Abstract:
An apparatus ( 20 ) may comprise a fuel tank ( 10 ), a cover ( 22 ), a fuel discharging unit ( 30 ), a control unit ( 26 ), and a heat sink ( 28 ). The cover ( 22 ) closes an opening ( 12 ) in an upper portion of the fuel tank ( 10 ). The fuel discharging unit ( 30 ) is disposed within the fuel tank ( 10 ), and the fuel discharging unit ( 30 ) draws fuel into the fuel tank and discharges the drawn fuel outside the fuel tank. A biasing member ( 25 ) may be disposed between the fuel discharging unit ( 30 ) and the cover ( 22 ), and bias the fuel discharging unit ( 30 ) toward the bottom surface of the fuel tank ( 10 ). The control unit ( 26 ) controls the fuel discharging unit ( 30 ). The heat sink ( 28 ) is thermally connected to the control unit ( 26 ), and dissipates heat from the control unit ( 26 ). The heat sink ( 28 ) may include an extended portion ( 28   b ) extending in an up-down direction in the fuel tank ( 10 ). The fuel discharging unit ( 30 ) may be slidably supported by the extended portion ( 28   b ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-123424 filed on Apr. 27, 2006, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a fuel supply device for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to an external device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-155602 discloses a fuel supply device. This fuel supply device comprises a cover for closing an upper opening of a fuel tank, two guide members extending in an up-down direction in the fuel tank, and a fuel discharging unit guided by these guide members so as to be vertically movable within the fuel tank. A spring is disposed between the fuel discharging unit and the cover. The spring biases the fuel discharging unit toward the bottom surface of the fuel tank. Therefore, the bottom of the fuel discharging unit is in contact with the bottom surface of the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit draws fuel in from the fuel tank through an inflow port formed in the bottom part of the fuel discharging unit, and discharges the drawn fuel outside the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit can thus draw the fuel in the fuel tank through the inflow port even if the level of fuel in the fuel tank becomes low. The cover includes a storage chamber that stores a control unit for controlling the fuel discharging unit and a cooling passage formed adjacent to the storage chamber. When the fuel discharging unit is operating, part of fuel discharged from the fuel discharging unit flows through the cooling passage in order to cool the control unit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned fuel supply device is adapted to cool the control unit by passing part of the fuel discharged from the fuel discharging unit through the cooling passage. Therefore, when no fuel is discharged from the fuel discharging unit, the control unit cannot be cooled because no fuel flows through the cooling passage. 
     To solve this problem, it is possible to consider providing a heat sink in order to dissipate the heat of the control unit. Namely, the control unit could be cooled by the heat sink. However, the fuel supply device includes a number of members such as the guide members for guiding the fuel discharging unit in the vertical direction of the fuel tank. Such members are disposed as closely as possible to miniaturize the fuel supply device. This consequently makes it difficult to position a heat sink, with a high radiating performance (e.g., a heat sink having a large surface area), in the fuel supply device. 
     It is, accordingly, one object of the present teachings to provide a fuel supply device, in which a heat sink with a high radiating performance can be arranged without enlarging the fuel supply device. 
     In one aspect of the present teachings, an apparatus comprises a fuel tank, a cover, and a fuel discharging unit. The cover is attached to the fuel tank. The cover closes an opening formed in an upper portion of the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit is disposed within the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit draws fuel from the fuel tank and discharges the drawn fuel outside the fuel tank. A biasing member may be disposed between the cover and the fuel discharging unit. The biasing member biases the fuel discharging unit toward a bottom surface of the fuel tank. The apparatus further comprises a control unit for controlling the fuel discharging unit, and a heat sink thermally connected to the control unit. The heat sink dissipates heat from the control unit. The heat sink includes an extended portion extending in an up-down direction in the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit is slidably supported by the extended portion. 
     In this apparatus, the extended portion of the heat sink functions as a guide member. By making the extended portion of the heat sink function as the guide member, a heat sink that has a larger capacity and the larger surface area can be disposed within the apparatus without enlarging the apparatus itself. Consequently, heat generated in the control unit can be suitably dissipated. 
     It may be preferred that the fuel discharging unit comprise a reserve cup for storing fuel, and that a leading edge of the extended portion is positioned in the fuel stored in the reserve cup when the reserve cup stores fuel. 
