IP Library Granted Patent US 11,614,060
Granted Patent B2
US 11,614,060 · App. 17/858,184 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Carburetor drain

Inventors: Terrence Rotter (Sheboygan Falls, WI); Todd Baumann (Howards Grove, WI); Gary Stenz (Mt. Calvary, WI)
F02M37/0052A01D34/001F02M5/02F02M37/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,614,060
App. No.
17/858,184
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carburetor includes a carburetor bowl, a fuel supply pipe, a fuel drain pipe, and a valve. The carburetor bowl is configured to store fuel and provide the fuel to an air passage. The fuel supply pipe is connected a fuel tank and the carburetor bowl. The fuel drain pipe is connected to the carburetor bowl and the fuel supply line. The valve for the fuel drain pipe is configured to open and close in response to an orientation of the carburetor.

Claims (36)

1. A carburetor comprising:

a carburetor bowl configured to store fuel and provide the fuel to an air passage;

a fuel supply pipe connecting a fuel tank to the carburetor bowl;

a fuel drain pipe connected to the carburetor bowl and the fuel supply line; and

a valve for the fuel drain pipe configured to allow draining in response to an orientation of the carburetor.

2. The carburetor of claim 1 , wherein the valve allows draining when the orientation of the carburetor is a storage orientation.

3. The carburetor of claim 1 , wherein the valve prevents draining when the orientation of the carburetor is an operation orientation.

4. The carburetor of claim 1 , wherein the valve opens or closes in response to a force of gravity.

5. The carburetor of claim 1 , wherein the fuel drain pipe is configured to drain stale fuel from the carburetor bowl.

6. The carburetor of claim 1 , wherein the valve opens with the orientation of a lawnmower that includes the carburetor.

7. A machine comprising:

an engine;

a fuel tank; and

a carburetor comprising:

a carburetor bowl configured to store fuel and provide the fuel to an air passage;

a fuel supply pipe connecting the fuel tank and the carburetor bowl; and

a fuel drain pipe connected to the carburetor bowl and one of the fuel supply line or the fuel tank;

wherein, when the machine is transitioned from a first orientation to a second orientation, fuel drains from the carburetor bowl to the fuel tank.

8. The machine of claim 7 , further comprising a supporting device, the supporting device supporting the engine in the second orientation and providing no support to the engine in the first orientation.

9. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the carburetor comprises a valve coupled between the fuel drain pipe and the fuel supply line.

10. The machine of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein an entirety of the plurality of wheels is in contact with a ground surface in the first orientation and fewer than the entirety of the plurality of wheels is in contact with a ground surface in the second orientation.

11. An engine comprising:

a carburetor, the carburetor comprising:

a carburetor bowl configured to store fuel and provide the fuel to an air passage;

a fuel supply pipe connecting a fuel tank to the carburetor bowl;

a fuel drain pipe connected to the carburetor bowl and the fuel supply line; and

wherein the carburetor is configured to allow draining via the fuel drain pipe in response to an orientation of the carburetor.

12. The engine of claim 11 , further comprising a valve, the valve enabling draining.

13. The engine of claim 12 , wherein the valve opens or closes in response to a force of gravity.

14. The engine of claim 12 , wherein the valve is fluidly coupled between the fuel drain pipe and the fuel supply pipe.

15. The engine of claim 12 , wherein the valve is a check valve.

16. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the carburetor is configured to allow draining when the orientation of the carburetor is a storage orientation.

17. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the carburetor is configured to prevent draining when the orientation of the carburetor is an operation orientation.

18. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the fuel drain pipe is configured to drain stale fuel from the carburetor bowl.

19. The engine of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect orientation of the engine.

20. The engine of claim 19 , wherein the carburetor is drained in response to data output by the sensor.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 3, 2024
From: CURTIS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; DISCOVERY ENERGY, LLC; HEILA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067306/0903 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded May 2, 2024
From: CURTIS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; DISCOVERY ENERGY, LLC; HEILA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067290/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2024
From: KOHLER CO.
To: DISCOVERY ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 067289/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2022
From: ROTTER, TERRENCE; BAUMANN, TODD; STENZ, GARY
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 060407/0932 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17395001 · Aug 5, 2021
Continuation 17029322 · Sep 23, 2020
Continuation 16560334 · Sep 4, 2019
Continuation 15923748 · Mar 16, 2018
Provisional Application 62477154 · Mar 27, 2017
Related Publication 20220341381A1 · Oct 27, 2022