Fuel feed apparatus

Abstract

A fuel feed apparatus is accommodated in a fuel tank. The fuel feed apparatus includes a sub-tank that is provided in a bottom of the fuel tank. The fuel feed apparatus further includes a fuel pump that is accommodated in the sub-tank. The fuel pump includes an impeller that defines a plurality of pump chambers. The fuel pump has a first suction passage through which fuel flows from outside the sub-tank into at least one of the plurality of pump chambers. The fuel feed apparatus further includes an elastic member that seals between the first suction passage and the sub-tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view showing a fuel feed apparatus having a sub-tank connecting with a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view showing a fuel feed apparatus accommodated in a fuel tank, according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an impeller of the fuel pump;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a tenth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to an eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a fourteenth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a check valve depicted in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a sixteenth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a valve seat of a check valve depicted in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the check valve, when communicating a passage therein, depicted in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a seventeenth embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to an eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to a nineteenth embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a two-stage filter of a fuel pump, according to a twentieth embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the two-stage filter depicted in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a view when being viewed from the arrow A in FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a two-stage filter of a fuel pump, according to a twenty first embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing the two-stage filter depicted in FIG. 28; and

FIG. 30 is a partially sectional view showing a connection between a sub-tank and a suction passage of a fuel pump, according to an other embodiment.

Claims

1. A fuel feed apparatus accommodated in a fuel tank, the fuel feed apparatus comprising: a sub-tank that is provided in a bottom of the fuel tank; anda fuel pump that is accommodated in the sub-tank,wherein the fuel pump includes an impeller that defines a plurality of pump chambers,the fuel pump has a first suction passage through which fuel flows from outside the sub-tank into at least one of the plurality of pump chambers, andthe fuel feed apparatus further comprising:an elastic member that seals between the first suction passage and the sub-tank.

2. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pump chambers includes a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber,the first pump chamber is located radially inside of the second pump chamber,fuel is supplied to the first pump chamber through the first suction passage, andfuel is discharged outside the fuel tank through the second pump chamber.

3. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a check valve that is provided to the first suction passage for restricting backflow of fuel.

4. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the check valve is a duckbill valve that is formed integrally with the elastic member.

5. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump includes a suction pipe, which defines the first suction passage,the sub-tank has a through-hole through which the suction pipe extends, andthe elastic member seals between the through-hole of the sub-tank and an outer periphery of the suction pipe.

6. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a duct that connects with the suction pipe; anda suction filter for filtering fuel,wherein the elastic member seals an inner periphery of the through-hole of the sub-tank and an outer periphery of one of the suction pipe and the duct.

7. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outer periphery of the one of the suction pipe and the duct has a latch portion that projects toward the inner periphery of the through-hole of the sub-tank.

8. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member includes a flange that is joined to the sub-tank.

9. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump includes a suction pipe which defines the first suction passage,the sub-tank has a bottom portion that has a projection to which the suction pipe extends,the elastic member includes a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion,the first elastic portion seals radially between the projection and the suction pipe, andthe second elastic portion is interposed axially between the suction pipe and the bottom portion.

10. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member has a recess via which the elastic member is fitted to an inner periphery defining the through-hole of the sub-tank, andthe elastic member axially connects with both surfaces of the sub-tank via the recess.

11. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump further has a second suction passage through which fuel flows from the sub-tank into at least one of the plurality of pump chambers,the fuel feed apparatus further comprising:a two-stage filter through which fuel flows to the first suction passage and the second suction passage,wherein the two-stage filter is inserted into the sub-tank, andthe elastic member seals between the two-stage filter and the sub-tank.

12. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the two-stage filter includes a duct, a filtering vessel, a first filtering member, and a second filtering member,fuel is divided into the first suction passage and the second suction passage through the duct,the filtering vessel accommodates therein the first filtering member and the second filtering member,the first filtering member communicates with the fuel tank,the second filtering member communicates with the sub-tank, andthe elastic member seals between the filtering vessel and the sub-tank.

13. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the filtering vessel includes a partition and a check valve,the partition partitions between the first filtering member and the second filtering member, andthe check valve is provided to the partition to restrict backflow of fuel, which is filtered through the first filtering member.

14. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the partition includes a partition portion extending into the duct,the partition portion partitions the first suction passage from the second suction passage, andthe check valve is provided to the partition on a side of the first suction passage.

15. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first filtering member and the second filtering member are different in mesh density from each other.

16. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump further has a second suction passage through which fuel flows from inside the sub-tank into an other of the plurality of pump chambers.

17. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a duct connecting with the suction pipe; anda suction filter connecting with the duct via the suction pipe for filtering fuel,wherein the elastic member seals an inner periphery of the through-hole of the sub-tank and an outer periphery of one of the suction pipe and the duct.

18. A fuel feed apparatus accommodated in a fuel tank, the fuel feed apparatus comprising: a sub-tank that is provided in a bottom of the fuel tank; anda fuel pump that is accommodated in the sub-tank,wherein the fuel pump includes an impeller that defines a plurality of pump chambers,the fuel pump has a first suction passage through which fuel flows from outside the sub-tank into at least one of the plurality of pump chambers, andthe fuel pump further has a second suction passage through which fuel flows from inside the sub-tank into at least an other of the plurality of pump chambers,the fuel feed apparatus further comprising:an elastic member that seals between the first suction passage and the sub-tank.