Fuel pump assembly

Fuel supply systems incorporating fuel pump assemblies having vents leading from upper portions of filter cases to vapor phase portions of a fuel tank. In one embodiment, a fuel pump is located wholly within a filter case with a relief port also provided within the case. Location of the components and baffles as well as a vapor vent promote flow of entrained vapor in the fuel away from the pump intake. Further, with the present arrangement, vapor is less likely to be formed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The field of the present invention is fuel pump assemblies and arrangements 
for fuel supply systems. 
Fuel pump systems have long been known which incorporate a fuel pump 
located in the fuel tank of a vehicle. FIG. 5 illustrates one such device. 
The fuel pump, generally designated A, includes a pump body B and a 
pressure regulating chamber C. The pressure regulating chamber C is at the 
output side of the pump and is provided with a relief valve D. The relief 
valve D is spring biased to maintain a relatively constant fuel pressure 
in the regulating chamber C. The fuel pressurized by the pump B and 
maintained in the regulating chamber C at no more than a maximum selected 
pressure is delivered to a fuel pipe E which is in communciation with a 
carburetor or the like. 
At the inlet side of the pump body B, a filter F is provided. The filter F 
may have a large surface area to reduce the pressure differential 
thereacross. The pump A may thus draw fuel from the surrounding tank 
through the filter F for pressurized discharge through the fuel pipe E. 
When fuel demand is low, fuel may pass through the relief valve D and back 
into the tank where it may later be drawn again through the filter F. When 
fuel demand is heavy, all or substantially all of the flow from the pump 
will pass through the fuel pipe E. 
Fuels, such as gasoline, tend to easily generate vapor when the fuel 
temperature is elevated. In vehicles, temperature increases are 
experienced due to high atmospheric temperatures and radiant heat from the 
engine. This vapor can form bubbles in fuel system components under 
certain conditions. When such bubbles are present in a fuel passage, a 
phenomenon known as vapor lock can occur resulting in reduced or 
nonperformance of the system. 
In fuel pumps located within the fuel tank, under conditions where vapor is 
easily formed, such vapor typically generated at or behind the filter, due 
to the differential pressure across the filter created by the resistance 
to flow of the fuel through the filter. Under conditions of elevated 
temperatures and where the filter F cannot be large enough or has been 
made more resistant to flow, vapor may be generated near the inlet portion 
G of the pump body B. Some of the vapor may be discharged through the 
relief valve D to harmlessly rise to the vapor phase portion of the tank. 
However, other vapor may be entrained in the flow through the fuel pipe E 
to the carburetor. The fuel through the relief valve D simply joins the 
remainder of the fuel in the tank such that 100% of the flow of fuel 
through the pump body B must pass anew through the filter F. 
Another known device is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this arrangement, the 
pump H is also of the type contained within a fuel tank. The pump is 
provided with a filter portion, generally designated I, located at the 
intake side of the pump H. Fuel is filtered at the filter portion I 
through filter members J where it is then drawn into an intake port K of 
the pump H. The fuel is then pressurized and delivered through an exhaust 
port L to a carburetor or the like. 
Within the filter portion I when adverse conditions exist, vapor may be 
generated because of the pressure differential across the filter. This 
generated vapor is easily drawn into the pump where it may interfere with 
performance of the fuel supply system. The vapor generated may find areas 
in the filter portion I where it may collect. Such a storage area is 
represented by the hatched portion M. Such vapor may accumulate under 
adverse conditions and eventually be drawn into the intake port K. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an improved fuel supply system for a 
vehicle which accommodates vapor present between the filter and the pump 
intake of a fuel pump assembly. To this end, a vent is provided which 
releases vapor accurring between the fuel filter and the fuel pump inlet 
to a vapor phase portion of the associated fuel tank. 
In a first aspect of the present invention, a cavity may be provided at an 
elevated position in the filter portion of the fuel pump assembly with a 
vent directed from that cavity to a vapor phase portion at the upper end 
of the associated fuel tank. 
In another aspect of the present invention, the fuel pump assembly may be 
wholly contained within a filter case. A relief valve associated with a 
pressure regulating chamber on the pump may discharge into the filter 
case. A vent may again be provided at an upper portion of the case. Thus, 
accumulated vapor may be accommodated. Further, fuel already drawn through 
the filter and then released through the relief port is not required to be 
drawn through the filter again. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved fuel supply system to better accommodate and avoid fuel vapor in 
the fuel pump assembly. Other and further objects and advantages will 
appear hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first 
embodiment of the present invention. A fuel tank 1 is illustrated as 
including a cavity 2 for the storage of fuel, such as gasoline. A filler 
port 3, closed by a cap 4 provides access for the introduction of fuel 
into the tank. At a lower portion of the fuel tank 1 a filter case 5 is 
arranged and held in place by a bracket 6, which is in turn, fixed in the 
tank 1. Within the case 5 a fuel pump, indicated generally by the fuel 
body 7 is wholly contained. The case and the pump body are shown to be 
inclinedly oriented. The fuel pump 7 contemplated for use with this 
invention is one of many well known electro-magnetic pumps actuated by 
battery or generator sources in the vehicle. 
