U.S. patent application number 09/783674 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for dual draw and return fuel manifold with integral mounting bracket for a vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Navistar International Transportation Corp.. Invention is credited to DePoy, Michael C., Studebaker, Curt J..
Application Number | 20010032747 09/783674 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23231071 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032747 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DePoy, Michael C. ; et
al. |
October 25, 2001 |
Dual draw and return fuel manifold with integral mounting bracket
for a vehicle
Abstract
A dual draw and return fuel manifold with an integral mounting
bracket for use on a mobile vehicle containing at least two fuel
tanks such as a heavy duty truck. The invention overcomes problems
associated with assembling several fittings to a bracket and
reduces the opportunities for leaks to develop in a vehicle fuel
system by incorporating the fittings and mounting apparatus into a
one piece design. There is a manifold which contains two three way
tees integrated onto a mounting bracket or body. The mounting
bracket has two engagement legs for engagement to a chassis mounted
component over and to a vehicle drive train component. In a
preferred embodiment these engagement legs will be engaged on
either side of a transmission of the vehicle. The return and supply
manifolds are located one on top of another on the manifold such
that they may be easily connected to the high pressure tubing of
the fuel system. The mounting bracket in one embodiment is on a
slight angle such that the hook up to the engine from each of the
return and supply three way tee is at a slight up angle rather than
horizontal. The slight up angle of the hook up to engine port of
the three way tees further improves the accessibility for
installation on an assembly line. In a second embodiment the two
three way tees may be integrated into a single body unit with the
two engagement legs.
Inventors: |
DePoy, Michael C.;
(Fortwayne, IN) ; Studebaker, Curt J.; (Columbia
City, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE CORPORATION
Suite 1300
455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago
IL
60611
US
|
Assignee: |
Navistar International
Transportation Corp.
|
Family ID: |
23231071 |
Appl. No.: |
09/783674 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09783674 |
Feb 14, 2001 |
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09316872 |
May 21, 1999 |
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6213243 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
180/314 ;
285/124.1; 285/133.11; 285/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 15/01 20130101;
F02M 37/0017 20130101; F02M 37/007 20130101; F02M 55/00 20130101;
F02M 37/0088 20130101; F02M 37/0052 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/314 ; 285/62;
285/133.11; 285/124.1 |
International
Class: |
B60K 015/01 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A one piece dual draw and return fuel manifold for use with
vehicle with a chassis, the chassis having an engine, a
transmission engaged to the engine, a drive-line engaged to the
transmission and a drive axle with wheels, and two fuel tanks for
supplying fuel to the engine, comprising: a three way return tee
with a return-to-tank connection port for engagement to each of the
fuel tanks, and a return-to-manifold connection port; a three way
supply tee with a supply-from-tank connection port for engagement
to each of the fuel tanks, and a supply-to-engine connection port;
a bracket, said three way return tee and said three way supply tee
integral to an elongate leg of said bracket; two chassis engagement
legs, each said leg integral to a lower side of said elongate leg;
and each said chassis engagement legs having a chassis engagement
means at an end for engagement to a chassis engagement
component.
2. The draw and return manifold of claim 1 wherein said
return-to-manifold connection port of said three way return tee and
said supply-from-tank connection port of said three way supply tee
are each directed toward the engine when engaged to the chassis
engagement component.
3. The draw and return manifold of claim 2 wherein said
return-to-tank connection ports of said three way return tee and
said supply-from-tank connection ports of said three way supply tee
are each directed outward from a centerline of the vehicle toward
the fuel tanks when engaged to the chassis engagement
component.
4. The draw and return manifold of claim 3 wherein said three way
return tee and said three way supply tee are engaged with internal
passages in parallel.
5. The draw and return manifold of claim 4 wherein said three way
return tee is located above said three way supply tee when said
chassis engagement legs are engaged to the chassis engagement
component.
6. The draw and return manifold of claim 5, wherein: the chassis
engagement component is the transmission; and said chassis
engagement legs and said chassis engagement means are spaced to
engage to each upper side of the transmission.
