Patent ID: 6289879
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: F02M,Y02T

Abstract:
A recirculation valve for controlling the recirculation of fuel from a fuel tank to an engine where air is also supplied from the engine, the recirculation valve comprising:a valve body having a fuel supply inlet port to receive fuel from the tank, a fuel supply outlet port to direct fuel to the engine, a fuel return inlet port to receive excess fuel and air from the engine, and a fuel return outlet port fluidly connected to the tank, a fuel supply passage interconnecting the fuel supply inlet port and the fuel supply outlet port, and a fuel return passage interconnecting the fuel return inlet port and the fuel return outlet port; anda pressure valve located between the fuel supply passage and the fuel return passage, the pressure valve normally in a closed condition when fuel is absent in the fuel return passage, and moving to an open condition in response to increasing fuel pressure in the fuel return passage to allow fuel in the fuel return passage to flow to the fuel supply passage, the pressure valve preventing air in the fuel return passage from communicating with fuel in the fuel supply passage, and further including a thermal actuator responsive to fuel temperature in the fuel supply passage, the thermal actuator maintaining the pressure valve in the closed condition when the fuel temperature in the fuel supply passage is above a predetermined level.