Abstract:
A fuel supply device includes a return fuel utilization buffer jar that conducts fuel into a fuel inlet port of a first three-way valve including a one-way check valve to allow the fuel to flow, uni-directionally, from the fuel inlet port to a fuel outlet port. Return fuel from an engine is conducted in through a return fuel inlet port of the return fuel utilization buffer jar. Fuel vapor in the return fuel utilization buffer jar is guided from a gas inlet port of a second three-way valve through a gas outlet port to a fuel tank. Vapor pressure in the return fuel utilization buffer jar is regulated by a ventilation port that is mounted in the second three-way valve and includes a one-way check valve in a direction toward the gas inlet port.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an automobile accessory, and more particularly to a fuel supply device and a return fuel utilization buffer jar. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    During the progress of science and technology for human living, automobiles are undoubtedly a measure that suits the need of transportation for human beings and additionally provide comfortableness of riding for the transportation of human beings. In the early days, the development of the automobiles does not focus on air pollution caused by the automobiles, and there was also no concern about the efficiency of operation of the automobiles for the need of green energy and environmental protection. 
         [0003]    Recently, with the emergence of consciousness of environmental protection, new trends have been brought out for making the development of automobiles in conformity with the desires of green energy and environmental protection in respect of the issues of reduction of air pollution caused by automobiles and reduced energy consumption through improving operation efficiency of the automobiles. Due to the gradual exhaustion of fossil energy, people have now paid more attention to reducing fuel consumption and improving operation efficiency of automobiles. In light of this, all the automobile manufacturers have been devoted themselves to new techniques and solutions, seeking for reduction of fuel consumption and improvement of operation efficiency of automobiles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device and a return fuel utilization buffer jar, which enable effective use of high temperature fuel returning from an engine to achieve the purposes of saving energy and increasing engine operation efficiency. 
         [0005]    To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fuel supply device, which is applicable to supplying fuel necessary for an operation of a rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine. The fuel supply device comprises a first three-way valve, a second three-way valve, and a return fuel utilization buffer jar. 
         [0006]    The first three-way valve comprises a fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port, and a return fuel receiving port. A reversal flow prevention device is arranged between the fuel inlet port and the fuel outlet port so as to constrain fuel to flow, in one direction, from the fuel inlet port to the fuel outlet port. The fuel outlet port and the return fuel receiving port are connected to and in communication with each other. The second three-way valve comprises a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, and a ventilation port. A one-way reversal flow prevention device is arranged between the ventilation port and the gas inlet port for constraining flow in one direction from the ventilation port to the gas inlet port. The gas inlet port and the gas outlet port are connected to and in communication with each other. 
         [0007]    The return fuel utilization buffer jar comprises a hollow jar portion and a buoy arranged in interior of the hollow jar portion. The hollow jar portion has a lower portion in which a return fuel inlet port and a return fuel outlet port in communication with the interior are formed. The hollow jar portion has an upper portion in which a fuel vapor recovery hole in communication with the interior is formed. The return fuel inlet port functions to conduct in return fuel from the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine and vapor of the return fuel vapor is conducted out, from the fuel vapor recovery hole, via the gas inlet port of the second three-way valve. When a liquid level of the return fuel in the hollow jar portion is higher than a threshold level, the buoy is moved by buoyance to open a passage so as to allow the return fuel in the hollow jar portion to flow from the return fuel outlet port, through the return fuel receiving port of the first three-way valve, to the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine. 
