Abstract:
The portable fuel delivery apparatus for temporarily providing fuel to disabled machines, such as motor vehicles. The apparatus comprises a container for housing the fuel, a hose for discharging the fuel from said container, an electric pump inside said container for pumping the fuel from the container through said hose, and a pair of wires to connect said electric pump to a power source.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a portable device for providing temporary fuel to a disabled motor device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable fuel delivery apparatus for temporarily providing fuel to a disabled motor vehicle. 
   Most cars built in the last twenty-five years, no longer have carburetors, but use fuel injectors instead. The fuel injection system requires the fuel to be delivered to the engine at a higher pressure than required for the carburetors. Accordingly, the high pressure electrical fuel pumps have been steadily replacing the mechanical fuel pumps. When a motor vehicle is disabled, e.g., resulting from an electrical fuel pump failure, the disabled vehicle is towed to a repair shop. Typically the disabled vehicle sits in a lot outside the repair shop until it is ready to be worked on by a mechanic. The problem is getting the disabled vehicle from where it was dropped off in the lot into the repair shop. Therefore, it is desirable to have a device that can be attached to a disable vehicle for enabling the vehicle to be started and driven into the repair shop. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable fuel delivery apparatus which overcomes the problems noted herein. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the portable fuel delivery apparatus comprises a container for housing the fuel, a hose for discharging the fuel from said container, an electric pump inside said container for pumping the fuel from the container through said hose, and a pair of wires to connect said electric pump to a power source. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the portable fuel delivery apparatus comprises an electric fuel pump enclosed in a fuel container, a hose and two electric wires or cables. The hose connected to the fuel pump and extending out of the container is used to deliver the fuel to the disabled motor vehicle. The electric fuel pump is powered by the disabled vehicle&#39;s battery via the two electric cables. 
   In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the portable fuel delivery apparatus as aforesaid additionally comprises a battery enclosed in the fuel container for powering the electric fuel pump and a switch for activating the fuel pump. 
   In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the portable fuel delivery apparatus as aforesaid additionally comprises a fuel pressure regulator for controlling or regulating the pressure or amount of fuel outputted from the portable fuel delivery apparatus. 
   In accordance with a yet another embodiment of the present invention, the portable fuel delivery apparatus as aforesaid additionally comprises a fuel pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of fuel outputted from the portable fuel delivery apparatus. 
   Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following detailed description, given by way of example, and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will be best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is an internal perspective view of a fuel pack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 2A–2C  are perspective views of the fuel pack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is readily implemented by presently available electrical components. The invention finds ready application in virtually all fuel based machines, including but not limited to motor vehicles (i.e., cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, tractors, all terrain vehicles (ATV), and the like), jet skis, boats, lawn mowers, generators, boilers, and the like. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the portable fuel delivery apparatus or fuel pack  100  comprises an electric fuel pump  1100  enclosed in a fuel container or can  1000 , a hose  1200  and two electric wires or cables  1300 . It is appreciated that the fuel can or container  1000  can be made of metal, plastic, polyethylene, vinyl and the like capable of holding a small quantity of fuel  1050 , such as one to two gallons. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the fuel container  1000  comprises a fuel filling opening for re-filling the fuel container  1000 . Typically, the fuel filling opening is closed with a fuel filler cap  1500  to prevent the fuel from spilling out of the fuel container  1000 . Preferably, the fuel container  1000  includes a vent cap (not shown) and complies with governmental regulations and standards, such as ANSI/ASTM F852–86. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the fuel container  1000  comprises a handle  1600 . For example, the handle  1600  can be built into the top of the fuel container  1600 . It is appreciated that the handle  1600  and the fuel container  1000  can be made as one piece from a single mold. 
   The electric fuel pump  1100  outputs or pumps the fuel  1050  in the container  1000  out via a hose  1200  connected to the outlet side  1110  of the electric fuel pump  1100  and extending, e.g., 5–6 ft., out of the fuel container  1000 . It is appreciated that the hose  1200  will extend out of the container  1000  sufficient for an operator to connect the hose  1200  to the inlet port of the fuel based apparatus (not shown), such as the fuel rail of a motor vehicle. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, one end (i.e., the near end) of the hose  1200  is attached to the outlet side of the electric fuel pump  100  and the other end (i.e., the far end) of the hose  1200  exits the fuel container  1000  near the top through an opening  1250  (see  FIGS. 2B–C ) on the container  1000 . Preferably, the hose  1200  includes a cover, a cap or other comparable closing means (not shown) to close the far end of the hose  1200  when the portable fuel pack  100  is not in use. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the hose  1200  is a stretchable hose such that the far end of the hose  1200  is near the opening  1250  and the operator pulls or stretches the hose  1200  to connect to the inlet port of the fuel based apparatus, such as the fuel rail of a motor vehicle. 
   Two electric cables or wires  1300  connected to a positive terminal/side  1120  and a negative terminal/side  1130  of the electric pump  1100  and extending, e.g., 5–6 ft., out of the fuel container  1000  can be connected to an external power source (not shown), such as the 12 volt car battery. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the electric wires/cables  1300  exit the fuel container  1000  through an opening  1350  (see  FIGS. 2A–B ) near the top of the fuel container  1000 . Preferably, the electric wires/cables  1300  is a stretchable wires/cables such that the far end of the electric wires/cables  1300  is near the opening  1350  and the operator pulls or stretches the electric wires/cables  1300  to connect to a power source. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2B , the opening  1350  for the electric wires  1300  can be located on the opposite side of the fuel container  1000  from the opening  1250  for the fuel hose  1200 . 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the fuel container  1000  comprises an internal power source  1900 , thereby eliminating the need for electric cables/wires  1300  and the opening  1350 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 2B , a switch  1400  is located on the outer surface of the fret container  1000  to activate the fuel pump  1100 . 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the fuel pack  100  comprises a fuel pressure regulator  1700  to control or regulate the pressure or amount of fuel outputted from the fuel container  1000  to the fuel based device apparatus, such as a fuel rail of a car. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the fuel pack  100  comprises a fuel pressure gauge  1800  to measure the pressure of the fuel outputted from the fuel container  1000  to the fuel based device apparatus, such as a fuel rail of a car. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the portable fuel delivery apparatus or fuel pack  100  for use with a disabled vehicle is described herein. When a vehicle is disabled due to fuel delivery related problems, e.g., faulty fuel pump, the operator, driver or mechanic can connect the fuel pack  100  to the disabled vehicle to operate the vehicle for a short time, such as driving the vehicle to a repair shop, rest stop, a garage bay to be put on the hydraulic lifts. It is appreciated that the fuel pack  100  can be similarly used to temporarily operate a generator or boiler until it can be repaired, and the like. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the portable fuel delivery apparatus or fuel pack  100  can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine if the vehicle&#39;s problem is related to the fuel system, such as a defective fuel pump. 
   While the present invention has been particularly described with respect to the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that various alterations, modifications and adaptations may be made based on the present disclosure, and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiment discussed above, those various alternatives, which have been described and all equivalents thereto.