7. The draw and return manifold of claim 6 wherein said bracket and
said chassis engagement legs are in the same plane.
8. The draw and return manifold of claim 6 wherein said bracket and
said chassis engagement legs are engaged such that said
supply-to-engine connection port of said three way supply tee and
said return-to-manifold connection port of said three way return
tee are at a slight up angle to the horizontal plane of the vehicle
when said chassis engagement legs are engaged to the chassis
engagement component.
9. The draw and return manifold of claim 8 wherein said up angle of
said supply-from-tank connection port and said return-to-tank
connection port is between fifteen and twenty degrees.
10. The draw and return manifold of claim 8 wherein said bracket,
said three way supply tee, said three way return tee, and said
chassis engagement legs are made of a single piece of cast
aluminum.
11. The draw and return manifold of claim 8 wherein said chassis
engagement legs are shaped with a right angle with a first side
approximately perpendicular to said bracket and a second side with
said chassis engagement means turned downwards when engaged to the
chassis engagement component.
12. The draw and return manifold of claim 11 wherein said
return-to-tank connection ports of said three way return tee and
said supply-from-tank connection ports of said three way supply tee
have threaded male fittings for engagement to each of the fuel
tanks.
13. The draw and return manifold of claim 10 wherein said bracket
has recesses on a front and rear face.
14. A one piece dual draw and return fuel manifold for use with
vehicle with a chassis, the chassis having an engine, a
transmission engaged to the engine, a drive-line engaged to the
transmission and a drive axle with wheels, and two fuel tanks for
supplying fuel to the engine, comprising: a three way return tee
with a return-to-tank connection port for engagement to each of the
fuel tanks, and a return-to-manifold connection port; a three way
supply tee with a supply-from-tank connection port for engagement
to each of the fuel tanks, and a supply-to-engine connection port;
an integral manifold body, said three way return tee and said three
way supply tee integral to said body; two chassis engagement legs,
each said leg integral to a lower side of said body; and each said
chassis engagement legs having a chassis engagement means at an end
for engagement to a chassis engagement component.
15. The draw and return manifold of claim 14, wherein: the chassis
engagement component is the transmission; and said chassis
engagement legs and said chassis engagement means are spaced to
engage to each upper side of the transmission.
16. The draw and return manifold of claim 14 wherein said body,
said three way supply tee, said three way return tee, and said
chassis engagement legs are cast of aluminum.
17. A one piece dual draw and return fuel manifold for use with
vehicle with a chassis, the chassis having an engine, a
transmission engaged to the engine, a drive-line engaged to the
transmission and a drive axle with wheels, and at least one fuel
tank for supplying fuel to the engine where the improvement is the
integration of fuel distribution tees and chassis mounting means in
a single component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a dual draw and return fuel
manifold with an integral mounting bracket for use on a mobile
vehicle containing at least two fuel tanks such as a heavy duty
truck. The invention overcomes problems associated with assembling
several fittings to a bracket and reduces the opportunities for
leaks to develop in a vehicle fuel system by incorporating the
fittings and mounting apparatus into a one piece design.
THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Heretofore, vehicles with dual fuel tanks required multiple
fittings to provide parallel supply and return of fuel to and from
an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. Diesel engines reject
some fuel hence the requirement for a fuel return. There were fuel
lines that ran from each tank as a supply. At some point the lines
joined to become a single fuel supply line to the engine fuel
system. In most cases conventional single piece or multi-piece Tee
joints were used. The fuel which was unused by the engine was
returned by a single fuel line which at some time split to return
to both fuel tanks. Conventional single pieces in combination or
multi-piece tee joints also accomplished this return fuel split.
