Patent Application
20120145132
The present invention relates generally to a fuel tank assembly, and more particularly to the fuel pump module and the level of fuel present at the inlet of the module when the tank contains a relatively low volume of fuel.
In some vehicles the vertical distance between the bottom of the vehicle and its flat floor is short, thereby requiring the fuel tank to be long, wide and short. When a fuel tank having this shape contains a low volume of fuel, the fuel spreads over a large portion of the bottom surface of the tank. If the vehicle runs out of fuel, adding a small amount of fuel to a tank having this shape can fail to restart the engine because the spread out fuel is not deep enough to allow the pump to be primed.
A fuel pump module located in the tank requires a specific depth of fuel to prime the pump. If fuel in the tank is not present at the fuel pump module with a sufficient depth, the engine cannot be restarted.
A need exists for a fuel tank assembly that ensures that a volume of about one gallon of fuel in the tank will provide a sufficient depth of fuel at the fuel pump inlet to re-prime the pump and restart the engine, even for long, wide and short tanks.
An embodiment contemplates a fuel system that includes a fuel tank, a fill neck through which fuel enters the tank, a fuel pump module located in the fuel tank, and a fuel retention component including a lower surface on which the fuel pump module is supported, first and second walls enclosing the lower surface, and a ramp directed from the fill neck toward the lower surface enclosed by the walls.
The component has walls that retain fluid around the fuel pump module so the vehicle can be restarted with a small amount of fuel, for example, about one gallon. The component allows fuel to travel to the fuel pump module without restriction.
This component holds a level of fuel required for the fuel pump module to re-prime itself and supply the engine with enough fuel to start. The component allows the vehicle to be driven to a refueling station where the fuel tank can be refilled.
The scope of applicability of the preferred embodiment will become apparent from the following detailed description, claims and drawings. It should be understood, that the description and specific examples, although indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications to the described embodiments and examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
Referring now to the drawings,
During a low-fuel refilling procedure, fuel carried in a fill neck 24 enters the tank 10 and is directed along a duct 26 onto the lower surface 18 of the fuel retention component 14. Preferably duct 26 is inclined downward toward the lower surface 18 of the fuel retention component 14.
The retention component 14, which is seen best in
The first wall 30 encloses a first portion of the lower surface 18. The second wall 32 encloses a second portion of the lower surface 18. A portion of the second wall 32 is spaced laterally from the first wall 30. A first channel 34, communicating with the enclosed lower surface 18 and formed between the first and second walls 30, 32, terminates at an open end 36, which communicates with the fuel tank 10 (shown in
The heights of the walls 30, 32 can be adjusted depending on the volume of fuel required to be retained around the inlet 42 at the bottom of the fuel pump module 12, which is supported on the lower surface 18 of the internal fluid retention component 14. Presence of fuel at inlet 42 permits the fuel pump module 12 to re-prime itself after the tank 10 is refilled with fuel.
Referring to
Referring to
The fuel retention component 14 is preferably made of plastic material formed by injection molding, but may be made of other materials and formed in other ways, if so desired.
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
