Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6547515
-
Patent Number
6,547,515
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, January 9, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 15, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Look; Edward K.
- Kershteyn; Igor
Agents
- Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 415 551
- 415 552
- 415 553
- 415 554
- 415 555
- 415 556
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A regenerative type electric motor fuel pump has a vapor vent passage disposed outside of a fuel pumping channel and communicating the fuel pumping channel with the exterior of the fuel pump to vent fuel vapor from the fuel pumping channel. The vapor vent passage extends through one of a pair of end plates between which a pump impeller is received for rotation. Preferably, the vapor vent passage communicates with the fuel-pumping channel through a connecting slot in the end plate.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to electric motor fuel pumps and more particularly to a regenerative type fuel pump having a vapor vent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric motor regenerative type fuel pumps have been employed in automotive engine fuel delivery systems. Fuel pumps of this type typically include a housing adapted to be submerged in a fuel supply tank with an inlet for drawing liquid fuel from the surrounding tank and an outlet for delivering fuel under pressure to the engine. The electric motor includes a rotor mounted for rotation within the housing and coupled to an impeller of the fuel pump for co-rotation therewith. The impeller typically has a circumferentially array of vanes about the periphery of the impeller with pockets defined, between adjacent vanes. An arcuate pumping channel, with an inlet and an outlet port at opposed ends, is communicated with the impeller periphery for developing fuel pressure through a vortex-like action on the liquid fuel in the pockets and in the surrounding channel. One example of a fuel pump of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,916.
Agitation of the fuel, hot fuel and the relatively low pressure in a low pressure portion of the fuel pumping channel exacerbate the generation of fuel vapor in the liquid fuel within the fuel pump and fuel tank. Undesirably, the fuel vapor reduces the volume of liquid fuel pumped by the fuel pump, can cause vapor lock and stalling of the engine, and causes cavitation and increased noise in operation of the fuel pump. Accordingly, it is desirable to limit the generation of fuel vapor in the liquid fuel pumped by the fuel pump, and to vent fuel vapor from the fuel pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,700 discloses a regenerative fuel pump having an impeller with a plurality of vapor vent passages formed through the impeller radially inboard of the pockets formed between adjacent vanes of the impeller. Each vapor vent passage directly communicates with a separate pocket and when the impeller rotates the vent passages serially communicate with a vapor vent port through an end plate of the fuel pump to facilitate the discharge or venting of fuel vapor from the fuel-pumping channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,311 discloses a fuel pump having a vapor discharge port disposed within an enlarged low-pressure portion of its fuel pumping channel. The vapor discharge port is located entirely within the fuel-pumping channel and is relatively small to minimize liquid fuel loss and pressure loss in the pumping channel. Undesirably, the small vapor discharge port disposed directly within the fuel pumping channel is not effective to evacuate all fuel vapor from the fuel pumping channel and a percentage of the fuel vapor flows downstream into the higher pressure portion of the fuel pumping channel reducing the fuel pump efficiency, capacity and performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electric motor regenerative type fuel pump has a vapor vent passage disposed outside of a fuel pumping channel and communicating the fuel pumping channel with the exterior of the fuel pump to vent fuel vapor from the fuel pumping channel. The vapor vent passage extends through one of a pair of end plates between which the impeller is received for rotation. Preferably, the vapor vent passage communicates with the fuel-pumping channel through a connecting slot.
Desirably, the fuel pumping channel has an enlarged cross-section low pressure portion adjacent to its inlet and leading to a high pressure portion of reduced cross-section which terminates at an outlet of the fuel pumping channel from which fuel is discharged under pressure. In the preferred embodiment, the vapor vent passage opens into the fuel pumping channel at the downstream end of the low pressure portion, immediately upstream of the high pressure portion. The vent passage is radially inward of and opens into the radially inner edge of the fuel pumping channel because the greatest concentration of fuel vapor is at the radially inner portion of the fuel pumping channel due to the centripetal force on the fluid in the fuel pumping channel. In another embodiment, the vapor vent passage opens into the fuel pumping channel at the upstream end of the high pressure portion, downstream of the low pressure portion of the fuel pumping channel. In yet another embodiment a transition in the fuel-pumping channel defines a vapor diverter which directs fuel vapor to the vapor vent passage to improve the venting of vapor from the liquid fuel in the fuel pump. In each embodiment, the vapor vent passage preferably extends through a pump plate spaced from a groove in the pump plate which defines in part the fuel-pumping channel. A connecting slot preferably communicates the fuel-pumping channel with the vapor vent passage.
