Fuel system for a work vehicle

Abstract

A fuel system for a work vehicle such as a tractor includes a pair of fuel tanks located on either side of the vehicle that are connected by a cross feed fuel line. The fuel line permits fuel to flow from both tanks to a common fuel suction line, which, in turn, feeds the vehicle's engine with fuel. The fuel line includes a check valve that prevents the free flow of fluid through the cross feed line when the vehicle is driven across a slope. The check valve is disposed to prevent liquid fuel from flowing away from a fuel suction line and starving the suction line for fuel.

1 . A fuel tank system for a work vehicle, comprising: 
 a first fuel tank having a first fuel outlet disposed on a lower portion thereof;    a second fuel tank having a second fuel outlet disposed on a lower portion thereof;    a cross feed line having an inner diameter and coupled to and between the first and second outlets; and    a check valve disposed in the cross feed line to block fuel from flowing through the cross feed line from the second tank to the first tank.    
     
     
         2 . The fuel tank system of  claim 1  wherein the check valve comprises: 
 an annulus having an outer diameter and defining a circular opening; and  
 a valve element pivotally coupled to the annulus and sized to seal against and block the circular opening in a first pivotal position and to open in a second pivotal position.  
 
     
     
         3 . The fuel tank system of  claim 2 , wherein the annulus defines a generally circular sealing surface disposed about a circumference thereof and the valve element defines a generally circular sealing surface disposed about the periphery thereof and configured to abut and seal against the generally circular sealing surface of the annulus.  
     
     
         4 . The fuel tank system of  claim 3 , further comprising a clamp extending around an outer circumference of the cross feed line and disposed to compress the cross feed line against the annulus.  
     
     
         5 . The fuel tank system of  claim 4 , wherein the valve element comprises a substantially planar and circular polymeric sheet having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a polymeric hinge portion formed integral with and coupling the upper and lower portions.  
     
     
         6 . The fuel tank system of  claim 5 , wherein the valve element further includes at least one planar stiffener sheet fixed to the lower portion of the circular polymeric sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The fuel tank system of  claim 6 , wherein the stiffener sheet is substantially coplanar with the lower portion and is fixed to one side of the lower portion.  
     
     
         8 . The fuel tank system of  claim 7 , wherein an upper portion of the annulus has a radial thickness greater than a lower portion of the annulus, and wherein the greater thickness is sufficient to anchor the upper portion of the circular polymeric sheet.  
     
     
         9 . The fuel tank system of  claim 8 , wherein the upper portion of the circular polymeric sheet is coupled to the upper portion of the annulus by at least one fastener.  
     
     
         10 . The fuel tank system of  claim 9  wherein the valve element is disposed to open in response to pressure provided by the weight of fuel from the first tank acting against the valve element and further wherein the valve element is disposed to close in response to the weight of fuel from the second tank acting against the valve element.  
     
     
         11 - 18 . (Canceled)