Fuel Oil Supply System from a Remote Source Including Recirculated Heating of Fuel Oil and Supplemented Supply Pressure

Abstract

A fuel oil supply system for a portable fuel oil consuming device, representatively a portable oil fired construction heater includes supply and return fuel lines in communication with a remote fuel container in an anti-siphon configuration. One or more electrical heaters heat the fuel lines adjacent an integral pump of the consuming device. The fuel lines communicate with a partitioned volume of fuel within the container which is heated relative to a remaining volume as the fuel circulates. The pump and a combustion air blower of the device are located together with the heaters within an enclosure on the device such that air is drawn into the enclosure over the heaters and heat conducting surfaces of the pump by the blower for directing heated air through a combustion air duct of the blower which surrounds the burner and a main fuel line from the pump to the burner.

1 . A fuel oil supply system in combination with a portable fuel fired heater for supplying fuel oil from a remote fuel container independent of the portable fuel fired heater wherein the portable fuel fired heater comprises:
 a burner;   a combustion air blower arranged to deliver combustion air to the burner;   a pump having an inlet arranged for connection to a fuel supply line in communication with a remote fuel container, a return outlet arranged for connection to a return line in communication with the remote fuel container, and a consumption outlet in communication with a main fuel line between the pump and the burner so as to be arranged to deliver fuel to the burner; and   a combustion duct communicating from the blower to the burner and receiving the main fuel line extending therethrough;   wherein the fuel oil supply system comprises:
 a supply line having an inlet end arranged for connection to the remote fuel container and an outlet end arranged for connection to the pump of the fuel consuming device; 
 a return line extending from an inlet end adjacent to the outlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the return outlet of the pump to an outlet end adjacent to the inlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the remote fuel container; 
 an enclosure surrounding the pump and the combustion air blower, the enclosure including an air inlet arranged to receive combustion air for the blower therethrough into the enclosure and; 
 a fuel heater supported within the enclosure in heat exchanging relationship with at least one of the supply and return lines in proximity to the pump. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a controller operatively connected to the portable fuel fired heater and the fuel oil supply system, the controller being adapted to operate in a standby mode in which the fuel heater is activated, a valve in series between the consumption outlet of the pump and the burner is closed, the pump is activated such that fuel oil is circulated between the remote fuel container and the fuel consuming device through the supply and return lines, and the blower is activated such that air heated within the enclosure by the fuel heater is drawn into the combustion duct for thawing the main fuel line extending therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the controller is further adapted to operate in a normal heating mode in which the pump is activated, the blower is activated, a valve in series between the consumption outlet of the pump and the burner is open such that the burner can be ignited, and the fuel heater is inactive. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a controller operatively connected to the portable fuel fired heater and the fuel oil supply system, the controller being adapted to operate in a pre-start-up mode in which the auxiliary fuel heater is active, the pump is inactive, and the blower is inactive. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises an air heater supported within the enclosure in heat exchanging relationship with the air inlet and a controller operatively connected to the portable fuel fired heater and the fuel oil supply system, the controller being adapted to operate in a pre-start-up mode in which the fuel heater is inactive, the pump is inactive, the blower is inactive, and the auxiliary air heater is active. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a controller operatively connected to the portable fuel fired heater and the fuel oil supply system, the controller being adapted to operate in a standby mode, a normal heating mode and a pre-start-up mode;
 wherein in the standby mode the controller is adapted such that the fuel heater is activated, a valve in series between the consumption outlet of the pump and the burner is closed, the pump is activated such that fuel oil is circulated between the remote fuel container and the fuel consuming device through the supply and return lines, and the blower is activated such that air heated within the enclosure by the fuel heater is drawn into the combustion duct for thawing the main fuel line extending therethrough; 
 wherein in the normal heating mode the controller is adapted such that the pump is activated, the blower is activated, a valve in series between the consumption outlet of the pump and the burner is open such that the burner can be ignited, and the fuel heater is inactive; and 
 wherein in the pre-start-up mode the controller is adapted such that the auxiliary fuel heater is active, the pump is inactive, and the blower is inactive; and 
 wherein the pump, the blower, and the fuel heater collectively are adapted to consume substantially equal to or less than 12.5 amps in each of the standby mode, the normal heating mode, and the pre-start-up mode. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fuel heater includes a first heating element in communication with the return line in proximity to the pump. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7  wherein the fuel heater further includes a second heating element in communication with the supply line in proximity to the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the return line extends substantially concentrically through the supply line from the outlet end to the inlet end of the supply line. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fuel heater includes a first heating element in communication with the return line in proximity to the pump and the system further comprises an adjustable throttling valve in series with the return line. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the supply line and the return line are joined in a heat exchanging relationship along respective lengths thereof between the respective inlet and outlet ends. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a baffle member arranged to be supported in the remote fuel container so as to define a partitioned volume in fluid communication with a remaining volume within the remote fuel container, the inlet end of the supply line and the outlet end of the return line being in fluid communication with the partitioned volume. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the baffle member is generally tubular in an upright orientation such that the partitioned volume is substantially columnar in shape, and the baffle member includes ports communicating therethrough adjacent opposing top and bottom ends. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a baffle member arranged to be supported in the remote fuel container so as to define a lower partitioned volume adjacent a bottom end of the remote fuel container, the lower partitioned volume being arranged to only communicate with a remaining volume within the remote fuel container at a fluid communicating location spaced upwardly from the bottom end of the remote fuel container, and the inlet end of the supply line being located within the lower partitioned volume below the fluid communicating location. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the pump is adapted to direct more than twice a volume of fuel through the return outlet than the consumption outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the portable fuel fired heater further comprises a main heater duct receiving air to be heated therethrough, and a diversion port communicating from the heater duct to the enclosure about the pump and the blower. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fuel heater is supported in heat exchanging relationship with air communicating between the air inlet of the enclosure and the combustion blower. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises an auxiliary air heater supported within the enclosure separate from the fuel heater in heat exchanging relationship with the air inlet of the enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises an anti-siphon device supported in series with supply line;
 wherein the anti-siphon device comprises a valve member which is biased to a closed position and which is only arranged to be opened by a prescribed reduction in pressure in the supply line which is greater than a reduction in pressure in the supply line associated with activation of the integral pump; 
 wherein the system further comprises an auxiliary booster pump arranged for operation in series with the supply line; and 
 wherein a reduction in pressure in the supply line associated with activation of both the booster pump and the integral pump is greater than the prescribed reduction in pressure of the anti-siphon valve. 
 
