The present invention relates generally to a fuel system and more particularly to a fuel supply module for a vehicle fuel system.
Vehicles typically include a fuel system with a fuel tank, a fuel pump that pumps fuel from the tank to a vehicle engine to support operation of the engine, and various other components, such as a fuel level sensor, fuel pressure regulator, fuel injectors, fuel filter and the like. In some vehicles, the fuel pump is mounted within the vehicle fuel tank as part of a module or assembly that may include other components of the fuel system, such as the fuel level sensor and one or more fuel filters all carried on a common support structure. Some modules have been mounted in the fuel tank by a mounting flange received in an opening of a fuel tank and secured to a wall of the fuel tank. Often, in automobiles, the fuel tanks are disposed in relatively small oddly shaped areas which can lead to a wide range of shapes and sizes of fuel tanks. Some fuel tanks may have a limited depth or other constructions that make it difficult to insert a module that includes full size accessories or components into the fuel tank. In some applications, reducing the size of the components, for example a fuel reservoir in which the fuel pump is received, or a fuel filter, is not desirable since the performance of the fuel module may be diminished.
A fuel supply module includes a reservoir and a fuel filter carried by the reservoir. In one implementation, the filter assembly may be pivoted relative to the reservoir when the fuel pump module is inserted through an access opening of the fuel tank. Thereafter, when the fuel pump module is mounted to the fuel tank, the filter assembly may pivot to a second position angularly displaced from the first position. In another implementation, the position of the filter assembly is fixed relative to the reservoir.
At least some of the objects, features and advantages that at least some embodiments of the fuel pump assembly may provide include permitting maximum size fuel pump module components to be inserted into a fuel tank, permitting use of a lifetime fuel filter downstream of a fuel pump and carried by the module, facilitating design of the fuel pump module for use in even shallow fuel tanks, facilitate assembly of the fuel pump module into a fuel tank, is of relatively simple design and economical manufacture and assembly, and in service has a long, useful life.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:
Referring in more detail to the drawings,
The fuel pump module 10 includes a mounting flange 20 having a radially outwardly extending lip 22 adapted to overlie and be sealed to a fuel tank wall 24, and a depending cylindrical skirt 26 adapted to be received within an opening 28 of the fuel tank. The mounting flange 20 may carry one or more components or accessories of the fuel pump module 10, such as an electric pass-through connector 30, and a fuel vapor vent valve 32 which includes a vent outlet fitting 34 that may communicate with a fuel vapor canister, or other device. The fuel vapor vent valve 32 and electrical connector 30 may be of generally standard construction and will not be described further herein. One or more fluid connector fittings may be provided on or molded with the mounting flange 20. One fitting 36 may communicate the outlet of the fuel pump 14 with a fuel line through which fuel is delivered to the engine. Another fitting 38 may communicate with a vent valve, if desired. And another fitting 40 may be used for any other fluid flow, or may be capped if its use is not needed or desired. The mounting flange 20 may be molded of a polymeric material suitable for use with a fuel tank, and to be sealed to a fuel tank wall. The mounting flange 20 may include one or more blind bores in cylindrical projections 42 open to the fuel tank.
The reservoir 16 may be formed in any suitable shape for a particular application. In the embodiment shown, the reservoir 16 includes a body 46 and a lid 48 snap fit by a plurality of snap latches 50 disposed over tabs 52 on the body 46 of the reservoir. The body 46 and lid 48 of the reservoir 16 define an interior 53 (
As best shown in
As best shown in
As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6-10, the fuel filter assembly 18 preferably is mounted for pivoted or angular movement relative to the reservoir 16. The fuel filter assembly 18 preferably is laterally or radially spaced from the mounting flange 20 such that the mounting flange does not axially overlie any portion of the filter assembly 18 (axially as used in this sentence refers to an axis 81 of the generally circular mounting flange as shown in
The fuel filter assembly 18 includes a support 84, a pivot feature or mount 86 carried by the support 84, a secondary pump 88 carried by the support, a fuel filter housing 90 and a fuel filter 92 disposed within the fuel filter housing 90. The fuel filter housing is connected at a first end to the fuel reservoir 16, and has a second or free end spaced from the fuel reservoir. In at least one position of the fuel filter it is disposed at an angle to the axis 81 of the mounting flange so that the axial distance from the second end to the mounting flange is less than the axial distance from the mounting flange to the first end. This may define a generally U-shaped fuel supply module to facilitate inserting and mounting the module in a fuel tank having a relatively low profile or small open space adjacent to an opening through which the fuel supply module is inserted into the fuel tank.
