Patent ID: 6893206
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
1. A fuel pump, comprising: a drive assembly; a pump assembly having a lower plate, an intermediate plate, an upper plate, a first pumping element disposed between the lower plate and the intermediate plate and driven for rotation by the drive assembly, and a second pumping element disposed between the intermediate plate and the upper plate and driven for rotation by the drive assembly; a first pumping channel defined at least in part by the first pumping element, having an inlet through which fuel is received at a first pressure and an outlet through which fuel is discharged at a second pressure higher than the first pressure; and a second pumping channel defined at least in part by the second pumping element, having an inlet through which fuel is received generally at the second pressure and an outlet through which fuel is discharged at a third pressure higher than the second pressure, wherein the inlet of the second pumping channel is circumferentially offset from the inlet of the first pumping channel, the outlet of the second pumping channel is circumferentially offset from the outlet of the first pumping channel, and at least one of the first pumping channel and the second pumping channel leads to a transition portion that is defined at least in part between the intermediate plate and a corresponding one of the first pumping element and second pumping element, and is disposed between the outlet of the first pumping channel and the inlet of the second pumping channel.