     Such a structure of the apparatus enables the dissipation of heat from the leading edge of the extended portion into the fuel in the reserve cup. Since the fuel in the reserve cup has a lower temperature, compared with the heat sink, the heat dissipates from the leading edge of the extended portion into the fuel. Consequently, the control unit is more effectively cooled. 
     It may be preferred that the extended portion is formed in a plate-like shape. 
     Such a structure of the apparatus can prevent axial rotation of the fuel discharging unit relative to the extended portion of the heat sink. Consequently, the fuel discharging unit can be accurately disposed. 
     In another aspect of the present teachings, a fuel supply device comprises a cover attached to a fuel tank, and a fuel discharging unit disposed underneath the cover. The cover closes an opening formed in an upper portion of the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit is located within the fuel tank when the fuel supply device is attached to the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit draws fuel from the fuel tank and discharges the drawn fuel outside the fuel tank. A biasing member may be disposed between the cover and the fuel discharging unit. The biasing member biases the fuel discharging unit downward. The fuel supply device further comprises a control unit for controlling the fuel discharging unit, and a heat sink thermally connected to the control unit. The heat sink dissipates heat from the control unit. The heat sink includes an extended portion extending in an up-down direction in the fuel tank. The fuel discharging unit is slidably supported by the extended portion. 
     In this fuel supply device, the extended portion of the heat sink functions as a guide member. Consequently, the capacity and surface area of the heat sink can be increased without enlarging the device itself. 
     These aspects and features may be utilized singularly or in combination in order to produce an improved fuel supply device. In addition, other objects, features and advantages from the present teachings will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and claims. Of course, the additional features and aspects disclosed herein also may be utilized singularly or in combination with the above-described aspects and features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a fuel supply device  20  of a preferred embodiment of the present teachings; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the fuel supply device  20  along the line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view showing the flow of fuel in and around a fuel pump  44 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a fuel discharge nozzle  29 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the flow of fuel; and 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing a fuel discharge nozzle of another form. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment which will be described later in detail has following features. 
     (Feature 1) The fuel supply device is attached to a fuel tank. 
     (Feature 2) The fuel supply device comprises a heat sink. The heat sink includes an extended portion extending downward from a cover. 
     (Feature 3) The fuel supply device comprises a fuel discharging unit. The fuel discharging unit is supported so as to be vertically movable within the fuel tank by being engaged with the extended portion of the heat sink and a guide member. 
     (Feature 4) The fuel discharging unit comprises a reserve cup for storing fuel and a pump disposed within the reserve cup, the pump drawing the fuel from the reserve cup and discharging the drawn fuel. 
     (Feature 5) A leading edge of the extended portion is immersed in the fuel within the reserve cup when the reserve cup stores fuel. 
     (Feature 6) The extended portion of the heat sink is formed in a plate-like shape. 
     (Feature 7) The fuel supply device comprises a fuel discharge nozzle for discharging part of the fuel drawn by the fuel discharging unit toward the extended portion. 
     (Feature 8) The fuel discharge nozzle is formed so as to discharge the fuel across a substantial proportion of the entire lateral area of the extended portion formed in the plate-like shape. 
     Embodiment 
     A fuel supply device  20  according to this preferred embodiment of the present teachings will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fuel supply device  20  is used when attached to a fuel tank  10  of an automobile or the like. The fuel supply device  20  draws fuel from within the fuel tank  10  and supplies the drawn fuel to an engine of the automobile or the like. The fuel supply device  20  comprises a cover  22 , a guide  24 , a fuel discharging unit  30 , a spring  25 , a controller  26  and a heat sink  28 . 
     The cover  22  is attached to the fuel tank  10  so as to close an opening  12  formed in an upper portion of the fuel tank  10 . The cover  22  includes a fuel discharge port  22   a . One end of a fuel supply pipe, not shown, for supplying fuel to the engine is connected to the upper end of the fuel discharge port  22   a . A pipe  60  of the fuel discharging unit  30  is connected to the lower end of the fuel discharge port  22   a . The fuel from the fuel discharging unit  30  enters the fuel discharge port  22   a  through the pipe  60 . The fuel which entered the fuel discharge port  22   a  is supplied to the engine through the fuel supply pipe. 
