Patent Abstract:
A fuel warming device for increasing the temperature of a vehicle&#39;s fuel from the fuel line before entering the engine featuring a housing, a copper coil spanning the housing, a heating fluid filling the housing, and a heating element for heating the heating fluid operatively connected to a power source via an electrical connection component. The fuel from the fuel line is heated in the copper coil tube by the heated heating fluid.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a device for warming fuel before it is combusted inside a vehicle engine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous types of fuel warming systems for vehicles are currently in use. Fuel warming systems warm fuel before it is injected into the engine. The warming of fuel may help the efficiency of the combustion inside the engine. The present invention features an improved fuel warming device, which may be used, with unleaded fuel or diesel fuel. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the fuel warming device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the fuel warming device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross sectional view of the fuel warming device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the fuel warming device of  FIG. 1  as installed in a vehicle. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a control switch of the fuel warming device of the present invention as mounted on a dash of the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention features a fuel warming device  100  for increasing the temperature of fuel for an engine  430  of a vehicle  410  for improved combustion within the cylinders of the engine  430 . The fuel warming device  100  can be used with diesel fuel or unleaded fuel. 
     The fuel warming device  100  comprises a generally cylindrical housing  110  (e.g., generally cylindrical housing) for heating the fuel. The housing  110  has a first end  111 , a second end  112 , an inner surface  113 , and an outer surface  114 , which altogether enclose an inner compartment  115 . The housing  110  can be installed in a vehicle  410 , for example near the engine  430  of the vehicle  410  (see  FIG. 4 ). In some embodiments, the housing  110  is constructed from a material comprising a metal, e.g., copper, the like, or a combination thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a copper coil tube  210  having a first end  211  and a second end  212  spans the length of the housing  110  (e.g., as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 ) in the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110 . The first end  211  of the copper coil tube  210  extends outwardly through the first end  111  of the housing  110  and the second end  212  of the copper coil tube  210  extends outwardly through the second end  112  of the housing  110 . Fuel from a fuel line  440  can enter the copper coil tube  210  via the first end  211 , and fuel can exit the copper coil tube  210  via the second end  212 . Fuel exiting the copper coil tube  210  is subsequently injected into the engine  430  of the vehicle  410 . 
     A heating fluid  230  is disposed in the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110 . The heating fluid  230  fills the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110  and surrounds the copper coil tube  210 . In some embodiments, the heating fluid  230  comprises a material such as an anti-freeze, a thermal transfer oil, the like, or a combination thereof. Such heating fluids are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The heating fluid  230  helps transfer heat quickly and evenly distributes the heat in the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110 . The heating fluid  230  helps to held heat in the housing  110  (heat is held longer in the housing  110  with the heating fluid  230  than without the heating fluid  230 ). 
     A heating element  250  is disposed in the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110 . The heating element  250  is for increasing the temperature of the heating fluid  230  that surrounds the copper coil tube  210 . When the heating element  250  is activated, the temperature of the heating fluid  230  increases, which warms the copper coil tube  210 . Fuel that runs through the copper coil tube  210  is then warmed by the copper coil tube  210 , in some embodiments, the heating element  230  is a 12-volt submersible heater. In some embodiments, the heating element  250  is disposed in the center portion of the coil  210 , in some embodiments, the heating element  250  is spread throughout portions of the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110 . 
     The heating element  250  is operatively/electrically connected to an electrical connection component  280 . In some embodiments, the electrical connection component  280  is disposed on the second end  112  of the housing  110 . The electrical connection component  280  is for operatively connecting the heating element  250  to a power source, for example the battery or fuses  450  of the vehicle  410 . In some embodiments, one or more electrical wires  290  connect the electrical connection component  280  to the battery or fuses  450  of the vehicle  410 . 