         [0008]    The return fuel utilization buffer jar comprises a connection rod. The connection rod has an end that is in a conical form. The hollow jar portion comprises a jar body, an upper cap, a lower cap, and a guide post. The upper cap is coupled to and closes the jar body and comprises an upper shaft hole and the fuel vapor recovery hole formed therein. The lower cap is mounted to the lower end of the jar body and comprises the return fuel inlet port and a post hole formed therein. The guide post is retained in a post hole and comprises a central hole and the return fuel outlet port formed therein. The central hole has a lower end that is located in the return fuel outlet port and is in a conical form such that when the connection rod is set up in the upper shaft hole and the central hole, upward/downward movement the buoy selectively opens/closes the passage that is established between the return fuel outlet port and the lower end of the central hole. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, each of the upper cap and the lower cap comprises an o-ring for sealing against the hollow jar portion and preventing leakage of fuel. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the upper cap and the lower cap comprise a transparent fuel tube connected therebetween for observation of the liquid level in the hollow jar portion. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the lower cap is provided with a temperature sensor coupling seat mounted thereto for coupling with a temperature sensor, such that the temperature sensor so coupled may detect a fuel temperature of return fuel in the return fuel utilization buffer jar. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the first three-way valve of the fuel supply device comprises a holed seat and a valve seat. The holed seat comprises a holed seat junction surface, a holed seat external surface, and a holed seat lateral surface. The fuel outlet port is formed and arranged on the holed seat lateral surface. The return fuel receiving port is formed and arranged on the holed seat external surface. The holed seat junction surface comprises a passage trough formed therein and connected between and in communication with the return fuel receiving port and the fuel outlet por. The valve seat comprises a valve seat junction surface, a valve seat external surface, and a valve seat lateral surface. The fuel inlet port is formed and arranged on the valve seat external surface. The valve seat junction surface comprises a circling groove formed therein and corresponding to a circumference of the passage trough, a threaded hole formed inboard the circling groove, and a valve hole in communication with the fuel inlet port. The circling groove receives an O-ring disposed therein. The threaded hole receives a membrane spring, which selectively covers and closes the valve hole, and a retention board, which limits an opening angle of the membrane spring, to be sequentially fixed thereto. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the second three-way valve of the fuel supply device comprises a holed seat and a valve seat. The holed seat comprises a holed seat junction surface, a holed seat external surface, and a holed seat lateral surface. The gas inlet port is formed and arranged on the holed seat lateral surface. The gas outlet port is formed and arranged on the holed seat external surface. The holed seat junction surface comprises a passage trough formed therein and connected between and in communication with the gas inlet port and the gas outlet port. The valve seat comprises a valve seat junction surface, a valve seat external surface, and a valve seat lateral surface. The ventilation port is formed and arranged on the valve seat external surface. The valve seat junction surface comprises a circling groove formed therein and corresponding to a circumference of the passage trough, a threaded hole formed inboard the circling groove, and a valve hole in communication with the ventilation port. The circling groove comprises an O-ring disposed therein. The threaded hole receives a membrane spring, which selectively covers and closes the valve hole, and a retention board, which limits an opening angle of the membrane spring, to be sequentially fixed thereto. 
         [0014]    In summary, the present invention provides a fuel supply device and a return fuel utilization buffer jar thereof, which allows high temperature fuel collected and recovered from an engine to be directly re-supplied to the engine for recycling and reuse so as to prevent waste resulting from vaporization during the process of recovery of the high temperature fuel thereby achieving the purposes of saving energy and improving engine operation efficiency. 
         [0015]    The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
         [0016]    Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a fuel supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and also illustrating an example of an application thereof. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating a portion of the fuel supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the fuel supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a guide post of the fuel supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the guide post of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view illustrating a three-way valve of the fuel supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the three-way valve of the fuel supply device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic view is provided for illustrating a fuel supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and also illustrating an example of an application thereof. As shown in the drawing, the fuel supply device  10  comprises three-way valves  11 ,  12  and a return fuel utilization buffer jar  13 , which is applicable to supplying fuel necessary for an operation of a rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40 . 