The tee joints were mounted directly to a chassis component such as
a frame rail or a frame rail to frame rail cross support or the tee
joints were mounted to one or more mounting brackets. The mounting
brackets would be mounted to a chassis component or a chassis
mounted component. Some of the prior art mounting brackets and tee
joints are shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The main draw back of the prior
art was the complexity of assembly which added both time and cost
to vehicle production. The prior art shown in FIGS. 3 and 4a to 4g
have integral passageways, however these were valves with
unnecessary complexity in the distribution pathway. The tortuous
pathway shown in FIG. 4b reduces the ability of the manifold to
effectively distribute fuel due to pressure head loss.
Additionally, the mounting arrangement of the prior art shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4a to 4g is too cumbersome for vehicle chassis
mounting. There is a need for a non-complex, single piece, dual
fuel supply and return manifold with a integral mounting bracket
for use on a mobile vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to
provide a simple one piece dual draw and return fuel manifold with
a integral mounting bracket for use on a mobile vehicle.
[0004] A manifold that contains two three way tees integrated onto
a mounting bracket or body meets the primary object of invention as
well as other objects. The mounting bracket has two engagement legs
for engagement to a chassis or a chassis mounted component. One
such chassis mounted component would be an upper portion of a
vehicle transmission of the vehicle drive train. In a preferred
embodiment these engagement legs will be engaged on the upper sides
of a transmission of the vehicle. The return and supply manifolds
may be located one on top of another on the manifold such that they
may be easily connected to the tubing of the fuel system. The
mounting bracket in one embodiment is on a slight angle such that
the hook up to the engine from each of the return and supply three
way tees are at a slight up angle rather than horizontal. The
slight up angle of the hook up to engine ports of the three way
tees further improves the accessibility for installation on an
assembly line. In a second embodiment the two three way tees may be
integrated into a single body unit with the two engagement
legs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
more apparent upon perusal of the detailed description thereof and
upon inspection of the drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a prior art embodiment of a fuel system draw and
return manifold.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a prior art embodiment of a fuel system draw and
return manifold.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art embodiment of a
fuel system draw and return manifold.
[0009] FIG. 4a is a side view of the prior art embodiment shown in
FIG. 3.
[0010] FIG. 4b is a top down view of the prior art embodiment shown
in FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 4c is a front view of the prior art embodiment shown in
FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 4d is a bottom upwards view of the prior art embodiment
shown in FIG. 3.
[0013] FIG. 4e is the Section A-A cutaway of view of the prior art
embodiment shown in FIG. 4b.
[0014] FIG. 4f is the Section B-B cutaway of view of the prior art
embodiment shown in FIG. 4b.
[0015] FIG. 4g is the Section C-C cutaway of view of the prior art
embodiment shown in FIG. 4b.
[0016] FIG. 5a side view of a prior art embodiment of a fuel system
draw and return manifold.
[0017] FIG. 5b is front view of the prior art embodiment shown in
FIG. 5a.
[0018] FIG. 5c is a side cutaway of a tee include in the prior art
embodiment shown in FIG. 5a.
[0019] FIG. 5d is a side view of the prior art tee shown in FIG.
5c.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a prior art three way tee for a fuel system draw
and return manifold.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of a one piece dual fuel draw and return manifold with a integral
mounting bracket made in accordance with the invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is an auxiliary front view of the fuel draw and
return manifold shown in FIG. 7.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a side view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 7.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a top view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 7.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a front view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 7.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment
of a one piece dual fuel draw and return manifold with a integral
mounting body made in accordance with the invention.
[0027] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective of the fuel draw and return
manifold shown in FIG. 12.
[0028] FIG. 14 a rear perspective with phantom interior passages
shown of the fuel draw and return manifold shown in FIG. 12.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a front perspective view third embodiment of a
one piece dual fuel draw and return manifold with a integral
mounting body made in accordance with the invention with recesses
in the recesses in the front and rear surfaces of the mounting
bracket and engagement legs as described in the specification.
[0030] FIG. 16 is a front view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 15.
[0031] FIG. 17 is an auxiliary front view of the fuel draw and
return manifold shown in FIG. 15.
[0032] FIG. 18 is side view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 15.
[0033] FIG. 19 is a back view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 15.