     A base end of the guide  24  is fixed to the lower surface of the cover  22 . The guide  24  is a bar-like member which extends downward (i.e., towards the bottom surface of the fuel tank  10 ) from the cover  22 . The fuel discharging unit  30  is attached to the lower end of the guide  24 . 
     The spring  25  is disposed between the cover  22  and the fuel discharging unit  30 . The spring  25  is disposed so that the guide  24  is inserted through the spring  25 . The spring  25  is compressed between the cover  22  and the fuel discharging unit  30 . Accordingly, the spring  25  biases the fuel discharging unit  30  downward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cover  22  includes a through-hole  22   b , and a fuel pump controller  26  is attached to the through-hole  22   b . The fuel pump controller  26  is electrically connected to a fuel pump  44  of the fuel discharging unit  30 . The fuel pump controller  26  receives power supplied by an external power source not shown. The fuel pump controller  26  controls the operation of the fuel discharging unit  30  by controlling the power supplied to the fuel pump  44 . 
     The fuel pump controller  26  comprises a case  26   a , a circuit board  26   b , and a connector  26   c . The case  26   a  is fixed to the cover  22  by being inserted into the through-hole  22   b  of the cover  22 . The circuit board  26   b  and the connector  26   c  are fixed to the case  26   a . The connector  26   c  is fixed to the upper side surface of the case  26   a . The connector  26   c  is electrically connected to the circuit board  26   b  by a wire  26   d . The connector  26   c  receives power supplied by the external power source. The power supplied from the external power source to the connector  26   c  is supplied to the circuit board  26   b.    
     The circuit board  26   b  is disposed within the case  26   a . The circuit board  26   b  includes an electric circuit, not shown, constituted by a number of electric and electronic elements and a wiring configuration. The circuit board  26   b  is electrically connected to the fuel pump  44  by a wire not shown. The circuit board  26   b  receives power supplied by the external power source through the connector  26   c . The circuit board  26   b  supplies power to the fuel pump  44  thus enabling it to control the drive of the fuel pump  44 . 
     The heat sink  28  is attached to the fuel pump controller  26 . The heat sink  28  is a substantially rectangular plate-like member which extends in a vertical direction. The heat sink  28  is formed from a metal that has high heat conductivity (copper in this embodiment). One surface of the upper end  28   a  of the heat sink  28  is closely fitted to the circuit board  26   b , and the other surface of the upper end  28   a  of the heat sink  28  is attached to the case  26   a . The heat sink  28  is insulated from the electric circuit of the circuit board  26   b . The fuel discharging unit  30  is attached to the lower end  28   b  of the heat sink  28 . 
     The fuel discharge nozzle  29  is attached to the heat sink  28  by a so-called snap fit structure. The fuel discharge nozzle  29  includes an inflow port  29   b  and a plurality of outlet ports  29   a  aligned as shown in  FIG. 4 . The fuel discharge nozzle  29  is attached so that each outlet port  29   a  is pointed toward the heat sink  28  and so that each outlet port  29   a  is aligned along the lateral direction of the heat sink  28 . A pipe  29   c  of the fuel discharging unit  30  is connected to the inflow port  29   b . Part of the fuel discharged from the fuel discharging unit  30  enters the fuel discharge nozzle  29  through the pipe  29   c . The fuel which entered the fuel discharge nozzle  29  is discharged toward the heat sink  28  through each outlet port  29   a.    
     The fuel discharging unit  30  is disposed under the cover  22  within the fuel tank  10 , and attached so as to be vertically movable. The fuel discharging unit  30  can move vertically within the fuel tank  10  by being guided by the guide  24  and the heat sink  28 . 
     The fuel discharging unit  30  draws fuel in from the fuel tank  10  and discharges the drawn fuel outside the fuel tank  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fuel discharging unit  30  comprises a reserve cup  32 , a suction filter  42 , a fuel pump  44 , a filter element  46 , a pressure regulator  48  and a jet pump  50 . 
     The reserve cup  32  is immersed in the fuel within the fuel tank  10 , and stores fuel to be discharged outside the fuel tank  10 . The suction filter  42 , the fuel pump  44 , the filter element  46 , the pressure regulator  48  and the jet pump  50  are fixed within the reserve cup  32 . 
