Claims
- 1. A safety fuel tank and filler cap apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine that can be started with a magnetoelectric generator, comprising:
a) an exposed fuel tank having a fill opening, an annular fuel filler flange surrounded by an adjoining fuel tank wall having outer surface, said flange having a central axis; b) a filler cap having a cap center, the cap being connectable to the fuel filler flange to form a closure of the tank at the fill opening when the cap center generally aligns with the flange central axis, said filler cap and adjoining fuel tank outer surface being configured to enable a user to grip and turn said fuel filler cap, at a position next to the tank wall; and c) a mechanism interfaced between the fuel tank and filler cap that is activated to a safety mode when the engine is at an elevated, operating temperature, said mechanism including a connector that interfaces between the outer surface of the fuel tank and the cap.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanism includes a switch.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch is a magnetic switch.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch is a photoelectric switch.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch is a mechanical switch that moves between operating and disabled positions, the switch including a member that shifts positions when the fuel filler cap is separated from the fuel filler flange.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch, when activated to a safety mode, moves to a closed position thereby preventing separation of the fuel filler cap from the fuel filler flange.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the switch includes a magnetic switch mounted on the fuel tank and a magnet mounted on the filler cap.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch includes a switch member mounted on the filler cap that does not interfere with a sealing of the fuel filler flange with the filler cap.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fuel filler flange has a threaded portion and the filler cap has a top and an annular skirt with threads thereon that engage the threaded portion of the flange, and wherein the switch member is mounted on the annular skirt in between the threads and the top.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the filler cap has a top, an annular skirt with internal threads, and an unthreaded outer surface and wherein the switch member is mounted on the annular skirt.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the filler cap has a top, an annular skirt with internal threads, and an unthreaded outer surface and wherein the switch member is mounted on the top.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a key and key switch that has multiple switch positions, including at least a fuel cap unlock position wherein the fuel cap is not removable from the fuel tank if the key is placed in a position other than the fuel cap unlock position.
- 13. A safety fuel tank and filler cap apparatus for supplying fuel to and internal combustion engine that can be started with a magnetoelectric generator, comprising:
a) an exposed fuel tank having a fill opening, an annular fuel filler flange surrounded by an adjoining fuel tank outer surface, said flange including a flange wall extending a short distance from the filler opening in said fuel tank wall, said annular flange having a central axis; b) a filler cap that fits the fuel filler flange to form a closure of the tank at the fill opening, said filler cap having a center, wherein the adjoining fuel tank outer surface is configured to enable a user to grip and turn said fuel filler cap; and c) a mechanism interfaced between the fuel tank and filler cap that alerts a user not to add fuel to the fuel tank if the engine temperature exceeds the fuel ignition temperature for the fuel to be supplied to the engine.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a key and key switch that has multiple switch positions, including at least a fuel cap unlock position wherein the fuel cap is not removable from the fuel tank if the key is placed in a position other than the fuel cap unlock position.
- 15. A powered implement, comprising:
a) a frame; b) an internal combustion engine mounted on the frame; c) an exposed fuel tank having a tank wall with a fill opening, a generally cylindrically shaped fuel filler flange extending from the tank wall and surrounded by an adjoining fuel tank wall outer surface, said flange extending a short distance from the filler opening in said fuel tank wall; d) a filler cap that fits the fuel filler flange to form a closure of the tank at the fill opening, said filler cap and adjoining fuel tank outer surface being closely positioned, and configured to enable a user to grip and turn said fuel filler cap; and e) safety interface device interfaced between the fuel tank and filler cap that signals to a user that fuel should not be added to the tank.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the device is a switch.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the switch is a magnetic switch.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the switch is a photoelectric switch.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the switch is a mechanical switch that moves between operating and disabled positions, the switch including a member that shift positions when the fuel filler cap is separated from the fuel filler flange.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the switch includes a magnetic switch mounted on the fuel tank and a magnet mounted on the filler cap.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the switch includes a switch member mounted on the filler cap that does not interfere with a sealing of the fuel filler flange with the filler cap.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the filler cap has a top, and an annular skirt with internal threads, and wherein the switch member is mounted on the annular skirt in between the threads and the top.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a key and key switch that has multiple switch positions, including at least a fuel cap unlock position wherein the fuel cap is not removable from the fuel tank if the key is placed in a position other than the fuel cap unlock position.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the filler cap has a top, an annular skirt with internal threads, and an unthreaded outer surface and wherein the switch member is mounted on the annular skirt.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the filler cap has a top, an annular skirt with internal threads, and an unthreaded outer surface and wherein the switch member is mounted on the top.
