IP Library Granted Patent US 9,000,905
Granted Patent B2
US 9,000,905 · App. 13/074,988 · Granted Apr 7, 2015

Auxiliary fuel tank

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,000,905
App. No.
13/074,988
Granted
Apr 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel system for an engine includes a fuel line that delivers fuel from a main fuel tank to the engine and a first control device that releases a flow of the fuel from the main fuel tank into the fuel line. An auxiliary fuel tank is connected to the fuel line, and a second control device controls a flow of the fuel between the auxiliary fuel tank and the fuel line. After the fuel is released from the main fuel tank into the fuel line, the second control device fills the auxiliary fuel tank with the fuel from the main fuel tank.

Claims (24)

1. A fuel system for an engine, comprising:

a fuel line configured to deliver fuel from a removable main fuel tank to the engine;

a first control device configured to release a flow of the fuel from the removable main fuel tank into the fuel line in response to an installation of the removable main fuel tank;

an auxiliary fuel tank connected to the fuel line, wherein the fuel line is further configured to deliver fuel from the auxiliary fuel tank to the engine;

a monitoring device configured to detect a fuel pressure of the fuel system, wherein an increase in the fuel pressure is associated with the installation of the removable main fuel tank; and

a second control device configured to fill the auxiliary fuel tank with at least a portion of the fuel released from the removable main fuel tank in response to the monitoring device having detected the increase in the fuel pressure, and wherein the second control device is further configured to release the portion of the fuel from the auxiliary fuel tank into the fuel line for consumption by the engine in response to the monitoring device detecting a decrease in the fuel pressure.

2. The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the second control device is further configured to prohibit a release of the portion of the fuel from the auxiliary fuel tank into the fuel line while the fuel is being delivered from the removable main fuel tank to the engine.

3. The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein in response to detecting the decrease in the fuel pressure, the first control device is configured to prohibit both the flow of the fuel from the removable main fuel tank into the fuel line and a flow of the fuel from the fuel line into the removable main fuel tank.

4. The fuel system of claim 3 , wherein the removable main fuel tank is substantially empty of the fuel while the fuel is being delivered from the auxiliary fuel tank to the engine.

5. The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the first control device is further configured to release the flow of the fuel from the removable main fuel tank into the fuel line prior to detecting the decrease in the fuel pressure.

6. A method, comprising:

releasing a flow of fuel from a removable main fuel tank into a fuel line for consumption by an engine, wherein the fuel is released into the fuel line in response to installation of the removable main fuel tank;

detecting an increase in fuel pressure associated with the installation of the removable main fuel tank;

filling an auxiliary fuel tank with at least a portion of the fuel from the removable main fuel tank in response to detecting the increase in fuel pressure;

detecting a decrease in fuel pressure; and

releasing the portion of the fuel from the auxiliary fuel tank into the fuel line for consumption by the engine in response to detecting the decrease in fuel pressure.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising prohibiting a release of the portion of the fuel from the auxiliary fuel tank into the fuel line while the fuel is being delivered from the removable main fuel tank to the engine.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the decrease in fuel pressure is associated with a removal of the removable main fuel tank.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the removable main fuel tank is substantially empty of the fuel while the portion of the fuel is being released from the auxiliary fuel tank.

10. The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the decrease in the fuel pressure is associated with a decreased amount of the fuel in the removable main fuel tank.

11. The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises a temperature compensating pressure switch, wherein the temperature compensating pressure switch is configured to compensate for changes in the fuel pressure due to environmental temperature changes.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein filling the auxiliary tank comprises:

opening a control device allowing the portion of the fuel to flow into the auxiliary fuel tank in response to detecting the increase in fuel pressure; and

closing the control device in response to the control device detecting a change in auxiliary fuel pressure associated with the auxiliary fuel tank being full.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.
To: HYSTER-YALE MATERIALS HANDLING, INC.
Reel/Frame 067661/0617 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2021
From: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC. (A DELAWARE CORPORATION); NUVERA FUEL CELLS, LLC (A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (A NATIONAL BANKING INSTITUTION)
Reel/Frame 057013/0037 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 30, 2017
From: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.; HYSTER-YALE MATERIALS HANDLING, INC.; HYSTER OVERSEAS CAPITAL CORPORATION, LLC; NUVERA FUEL CELLS, LLC; BOLZONI HOLDINGS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 042624/0838 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2016
From: NMHG OREGON, LLC
To: HYSTER-YALE GROUP INC.
Reel/Frame 038771/0288 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2013
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NMHG OREGON, LLC
Reel/Frame 031862/0216 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 26, 2012
From: NMHG OREGON, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 028445/0171 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2011
From: OXLEY, LONNIE R.; HELTON, DARRELL E.; BILLINGS, DAVID S.; STEPHENSON, JEFFREY G.
To: NMHG OREGON, LLC
Reel/Frame 026403/0708 →