     A heat sink guide rail  32   a  is formed on part of the bottom surface of the reserve cup  32 . The lower end  28   b  of the heat sink  28  is engaged with the heat sink guide rail  32   a . The lower end  28   b  of the heat sink  28  is consequently immersed in the fuel within the reserve cup  32  except when the fuel level within the reserve cup  32  is extremely low. The reserve cup  32  includes a guide engaging part, not shown, and the guide  24  is engaged with the guide engaging part. The reserve cup  32  can move vertically within the fuel tank  10  by being guided by the heat sink  28  and the guide  24 . Since the reserve cup  32  is biased downward by the spring  25 , the reserve cup  32  is in contact with the bottom surface of the fuel tank  10 . The reserve cup  32  is consequently immersed in the fuel within the fuel tank  10 . 
     A part of the bottom surface of the reserve cup  32  is formed so as to not be in contact with the fuel tank  10 . A fuel inflow port  32   b  is formed in this part. A check valve  32   c  is attached to the fuel inflow port  32   b . In a state where the fuel is stored in the fuel tank  10 , the fuel within the fuel tank  10  enters the reserve cup  32  through the fuel inflow port  32   b  by operation of a jet pump  50  as described later. Therefore, the reserve cup  32  is filled with fuel unless the fuel in the fuel tank  10  runs out. 
     The fuel pump  44  is fixed within the reserve cup  32 . The fuel pump  44  is electrically connected with the fuel pump controller  26 . The fuel pump  44  operates by the power supply from the fuel pump controller  26 . The fuel pump  44  draws fuel in the reserve cup  32  and discharges the drawn fuel with pressurization. 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing the flow of fuel in and around the fuel pump  44 , wherein the arrow shows the direction of the fuel flow. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the fuel pump  44  comprises an impeller  44   a  and a motor  44   g . The motor  44   g  is electrically connected to the fuel pump controller  26 . The motor  44   g  operates using the power supply from the fuel pump controller  26  to rotate the impeller  44   a.    
     The fuel pump  44  includes a suction port  44   b , a discharge port  44   c , and a passage  44   d  connecting the suction port  44   b  to the discharge port  44   c . The passage  44   d  is formed so as to run along both the upper and lower surfaces of the impeller  44   a . The suction filter  42  is attached to the suction port  44   b . The discharge port  44   c  is connected to the filter element  46  by a pipe  44   f . The fuel pump  44  further includes a vapor jet  44   e  connecting the passage  44   d  on the lower surface side of the impeller  44   a  with the outside. The pipe  29   c  is connected to the vapor jet  44   e . The other end of the pipe  29   c  is connected with the inflow port  29   b  of the fuel discharge nozzle  29 . 
     When the impeller  44   a  is rotated by the operation of the motor  44   g , the fuel within the reserve cup  32  enters the passage  44   d  through the suction filter  42  and the suction port  44   b . The fuel which has entered the passage  44   d  flows through the passage  44   d  from the upstream side to the downstream side while being pressurized. The pressurized fuel is discharged into the pipe  44   f  through the discharge port  44   c . The fuel discharged to the pipe  44   f  enters the filter element  46 . Part of the fuel drawn into the fuel pump  44  is discharged into the pipe  29   c  through the vapor jet  44   e.    
     The suction filter  42  is disposed under the fuel pump  44  and attached to the suction port  44   b . The suction filter  42  removes foreign material from the fuel drawn into the fuel pump  44 . The fuel from which the foreign material has been removed, using the suction filter  42 , enters the suction port  44   b  of the fuel pump  44 . 
     The filter element  46  is disposed around the fuel pump  44 . The upstream end of the filter element  46  is connected to the discharge port  44   c  of the fuel pump  44  by the pipe  44   f . The downstream end of the filter element  46  is connected to the pipe  60 . The filter element  46  removes foreign material from the fuel discharged from the fuel pump  44 . The filter element  46  removes finer foreign material than the suction filter  42 . The fuel from which the foreign material has been removed, using the filter element  46 , is discharged into the pipe  60 . 
