SYSTEM FOR FIXING THE FUEL PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK

Abstract: The invention consists of a system for fixing the fuel pump (3) and its accessories (27) inside a fuel tank (19) which, using a flat spring (23) coupling and a suitable con­ tainer (1) embodying the filter and the fuel return circuit (11), allows to quickly extract the whole device (1) to repair possible breakdowns.

Description: The present invention relates to a system for fixing the suction pump directly in the motor vehicle fuel tank, so to avoid external connections between pump and tank and in the meantime to spare room inside the motor vehicle. Purpose of the present invention is therefore to have the whole assembly (pump, connections, filter, electric contacts) grouped in a single block what allows to locate very easily a possible breakdown. A further purpose is to fix the block constituting the invention in an easily extractable manner to facilitate the maintenance. Another object is to get an elastic fixing so to compensate the dimensional differences among the tanks (due to tolerances in working and/or to pressurization). These purposes and others are attained by the present invention, consisting of a system for fixing the fuel pump and its accessories inside the fuel tank, characterized in that the pump is cushioned in an elastic way in a container having a fuel collecting space provided with a filter and it is kept in position by an elastic element fixed to a cap having a diameter larger than the diameter of the container and fitted to close an opening in the upper wall of the tank. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description referred to the enclosed drawings given only as non limitative example, in which: - Fig. I is a partially sectioned view of the device according to the invention; - Fig. 2 is a view of the device of Fig. 1 placed inside a tank; - Fig. 3 is a section of a detail of the device along line II - II of Fig. 2; - Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned detail of the device of Fig. 1. With reference to the Figures, with numeral 1 it is indicated a container in plastic material, fuel-proof, of a substantially cylindrical shape and provided on its lower part of a rubber cushion- and antislipping element 2. Inside the container the electric pump 3 is kept in position by a rubber element 4 completely surrounding it and cooperating with a collar 5 which is tightened on its upper part. The rubber element 4 is in turn kept in position by a support 6 in plastic material having a substantially cylindrical shape surrounding the end part of the pump and whose side wall is provided with openings 7 protected by a net 8 for fuel filtering. The support 6 is fastened by snap clamps 9 made in the bottom of the container 1 and it is surrounded by a wall 10 molded with the body I carrying the fuel towards the suction pump. The fuel pumped in excess to the injectors returns through the duct 11 whose end 12 is kept by the support 13 in correspondence of a hole 14 made in the container wall and ending in the room 15 comprised between the container outer wall and the wall 10. The back flow of the fuel entering into the room 15 causes a suction effect involving also the fuel around the container and keeping the room 15 always full. The duct 11 is furthermore kept in position by the support 16 molded on the outer wall of the container. The rubber element 4 is fastened by a plastic cap 17, which, besides being a centering element, avoids, cooperating with the element 4, the non-filtered fuel to enter into the room 18 defined by the pump outer wall and by the inner wall of the support 6. The room 18 is connected to the air-pocket inside the tank 19 through a hole 20 and a small pipe 21 inserted in a seat made in the element 4, so to avoid the flow of the fuel in the small pipe 21. The container 1 is connected by two snap clamps 22 to a flat spring 23 in turn connected by a bolt 24 to a cap 25 closing airtight an opening 25a, in which the assembly pump/container is inserted by the nut 26 and the gasket 26a. Then the container is placed inside the tank in an elastic way: this avoids, with the help of the element 2, that the assembly undergoes too many vibrations. An air valve 27 (having also a function of safety in case of overturning) fixed on the cap 25, allows the air to flow from and to the tank. The pump 3, fed through the cables 28, delivers the fuel to the injectors through the duct 29, whose connection is placed on the cap 25, as that of the duct 11.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. System for fixing the fuel pump and its accessories inside the fuel tank, characterized in that the pump is cushioned in an elastic way in a container having a fuel collecting space provided with a filter and it is kept in position by an elastic element fixed to a cap having a diameter larger than the diameter of the container and fitted to close and opening in the upper wall of the tank. 2. System characterized in that the elastic element is a flat spring. 3. System characterized in that the container is provided on its end wall with a rubber element. 4. System characterized in that the connections of the electric feeding, the fuel ducts and the air valve are placed on the cap.

Inventors: MAZZOLENI, ADALBERTO
Applicants: FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B60K15
IPC codes: B60K15, F02M37