- 26. A powered implement, comprising:
a) a frame; b) an internal combustion engine mounted on the frame, said engine including a magnetoelectric generator for starting the engine; c) the frame and engine supporting an exposed fuel tank having a tank wall and a fill opening through said tank wall for receiving fuel for powering the engine; d) a fuel filler flange on said tank surrounded by an adjoining fuel tank outer surface, said flange extending a short distance from tank wall and surrounding the filler opening; e) a filler cap that fits the fuel filler flange to form a closure of the tank at the fill opening, said filler cap and adjoining fuel tank outer surface being configured to enable a user to grip and turn said fuel filler cap; and f) a device interfaced between the fuel tank and filler cap that responds to an attempt by a user to open the filler cap when the engine is at an elevated, operating temperature that is near the ignition temperature of the fuel that powers the engine.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a key and key switch that has multiple switch positions, including at least a fuel cap unlock position wherein the fuel cap is not removable from the fuel tank if the key is placed in a position other than the fuel cap unlock position.
- 28. A safety fuel tank and filler cap apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine that can be started with a magnetoelectric generator, comprising:
a) an exposed fuel tank having a fill opening, upper surface, an annular fuel filler flange surrounded by an adjoining fuel tank wall having outer surface, said flange having a central axis; b) a filler cap having a cap center, the cap being connectable to the fuel filler flange to form a closure of the tank at the fill opening when the cap center generally aligns with the flange central axis, the filler cap have a plurality of recesses spaced around the cap, the filler cap and adjoining fuel tank outer surface being configured to enable a user to grip and turn said fuel filler cap, at a position next to the tank wall; and c) a mechanism interfaced between the fuel tank and filler cap that is activated to a safety mode when the engine is at an elevated, operating temperature, the mechanism including a connector that interfaces between the fuel tank and at least one of the plurality of recesses.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the mechanism is attached to the upper surface of the fuel tank.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the mechanism includes a plunger arm.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the plunger arm has at least one beveled surface which interfaces with at least one of the plurality of recesses.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the longitudinal axis of the plunger is generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the fuel tank.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the longitudinal axis of the plunger is generally parallel to the upper surface of the fuel tank.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the movement of the plunger is generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the fuel tank.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the mechanism includes a switch.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the switch is a magnetic switch.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the switch is a photoelectric switch.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the switch is a mechanical switch that moves between operating and disabled positions, the switch including a member that shifts positions when the fuel filler cap is separated from the fuel filler flange.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the switch, when activated to a safety mode, moves to a closed position thereby counterclockwise rotation of the fuel filler cap from the fuel filler flange.
- 40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the switch includes a magnetic switch mounted on the fuel tank and a magnet mounted on the filler cap.
- 41. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the switch includes a switch member mounted on the filler cap that does not interfere with a sealing of the fuel filler flange with the filler cap.
- 42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the fuel filler flange has a threaded portion and the filler cap has atop and an annular skirt with threads thereon that engage the threaded portion of the flange, and wherein the switch member is mounted on the annular skirt in between the threads and the top.
- 43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the filler cap has a top, an annular skirt with internal threads, and an unthreaded outer surface and wherein the switch member is mounted on the annular skirt.
- 44. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the filler cap has a top, an annular skirt with internal threads, and an unthreaded outer surface and wherein the switch member is mounted on the top.
- 45. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a key and key switch that has multiple switch positions, including at least a fuel cap unlock position wherein the fuel cap is not removable from the fuel tank if the key is placed in a position other than the fuel cap unlock position.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/712,758, filed Nov. 14, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/655,033, filed Sep. 5, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/452,653, filed Dec. 10, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/288,402, filed Apr. 8, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,714), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/267,877, filed Mar. 11, 1999 now abandoned). Priority to all applications is hereby claimed and all are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (5)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09712758 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
09882532 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09655033 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
09712758 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Parent |
09452653 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
09655033 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Parent |
09288402 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
Child |
09452653 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Parent |
09267877 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
Child |
09288402 |
Apr 1999 |
US |