Objects, features and advantages of this invention include providing an electric motor regenerative fuel pump which has improved venting of fuel vapor therefrom, utilizes a vapor vent passage disposed outside of a fuel pumping channel, reduces fuel vapor pumped and discharged from the fuel pump outlet, reduces cavitation and noise of the fuel pump in use, enables the fuel pump to be operated at low speed, enables use of electronic control of the speed of the fuel pump motor, improves efficiency of the fuel pump, improves hot fuel handling of the fuel pump, is of relatively simple design and economical manufacture and assembly, and in service has a long useful life.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a cross-sectional view of an electric motor fuel pump embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a fragmentary sectional view of a fuel pumping assembly of the fuel pump of
FIG. 1
illustrating a vapor vent passage through an end cap of the assembly;
FIG. 3
is a plan view of a lower end cap of the fuel pump assembly;
FIG. 4
is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line
4
—
4
of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a fragmentary plan view of an end cap of a modified fuel pump assembly according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 6
is a plan view of an end cap of a fuel pump assembly according to another alternate embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring in more detail to the drawings,
FIG. 1
illustrates an electric motor fuel pump
10
having a housing
12
with an inlet
14
through which fuel is drawn into the fuel pump
10
and an outlet
16
from which fuel is discharged under pressure for delivery to an engine. The housing
12
has a cylindrical shell
18
which joins spaced apart inlet and outlet end caps
20
,
22
. An electric motor
24
has a rotor
26
journalled by a shaft
28
for rotation within the housing
12
, and a surrounding permanent magnet stator
30
. Brushes
23
are disposed within the outlet end cap
22
and are electrically connected to terminals positioned on the end cap
22
. The brushes are yieldably urged into electrical sliding contact with a commutator plate
32
carried by the rotor
26
and shaft
28
in the housing
12
. The rotor
26
is coupled to a fuel pumping mechanism
34
for drawing fuel through the inlet
14
and discharging it under pressure through the outlet
16
. To the extent thus far described, the fuel pump
10
may be constructed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,916, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the fuel pumping mechanism
34
includes an impeller
36
coupled to the shaft
28
by a wire clip
38
or other mechanism for co-rotation with the shaft. A pair of pump housing plates
40
,
42
are disposed on opposed axial faces
44
,
46
, respectively, of the impeller
36
with the first pump plate
40
provided by the inlet end cap
20
. A split ring
48
is sandwiched between the pump plates
40
,
42
surrounding the periphery of the impeller
36
. The pump plates
40
,
42
and ring
48
form an arcuate pumping channel
50
extending around the periphery of the impeller
36
from an inlet port
52
in the first pump plate
40
to an outlet port
54
in the second pump plate
42
. The fuel pumping channel
50
spans an arc of approximately 300° to 350° with a stripper region
56
disposed outside of the fuel pumping channel
50
and between the inlet
52
and outlet port
54
. An inlet section of the fuel-pumping channel preferably spans an arc of between 60° and 180° and preferably between 90° and 110°.
The impeller
36
has a circumferential array of radially and axially extending vanes
60
and a centered radially extending and circumferentially continuous rib
62
. The rib
62
is preferably centered between opposed axial faces
44
,
46
of the impeller
36
and cooperates with the vanes
60
to form a circumferential array of equally spaced axially facing identical pockets
64
in opposed axial faces of the impeller
36
. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the impeller vanes
60
comprise so-called closed vanes in which the bottom surface of the each vane pocket
64
formed in one axial face
44
of the impeller
36
does not intersect the bottom surface of the axially adjacent pocket
64
in the opposing impeller face
46
. However, so-called open vane constructions of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,916 may also be employed. The pockets
64
on the impeller side faces
44
,
46
are aligned with each other as shown, however, staggered pockets may also be employed.