As best shown in
As discussed further below, the support 84 may also include one or more fuel passages to facilitate communication between the high pressure fuel pump 14, the fuel filter assembly 18 and other components, as desired. Such other components may include, by way of examples without limitation, a fuel pressure regulator and the secondary pump 88. The fuel passages in the support may be molded in one piece with the cylindrical portions 94 and other structural features of the support 84.
The secondary pump 88 is carried by and preferably has portions formed integrally with the support. Accordingly, in this implementation, the secondary pump 88 is disposed laterally between the fuel reservoir 16 and the fuel filter assembly 18. The secondary pump 88 may be a jet pump having a various fuel passages, such as a low pressure inlet 98, a high pressure inlet 100 communicated with an outlet of the high pressure fuel pump 14, a nozzle (not shown) communicated with the high pressure inlet 100 and with a venturi tube 102 in the area of the low pressure inlet 98. The venturi tube 102 has an outlet end 103 that is communicated with the reservoir interior 53, such as by a flexible fluid conduit 104 (
The support 84 preferably also includes a fuel outlet 110 that is communicated with the interior of the fuel filter housing 90 to receive filtered fuel from the housing 90, and a fuel inlet 112 that is communicated with the outlet of the fuel pump 14 and receives pressurized fuel discharged from the fuel pump 14. The fuel inlet 112 is preferably communicated with both the interior of the fuel filter housing 90 and the high pressure inlet 100 of the jet pump 88, such as by a “T” fitting or joint so that a portion of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 14 flows to the jet pump 88 as previously described, and the rest of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 14 flows into the fuel filter housing 90 so that it may be filtered. Of course, the fuel may be further split or divided and routed to other fuel system components, for example, another secondary pump.
As best shown in
The outlet 110 is communicated with an inlet (not shown) of the fuel pressure regulator 76 so that filtered and pressurized fuel is delivered to the fuel pressure regulator 76. Fuel discharged from the fuel pressure regulator is delivered to the fuel outlet fitting 36 of the mounting flange 20, by a tube, other conduit or molded passage(s), for example. As shown in
Accordingly, a connection feature interconnects the fuel filter and the reservoir. The connection feature may include, for example, a mount (such as a pivot or fixed mount) or support carried by one or both of the fuel filter and the reservoir. The connection feature may include one or more fuel passages, such as those discussed with reference to the support 84, or other fuel passages as desired to route fuel in an around the fuel supply module 10.
In some fuel tanks, such as those that are relatively shallow in the area of the opening in which the fuel supply module 10 is to be installed, it may be necessary to pivot or otherwise move the filter assembly 18 relative to the reservoir 16 from a first position, such as shown in
The flexibility afforded by this module 10 permits larger components to be used with the fuel module to maximize the performance of the components and the module. For example, a larger fuel filter 92 can be used enabling use of a filter 92 that will last at least as long as the projected life of the module 10 (or a vehicle in which the module is used) so that the fuel filter 92 will not need to be replaced. Still further, a relatively large reservoir 16 can be used to improve at least the low fuel performance of the fuel module 10. After the module is assembled into the fuel tank 14, the filter assembly 18 may assume a different orientation than it was in during assembly. The in-tank position of the filter assembly 18 may be dictated by the fuel tank shape and size, or it may be determined by a biasing member, such as a spring, the yieldably biases the filter assembly 18 to a desired angular position.
In some fuel tank constructions, it may not be necessary to allow the filter assembly to pivot or move relative to the remainder of the assembly during installation into a fuel tank, or otherwise.
As best shown in
Otherwise, the module 10′ and its components may be constructed and arranged in substantially the same manner as in the fuel module 10. Some of the same reference numbers used in the description of the module 10 have been applied to portions of the module 10′ for ease of comparison.
The disclosure of presently preferred embodiments set forth herein is in terms of description and not limitation. Those of ordinary skill in this art will readily recognize that other embodiments can be made, as well as various modifications to the embodiments disclosed, all of which may fall within the spirit and broad scope of this invention. By way of example without limitation, a jet pump driven by fuel returned to the fuel tank as is known in the art or a jet pump driven by fuel bypassed from the pressure regulator 76 may be used instead of the supply-side jet pump, if desired. Of course, other substitutions or modifications may be employed.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/719,622, which was assigned a filing date of Sep. 22, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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60719622 | Sep 2005 | US |