     In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  of the present invention further comprises an electrical housing  600 . In some embodiments, the electrical housing  600  is disposed on the outside surface  114  of the housing  110 . In some embodiments, a power switch  610  is disposed on the electrical housing  600 , which allow a user to turn the fuel warming device  100  on and off. For example, in some embodiments, the heating element  250  is operatively/electrically connected to the power switch  610  of the electrical housing  600 . The power switch  610  can move between an on position (to turn on the heating element  250 ) and an off position (to turn off the heating element  250 ), for example. 
     In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  further comprises a power indicator light  620  for indicating when the fuel warming device  100  (e.g., heating element  250 ) is on. For example, the power indicator light may be operatively connected to the power switch  610 . When the power switch is in the on position, the indicator light  620  may be illuminated. When the power switch is in the off position, the indicator light  620  may not be illuminated. Alternatively, the indicator lights may function via different colors or light patterns when the device is on or off. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical housing  600  comprises one or more precautionary fuses  670 . Precautionary fuses are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art and are known to function to help prevent power overloads. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, a wire conduit  680  operatively connects the electrical connection component  280  to the electrical housing  600  (e.g., the indicator light  620 , the power switch  610 , and/or fuses  670 ). 
     In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  further comprises a thermal disc. In some embodiments, the thermal disc is similar to a thermostat, for example the thermal disc measures the temperature of the fuel and/or the heating fluid  230 . The thermal disc may shut off the fuel warming device  100  (e.g., the heating element  250 ) off if a particular temperature has been reached. Or, in some embodiments, the thermal disc may turn on the fuel warming device  100  (e.g., the heating element  250 ) if the thermal disc detects that the fuel is too cold. In some embodiments, the thermal disc may help prevent the heating fluid  230  and/or fuel from overheating. The thermal disc may help to conserve energy, for example the device  100  is turned off automatically when it is not needed. 
     In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  further comprises a remote control switch device  520  for allowing a user to turn the fuel warming device  100  on and off from inside the vehicle  410 . In some embodiments, the control switch device is installed inside the vehicle  410 , for example on the dash  460  of the vehicle  410 . In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  may be activated at any time by the user so that fuel is delivered to the engine  430  at a predetermined temperature. In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  can be hooked up to an ignition system of the vehicle for easy activation. The remote control switch device  520  may be operatively connected to the electrical connection component  280 . 
     Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the fuel warming device  100  of the present invention is advantageous because it will help to ensure optimum power and performance from the fuel being burned, thereby improving fuel economy for the vehicle  410 . The fuel warming device  100  is designed such that the inner compartment  115  of the housing  110  is full of heating fluid  230  and constantly heats the coil  210  (when turned on). This design helps to keep the temperature of the heating fluid  230  and/or fuel constant, and helps prevent the device from freezing. 
     In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  is mounted within the engine compartment of the vehicle  410 . In some embodiments, the fuel is warmed in about 6 to 7 minutes. 
     In some embodiments, the warming device  100  is installed in an aftermarket vehicle. In some embodiments, the warming device  100  is installed in a vehicle during production. 
     In some embodiments, the fuel warming device  100  further comprises insulation  119 . The insulation  119  may be disposed, for example, between the outside surface  114  and the inside surface  113  of the housing  110  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The fuel warming device  100  may be constructed in a variety of sizes. In some embodiments, the housing  110  is about 12 inches in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the housing  110  is between about 6 to 12 inches in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the housing  110  is between about 12 to 16 inches in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the housing is more than about 16 inches in length. 
     In some embodiments, the housing  110  is about 4 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the housing  110  is between about 2 to 4 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the housing  110  is between about 4 to 6 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the housing  110  is more than about 6 inches in diameter. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical housing  600  comprises an optional pressure gauge for testing purposes, for example for testing when the fuel warming device  100  is being constructed. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the housing  110  is about 5 inches in diameter includes a housing  110  that is between 4.5 and 5.5 inches in diameter. 
     The disclosures of the following U.S. patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,047; U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,915; U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,358; U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,739; U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,356; U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,577; U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,005; U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,897. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8