         [0026]    Generally speaking, fuel contained in a fuel tank  20  is first filtered by a fuel filter  30  and is then supplied to an injection pump of the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40  to be pressurized by the injection pump for distributing and feeding to injection nozzles of the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40  for atomization and combustion to generate power. During a process of compression and pressurization of fuel by the injection pump of the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40 , excessive fuel is returned to the fuel tank  20  as return fuel. The return fuel, which has been pressurized, generally has a fuel temperature that is higher than a fuel temperature of the fuel supplied from the fuel tank  20 . The fuel temperature of the return fuel is often between  72  to  75  degrees Celsius and may exhibit a phenomenon of being vaporized, making it inadequate to be directly fed into and used by the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40 . Thus, the present invention provides the fuel supply device  10  that is arranged between the fuel tank  20  and the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40  in order to effectively collect and recover the return fuel for re-use for achieving the purposes of saving energy and improving engine operation efficiency. 
         [0027]    Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 7 , the three-way valve  11  comprises a holed seat  110  and a valve seat  120 . The holed seat  110  comprises a holed seat junction surface  1101 , a holed seat lateral surface  1102 , and a holed seat external surface  1103 . A fuel outlet port  112  is formed and arranged on the holed seat lateral surface  1102 . A return fuel receiving port  113  is formed and arranged on the holed seat external surface  1103 . The holed seat junction surface  1101  comprises a passage trough  1104  formed therein and connected between and communicating with the return fuel receiving port  113  and the fuel outlet port  112 . The valve seat  120  comprises a valve seat external surface  1201 , a valve seat lateral surface  1202 , and a valve seat junction surface  1203 . A fuel inlet port  111  is formed and arranged on the valve seat external surface  1201 . The valve seat junction surface  1203  comprises a circling groove  1204  formed therein to correspond to an outer circumference of the passage trough  1104 , a threaded hole  1205  that is formed inboard the circling groove  1204 , and a valve hole  1206  in communication with the fuel inlet port  111 . The circling groove  1204  receives an O-ring  1207  disposed therein. Fixed, in sequence, to the threaded hole  1205  by a screw  1200  are a retention board  1209  that limits an opening angle of a membrane spring  1208  and the membrane spring  1208  that selectively covers and closes the valve hole  1206 . 
         [0028]    Thus, the three-way valve  11  comprises the fuel inlet port  111 , the fuel outlet port  112 , and the return fuel receiving port  113 . Between the fuel inlet port  111  and the fuel outlet port  112 , the membrane spring  1208  that selectively covers and closes the valve hole  1206  provides a function of a check valve to limit fuel to be fed uni-directionally from the fuel inlet port  111  to the fuel outlet port  112 . The fuel outlet port  112  and the return fuel receiving port  113  are connected and in communication with each other by through the passage trough  1104 . The membrane spring  1208  is a temperature-resistant metal film and is preferably capable of resisting negative suction pressure of 0.05-0.1 Pa and also resisting positive suction pressure of 2-5 Pa so as to exhibit properties of low resistance, reversal prevention, and large flow rate. 
         [0029]    The three-way valve  12  comprises a holed seat  110  and a valve seat  120 . The holed seat  110  comprises a holed seat junction surface  1101 , a holed seat lateral surface  1102 , and a holed seat external surface  1103 . An gas inlet port  122  is formed and arranged on the holed seat lateral surface  1102 . An gas outlet port  123  is formed and arranged on the holed seat external surface  1103 . 
         [0030]    The holed seat junction surface  1101  comprises a passage trough  1104  formed therein and connected between and communicating with the gas inlet port  122  and the gas outlet port  123 . The valve seat  120  comprises a valve seat junction surface  1203 , a valve seat external surface  1201 , and a valve seat lateral surface  1202 . A ventilation port  121  is formed and arranged on the valve seat external surface  1201 . The valve seat junction surface  1203  comprises a circling groove  1204  formed therein to correspond to an outer circumference of the passage trough  1104 , a threaded hole  1205  that is formed in board the circling groove  1204 , and a valve hole  1206  in communication with the ventilation port  121 . The circling groove  1204  receives an O-ring  1207  disposed therein. Fixed, in sequence, to the threaded hole  1205  by a screw  1210  are a retention board  1209  that limits an opening angle of a membrane spring  1208  and the membrane spring  1208  that selectively covers and closes the valve hole  1206 . 
