Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – With fuel pump
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-04-10
Miller, Carl S. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
With fuel pump
C123S516000, C137S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213100
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to fuel systems and more particularly to an improved fuel pump module.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typical automotive fuel systems have a fuel pump mounted within and received through an opening of a fuel tank, a vapor vent valve received in a second opening through the vehicle fuel tank and an over pressure relief valve and/or a recirculation outlet disposed in additional openings through the vehicle fuel tank. Additional vapor vent valves may be provided each disposed in a separate opening through the vehicle fuel tank and each constructed to communicate fuel vapors within the fuel tank with a fuel vapor canister outside of the fuel tank. The overpressure relief valve may vent to the atmosphere fluid or vapor from the fuel tank when an excessive pressure is developed in the fuel tank.
Each opening through the fuel tank provides a leak path through which hazardous hydrocarbon fuel vapors may escape to the atmosphere. Notably, a fuel tank may have a plurality of openings therethrough for each of a plurality of separate components thereby providing a plurality of leak paths through which hydrocarbon vapors may escape. Under increasingly strict governmental regulations, the emissions of these hazardous hydrocarbon fuel vapors to the atmosphere must be reduced.
Further, some prior fuel pump modules disposed within a vehicle fuel tank and containing a fuel pump are designed to break away from a flange assembly which connects the module to the fuel tank to reduce the likelihood that the flange will be separated from the fuel tank or severely damaged thereby permitting liquid fuel or fuel vapors to escape from the fuel tank. After breaking away, the fuel pump module may damage other components in the fuel tank such as a vapor vent valve, thereby damaging or destroying the other components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A module constructed to be disposed within a fuel tank of the vehicle fuel system carries a vapor vent valve, a fuel pump and other components, such as a fuel level sender and an overpressure relief valve and outlet. Each of these components may thus be inserted through a single opening into the fuel tank to reduce the number of openings in the fuel tank to thereby reduce the emissions of hazardous hydrocarbon fuel vapors from the fuel tank. Further, the module provides additional protection to the vapor vent valve to prevent sloshing fuel within the fuel tank from entering the vent valve and escaping from the fuel tank and being transferred to the fuel vapor storage canister. Still further, if the module is constructed such that a portion containing the fuel pump is designed to break away from the rest of the module sealed to the fuel tank, the fuel pump will move away from the vapor vent valve during a vehicle accident instead of crashing into the valve and damaging or destroying it as in prior fuel tank assemblies.
Objects, features, and advantages of this invention include providing a module for a vehicle fuel system which permits a plurality of components to be received through a single opening in the fuel tank, lowers the emission of hazardous hydrocarbon fuel vapors from the fuel tank, inhibits fuel sloshing, inhibits sloshing fuel from entering a vapor vent valve received in the module, reduces the likelihood that a break away portion of the module will damage the vapor vent valve during and after a vehicle accident, enables enhanced baffling, significantly decreases the time and cost of assembling and mounting the components in a fuel tank, controls the flow of fuel vapor from the fuel tank, and is of relatively simple design and economical manufacture and assembly, is rugged, durable, and has a long useful life in service.
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Miller Carl S.
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
Walbro Corporation
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