This invention relates to an electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle, more particularly, though not exclusively, for a two wheeler motor vehicle.

Conventionally, motor vehicles, such as two wheeler motor vehicles, are provided with a manual or automatic fuel cock for supplying fuel from the fuel tank of the vehicle to the engine.

If the rider forgets to shut off the manual fuel cock when the engine is at rest, it may lead to flooding, resulting in fuel leaking out from the carburettor and being wasted.

The automatic fuel cock has its own drawbacks. The fuel flow at cold start is poor. Variation in suction pressure produced during cranking also leads to less fuel flow. Starting the vehicle is a problem when the carburettor bowl gets empty when the vehicle is parked for long durations under direct exposure to the sun; also when the fuel in the carburettor evaporates due to engine heat produced after long running at high speeds followed by parking the vehicle for a long time.

It is therefore an object of this invention to propose an electrically operated automatic fuel cock which eliminates or at least greatly minimizes the above mentioned drawbacks. In this invention the conventional fuel gauges are dispensed with.

The electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle, according to this invention, comprises a pressure switch connected in between the fuel line and an electrically actuated valve for sensing the fuel pressure in the fuel tank; a micro controller for receiving the pressure signal from the said valve, said micro controller being programmed to (i) open the main port of the fuel tank and close the reserve port when the said pressure is equal to or above a first value, simultaneously activating a first coloured indicator light (ii) close the main port and open the reserve port when the said pressure is below the first value and above a second value, simultaneously de-activating the first indicator light and activating a second indicator light of a different colour and (iii) continue to close the main port and open the reserve port when the said pressure is below the second value, simultaneously de-activating the second indicator light and activating a third indicator light of yet a different colour, until the main port opens once again and the reserve port closes on the said pressure reverting to a value equal to or above the first value.

This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, and not by way of limitation, one of its possible embodiments.

The moment vehicle Ignition is ON, the pressure switch K connected in- between the fuel line and electrically actuated valve, such as, the solenoid valve V, senses the fuel pressure and transmits the signal to a micro controller T.

The micro controller is programmed such that, If the fuel pressure is "P1 & ' '' above" it opens the mains port 'M' and closes the reserve port "R". Simultaneously based on the pressure value corresponding to "P1 & above", a blue indicator light 1 glows and other two indicator lights remain off.

If the fuel pressure is " below P1 & above P2" the micro controller opens the reserve port 'R' and closes the mains port 'f\/l'. Simultaneously based on the pressure value corresponding to " below P1 & above P2", a yellow indicator light 2 glows and other two indicator lights remain off.

If the fuel pressure is "P2 & below", simultaneously based on the pressure value corresponding to "P2 & below" a red indicator light 3 glows and other two indicator lights remain off.

Reserve port 'R' remains open and main port M remains closed until the pressure in the tank reverts to PI & above.

Additionally a 'bypass valve' B along with an electrical limiter L is provided in- between fuel tank and carburettor. If the solenoid doesn't work due to electrical problems, indicated by all three indicator lights switched off, then by operating the 'bypass valve' manually the flow is made direct by gravity feed to the carburettor C, and the electrical limiter L is also activated that disables the solenoid valve circuit. The solenoid valve circuit is activated again when the 'bypass valve' is manually turned off. Thus, avoiding the simultaneous use of both bypass valve and solenoid.

It will be appreciated that various other embodiments of this invention are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention.

We Claim:

1. An electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle comprising a pressure switch connected in between the fuel line and an electrically actuated valve for sensing the fuel pressure in the fuel tank; a micro controller for receiving the pressure signal from the said valve, said micro controller being programmed to (i) open the main port of the fuel tank and close the reserve port when the said pressure is equal to or above a first value, simultaneously activating a first coloured indicator light (ii) close the main port and open the reserve port when the said pressure is below the first value and above a second value, simultaneously de-activating the first indicator light and activating a second indicator light of a different colour and (iii) continue to close the main port and open the reserve port when the said pressure is below the second value, simultaneously de-activating the second indicator light and activating a third indicator light of yet a different colour, until the main port opens once again and the reserve port closes on the said pressure reverting to a value equal to or above the first value.

2. An electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first, second and third indicator lights are coloured blue, yellow and red respectively.

3. An electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a manual bypass valve' is provided in-between fuel tank and the curburettor for direct gravity flow of fuel to carburettor.

4. An electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 wherein an electrical limiter is provided to disable the solenoid valve in the event of turning "ON" of manual bypass valve.

5. An electrically operated automatic fuel cock for a motor vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.