     
     
         20 . A fuel oil supply system for conducting fuel oil between a remote fuel container and a fuel consuming device including a pump having an inlet, a consumption outlet, and a return outlet, the fuel oil supply system comprising:
 a supply line having an inlet end arranged for connection to the remote fuel container and an outlet end arranged for connection to the pump of the fuel consuming device;   a return line extending from an inlet end adjacent to the outlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the return outlet of the pump to an outlet end adjacent to the inlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the remote fuel container;   a fuel heater in communication with at least one of the supply and return lines; and   a baffle member arranged to be supported in the remote fuel container so as to define a partitioned volume in fluid communication with a remaining volume within the remote fuel container;   the inlet end of the supply line and the outlet end of the return line being in fluid communication with the partitioned volume.   
     
     
         21 . A fuel oil supply system for conducting fuel oil between a remote fuel container and a fuel consuming device including a pump having an inlet, a consumption outlet, and a return outlet, the fuel oil supply system comprising:
 a supply line having an inlet end arranged for connection to the remote fuel container and an outlet end arranged for connection to the pump of the fuel consuming device;   a return line extending from an inlet end adjacent to the outlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the return outlet of the pump to an outlet end adjacent to the inlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the remote fuel container;   a fuel heater in communication with at least one of the supply and return lines; and   a baffle member arranged to be supported in the remote fuel container so as to define a lower partitioned volume adjacent a bottom end of the remote fuel container;   the lower partitioned volume being arranged to only communicate with a remaining volume within the remote fuel container at a fluid communicating location spaced upwardly from the bottom end of the remote fuel container; and   the inlet end of the supply line being located within the lower partitioned volume below the fluid communicating location.   
     
     
         22 . A fuel oil supply system in combination with a fuel consuming device for conducting fuel oil between a remote fuel container and the fuel consuming device in which the fuel consuming device comprises a fuel combustion area, a fuel metering device arranged for metering fuel to the fuel combustion area, and an integral feed pump having an inlet, a consumption outlet adapted to direct fuel to the fuel metering device, and a return outlet, the fuel oil supply system comprising:
 a supply line having an inlet end arranged for connection to the remote fuel container and an outlet end arranged for connection to the pump of the fuel consuming device;   a return line extending from an inlet end adjacent to the outlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the return outlet of the pump to an outlet end adjacent to the inlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the remote fuel container;   an anti-siphon device supported in series with supply line in which the anti-siphon device comprises a valve member which is biased to a closed position and which is only arranged to be opened by a prescribed reduction in pressure in the supply line which is greater than a reduction in pressure in the supply line associated with activation of the integral pump; and   an auxiliary booster pump arranged for operation in series with the supply line such that the fuel metering device is unaffected by the auxiliary booster pump;   the auxiliary booster pump being further arranged such that a reduction in pressure in the supply line associated with activation of both the booster pump and the integral pump is greater than the prescribed reduction in pressure of the anti-siphon valve.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein there is provided a bypass line in parallel with the booster pump and a valve in series with the bypass line which is arranged to be opened in response to the booster pump being inactive and closed in response to the booster pump being active. 
     
     
         24 . A fuel oil supply system in combination with a portable fuel fired heater for supplying fuel oil from a remote fuel container independent of the portable fuel fired heater wherein the portable fuel fired heater comprises:
 a burner;   a combustion air blower arranged to deliver combustion air to the burner;   a pump having an inlet arranged for connection to a fuel supply line in communication with a remote fuel container, a return outlet arranged for connection to a return line in communication with the remote fuel container, and a consumption outlet in communication with a main fuel line between the pump and the burner so as to be arranged to deliver fuel to the burner;   a fuel filter in series with the inlet of the pump; and   a combustion duct communicating from the blower to the burner and receiving the main fuel line extending therethrough;   wherein the fuel oil supply system comprises:
 a supply line having an inlet end arranged for connection to the remote fuel container and an outlet end arranged for connection to the pump of the fuel consuming device; 
 a return line extending from an inlet end adjacent to the outlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the return outlet of the pump to an outlet end adjacent to the inlet end of the supply line and arranged for connection to the remote fuel container; 
 the supply line and the return line being joined in a heat exchanging relationship along respective lengths thereof between the respective inlet and outlet ends; 
 a baffle member arranged to be supported in the remote fuel container so as to define a partitioned volume in fluid communication with a remaining volume within the remote fuel container; 
 the inlet end of the supply line and the outlet end of the return line being in fluid communication with the partitioned volume; 
 an enclosure surrounding the pump, the fuel filter, and the combustion air blower, the enclosure including an air inlet arranged to receive combustion air for the blower therethrough into the enclosure; and 
 a fuel heater supported within the enclosure in heat exchanging relationship with at least one of the supply and return lines in proximity to the pump and in heat exchanging relationship with air communicating between the air inlet of the enclosure and the combustion blower.