As best shown in
FIG. 3
, the first pump plate
40
has an arcuate groove
70
formed in its upper face
72
which defines in part the fuel pumping channel
50
. The fuel pump inlet
52
extends through the first pump plate
40
to admit fuel into the groove
70
and fuel pumping channel
50
. A central recess
74
provides clearance for the end of the motor shaft
28
and notches
76
,
78
about the periphery of the first pump plate
40
facilitate locating it within the housing
12
, holding it against rotation and circumferentially aligning it with the ring
48
and the other plate
42
. A plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities
80
are located radially inwardly from the groove
70
and may receive fuel which leaks between the first pump plate
40
and impeller
36
to reduce friction between the impeller
36
and the first pump plate
40
. The fuel within the different cavities
80
will be at different pressures and may also serve to provide a force acting on the impeller
36
tending to balance circumferentially the forces generally axially the impeller
36
for smoother operation thereof.
Additionally, the first pump plate
40
and pump plate
42
may have corresponding circumferential arrays of generally radially extending pockets
82
formed in their opposed faces
84
,
86
, (
FIG. 2
) respectively, which open into the groove
70
at their radially outer edge. The channel pockets
82
define channel vanes
88
, extend radially inwardly of the impeller vanes
60
, and have been found to provide enhanced pump performance, particularly under hot fuel conditions and low pump speed conditions. Although the reasons for the improved performance provided by the channel pockets
82
and vanes
88
defined thereby are not fully understood, it is believed that the channel vanes
88
create turbulence and reduce the velocity of the fuel as the fuel is pumped through the arcuate pumping channel
50
, enhancing vortex action and/or regenerative pumping action on the fuel, especially at low voltage and pump speed conditions which frequently occur in cold weather in the winter. The channel pockets
82
and the channel vanes
88
between the channel pockets
82
preferably are angulated radially in a direction opposed to rotation of the impeller
36
. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the channel pockets
82
and vanes
88
are of arcuate geometry, and have a depth in the axial direction that increases radially inwardly of the impeller periphery. To provide a controlled bleed of fuel from these pockets
82
to the adjacent cavities
80
, a small interconnecting groove
90
is provided between them at a desired location in an attempt to control and increase the average pressure within the cavities
80
for improved balancing of the impeller
36
and reduced friction with the pump plates
40
and
42
. In general, the upper pump plate
42
may be configured as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,916.
The groove
70
has a first section
92
extending from the inlet port
52
a predetermined distance towards the outlet port
54
and defining in part an inlet or low pressure portion of the fuel pumping channel
50
. The groove
70
also has a second section
96
extending from the first section
92
to an end
97
of the channel generally aligned with the outlet port
54
and defining in part a high pressure portion of the fuel pumping channel
50
. The second section
96
preferably has a constant cross-sectional area. The first section
92
preferably has a larger cross-sectional area than the second section
96
. The cross-sectional area of the first section
92
preferably changes along its length and decreases toward the second section
96
to provide a transition region
98
between the first section
92
and second section
96
. Preferably, the axial depth of the groove
70
is varied to change the cross-sectional area of the first section
92
, although it is possible to also change the radial width of the fuel pumping channel
50
as shown in FIG.
6
. In any event, in its first section
92
, the groove
70
preferably becomes gradually axially shallower as it approaches the second section
96
.
Notably, fuel drawn into the groove
70
, and fuel pumping channel
50
defined in part by the groove
70
, enters the inlet port
52
at a slightly subatmospheric pressure and exits the outlet port
54
at a pressure of generally about 40 psi or higher depending on the particular application with the pressure of fuel substantially continually increasing between the inlet port
52
and outlet port
54
. In the relatively large volume and low-pressure environment within the first section
92
of the groove
70
, fuel vapor tends to form or expand. Undesirably, this reduces the volume in the groove
70
and fuel-pumping channel
50
available for liquid fuel. Accordingly, it is desirable to remove the fuel vapor from the fuel pumping channel
50
to increase the volume of liquid fuel which may be pumped and the efficiency of the fuel pump
10
. Furthermore, it is highly desirable to discharge only liquid fuel from the outlet of the pump to be delivered to the operating engine.
As the fuel moves about the arcuate fuel pumping channel
50
, the heavier liquid fuel tends to move radially outwardly in the groove
70
and channel
50
with the lighter fuel vapor disposed at the radial inner portion of the groove
70
and pumping channel
50
. According to the invention, to remove the fuel vapor from the fuel pumping channel
50
, the first pump plate
40
has a connecting passage or slot
100
open to the first section
92
of the groove
70
and communicating the fuel pumping channel
50
with a vapor vent passage
102
extending through the first pump plate
40
, as best shown in FIG.