The fuel pump body 7 includes a passage 8 from the discharge side of the 
pump portion which directs pressurized fuel to a pressure regulating 
chamber 9. The pressure regulating chamber 9 is in turn coupled at the 
outlet thereof to a fuel pipe 10. Within the pressure regulating chamber 9 
there is a relief port 11. By means of the relief port 11, which may 
include a spring biased valve, a selected maximum fuel pressure may be 
provided. In the event that fuel demand is low and pressure builds within 
the regulating chamber 9, fuel will be discharged from the relief valve 11 
to insure that pressure does not exceed the selected maximum at the 
carburetor. 
The fuel pump 7 includes an intake port 12 adjacent the bottom of the 
filter case 5. Near the intake port 12 are inlets 5A, 5B and 5C 
penetrating the filter case 5 and arranged with mesh type filters member 
13A, 13B and 13C, respectively. The filter members 13A, 13B and 13C are 
fixed at the respective inlets with that portion of the filter case 5 
containing the inlets being designated, the filter portion 14. Located 
between the inlet 5A, 5B and 5C and the intake port 12 to the pump body 7 
is a partition 15. The partition 15 forms a baffle with flow being 
possible around the baffle as shown by arrows in FIG. 2. The baffle 15 
interrupts any direct flow which may occur between the inlets and the pump 
intake opening 12. This reduces local flow velocity and allows entrained 
vapor to migrate upwardly away from the intake opening. Thus, vapor is 
less likely to be sucked directly from the filter portion 14 into the 
intake port 12. 
Located at an upper portion of the filter case 5 is a vent 16. The vent 16 
extends to a supporting plate 17 and then returns to a vapor phase portion 
18 of the tank 1. The vapor phase portion 18 occupies the space to be 
above the normal fuel level in the tank. 
In operation, the fuel pump is energized when the vehicle is running such 
that fuel in the fuel tank 1 is sucked through the filter portion 14 of 
the filter case 5. In drawing fuel through the filter portion 14, under 
certain circumstances vapor V may be generated. This vapor V flows 
together with the fuel toward the intake side of the pump 7. In flowing 
around the baffle 15, a substantial amount of the vapor migrates upwardly 
for discharge through the vent 16 to the vapor phase portion 18 of the 
tank 1. A small amount of vapor migrate it to the intake port 12 to be 
passed to of this the pressure regulating chamber 9. Some vapor may be 
released at this time through the relief port 11 where again it may rise 
to be passed from the vent 16. 
The fuel discharged from the relief port 11 is by the reversely directed 
arrow in FIG. 2 to be discharged within the filter case 5 in such manner 
it is not required to pass through the filter again before being drawn 
into the intake port 12 of the fuel pump 7. Thus, all of the fuel drawn 
into the intake port 12 need not have just passed through the filter 
portion 14. Some of the flow may be provided from th discharge from the 
relief port 11. Thus, the total volume of filtering is reduced. By 
reducing the demand on the filter, less pressure differential exists 
across the filter and less vapor is accordingly generated. 
In this first embodiment of the invention, a provision is made for vapor 
removal by the vent 16. Fluid flow is directed by means of the relative 
elevation of the various components within the filter case 5 and by means 
of the baffle 15 such that vapor has an opportunity to flow upwardly 
toward the vent 16 and be separated from the fuel drawn into the intake 
port 12 of the fuel pump 7. Additionally, relief flow from port 11 is 
recirculated without requiring refiltering to reduce the generation of 
vapor in the first place. 
Turning to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, a fuel tank is again 
illustrated with similar reference characters denoting similar elements to 
those of the first embodiment. A fuel pump, generally designated 20, is 
illustrated as being positioned on a slant at the bottom of the tank 1. 
The fuel pump 20 is integrally contained within the pump body 21 and 
includes a filter portion, generally designated 22. the fuel pump 20, 
again, employs any one of a number of commonly available electro-magnetic 
pumps. The filter portion 22 is mounted on the intake side of the pump 
body 21. The exhaust side of the pump body 21 is connected to a fuel pipe 
23 which is in turn connected to a carburetor or the like by piping 
outside of the tank 1. 
At an upper portion of the filter portion 22, a vapor vent 24 is arranged 
to draw off accumulated vapor. The vent 24 extends to an upper vapor phase 
portion 18 of the tank 1. Thus vapor V accumulated within the filter 
portion 22 has an opportunity to flow away from the pump. 
Located in the walls 25 of the filter portion 22 are inlets 26A, 26B and 
26C having mesh type filter members 27A, 27B and 27C, respectively. These 
inlets 26 are provided such that minimum pressure is required to draw fuel 
therethrough and into the pump intake port 28. 
By providing the intake port 28 at a low position relative to the filter 
portion 22 and the vent 24 at the upper end of the filter portion 22, 
vapor to the pump 20 is reduced to improve the efficiency thereof. 
Accordingly, improved fuel pump assemblies are disclosed in association 
with fuel supply systems which better accommodate vapor removal without 
inhibiting the performance of the fuel pump. While embodiments and 
applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be 
apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are 
possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The 
invention, therefor is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the 
appended claims.