Fuel transfer apparatus

Apparatus transfers fuel from the pressurized fuel line of a fuel-using motor vehicle to another vehicle or fuel container through a flexible hose. A T connector or Y connector is installed in the fuel line. The branch is supplied with a shut off valve and a double end shut-off quick connect coupling to a flexible hose with a valved nozzle at its end. When the hose is detached for storage, the coupling upon opening automatically seals both free ends to prevent leakage in the engine compartment while the shut off valve provides extra security. A unique venting system for the detached hose is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to fuel transfer, and more particularly to apparatus 
for transfering fuel from one motor vehicle to the tank of another vehicle 
or to a fuel container. 
There are many situations where a vehicle with fuel in the tank is 
accessible to a vehicle or other fuel driven device that is devoid of 
fuel. The usual remedy is to drive the operating vehicle to a filling 
station and return with a container of fuel. In other cases a hose is used 
to siphon fuel from the tank. Some vehicles have devices in their fuel 
system to prevent the theft of fuel. Siphoning is awkward and may result 
in ingesting some of the fuel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide apparatus that is 
safe, convenient and easily controlled for removing fuel from a motor 
vehicle that uses the engine operating mechanisms to force the fuel from 
the tank, through a flexible hose to a container. The apparatus includes a 
T connector that is interposed in the vehicle's pressured fuel line. The 
branch from the T connector has a shut-off valve so that in normal 
operation there is no change in the fuel system of the vehicle. In series 
with the shut-off valve is a quick-connect coupling to a flexible fuel 
hose which terminates in a nozzle with a spring loaded cut-off valve. In 
normal vehicle operation the coupling is disconnected and the hose is 
stored away from the engine. The T-connector branch is closed off by two 
valves, the shut-off valve and the quick-connect coupling. When fuel needs 
to be dispensed from the vehicle, the coupling is joined, the shut-off 
valve is opened, the engine is started, and fuel under pressure is 
available at the nozzle by operating the cut-off valve. The process is 
reversed when the dispensing is completed. This will be convenient and 
useful for diesel engines on the farm or construction sites, for fueling 
garden equipment, and for highway patrol vehicles to assist stranded 
motorists, for example. 
These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent 
when the detailed description is considered in conjunction with the 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, a fuel line 2 in a conventional fuel-using 
vehicle leads from a fuel pump 3 to force fuel under pressure from the 
fuel tank 16 to the engine's carburetor, fuel injectors or the like at 17. 
A three-end connector 1 such as a T-connector or a Y-connector well known 
in the art is interposed in in the fuel line. The fuel line 2 is cut and 
two ends 4 are sealingly connected to the cut line such as by ferrule 
fittings or flange fittings. The third end 5 of the connector 1 is sealed 
to a shut off valve 9, the second end of which is connected to a double 
end shut-off quick connect coupling 6 which is in fluid connection with 
flexible hose 10 at a hose end terminus 14. 
Flexible hose 10 terminates at its free end 13 in a nozzle 11 provided with 
a spring-loaded, normally-off cut-off valve 12. When connected as shown in 
FIG. 1, valve 9 may be opened, the engine started to operate the fuel pump 
3 and pressurize line 2 with fuel. Fuel under pressure will then be 
available at nozzle 11 whenever valve 12 is actuated at the nozzle for 
filling fuel containers or the tank of another vehicle. A restrictive 
orifice 15 may be installed anywhere in the circuit branching from the 
fuel line to limit flow. 
Several safety elements are incorporated in the apparatus to prevent 
spilling of fuel in the engine compartment. The double end shut-off quick 
connect coupling 6 is exemplified by the SWAGELOK Q C4-D-400 connector by 
Swagelok Quick-Connect Co., Hudson, Ohio. When uncoupled, as shown in FIG. 
2, the two ends of the coupling both automatically seal shut with release 
of only a few drops of fluid even when uncoupled under pressure. For 
safety back up, the shut-off valve 9 is provided so that any leakage at 
the first coupling end 8 of the uncoupled connector is doubly prevented. 
When uncoupled, the hose will hold fuel sealed between the second coupling 
end 7 and the cut-off valve 12. To empty the hose through the nozzle, the 
second coupling end 7 must be vented. This is best accomplished by another 
first coupling end 18 attached to the hose but in fluid communication with 
the atmosphere. The coupling end 7 at the free end 14 of the hose is 
coupled to this end 18, and then operation of the spring loaded shut-off 
valve 12 allows fuel captive in the hose to drain out the nozzle. This 
also couples and protects the coupling from trauma and contamination when 
it is stored away from the engine compartment. A tethered protective cap 
19 may be provided to protect the coupling end 8 from trauma and 
contamination. 
The above disclosed invention has a number of particular features which 
should preferably be employed in combination although each is useful 
separately without departure from the scope of the invention. While I have 
shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be 
understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein 
specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the 
form and arrangement of parts and the specific manner of practicing the 
invention may be made within the underlying idea or principles of the 
invention within the scope of the appended claims.