2
. The connecting slot
100
preferably opens into the first section
92
generally in the area of the transition region
98
or immediately upstream of the second section
96
of the groove
70
. Preferably, to reduce interference or turbulence caused by flow in the connecting slot
100
from the groove
70
, the connecting slot
100
is disposed at an acute included angle relative to the groove
70
with the vapor vent passage
102
disposed downstream of the juncture
104
between the connecting slot
100
and groove
70
with respect to the flow of fuel through the groove
70
and fuel pumping channel
50
. Also preferably, the connecting slot
100
is widest at its juncture
104
with the groove
70
and narrows towards the vapor vent passage
102
to improve fluid flow to the vapor vent passage
102
. Due to the angle of the connecting slot
100
, the vapor vent passage
102
may be disposed downstream of a radius
106
extending to the beginning of the second section
96
of the groove
70
. The connecting slot is preferably angularly spaced by about 60° to 120° from the stripper region
56
immediately upstream of the inlet port
52
.
Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 5
, a connecting slot
100
′ may open directly into the second section
96
of the groove
70
downstream of the first section
92
and the transition
98
between the sections. Desirably, in this embodiment, the connecting slot
100
′ opens into the second section
96
immediately downstream of and as close as possible to the first section
92
of the groove
70
. The connecting slot
100
′ is preferably disposed at an acute included angle relative to the groove
70
with the vapor vent passage
102
′ at a downstream end thereof.
Preferably, the juncture of the slot
100
,
100
′ with the groove
70
is at the radially inner side or edge of the groove or pumping channel and the vapor vent passage
102
,
102
′ is located radially inward of the adjacent portion of the groove and pumping channel. The vapor vent passage
102
communicates with the exterior of the fuel pump
10
which is at a lower pressure than the fuel pumping channel
50
in the area of the connecting slot
100
. Thus, fuel vapor tends to move toward the lower pressure and is drawn into the connecting slot
100
and out of the vapor vent passage
102
.
The venting of fuel vapor from the fuel-pumping channel
50
reduces the volume of fluid therein. To reduce or negate the effects such reduced volume of fluid may have on the pressure of fluid within the pumping channel
50
, the second section
96
has a smaller cross-sectional area than the first section
92
. This accommodates the change in volume of fluid in the fuel pumping channel
50
due to the venting of fuel vapor and air therefrom and facilitates maintaining and increasing the pressure of fuel throughout the remainder of the fuel pumping channel
50
to the outlet port
54
.
As shown in
FIG. 6
, a modified pump plate
150
has a groove
152
defining in part the fuel pumping channel
50
with a first section
154
extending from inlet
52
to a second section
158
leading to end
97
. The first section
154
is wider than the second section
158
to provide a change in cross sectional area between the sections
154
and
158
without requiring the depth of the groove
152
to change from the first section
154
to the second section
158
. If desired, both the width and the depth can be varied in the first section
154
. Preferably, to provide the different widths, an inner edge
153
of the first section
154
is formed at a radial distance which is shorter than a radial distance along which an inner edge
160
of the second section
158
is formed providing a step or transition
161
along the radially inner edge of the groove
152
. A connecting slot
162
leading to a vapor vent passage
164
is formed in the area of the transition
161
. A downstream wall
166
of the connecting slot
162
is defined in part by the transition
161
to provide a vapor diverter extending partially radially into the groove relative to its first section
154
. Desirably, vapor which is not immediately drawn into the connecting slot
162
due to the lower pressure in the vent passage
164
, as described previously, is directed by the diverter into the connecting slot
162
. This improves the venting of vapor from the liquid fuel in the fuel-pumping channel
50
. Preferably, the downstream wall
166
and diverter are angled or inclined relative to the groove in a direction generally against the directing of fluid flow in the fuel pumping channel to further improve the directing of vapor into the connecting slot
162
.
Desirably, the fuel pump
10
has significantly improved performance at low operating speeds and when pumping hot fuel due to the improved venting of fuel vapor in use. Both of these adverse operating conditions are commonly encountered in automotive vehicle fuel systems. This facilitates use of the fuel pump with an electronic speed control without loss of performance.
