Fuel System and Method for Assembling the Same

Abstract

A fuel system is disclosed. The fuel system includes a fuel tank having a chamber defined by a wall and an electrical circuit associated with the fuel tank. The electrical circuit includes means for determining an amount of fuel disposed within the fuel tank chamber. A portion of the electrical circuit includes a sensor for detecting whether or not the fuel line is properly connected to the fuel tank. A method for assembling a fuel system is also disclosed.

1 . A fuel system, comprising:
 a fuel tank including a wall that defines a chamber;   an electrical circuit coupled to the fuel tank, wherein the electrical circuit includes detector for detecting an amount of fuel disposed within the chamber of the fuel tank, and   sensor for sensing the integrity of a connection between the fuel tank and a fuel line.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel system according to  claim 1 , further including:
 a gauge, wherein the electrical circuit is connected to the gauge, wherein the gauge defines   means for indicating the amount of fuel disposed within the chamber of the fuel tank.   
   
   
       3 . The fuel system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes means for physically contacting a portion of a fuel line. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel system according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor includes:
 a mechanically activated electrical switch.   
   
   
       5 . The fuel system according to  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical switch includes:
 a lever, and   an electrical contact, wherein the lever is movable between at least two positions including an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position is defined by the lever being disengaged with the electrical contact, wherein the closed position is defined by the lever being engaged with the electrical contact, wherein the lever is biased to the open position for orientating the electrical circuit in an open circuit configuration, wherein the opening defines:
 means for permitting a fuel line to contact the lever for overcoming the bias of the lever to change the open position of the lever to the closed position of the lever for re-orientating the electrical circuit from the open circuit configuration to the closed circuit configuration. 
   
   
   
       6 . The fuel system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes:
 a pair of opposing electrical contacts including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein the first electrical contact is spaced from the second electrical contact by a gap between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact to orientate the electrical circuit in the open circuit configuration, wherein the opening defines:
 means for permitting an electrically-conductive component to contact both of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact for
 electrically-joining the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact for
 placing the electrical circuit from the open circuit configuration to the closed circuit configuration. 
 
 
   
   
   
       7 . A fuel system, comprising:
 a fuel tank including walls that define a fuel tank chamber, wherein the walls define an opening;   an electrical circuit coupled to the fuel tank,
 a fuel line selectively disposable through the opening and into the chamber, wherein the position of a portion of the fuel line is detectable by a portion of the electrical circuit. 
   
   
   
       8 . The fuel system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fuel line includes
 a resilient bead, wherein the resilient bead defines
 means for sealing the opening of the fuel tank for preventing hydrocarbon emissions from fuel disposed within the fuel tank chamber. 
   
   
   
       9 . The fuel system according to  claim 8 , wherein the resilient bead is defined by
 a first surface portion, and   a second surface portion, wherein the first surface portion extends substantially perpendicularly from an outer surface of the fuel line, wherein the second surface portion includes an arcuate portion, wherein one or more of the first outer surface and the second outer surface defines
 means for effecting a one-way connection between the fuel line and the fuel tank. 
   
   
   
       10 . The fuel system according to  claim 7 , wherein the portion of the fuel line includes:
 an end of the fuel line, wherein the portion of the electrical circuit includes   a mechanically activated electrical switch, wherein the mechanically activated electrical switch includes
 a lever, and 
 an electrical contact. 
   
   
   
       11 . The fuel system according to  claim 10 , wherein the lever is biased in an open circuit configuration. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel system according to  claim 7 , wherein said electrical circuit is connected to a fuel level indicator circuit. 
   
   
       13 . The fuel system according to  claim 7 , wherein the portion of the fuel line includes:
 an electrically-conductive outer surface of the fuel line, wherein the portion of the electrical circuit includes   a sensor, wherein the sensor includes
 a pair of opposing electrical contacts including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein the first electrical contact is electrically-isolated from the second electrical contact to define a gap between the first and second electrical contacts. 
   
   
   
       14 . The fuel system according to  claim 13 , wherein the means is further defined by selectively-arranging the electrically-conductive outer surface of the fuel line away from the sensor for:
 maintaining the electrical circuit in the open circuit configuration by
 electrically isolating the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact. 
   
   
   
       15 . The fuel system according to  claim 13 , wherein the means is further defined by selectively-arranging the electrically-conductive outer surface of the fuel line within the gap and adjacent the first and second electrical contacts for:
 electrically-joining the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact to re-orientate the electrical circuit from open circuit configuration to the closed circuit configuration.   
   
   
       16 . The fuel system according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrical circuit includes:
 means for determining an amount of fuel disposed within the fuel tank chamber.   
   
   
       17 . The fuel system according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrical circuit is connected to a gauge, wherein the gauge defines:
 means for displaying the amount of fuel disposed within the fuel tank chamber.   
   
   
       18 . A method for assembling a fuel system, comprising the steps of:
 defining a fuel tank to include an opening;   connecting an electrical circuit to the fuel tank;   providing a portion of the electrical circuit proximate the opening;   orientating the electrical circuit in an open circuit configuration;   inserting a component through the opening of the fuel tank; and   utilizing a portion of the component for engaging the electrical circuit for
 re-orientating the open circuit configuration to a closed circuit configuration. 
   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the electrical circuit includes a mechanical switch having a lever and an electrical contact, wherein the orientating step includes:
 biasing the lever to an open position, wherein the component includes a fuel line, wherein the portion of the component includes an end of the fuel line, wherein the utilizing step includes   utilizing the end of the fuel line for engaging the lever, wherein the re-orientating step includes   overcoming the biasing of the lever for moving the lever from the open position to a closed position.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the electrical circuit includes a sensor, wherein the sensor includes a pair of opposing electrical contacts including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein orientating step includes:
 electrically-isolating the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact by defining a gap between the first and second electrical contacts, wherein the component includes a fuel line, wherein the portion of the component includes an electrically-conductive outer surface of the fuel line, wherein the utilizing step includes   arranging the electrically-conductive outer surface of the fuel line within the gap and adjacent the first and second electrical contacts, wherein the re-orientating step includes   electrically-joining the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact.