Generator including a fuel shutoff valve
View Patent ↗A generator including an enclosure, an internal combustion engine provided within the enclosure, an alternator provided within the enclosure and driven by the internal combustion engine, a fuel supply line for providing fuel to the internal combustion engine, a valve for selectively closing the fuel supply line, the valve biased to a normally closed position, a controller configured to provide a signal to maintain the valve in an open position, and a temperature responsive device configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to a threshold temperature, thereby resulting in the closing of the valve.
1. A generator, comprising:
an enclosure;
an internal combustion engine provided within the enclosure;
an alternator provided within the enclosure and driven by the internal combustion engine;
a fuel supply line for providing fuel to the internal combustion engine;
a valve for selectively closing the fuel supply line, the valve biased to a normally closed position, wherein the valve is provided outside of the enclosure;
a controller configured to provide a signal to maintain the valve in an open position; and
a temperature responsive device configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to a threshold temperature, thereby resulting in the closing of the valve.
2. The generator of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve.
3. The generator of claim 1 , wherein the temperature responsive device is provided within the enclosure proximate the fuel line.
4. The generator of claim 3 , wherein the temperature responsive device is a thermal fuse.
5. The generator of claim 4 , wherein the temperature responsive device is electrically connected in series between the valve and the controller.
6. The generator of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a hollow in which the valve is disposed.
7. The generator of claim 6 , further comprising an opening formed through the enclosure;
wherein the fuel supply line passes through the opening.
8. A fuel shut-off system for a generator, comprising:
a generator enclosure
a normally closed valve disposed along a fuel supply line, the valve configured to selectively close the fuel supply line, wherein the valve is provided outside of the generator enclosure;
a controller configured to provide a signal to maintain the valve in an open position; and
a temperature responsive device proximate the fuel supply line and disposed within the generator enclosure;
wherein the temperature responsive device is configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to a threshold temperature, thereby resulting in the closing of the valve.
9. The fuel shut-off system of claim 8 , wherein the temperature responsive device is a thermal fuse.
10. The fuel shut-off system of claim 8 , wherein the temperature responsive device is electrically connected in series between the valve and the controller.
11. The fuel shut-off system of claim 10 , further comprising a second temperature responsive device electrically connected in series between the controller and the valve and electrically connected in parallel with the first temperature responsive device.
12. The fuel shut-off system of claim 8 , further comprising a second normally closed valve disposed along the fuel line and configured to selectively close the fuel supply line.
13. The fuel shut-off system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a signal to maintain the second valve in an open position; and
wherein the temperature responsive device is configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the second valve upon exposure to a threshold temperature, thereby resulting in the closing of the second valve.
14. The fuel shut-off of claim 8 , wherein the temperature responsive device comprises a temperature sensor.
15. A fuel shut-off system for an engine, comprising:
an engine enclosure;
an internal combustion engine disposed within the engine enclosure;
a fuel supply line for providing fuel to the internal combustion engine;
a valve for selectively closing the fuel supply line, the valve biased to a normally closed position;
a controller configured to provide a signal to maintain the valve in an open position, wherein the valve is provided outside of the engine enclosure; and
a sensor configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to one of a threshold temperature and a threshold gas concentration, thereby resulting in the closing of the valve, wherein the sensor is disposed within the engine enclosure.
16. The fuel shut-off system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a thermal fuse that is configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to a threshold temperature.
17. The fuel shut-off system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a gas sensor that is configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to a threshold gas concentration.