Claims
- 1. An electric motor fuel pump, comprising:a housing; an impeller having an array of a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart vanes rotatably carried in the housing, driven by the electric motor and having opposed sides and a periphery; a fuel pumping channel having an inlet into which fuel is drawn and an outlet through which fuel is discharged under pressure, the vanes of the impeller being at least in part disposed in the pumping channel; a first pump plate carried by the housing adjacent to one side of the impeller; a second pump plate having a face disposed adjacent to the opposite side of the impeller as the first pump plate, a groove formed in the face and defining in part the fuel pumping channel, the fuel pumping channel having a low pressure section extending from the inlet and a high pressure section extending from the low pressure section to the outlet, the low pressure section having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the high pressure section, a vapor vent passage through the second pump plate having an inlet spaced radially inward from the groove and the fuel pumping channel and located immediately adjacent the transition of the low pressure section into the high pressure section, the vapor vent passage communicating with the exterior of the housing, and a connecting slot in the face communicating the groove with the inlet of the vapor vent passage to permit fuel vapor in the fuel pumping channel to escape therefrom through the vapor vent passage, the connecting slot opening directly into the groove and pumping channel immediately adjacent the transition of the low pressure section into the high pressure section and extending from the groove to the inlet of the vapor vent passage at an acute included angle to the groove and downstream relative to fuel flow through the groove and the pumping channel.
- 2. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the connecting slot communicates with the low pressure section of the fuel pumping channel.
- 3. The fuel pump of claim 2 wherein the connecting slot opens into the low-pressure section immediately upstream of the high-pressure section.
- 4. The fuel pump of claim 3 wherein the connecting slot is widest at its juncture with the groove and narrows toward the inlet of the vapor vent passage.
- 5. The fuel pump of claim 2 wherein the fuel-pumping channel is arcuate and spans between 300 and 350 degrees and the low-pressure section extends from the inlet and spans between 60 to 180 degrees.
- 6. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein a first section of the groove which defines in part the low pressure section is axially deeper than a second section of the groove which defines in part the high pressure section with a transition region between the first section and second section and the connecting slot opens into the groove in the area of the transition region.
- 7. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein a first section of the groove which defines in part the low pressure section is wider than a second section of the groove which defines in part the high pressure section.
- 8. The fuel pump of claim 7 which also comprises transition defined between the first section of the groove and the second section of the groove, with the transition defining a diverter constructed to direct vapor toward the vapor vent passage.
- 9. The fuel pump of claim 8 wherein the diverter extends partially radially into the groove relative to the first section of the groove.
- 10. The fuel pump of claim 8 wherein the diverter is inclined against the direction of fluid flow in the fuel-pumping channel.
- 11. The fuel pump of claim 8 wherein a radially inner edge of the first section of the groove extends along an arc at a radial distance which is shorter than the radial distance at which an arcuate radially inner edge of the second section of the groove extends providing the transition between the inner edges of the first section and second section.
- 12. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the connecting slot opens into the high pressure section of the fuel pumping channel.
- 13. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the low pressure section of the fuel pumping channel joins the high pressure section of the fuel pumping channel at least 90° downstream of the inlet of the pumping channel.
- 14. The fuel pump of claim 12 wherein the connecting slot opens into the high pressure section immediately downstream of the low pressure section.
- 15. The fuel pump of claim 14 wherein the connecting slot is widest at its juncture with the groove and narrows toward the vapor vent passage.
- 16. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the second pump plate has a stripper region outside of the fuel pumping channel between the inlet and outlet of the fuel pumping channel with the connecting slot angularly spaced from the stripper region by between 600 to 120° degrees.
- 17. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the connecting slot extends at an acute included angle to the groove and generally in the direction of rotation of the impeller.
- 18. The fuel pump of claim 17 wherein the vapor vent passage is downstream of the juncture between the connecting slot and the groove with respect to the direction of fluid flow in the fuel pumping channel.
- 19. The fuel pump of claim 18 wherein the vapor vent passage is located radially inward of the adjacent portion of the groove.
- 20. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the connecting slot has an axial depth equal to the axial depth of the groove at the juncture between the connecting slot and the groove.
- 21. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the vapor vent passage is located radially inward of the adjacent portion of the groove.
- 22. The fuel pump of claim 1 wherein the connecting slot is widest at its juncture with the groove and narrows toward the vapor vent passage.
US Referenced Citations (11)