IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,510,045
Granted Patent B2
US 12,510,045 · App. 18/426,218 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Biodiesel conversion kit for an FDL engine

Inventors: Scott Snyder (Valencia, PA); Dennis Shea (Slippery Rock, PA)
Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
F02M37/0064F02M31/16F02M37/0052
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,510,045
App. No.
18/426,218
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A biodiesel conversion kit is provided for a diesel engine. The biodiesel conversion kit may include a plurality of soft fuel lines with a Teflon inner sleeve, the plurality of soft fuel lines configured to couple a fuel reservoir to a series of unitized fuel injection assemblies. The biodiesel conversion kit may also include a first hard fuel line comprising a first bend angle configured to couple to a first soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines, a second hard fuel line comprising a second bend angle configured to couple to a second soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines, and a third hard fuel line comprising a third bend angle configured to couple to a third soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines.

Claims (36)

1 . A biodiesel conversion kit for a diesel engine, comprising:

a plurality of soft fuel lines with a Teflon inner sleeve, the plurality of soft fuel lines configured to couple a fuel reservoir to a series of unitized fuel injection assemblies;

a first hard fuel line comprising a first bend angle configured to couple to a first soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines;

a second hard fuel line comprising a second bend angle configured to couple to a second soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines; and

a third hard fuel line comprising a third bend angle configured to couple to a third soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines.

2 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of soft fuel lines with the Teflon inner sleeve comprise a fuel supply line and a fuel return line, the fuel supply line and the fuel return line comprising a first plurality of fuel line segments configured to couple between each unitized fuel injection assembly of the series.

3 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , wherein the first hard fuel line, the second hard fuel line, and the third hard fuel line each comprise a steel tube with flared openings, and a nut mounted over each flared opening.

4 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , wherein the first hard fuel line comprises a first end region and an second end region, the first end region comprising a first straight length arranged at the first bend angle from a second straight length, and the second end region comprising a fourth straight length arranged at a fourth bend angle from a fifth straight length, wherein the first bend angle comprises a first threshold range of 25°±5° and the fourth bend angle comprises a second threshold range of 90°±5°.

5 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 4 , wherein the second hard fuel line comprises a first end region and an second end region, the first end region comprising a first straight length arranged at the second bend angle from a second straight length, and a fourth straight length arranged at a fifth bend angle from a fifth straight length, wherein the second bend angle comprises a third threshold range of 11°±5° and the fifth bend angle comprises a fourth threshold range of 39°±5°.

6 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 5 , wherein the third hard fuel line comprises a first end region and an second end region, the first end region comprising a first straight length arranged at the third bend angle from a second straight length, and the second end region comprising a fifth straight length arranged at a sixth bend angle from a sixth straight length, wherein the third bend angle comprises a fifth threshold range of 21°±5° and the sixth bend angle comprises a sixth threshold range of 39°±5°.

7 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , further comprising a water separator configured to fluidly couple the fuel reservoir to a fuel supply line.

8 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , further comprising a diesel heater configured to selectively couple a fuel supply line to the diesel heater by operating a thermostatic valve.

9 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of soft fuel lines further comprise a second plurality of fuel line segments, the second plurality of fuel line segments configured to couple a low-pressure fuel pump and a strainer with the fuel reservoir.

10 . The biodiesel conversion kit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of soft fuel lines further comprise a stainless steel wire reinforced exterior.

11 . A method for a diesel engine, comprising:

operating the diesel engine with conventional fuel;

replacing biodiesel incompatible components of a fuel circuit with biodiesel compatible components; and

operating the diesel engine with biodiesel fuel,

wherein the biodiesel compatible components comprise a plurality of soft fuel lines with a Teflon inner sleeve, the plurality of soft fuel lines configured to fluidly couple a fuel reservoir to a series of unitized fuel injection assemblies;

a first hard fuel line comprising a first bend angle configured to couple to a first soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines;

a second hard fuel line comprising a second bend angle configured to couple to a second soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines; or

a third hard fuel line comprising a third bend angle configured to couple to a third soft fuel line of the plurality of soft fuel lines.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of soft fuel lines comprise a fuel supply line and a fuel return line, the fuel supply line and the fuel return line comprising a first plurality of fuel line segments configured to couple between each unitized fuel injection assembly of the series.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of soft fuel lines comprise a second plurality of fuel line segments configured to couple a low-pressure fuel pump and a strainer with the fuel reservoir.

14 . The method of claim 11 , the plurality of soft fuel lines replacing a plurality of biodiesel incompatible elastomeric hoses of the fuel circuit.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising fluidly coupling a water separator and a diesel heater to the fuel circuit.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first hard fuel line, the second hard fuel line, and the third hard fuel line each comprise a steel tube with flared openings, and a nut mounted over each flared opening.

17 . A system comprising:

a diesel engine comprising a biodiesel compatible fuel circuit connecting a series of unitized fuel injection assemblies to a fuel reservoir, the biodiesel compatible fuel circuit comprising:

a plurality of soft fuel lines comprising a Teflon inner sleeve;

a first hard fuel line comprising a first bend angle, the first hard fuel line coupling the fuel reservoir to a first fuel supply line of the plurality of soft fuel lines;

a second hard fuel line comprising a second bend angle, the second hard fuel line coupling a second fuel supply line of the plurality of soft fuel lines to the fuel reservoir; and

a third hard fuel line comprising a third bend angle, the third hard fuel line coupling a first fuel return line of the plurality of soft fuel lines to the fuel reservoir.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first fuel supply line and the first fuel return line fluidly couple a first bank of the series of unitized fuel injection assemblies to the fuel reservoir, and the second fuel supply line and a second fuel return line fluidly couple a second bank of the series of unitized fuel injection assemblies to the fuel reservoir.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a biodiesel compatible low-pressure fuel pump fluidly coupling the fuel reservoir to the first fuel supply line and the second fuel supply line, the biodiesel compatible low-pressure fuel pump configured to pressurize fuel entering the first fuel supply line and the second fuel supply line.

20 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a diesel heater fluidly coupled to the biodiesel compatible fuel circuit, the diesel heater selectively coupling the fuel reservoir to a heat exchanger by operating a thermostatic valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: SNYDER, SCOTT; SHEA, DENNIS
To: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066300/0656 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250243833A1 · Jul 31, 2025
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