Patent ID: 7475678
Filing Date: 2009-01-13
Classification: F01C,F02M,F04B,F04C,F04D

Abstract:
1. A fuel pump module configured to be located inside of a fuel tank having a top access hole or a bottom access hole and supported by a flange comprising: a flange covering the fuel tank access hole, and having a fuel outlet through the flange for supplying fuel to an engine; a separate structural pod disposed in an upright position and constructed and arranged to be attached to the flange when the flange covers the access hole of the fuel tank; a first bore defined by the pod and communicating axially downward to a radially inward projecting bottom shoulder defining a bottom fuel inlet when the flange covers the access hole of the fuel tank; a fuel pump disposed in the first bore axially against the bottom shoulder and adjacent the bottom of the tank when the flange covers the access hole; a second bore defined by the pod and spaced radially outward from the first bore; a first fuel passage in the pod communicating between the first and second bores for flowing pressurized fuel from the fuel pump to the second bore; a filter cartridge disposed in the second bore for filtering pressurized fuel from the first fuel passage; a second fuel passage in the pod communicating with the second bore; a third passage in the pod communicating with the second bore; one of the second or third passages communicating with the filter cartridge for supplying filtered pressurized fuel to the fuel outlet in the flange and the other of the second or third passages communicating with the fuel tank for returning to the fuel tank any fuel by-passed from the pressurized fuel supplied to the fuel outlet in the flange; a cylindrical filter element of the filter cartridge disposed concentrically in the second bore and spaced radially from the pod, the filter element having opposite circumferential ends; a first annular retainer axially engaged sealably to one circumferential end and radially engaged sealably to the pod; a second annular retainer axially engaged sealably to the opposite circumferential end and radially engaged sealably to the pod; a continuous groove defined by the first retainer for seating the circumferential end of the filter element; a continuous groove of the second retainer for seating the opposite circumferential end of the filter element; an annular base segment of the second retainer having a central hole; a dome segment of the second retainer fitted concentrically into the base segment, the dome segment inwardly defining a valve chamber and carrying a valve seat defining a bypass fuel aperture; a guide segment of the second retainer fitted into the base segment and projecting radially inward into the valve chamber; and a biased closed valve head of the pressure regulator having a valve shank slidably supported by the guide segment in the valve chamber.