     Midstream, the pipe  60  branches into the branch pipes  60   a  and  60   b . The downstream end of the branch pipe  60   a  is connected to the fuel discharge port  22   a  of the cover  22 . The downstream end of the branch pipe  60   b  is connected to the pressure regulator  48  shown in  FIG. 2 . The fuel from the filter element  46  enters the pipe  60 . Most of the fuel which entered the pipe  60  flows to the fuel discharge port  22   a  through the branch pipe  60   a . A part of the fuel which entered the pipe  60  flows to the pressure regulator  48  through the branch pipe  60   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pressure regulator  48  is disposed within the reserve cup. The pressure regulator  48  discharges part of the fuel in the pipe  60  so that the fuel flowing in the pipe  60  has a predetermined pressure. An outlet of the pressure regulator  48  is connected to the jet pump  50  by a pipe  62 . The fuel discharged from the pressure regulator  48  enters the jet pump  50  through the pipe  62 . 
     The jet pump  50  is disposed within the reserve cup  32  near the bottom surface. The jet pump  50  is connected to the outlet of the pressure regulator  48  by the pipe  62 . The jet pump  50  dispenses the fuel discharged from the pressure regulator  48  into the reserve cup  32 . When the jet pump  50  dispenses the fuel, the pressure of the fuel near the fuel inflow port  32   b  is reduced by the flow of the fuel dispensed from the jet pump  50 . The check valve  32   c  is opened hereby, and the fuel within the fuel tank  10  is drawn into the reserve cup  32  through the fuel inflow port  32   b.    
     The flow of fuel during the operation of the fuel supply device  20  will be described. The block diagram in  FIG. 5  shows the flow of fuel within the fuel supply device  20 . When the fuel pump controller  26  supplies power to the fuel pump  44 , the fuel pump  44  operates. When the fuel pump  44  operates, the fuel within the reserve cup  32  enters the suction filter  42 . As the fuel passes through the suction filter  42 , relatively large particles of foreign material are removed from the fuel. The fuel that passes through the suction filter  42  is drawn into the fuel pump  44 . The fuel pump  44  discharges the drawn fuel with pressurization. The fuel discharged from the fuel pump  44  enters the filter element  46 . In the filter element  46 , relatively small particles of foreign material are removed from the fuel. The fuel that passes through the filter element  46  enters the pipe  60 . Part of the fuel in the pipe  60  is discharged by the pressure regulator  48 . The fuel within the pipe  60  is hereby kept at a predetermined pressure. The fuel kept at a predetermined pressure within the pipe  60  is guided to the fuel discharge port  22   a  of the cover  22  and supplied to the engine therethrough. 
     The fuel discharged from the pipe  60  by the pressure regulator  48  enters the jet pump  50 . The jet pump  50  dispenses this fuel into the reserve cup  32 . The fuel within the fuel tank  10  hereby enters the reserve cup  32  through the fuel inflow port  32   b.    
     Part of the fuel drawn into the fuel pump  44  is discharged from the vapor jet  44   e . The fuel discharged from the vapor jet  44   e  enters the fuel discharge nozzle  29  through the pipe  29   c . The fuel which entered the fuel discharge nozzle  29  is discharged toward the heat sink  28  through each outlet port  29   a . When the level of fuel within the fuel tank  10  is at a position higher than the fuel discharge nozzle  29 , the fuel within the fuel tank  10  is carried toward the heat sink  28  by discharging the fuel from the fuel discharge nozzle  29 . Cooling of the heat sink  28  is promoted by this flow of fuel past the heat sink  28 . When the level of fuel within the fuel tank  10  is at a position lower than the fuel discharge nozzle  29 , the fuel is directly discharged from the fuel discharge nozzle  29  onto the heat sink  28 . Therefore, the cooling of the heat sink  28  is promoted. 
     When the fuel supply device  20  is operated, the fuel pump controller  26  controls the drive of the fuel pump  44 . When the fuel pump controller  26  controls the drive of the fuel pump  44 , heat is generated in the circuit board  26   b  of the fuel pump controller  26 . The heat generated in the circuit board  26   b  is mostly transferred to the heat sink  28  having high heat conductivity. The lower end  28   b  of the heat sink  28  is immersed into the fuel within the reserve cup  32  as described above except when the fuel in the reserve cup  32  runs out. The heat dissipates from the heat sink  28  into the fuel within the reserve cup  32  because the fuel within the reserve cup  32  has a relatively low temperature in comparison to the heat sink. Furthermore, fuel is discharged from the fuel discharge nozzle  29  toward the heat sink  28 , and the heat sink  28  is cooled also with this fuel. 