[0034] FIG. 20 is the Section A-A cutaway of view of the fuel draw
and return manifold shown in FIG. 19.
[0035] FIG. 21 is a top view of the fuel draw and return manifold
shown in FIG. 15.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] FIGS. 7 to 14 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a one
piece dual draw and return fuel manifold with an integral mounting
bracket for a mobile vehicle made in accordance with the teachings
of the present invention and generally identified by the reference
numeral 10. The manifold may also be referred to as a dual fuel
supply and return manifold.
[0037] As shown, the dual draw and return fuel manifold 10 is
provided for use in a vehicle equipped with a chassis comprised of
two longitudinally running frame rails with cross member supports.
The chassis has an engine, transmission, and drive-train engaged in
the approximate center line longitudinally of the vehicle. There
will be at least one fuel tank although in general there are two
with each being mounted to one of the frame rails. One component of
the chassis, engine, transmission or drive-train will be a chassis
engagement component for the manifold 10.
[0038] The manifold 10 in its most fundamental embodiment has: a
three way supply tee 20, a three way return tee 30, and an
integrated chassis mounting means 50. The three way supply tee 20,
the three way return tee 30 and the integrated chassis mounting
means 50 are integrated as a single component. The components may
be cast as one component. The tees and the mounting means may be
integrated with an integrated mounting bracket 40 or with an
integral mounting body 60.
[0039] The three way supply tee 20 has three ports with
interconnecting internal passageways 24 for vehicles with two
tanks. Only two ports are used if there is only one fuel tank on
the vehicle. Of the three ports for the dual tank vehicle, there is
a supply-from-tank connection port 21 for engagement to each of the
fuel tanks, and a supply-to-engine connection port 22 for
engagement to and supply of fuel to the engine. The three way
return tee 30 also has three ports with interconnecting internal
passageways 34 for vehicles with two tanks. Only two ports are used
if there is only one fuel tank on the vehicle. Of the three ports
of the three way return tee 30 for a two tank vehicle, there is a
return-to-tank connection port 31 for engagement to each of the
fuel tanks, and a return-to-manifold connection port 32 for
engagement to and receipt of fuel from the engine. In the preferred
embodiment, the three way supply tee 20, the three way return tee
30, and the mounting means 50 are integrated into the mounting
bracket 40. The mounting bracket may be any shape that allows for
alignment of the three way supply tee 20 and the three way return
tee 30 to allow for easy hook up of tubing during vehicle assembly.
The manifold 10 may be configured such the return-to-manifold
connection port 32 of the three way return tee 30 and the
supply-to-engine connection port 22 of the three way supply tee 20
are each directed toward the engine when the manifold 10 is engaged
to the chassis engagement component. In the preferred embodiment
internal passages of the return-to-manifold connection port 32 and
the supply-to-engine connection port 22 are in parallel. The
return-to-tank connection ports 31 of the three way return tee 30
and the supply-from-tank connection ports 21 of the three way
supply tee 20 may each be directed outwards from a centerline of
the vehicle towards the fuel tanks when the manifold 10 is engaged.
The advantage of having the engine engaged ports directed to the
engine and the fuel tank engaged ports directed outwards from the
vehicle centerline are to facilitate manufacture of the vehicle.
Assembly line workers may easily reach the respective ports and the
shortest possible tubing or piping runs may be made. This not only
will reduce overall costs for vehicle manufacture but also may
decrease the possibility of system leaks from better connections
due to convenience and tubing reductions. Additionally, having the
internal passages of the three way return tee 30 and the three way
supply tee 20 in parallel will also facilitate vehicle assembly as
both connections to the engine and each fuel tank can be made
without the worker relocating her hands to another location of the
manifold 10. The tees may be integrated into the manifold 10 with
one located directly above the other. In the preferred embodiment,
the three way return tee 30 will have a smaller inner diameter than
the three way supply tee 20. The three way return tee 30 may be
integrated into the manifold 10 directly above the three way supply
tee 20 when the manifold 10 is held upright or installed into a
vehicle. The supply-from-tank connection ports 21, the
supply-to-engine connection ports 22, the return-to-tank connection
ports 31, and the return-to-manifold connection port 32 may have
threaded male fittings for ease of engagement.
