Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – With fuel pump
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-04-24
Moulis, Thomas N. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
With fuel pump
C123S510000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220227
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a fuel supply device which is provided within a fuel tank for example in an automotive vehicle, and can be suitably applied to supply fuel into the engine.
BACKGROUND ART
Generally, a fuel supply device consisting of a fuel tank in which fuel is stored, a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank to discharge the fuel in the fuel tank to the exterior thereof, and a fuel filter provided in the fuel tank together with the fuel pump to purify the fuel discharged from the fuel pump, is well known.
In this sort of conventional fuel supply device, in order to feed the fuel in the fuel tank within toward the engine, the fuel pump and the fuel filter are disposed in the fuel tank under a condition where the fuel pump and the fuel filter are integrally installed on a mounting bracket made of synthetic resin, and contacts the fuel, such as gasoline, stored in the fuel tank.
During operation of the engine, the fuel within the fuel tank is discharged by means of the fuel pump, and flows through the fuel filter for purification, and then fed into the outside of the fuel tank toward each of fuel injection valves of the engine.
On the other hand, the fuel filter is constructed by a filter case installed on the mounting bracket, and a filter element disposed in the filter case. A fuel flow passageway is defined between the filter case and the filter element. The fuel, discharged out of the fuel pump and entering into the fuel filter, is purified by way of the filter element, while flowing through the above-mentioned flow passageway.
In the previously-noted prior art, the fuel, which is discharged from the fuel pump during operation of the engine, enters into the fuel filter, and passes through the filter element of fine mesh. Thus, there is a tendency turbulent flow to occur within the fuel filter, since the fuel flow is violently disturbed just before and after the filter element. As a result, static electricity builds up in the filter case of the fuel filter due to the filter case put into contact with the fuel.
However, for the purpose of compactly disposing the filter case in the fuel tank, the filter case is installed on the mounting bracket made of synthetic resin together with the fuel pump, so that the filter case is kept in an electrically insulated state within the fuel tank.
For the reasons set forth above, the prior art has a problem that the static electricity charged in the filter case due to friction between the filter case and the fuel is gradually stored and built up.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore in view of the previously discussed disadvantages of the prior art, an object of the invention to provide a fuel supply device which is capable of relieving the static electricity to the exterior and preventing the static electricity from being stored in a filter case to enhance its reliability, even when the filter case is charged with static electricity due to friction with the fuel.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned objects of the present invention, the present invention can be applied to a fuel supply device including a fuel tank storing fuel, a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank to discharge the fuel in the fuel tank toward outside thereof, and a fuel filter disposed in the fuel tank together with the fuel pump to purify the fuel discharged from the fuel pump, in which the fuel filter is constructed by a filter case provided in the fuel tank, and a filter element disposed in the filter case.
The invention described in claim
1
is characterized in that the above-mentioned filter case is made of a material having an electric conductivity and formed with an inside wall portion and an outside wall portion respectively being in contact with fuel in the fuel tank, and that a filter accommodation space is defined between the inside wall portion and the outside wall portion to accommodate the filter element therebetween.
According to the aspect described above, the fuel and the filter case are contacted with each other with a large contact area by contacting the filter case, which has an electric conductivity, with the fuel surrounding the inside wall portion and the outside wall portion, and thus static electricity charged in the filter case is able to be released to the fuel therearound by contacting with the fuel flowing through the filter accommodation space. In this case, the fuel within the fuel tank has the electric conductivity owing to moisture mixed with the fuel. In the event that the filter case is charged with static electricity, the static electricity charged in the filter case can be escaped into the fuel within the fuel tank through at least the inside wall portion and the outside wall portion, by utilizing the electric conductivity of the fuel.
In the invention described in claim
2
, the above-mentioned filter case Is formed so that its lateral cross-section is a substantially U shape, in the same manner as the filter element, and also in such a manner as to permit the fuel to flow into the inside wall portion at a position opposed to the outer periphery of the fuel pump.
In this manner, the outside wall portion and the inside wall portion of the filter case are curved and formed into a substantially U shape, thereby increasing the surface area of these wall portions. Under a condition where the filter case and the fuel pump are integrally assembled to each other, the fuel can be flowed into the inside wall portion of the filter case. Under this condition, the filter case can be contacted with the fuel within the fuel tank with the wide contact area.
Furthermore, in the invention recited in claim
3
, the previously-noted filter case is formed as a double cylinder construction, so that the above-mentioned inside wall portion surrounds the outer periphery o the fuel pump with an aperture in a cylindrical fashion, and so that the outside wall portion surrounds the outer periphery of the inside wall portion through the filter element in a cylindrical fashion.
Hereby, the inside wall portion and the outside wall portion of the filter case are formed in such a manner as to have a cylinder diameter greater than that of the fuel pump, thus increasing the surface area of them. Under the condition where the filter case and the fuel pump are integrally assembled to each other, the fuel can flow through the aperture defined between the inside wall portion of the filter case and the outer periphery of the fuel pump, and whereby the filter case is able to contact with the fuel within the fuel tank with a wide contact area. On the other hand, in the invention described in claim
4
, the previously-noted fuel filter is formed of a material having an electric conductivity, and also composed of a filter case provided in the fuel tank and a filter element disposed in the filter case. The filter case is formed with a conducting member by way of which the static electricity charged in the filter case is escaped into the exterior.
Hereby, in the case that the filter case is charged with static electricity, such static electricity can be released from the filter case through the conducting member to the earth, for example. This prevents the filter case from being held in the charged state with electricity.
Also, in the invention described in claim
5
, the previously-noted conducting member is constructed by a lead wire through which the static electricity charged in the filter case is escaped to the upper side of the fuel tank.
Hereby, the static electricity charged in the filter case can be escaped from the lead wire through the upper side of the fuel tank to the exterior, such as the earth, thereby preventing the filter case from being held in the charged state with electricity.
Also, in the invention described in claim
6
, the previously-noted conducting member is connected at one end to the outside wall surface of the filter case, and the other end is formed as a conducting member vertically suspended and coming down close to the bottom portion of the fuel tank.
Hereby, the static electricity charged in the filter c
Aoyama Taiki
Hashimoto Takashi
Okada Yoshihiro
Takahashi Koji
Foley & Lardner
Moulis Thomas N.
Unisia Jecs Corporation
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