     As descried above, the heat transferred from the circuit board  26   b  to the heat sink  28  is suitably transferred from the heat sink  28  to fuel. The increase in the temperature of the circuit board  26   b  is consequently suppressed. 
     As described so far, in the fuel supply device  20 , the lower end  28   b  of the heat sink  28  is engaged with the fuel discharging unit  30 . Namely, the heat sink  28  functions as a member guiding the fuel discharging unit  30 . Therefore, the capacity and surface area of the heat sink  28  are increased without enlarging the fuel supply device  20 . That is, the heat sink can perform better, and the increases in the temperature of the fuel pump controller  26  are sufficiently suppressed. Since the heat sink  28  functions as a guide, the number of part items constituting the fuel supply device  20  is consequently reduced, and the manufacturing assembly man-hours for the fuel supply device  20  are reduced. 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , the lower end  28   b  of the heat sink  28  is immersed in fuel in the reserve cup  32 . By disposing the heat sink  28  in this manner, the heat sink  28  is cooled by the fuel within the reserve cup  32 , and the increase in the temperature of the control unit is further suppressed. 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , the heat sink  28  is formed in a substantially rectangular plate-like shape. As a result of such a structure, instability between the heat sink  28  and the mounting part of the fuel discharging unit  30  is minimized. Consequently, the fuel discharging unit  30  can be accurately disposed within the fuel tank  10 . 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , the fuel discharged from the vapor jet  44   e  is discharged from the fuel discharge nozzle  29  toward the heat sink  28 . The heat sink  28  is suitably cooled hereby, and the increase in the temperature of the fuel pump controller  26  is further suppressed. 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , each discharge port  20   a  of the fuel discharge nozzle  29  is formed so as to be aligned along the lateral direction of the heat sink  28 . Since the fuel is thus discharged across the entire lateral surface of the heat sink  28  from the fuel discharge nozzle  29 , the heat sink  28  is efficiently cooled. 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , the fuel discharged from the vapor jet  44   e  is discharged from the fuel discharge nozzle  29  toward the heat sink  28 . However, part of fuel flowing through various regions within the fuel supply device  20  can be supplied to the fuel discharge nozzle  29  and dispensed toward the heat sink  28 . For example, part of the fuel flowing in the pipe  60  can be supplied to the fuel discharge nozzle  29 . The fuel discharged from the pressure regulator  48  can be supplied to the fuel discharge nozzle  29 . When the fuel discharged from the pressure regulator  48  is supplied to the fuel discharge nozzle  29 , the jet pump  50  can be operated by supplying the fuel discharged from the vapor jet  44   e  to the jet pump  50  or by supplying part of the fuel flowing in the pipe  60  to the jet pump  50 . 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , each outlet port  29   a  of the fuel discharge nozzle  29  is formed so as to be aligned along the lateral direction of the heat sink  28 . However, the outlet port  29   a  of the fuel discharge nozzle  29  can be formed in any shape (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) as long as the outlet port  29   a  is formed so that fuel is discharged a substantial area of the entire lateral surface of the heat sink  28  from the fuel discharge nozzle  29 . 
     In the above-mentioned fuel supply device  20 , the heat sink  28  is formed from copper. However, the heat sink can be formed from other materials that have high levels of heat conductivity. For example, metallic materials such as Ag, Au, Fe, Al, Ni, Cr, Ti, Pt, Pb, Sn, W, Co, and Zn, and alloy materials, ceramic materials, glass materials or the like, including materials that contain a combination of these material, are preferably used. Furthermore, resin materials formed by mixing glass fiber, ferrite fiber or the like thereto can also be used. 
     Finally, although the preferred representative embodiment has been described in detail, the present embodiment is for illustrative purpose only and is not restrictive. It is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the sprit or scope of the appended claims. In addition, the additional features and aspects disclosed herein also may be utilized singularly or in combination with the above aspects and features.