Pumps – With condition responsive pumped fluid control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-03-20
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
With condition responsive pumped fluid control
C123S509000, C137S565010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203286
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electric fuel pump for an internal combustion engine in which the fuel pump is adapted for being mounted at the bottom of a fuel tank for pumping the fuel from a lower inlet to an upper outlet of the pump and wherein a vent valve is mounted at the top of the pump for being opened when the pump is deactivated.
The invention also relates to a method of operation of the fuel pump.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
A pump of the above type is disclosed in DE 196 18 452 A1. This fuel pump operates satisfactorily when the fuel tank is full but when the tank is almost empty and the fuel level drops below the outlet of the vent valve, a temporary delay in pumping the fuel takes place when the fuel pump is reactivated. This is due to the emptying of the chamber in the casing of the fuel pump when the pump is deactivated until the pump is once again filled after it has been reactivated. This can lead to problems in starting the internal combustion engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide means by which the internal combustion engine can be rapidly restarted even when the fuel tank is almost empty.
A particular object of the invention is to provide means by which the fuel pump is self-filling even when the fuel tank is almost empty.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method which prevents emptying of the fuel in the fuel pump when the fuel pump is deactivated and particularly to fill the fuel pump through the open vent valve via a suction passage connected thereto when the fuel pump is deactivated and the level of the fuel in the fuel tank drops below the outlet of the vent valve.
The invention provides an electric fuel pump mountable in a fuel tank for pumping fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel pump comprises a casing mountable at a bottom wall of the fuel tank, the casing having a fuel inlet at a bottom thereof and a fuel outlet at a top thereof so that the fuel pump pumps fuel upwardly through the casing from the inlet to the outlet. A vent valve is provided at the top of the casing and the vent valve is closed when the fuel pump is operating and is opened when the fuel pump is deactivated. A conduit defining a passage has one end connected to an outlet of the vent valve and an opposite end which is open at a level in proximity to the bottom of the fuel tank so that when the fuel pump is deactivated, fuel will substantially fill the casing of the pump to facilitate pumping of the fuel when the pump is reactivated.
In further accordance with the invention, the passage extends upwardly from the vent valve to a bend portion and then extends downwardly to the opposite open end.
The invention also provides a method of preventing emptying of fuel in a fuel pump when the fuel pump is deactivated by suctioning fuel from the fuel tank through said passage into the fuel pump so that the fuel pump can immediately start pumping of fuel when the fuel pump is reactivated.
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Kluth Stefan
Moll Gunter
Wolters Stefan
Fastovsky Leonid
Ladas & Parry
Pierburg AG
Walberg Teresa
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