Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Fuel flow regulation between the pump and the charge-forming...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2001-05-15
Miller, Carl S. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Fuel flow regulation between the pump and the charge-forming...
C123S509000, C137S574000, C137S565220, C251S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230691
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks for vehicles and, more particularly, to a secondary fuel pump assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a fuel tank for a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. In some vehicles, the fuel tank includes a fuel pump module disposed therein with a removable cover sealed to the top of the fuel tank having an electrical connector and a fuel line outlet connector. The fuel pump module includes a fuel reservoir, an electrical fuel pump disposed in the reservoir with an inlet (not shown) at a bottom thereof and a secondary pump used to fill the reservoir to overfilling. This overfilling of the reservoir allows the generation of vapors due to the agitation of the fuel as well as the mixing of the hot fuel, being returned from an engine of the vehicle, with bulk fuel.
An example of a fuel pump module is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,942 to Coha et al. In this patent, the fuel pump module includes a fuel pump disposed in the reservoir, a low pressure conduit conducting hot return fuel back to the reservoir, a secondary pump disposed in the reservoir for pumping new fuel from the fuel tank into the reservoir, and a control which effects a recirculation mode of secondary pump operation when the new fuel level in the fuel tank is above a predetermined low level and a scavenge mode of secondary pump operation when the new fuel level in the reservoir is below the predetermined low level. The secondary pump includes a high-pressure jet pump having consistent flow and a float mechanism to switch the jet pump from drawing external fuel to the reservoir and vice versa.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a new secondary fuel pump for a fuel tank in a vehicle. It is also desirable to provide a secondary fuel pump for a fuel tank in a vehicle that reduces vapor generation. It is further desirable to provide a secondary fuel pump for a fuel tank in a vehicle that has no moving or extra parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new secondary fuel pump assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a secondary fuel pump assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that reduces vapor generation.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a secondary fuel pump assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle including a reservoir adapted to be disposed in the fuel tank having a top defining an overflow fuel level of the reservoir. The secondary fuel pump assembly also includes a conduit conducting return fuel from an engine of the vehicle to the reservoir and a jet pump having a discharge outlet in the reservoir and an inlet operatively connected to the conduit. The secondary fuel pump assembly includes an overflow fuel member defining a flow path for overflow of fuel in the reservoir and a guide member extending into the overflow fuel member and having at least one aperture extending therethough. The secondary fuel pump assembly further includes a guide disposed over the guide member and movable relative thereto to open and close the at least one aperture and a float connected to the guide to move the guide as a fuel level rises and falls in the reservoir.
One advantage of the present invention is that a secondary fuel pump assembly is provided for a fuel tank in a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the secondary fuel pump assembly reduces vapor generation by allowing the preferential use of “hot” fuel, returned from the engine or fuel which has been by-passed by the fuel regulator if the fuel regulator is in the fuel pump module or in close proximity to the fuel pump module, on a preferential basis. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the secondary fuel pump assembly integrates an additional tube into the reservoir, thereby requiring no extra parts. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the secondary fuel pump assembly is lower in cost, simpler and improves quality over existing designs.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4747388 (1988-05-01), Tuckey
patent: 4856756 (1989-08-01), Combs
patent: 4878518 (1989-11-01), Tuckey
patent: 4971017 (1990-11-01), Beakley et al.
patent: 5050567 (1991-09-01), Suzuki
patent: 5070849 (1991-12-01), Rich et al.
patent: 5080077 (1992-01-01), Sawert et al.
patent: 5197445 (1993-03-01), Casari
patent: 5201298 (1993-04-01), Shearn
patent: 5447175 (1995-09-01), Takaki et al.
patent: 5564397 (1996-10-01), Kleppner et al.
patent: 5785084 (1998-07-01), Richter et al.
patent: 5809975 (1998-09-01), Tuckey et al.
Begley Chris Clarence
Beyer Sharon Elizabeth
Coha Timothy Francis
Jones Dale Richard
Sawert Ulf
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Miller Carl S.
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