[0040] The preferred embodiment of the manifold 10 will use have
the tees integrated with a mounting bracket 40. The mounting
bracket 40 may be generally solid rectangular structure when viewed
from the front and side as shown in the figures. It may
alternatively include recesses to facilitate its manufacture when
the manifold 10 is a casting. In the preferred embodiment, the
three way return tee 30 is engaged to one end of the mounting
bracket 40. In this embodiment, the three way supply tee 20 is
engaged within the mounting bracket 40 at a position below the
three way return tee 30 in the vehicle installed position.
[0041] The alternative tee embodiment involves the use of an
integral mounting body. The relative position of the three way tees
is similar on this embodiment except that the externals to the tees
are fully enclosed to the solid body. The solid piece has the
passages extruded within or cut to form the three way passages.
This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. The integrated mounting
means 50 may integrally engaged on a lower portion of the mounting
body 60. The integrated mounting means 50 may be simply comprised
of a pair of engagement legs 51 as shown FIGS. 12 to 14.
[0042] When installed on a vehicle, the integrated mounting means
50 will be installed to a chassis engagement component. The chassis
engagement component may be any convenient part of the chassis such
as the frame rails, the cross member supports, or a chassis drive
train component such as the engine, the transmission, a drive
shaft, or a drive shaft mounted brake. In each case the integrated
mounting means 50 will be of a geometry to allow easy installation
to the chassis engagement component. The preferred chassis
engagement component is the transmission.
[0043] For installation to the transmission, the embodiment of the
manifold 10 will have two chassis engagement legs 51. The
engagement legs 51 will have engagement feet 52 which will have
mounting means 53. The mounting means 53 can be engaged with any
form of strong fastener. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.
7, the mounting means 53 are simple bolt holes which allow
installation to existing vehicle transmission bolts. The bolts may
be removed and reinstalled to engage the manifold 10. The
engagement legs 51 are spaced apart such that the engagement feet
may be attached to both upper sides of the transmission. The
engagement legs 51 and engagement feet 52 may be made of a flat
stock or generally flat with recesses as necessary for casting
manufacture of the manifold 10. The engagement legs 51 may be
shaped with a right angle with a first side 54 approximately
perpendicular to said bracket and a second side, the engagement
feet 52, turned downwards when engaged to the chassis engagement
component. These right angled engagement legs 51 will facilitate
installation to a transmission or drive-train component.
[0044] In one embodiment the legs 51 and engagement feet 52 are in
the same plane as the integrated mounting bracket 40. In the
preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket 40 and the engagement
legs 51 are engaged such that said supply-to-engine connection port
22 of said three way supply tee 20 and the return-to-manifold
connection port 32 of said three way return tee 30 are at a slight
up angle X to the horizontal plane of the vehicle when the
engagement legs 51 are engaged to the chassis engagement component.
The preferred up angle X is between fifteen and twenty degrees with
seventeen (17) degrees with the horizontal being ideal.
[0045] For all embodiments, the manifold 10 will be a single
integrated piece. The preferred material for the manifold is to be
cast of aluminum. Aluminum is desirable due to its light weight and
strength. Using A360.0 Aluminum, a manifold may be made as light as
0.64 pounds mass. For ease of manufacture of the cast aluminum
version of the manifold 10, there may be recesses in the front and
rear surfaces of the mounting bracket 40 and engagement legs 51 as
shown in FIGS. 15 to 21. The engagement feet 52 may be tapered at
the engagement means 53 as shown.
[0046] As described above, the dual fuel supply and return manifold
10 of the present invention provides a number of advantages, some
of which have been described above and others of which are inherent
in the invention. Also, modifications may be proposed to the dual
fuel supply and return manifold 10 without departing from the
teachings herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only
to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *