pressure equalization valve
25
because the end of the duckbill valve
25
b
facing the return line
24
is opened by the underpressure and air is supplied via the venting line
26
.
If the ambient air heats up considerably, part of the fuel contained in the fuel tank
16
evaporates, leading to an increase in pressure in the fuel tank
16
. When a predetermined threshold value for the overpressure is reached, the flexible sealing edge
25
d
of the mushroom valve
25
a
lifts away from the valve seat and clears the venting line
26
so that the overpressure can reduce to the intake channel
13
. To ensure that the pressure is reduced primarily by the escape of the flow of air, the connection of the return line
24
to the fuel tank
16
is provided at the wall above the fuel level
17
. On this wall, there is also a fill opening
6
for the fuel and a tank cap
18
.
The embodiments of the valves illustrated in
FIGS. 1
a,
1
b
and
1
c
are explained below.
FIG. 1
a
shows a mushroom valve
25
b′
as a pressure equalization valve which is provided exclusively for the aeration of the fuel tank
16
. As already described, the mushroom valve
25
b′
is provided with an arcuate elastic sealing edge
25
d
which seawhich seals, in the case of a drop in pressure from the pressure line
24
line
24
to the intake channel
13
. In the case of a drop in pressure pressure in the opposite direction, the sealing edge
25
d
is lifted away from the valve seat
25
c.
This mushroom valve
25
b′
has a fixing pin, has a fixing pin, which is approximately perpendicular and central in relation to the plane of the valve seat and which has a bead-like thickening at a distance from a valve head with its sealing edge
25
d.
The embodiment in
FIG. 1
b
shows that a duckbill valve
25
b
can be provided as a pressure equalization valve in the venting line instead of a mushroom valve.
FIG. 1
c
shows an embodiment of the pressure equalization valve with a membrane
25
f
biased by a spring
25
e.
The membrane
25
f
serves as a closing element.
The invention described above achieves a tank ventilation which does not require an additional connection to the fuel tank
16
and therefore results in a design which is more favorable and more flexible in terms of both function and cost. In addition to the aeration valve, a venting valve can be provided which remains closed during normal operation so that neither gases containing fuel nor liquid fuel can escape if the tool is operated correctly.
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A pressure equalization system for a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine for a portable handheld work tool such as a cutoff machine, motor-driven chain saw, brushcutter and the like, the pressure equalization system comprising:a carburetor for supplying an air/fuel mixture to said engine; an intake air filter having a clean air side; said carburetor including a control membrane delimiting a control chamber filled with fuel and an intake channel into which fuel from said control chamber is drawn by suction; said intake channel being connected to said clean air side of said intake air filter; a fuel tank; a feed valve controlled by said control membrane for supplying fuel from said fuel tank to said control chamber; and, a start-assist device for flooding said control chamber before starting said engine; a suction line connecting said start-assist device to said control chamber; a return line connecting said start-assist device to said fuel tank; a pressure equalization valve connected to said return line; and, said pressure equalization valve being operatively connected to said intake channel.
- 2. The pressure equalization system of claim 1, said pressure equalization valve having an end facing away from said return line; and, said end of said pressure equalization valve being connected to said clean air side of said intake air filter.
- 3. The pressure equalization system of claim 2, said pressure equalization valve being configured as an aerating valve opening in the direction toward said return line.
- 4. The pressure equalization system of claim 3, said pressure equalization valve being additionally configured as a venting valve open in the opposite direction.
- 5. The pressure equalization system of claim 4, said aerating valve being configured as a duckbill valve.
- 6. The pressure equalization system of claim 4, said aerating valve being configured as a mushroom valve.
- 7. The pressure equalization system of claim 4, said aerating valve being configured as a spring-biased membrane valve.
- 8. The pressure equalization system of claim 4, said pressure equalization valve being configured as a combination valve comprising a duckbill valve and a mushroom valve.
- 9. The pressure equalization system of claim 8, said mushroom valve having an axial shaft; and, said duckbill valve being integrated into said axial shaft of said mushroom valve.
- 10. The pressure equalization system of claim 7, said mushroom valve having an elastically deformable sealing edge.
- 11. The pressure equalization system of claim 9, said fuel tank including a wall, a fill opening in said wall and a fuel cap for said fill opening; and, said return line being connected to said fuel tank on said wall thereof.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
298 12 679 U |
Jul 1998 |
DE |
|
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0688948 |
Dec 1995 |
EP |
2310007 |
Aug 1997 |
GB |