         [0031]    Thus, the three-way valve  12  comprises the gas inlet port  122 , the gas outlet port  123 , and the ventilation port  121 . Between the ventilation port  121  and the gas inlet port  122 , the membrane spring  1208  that selectively covers and closes the valve hole  1206  provides a function of a one-way check valve constraining flow in one direction from the ventilation port  121  to the gas inlet port  12  in order to regulate fuel vapor pressure in the return fuel utilization buffer jar  13 . The gas inlet port  122  and the gas outlet port  123  are connected to and in communication with each other through the passage trough  1104 . 
         [0032]    Referring collectively to  FIGS. 2-5 , the return fuel utilization buffer jar  13  comprises a hollow jar portion  131  and a buoy  132  arranged in the hollow jar portion  131 . The buoy  132  comprises a connection rod  1321 . The connection rod  1321  has an end  13211  that is in a conical form. The hollow jar portion  131  comprises a jar body  1311 , an upper cap  1312 , a lower cap  1313 , and a guide post  1314 . The upper cap  1312  is hermetically coupled, through an O-ring  13125 , to the jar body  1311  and comprises an upper shaft hole  13121 , a fuel vapor recovery hole  13122 , and an upper liquid level hole  13123  formed therein. The fuel vapor recovery hole  13122  and the upper liquid level hole  13123  are arranged to provide communication between inside and outside of the hollow jar portion  131  in order to conduct the vapor of return fuel contained inside the hollow jar portion  131  from the fuel vapor recovery hole  13122 , through a double-end-threaded adaptor  14 , to the gas inlet port  122  of the three-way valve  12 . 
         [0033]    The lower cap  1313  is hermetically coupled, through an O-ring  13135 , to a bottom of the jar body  1311  and comprises a return fuel inlet port  13131 , a post hole  13132 , a lower liquid level hole  13133 , and a seat hole  13134  formed therein for communication between the inside and outside of the hollow jar portion  131  in order to conduct return fuel from the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40  into the hollow jar portion  131 . A transparent fuel tube  15  is connected between the upper liquid level hole  13123  and the lower liquid level hole  13133  for observation and recognition of liquid level inside the hollow jar portion  131 . 
         [0034]    Further, the seat hole  13134  is provided with a temperature sensor coupling seat  16  mounted thereto for coupling with a temperature sensor for temperature detection when detection of the fuel temperature of the return fuel inside the return fuel utilization buffer jar  13  is desired. The guide post  1314  is fixed, in a hermetical manner, to and received in the post hole  13132  of the lower cap  1313  and comprises a central hole  13141  and a return fuel outlet port  13142  formed therein. The central hole  13141  has a lower end  13143  that is located in the return fuel outlet port  13142  and is in a conical form for mating the conical end  13211  of the connection rod  1321  of the buoy  132  when the connection rod  1321  is set up in the upper shaft hole  13121  and the central hole  13141 , so that a passage may be selectively established or blocked between the return fuel outlet port  13142  and the lower end  13143  of the central hole  13141  by means of upward/downward movement of the buoy  132 . 
         [0035]    In other words, when the liquid level of the return fuel received in the hollow jar portion  13  is higher than a threshold level, the buoy  132  is moved by buoyance to open the passage. In this condition, the return fuel inside the hollow jar portion  13  is allowed to flow through the return fuel outlet port  13142  of the guide post  1314  to the conical lower end  13143  of the central hole  13141  to further flow from the return fuel receiving port  113  of the three-way valve  11 , via the fuel outlet port  112 , into the rotary high-pressure fuel distribution engine  40  for recovery and re-use. 
         [0036]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
         [0037]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.