Dual fuel selector switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024183321-A1
Application number	US-202418443530-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2024
Priority date	Nov 1, 2013
Publication date	Jun 6, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel selector for use with a dual fuel generator includes a selector plate, a first fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a first fuel flow to an engine of the dual fuel generator, and a second fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a second fuel flow to the engine of the dual fuel generator. A selector switch coupled to the selector plate is linearly translatable from a first position to a second position, so as to enable positioning of only one of the first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly in the ON position at a given time, such that the first and second fuel valve assemblies cannot be in the ON position concurrently.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel selector for use with a dual fuel generator, the fuel selector comprising:
a valve assembly fluidly couplable to each of a first fuel source and a second fuel source and operable to selectively control a first fuel flow and a second fuel flow from the first fuel source and the second fuel source, respectively, to an engine of the dual fuel generator; and a selector switch to allow a user to manually select the first fuel flow or the second fuel flow.

2 . The fuel selector of claim 1 wherein the two fuel outputs are configured to selectively supply fuel to the engine from only one of the first and second fuel sources responsive to selection of the first fuel flow or the second fuel flow via the selector switch and a corresponding operation of the valve assembly.

3 . The fuel selector of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly comprises:
a first fuel valve having open and closed positions to selectively control the first fuel flow to the engine; and
a second fuel valve having open and closed positions to selectively control the second fuel flow to the engine.

4 . The fuel selector of claim 3 further comprising:
a first valve handle coupled to the first fuel valve and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively actuate the first fuel valve between the open position and the closed position, respectively; and
a second valve handle coupled to the second fuel valve and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively actuate the second fuel valve between the open position and the closed position, respectively.

5 . The fuel selector of claim 3 wherein the first fuel valve and the second fuel valve are non-solenoid, mechanical valves.

6 . The fuel selector of claim 3 wherein the selector switch provides for manual actuation of the first fuel valve and the second fuel valve between the open and closed positions.

7 . The fuel selector of claim 1 further comprising a carburetor solenoid switch configured to activate an associated carburetor solenoid when actuated.

8 . The fuel selector of claim 7 wherein, when the selector switch is in a first position, the selector switch actuates the carburetor solenoid switch so as to activate the carburetor solenoid and prohibit the second fuel flow to the engine.

9 . The fuel selector of claim 8 wherein, when the selector switch is in a second position, the carburetor solenoid allows the second fuel flow to the engine.

Assignees

• Champion Power Equipment Inc

Inventors

• Sarder Mark J
• Jenison Leigh
• Schmit Ian

Classifications

• F02D19/0676 Primary

  Multi-way valves; Switch-over valves · CPC title

• F02D19/0613

  Switch-over from one fuel to another (F02D19/081 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02D19/0647

  the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME] · CPC title

• F02D29/06

  peculiar to engines driving electric generators · CPC title

• F02M13/08

  Carburettors adapted to use liquid and gaseous fuels, e.g. alternatively · CPC title