Passive-siphoning system and method

Abstract

A system for a vehicle is provided. The system may include a fuel tank including a first and a second interior region at least partially separated from each other. The system may further include a fuel pump including a pick-up positioned in only the first region and a passive-siphoning subsystem with a crossover-siphoning conduit communicating between the first and second regions, the conduit enclosing a wicking element.

1 . A system for a vehicle comprising:
 a fuel tank including a first and a second interior region at least partially separated from each other;   a fuel pump including a pick-up positioned in only the first region; and   a passive-siphoning subsystem with a crossover-siphoning conduit communicating between the first and second regions, the conduit enclosing a wicking element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the crossover-siphoning conduit includes an inlet positioned in the second region and an outlet positioned in the first region, where the conduit is configured to passively draw fuel from the second region to the first region, and where fuel cannot freely flow between the first and the second region by gravity when the vehicle is oriented on a level surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet is positioned vertically above the outlet with respect to a bottom of the vehicle, and wherein a bottom of the first region is positioned vertically above a bottom of the second region. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking element extends along a full length of the crossover-siphoning conduit, the system further including an exhaust conduit positioned between the first and second regions. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the passive-siphoning subsystem further includes a priming valve coupled to the crossover-siphoning conduit configured to permit fuel to pass through the priming valve into the crossover-siphoning conduit when the fuel contained within the fuel tank is above a threshold level, and to substantially inhibit fuel from traveling through the priming valve when the fuel contained within the fuel tank is below the threshold level. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the priming valve is coupled to a crest portion of the crossover-siphoning conduit, the crest portion including a peak of the crossover-siphoning conduit with respect to a bottom of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking element includes a porous wicking material configured to draw fuel through the crossover-siphoning conduit via capillary action. 
     
     
         8 . A method for transferring fuel in a fuel tank of a vehicle, comprising:
 passively drawing fuel from a second region of the fuel tank to a first region of the fuel tank isolated from the second region, the fuel drawn through a crossover-siphoning conduit enclosing a wicking element extending along the crossover-siphoning conduit; and   extracting fuel out of the fuel tank from only the first region via a fuel pump.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein fuel is passively drawn from the second region to the first region when a level of fuel contained within the first region is less than a level of fuel contained within the second region, the method further comprising preventing gravity-driven flow from the second region to the first region when the vehicle is oriented on a level surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transferring fuel through the crossover-siphoning conduit via a priming valve coupled to the crossover-siphoning conduit when fuel contained within the fuel tank exceeds a threshold level; and   substantially inhibiting fuel from entering into the crossover-siphoning conduit via the priming valve when fuel contained within the fuel tank is below the threshold level.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the priming valve is coupled to a crest portion of the crossover-siphoning conduit, the crest portion including a peak of the crossover-siphoning conduit with respect to a bottom of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wicking element is constructed out of a porous wicking material configured to draw fuel through the crossover-siphoning conduit via capillary action. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fuel tank includes a third region. 
     
     
         14 . A system for a vehicle comprising:
 a fuel tank including a first and a second interior region arranged such that fuel cannot freely flow by means of gravity between the first and the second region when the vehicle is oriented on a level surface;   a fuel pump including a pick-up positioned in only the first region; and   a passive-siphoning subsystem with a crossover-siphoning conduit communicating between the first and second regions, the conduit enclosing a wicking element and including an inlet positioned in the second region and an outlet positioned in the first region, the conduit configured to passively draw fuel from the second region to the first region.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a priming valve coupled to the crossover-siphoning conduit and configured to permit fuel to pass through the priming valve into the crossover-siphoning conduit when fuel contained within the fuel tank is above a threshold level, and to substantially inhibit fuel from traveling through the priming valve when fuel contained within the fuel tank is below the threshold level. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the priming valve is coupled to a crest portion of the crossover-siphoning conduit, the crest portion including a peak of the crossover-siphoning conduit with respect to a bottom of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wicking element is constructed out of a porous wicking material configured to draw fuel through the crossover-siphoning conduit via capillary action. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wicking element extends along a full length of the crossover-siphoning conduit, the system further including an exhaust conduit positioned between the first and the second region. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the inlet is positioned vertically above the outlet with respect to a bottom of the vehicle, and wherein a bottom of the first region is positioned vertically above a bottom of the second region. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fuel tank includes a third region.