Patent Publication Number: US-2007107700-A1

Title: Side mounted fuel pump module with bottom referencing filter

Description:
This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/723,750, filed on Oct. 5, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to fuel pump modules for automotive applications and, more particularly, to a side mounted fuel pump module and a fuel tank arrangement.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Conventional side mounted fuel pump modules for vehicle applications are mounted generally to a side of a fuel tank with a filter of the module referencing a bottom the fuel tank. The module includes a fuel pump such that in normal operation, the fuel pump draws fuel through the filter and delivers fuel to an engine of the vehicle. However, during hard turns of a vehicle employing a conventional module, fuel may not be in a location in the tank so as to be drawn through the filter and thus to the engine.  
      Thus, there is a need to provide a side mounted fuel pump module that delivers fuel to a vehicle effectively even under hard turning conditions of a vehicle.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An object of the invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is achieved by providing a fuel pump module and fuel tank arrangement for delivering fuel to an engine.  
      The arrangement includes a fuel module having a fuel pump for pumping fuel to the engine, and a filter for filtering fuel prior entering the fuel pump. The arrangement also includes a fuel tank. The fuel module is mounted to a side of the fuel tank with the filter referencing a bottom of the fuel tank. The fuel tank includes fuel trapping structure constructed and arranged to trap fuel in the tank near the filter.  
      In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of ensuring that fuel is available to be delivered to an engine provides a fuel module having a fuel pump for pumping fuel to the engine and a filter for filtering fuel prior entering the fuel pump. The fuel module is mounted to a side of the fuel tank with the filter referencing the bottom of the fuel tank. Fuel trapping structure is provided in the fuel tank to trap fuel in the tank near the filter.  
      Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a side mounted fuel pump module, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a top schematic view of the module of  FIG. 1  shown mounted in a fuel tank.  
       FIG. 3  is a side schematic view of the module and fuel tank of  FIG. 2 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT  
      With reference to  FIG. 1 , a side mounted fuel pump module, generally indicated at  10 , is shown in accordance with the principles of an embodiment of the present invention. The module  10  includes a flange  14  that mounts to a side  16  of a fuel tank  12  (see  FIG. 3 ) of a vehicle.  
      The module  10  includes a pump retaining structure  29  of the type disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/472,286, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this specification. The pump retaining structure  29  is coupled with a fuel filter  20 . The filter  20  references the bottom  17  of the fuel tank  12  ( FIG. 3 ) and conforms to the tank shape. The filter  20  filters fuel in the tank  12  prior to being drawn into the fuel pump  28 . The pump  28  of the module  10  is preferably disposed at an angle of about 35 degrees with respect to the bottom  17  of the fuel tank  12 . The module  10  also includes a fuel pressure regulator  30  mounted to the retaining structure  29  to regulate fuel pressure in the conventional manner. The module  10  can be used in gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the filter  20 , preferably of the sock-type, surrounds the inlet  21  of the fuel pump  28 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the filter  20  incorporates spring structure within an interior thereof. The spring structure preferably includes at least one leaf spring  23  made integral with the filter  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, two leaf springs  23  are provided. The leaf springs  23  are preferably made of the same Acetal Polyoxymethylene Copolymer (POM) material that conventional fuel filters are made of. Conventional spacers (not shown) are preferably provided in the filter  20  so as to maintain the desired shape of the filter.  
      Thus, one or more simple, cantilevered springs  23  are attached at one end thereof directly to a portion  21  of the pump  28  with the other end of the spring  23  extending within the interior of the filter  20  to press the filter against the inside bottom of the fuel tank  12 . The spring(s)  23  allows for the natural variation of the height of the tank  12  and the module  10 . The springs  23  are flexible so that if the filter  20  is near a wall (e.g., wall  22 ) of the tank  12 , the filter  20  and springs  23  therein can engage the wall.  
      Although the spring structure (springs  23 ) is shown to be provided within the filter  20 , it can be appreciated that the spring structure can be operatively associated with the filter in any manner (e.g. outside of the filter), so long as the spring structure bias the filter  20  towards the bottom of the fuel tank. In addition, the spring structure  23  can be defined by modifying internal features (such as ribs) inside of conventional filters so as to provide the biasing function.  
      The filter  20  with associated spring structure  23  can be used within any bottom-referencing type fuel module. Thus, with the spring structure  23  associated with the filter  20 , no struts and associated springs are needed to take up tolerances, yet the fuel pump  28  is still bottom referenced for low fuel drivability.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the fuel tank  12  includes a generally C-shaped fuel trapping structure, generally indicated at  18 , constructed and arranged to partially surround an area of the bottom  17  of the fuel tank  12  and thereby trap fuel in the fuel tank  12  near the fuel filter  20  of the module  10 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the bottom  17  of the fuel tank  12  has a slope of about 3 degrees, with respect to horizontal axis A, toward the module  10  and the fuel trapping structure  18 . The fuel trapping structure  18  includes a wall  22  extending upwardly from the bottom  17 , into the fuel tank  12 , to define a fuel reservoir  24 . Thus, due to the sloping of the tank  12  and the wall  22 , fuel in the tank  12  collects in the reservoir  24 . Hence, even if a vehicle is negotiating a hard turn, fuel is still available in the reservoir  24  to be delivered by the module  10  to the engine of the vehicle.  
      In the embodiment, the wall  22  is defined by a recess  25  created in bottom  17 , outside of the fuel tank  12 . The wall  22  is preferably tapered at end  26  and is of sufficient height to trap fuel. It can be appreciated that fuel can pass over the top of the wall  22 .  
      The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit of the following claims.