Patent ID: 7055511
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
1. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine including a fuel tank ( 1 ) for liquid fuel having a gas space on top of any fuel stored therein, with a fuel feed line including a fuel pump ( 2 ) extending from the fuel tank ( 1 ) to a fuel injection valve ( 12 ), a fractionation device for separating low boiling-point fuel fractions from the fuel in the fuel tank ( 1 ) including a functional operating unit and a storage unit, the operating unit comprising a gas delivery pump ( 4 ) and an electric motor ( 3 ), and the storage unit comprising an additional tank ( 13 ) for the low boiling-point fuel fractions, said gas delivery pump ( 4 ) being connected to the gas space of the fuel tank ( 1 ) for taking in from the fuel tank gas enriched with low boiling fuel fractions and compressing the gas for condensation of the fuel, said gas delivery pump ( 4 ) being also connected to the additional tank ( 13 ) for supplying the compressed gas to the additional tank ( 13 ) for depositing the condensed low boiling fuel fraction therein, the electric motor ( 3 ) and the fuel pump ( 2 ) forming a pump unit, wherein the electric motor ( 3 ) is connected to the fuel pump ( 2 ) and to the gas delivery pump ( 4 ) by clutches ( 7 , 8 ) such that the electric motor ( 3 ) can drive selectively either or both pumps ( 2 , 4 ) and the gas delivery pump ( 4 ) can be operated even after engine shut down for replenishing the low boiling fuel in the additional tank ( 13 ).