Patent Abstract:
A fuel strainer assembly includes a filtration member and an inlet connector connected to the filtration member for connection to an inlet of a fuel pump. The fuel strainer assembly also includes a push pad connected to the filtration member. The fuel strainer assembly further includes a compression retainer operatively supported by the push pad to engage the inlet connector to cause an interference fit between the inlet connector and the inlet of the fuel pump to secure the inlet connector to the fuel pump.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks for vehicles and, more particularly, to a fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a fuel tank for a fuel system in a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. It is also known to provide an electric fuel pump in the fuel tank to pump fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. In-tank electric fuel pumps typically require a filter to remove particulate contaminants from the fuel prior to entering the fuel pump. This pre-filtration is commonly accomplished by connecting a fuel strainer assembly to an inlet of the fuel pump. However, this connection interface must secure the mating parts for a life of the fuel pump. 
     One known connection is a press fit connection between an outside diameter of a snout extending from an inlet body of the fuel pump and an inside diameter of a connector body integral to the fuel strainer assembly. Another known connection secures the fuel strainer assembly to the inlet of the fuel pump using a post extending from the inlet body and a pal nut fastener to retain the fuel strainer assembly. However, both of these connections require a feature to be added to the inlet body (i.e., a snout or a post) of the fuel pump. As a result, these features add unnecessary complexity to the inlet body of the fuel pump and are not production feasible for a manufacturing process (i.e. compression molding). 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a new fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that has a connection to attach a fuel strainer to an inlet of the fuel pump. It is also desirable to provide a fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that eliminates additional parts for connection of the fuel strainer to the inlet of the fuel pump. It is further desirable to provide a fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that provides orientation and anti-rotation of the fuel strainer relative to the inlet of the fuel pump. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that connects a fuel strainer to an inlet of a fuel pump without adding additional parts. 
     To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a fuel strainer assembly including a filtration member and an inlet connector connected to the filtration member for connection to an inlet of a fuel pump. The fuel strainer assembly also includes a push pad connected to the filtration member. The fuel strainer assembly further includes a compression retainer operatively supported by the push pad to engage the inlet connector to cause an interference fit between the inlet connector and the inlet of the fuel pump to secure the inlet connector to the fuel pump. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that a new fuel strainer assembly is provided for a fuel tank in a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel strainer assembly allows contaminant wear resistant materials to be compression molded. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel strainer assembly allows a fuel strainer to be attached to a fuel pump without the addition of extra features to an inlet body of the fuel pump and eliminates additional parts like a pal nut or retainer. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel strainer assembly provides a mechanism for radial orientation and anti-rotation because the location of the fuel strainer is controlled by the components and not the assembly tooling. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a fuel strainer assembly, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with a fuel tank. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the fuel strainer assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating pre-assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the fuel strainer assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating final assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the fuel strainer assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating pre-assembly. 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the fuel strainer assembly of FIG. 4 illustrating partial assembly. 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the fuel strainer assembly of FIG. 4 illustrating final assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of a fuel strainer assembly  10 , according to the present invention, is shown for a fuel tank, generally indicated at  12 , in a vehicle (not shown). The fuel tank  12  includes a fuel-sending unit, generally indicated at  14 , disposed therein having a removable cover  16  sealed to the top of the fuel tank  12  with an electrical connector  18  and a fuel line connector  20 . The fuel-sending unit  14  also includes an electrical fuel pump  24 . The fuel-sending unit  14  includes a fuel tube  26  connected to the fuel pump  24  and connected to the fuel line connector  20  by a coupler  28 . The fuel strainer assembly  10  is connected to the fuel pump  24  and is positioned close to a bottom of the fuel tank  12 . The fuel tank  12  is formed of a metal material or plastic material. It should be appreciated that the fuel strainer assembly  10  may be connected to a fuel module (not shown) or directly to the fuel pump  24 . It should also be appreciated that electrical wires  29  interconnect the electrical connector  18  and the fuel pump  24 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fuel pump  24  has an inlet body  30  with an inlet  32  at a bottom thereof. The inlet  32  is a counter-bore extending axially into the inlet body  30 . The inlet body  30  also has a recess or groove  34  spaced radially from and adjacent to the inlet  32  for a function to be described. The fuel pump  24  also has an outer shell  36  that contains the inlet body  30  and secures the inlet body  30  in the axial direction using a rolled lip  38 . It should be appreciated that the lip  38  of the outer shell  36  overlaps a portion of the inlet body  30 . It should also be appreciated that the inlet body  30  may be formed by a conventional process such as a compression molding process. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the fuel strainer assembly  10  includes a fuel strainer  40  extending longitudinally. The fuel strainer  40  is generally rectangular in shape, but may be any suitable shape. The fuel strainer  40  has an inlet connector  42  that fits into the inlet  32  of the inlet body  30  of the fuel pump  24 . The inlet connector  42  is a tubular member made of a rigid material such as metal or plastic, preferably nylon or acetal. The inlet connector  42  has an annular flange  44  extending radially from one end thereof. The annular flange  44  may include a small nib or tab  46  disposed in the recess  34  to act as an anti-rotation feature for the assembly  10 . It should be appreciated that the inlet connector  42  is integral, unitary, and formed as one-piece. 
     The fuel strainer  40  includes a filtration member  48  connected to the inlet connector  42 . The filtration member  48  is fabricated from a mesh or fibrous filtering material made of a plastic material, preferably nylon, to allow fuel to pass therethrough to the fuel pump  24 , but prevent certain contaminants from passing therethrough to the fuel pump  24 . The filtration member  48  has a particle retention rating of approximately thirty (30) microns to approximately eighty (80) microns. The filtration member  48  may be one or more layers connected to the connector  42  by conventional means. 
     The fuel strainer  40  also includes a push pad  50  connected to the filtration member  48  at a bottom thereof and aligned with the inlet connector  42 . The push pad  50  is an annular member made of a rigid material such as metal or plastic, preferably nylon or acetal. The push pad  50  has a central cavity  52  for a function to be described. The push pad  50  also has an annular flange  54  extending radially from one end thereof. It should be appreciated that the push pad  50  is integral, unitary, and formed as one-piece. 
     The fuel strainer assembly  10  also includes a locking mechanism such as a compression retainer  56  to lock the inlet connector  32  to the fuel pump  24 . The compression retainer  56  is a tubular member made of a rigid material such as metal, preferably steel. The compression retainer  56  has an annular flange  58  extending radially from one end thereof. The compression retainer  56  is disposed within the filtration member  44  and sets on the push pad  50 . The compression retainer  56  has a slight draft complementary to an inside diameter of the inlet connector  42 . It should be appreciated that the compression retainer  56  is disposed inside the fuel retainer  40  and sets freely inside the inside diameter of the inlet connector  42 . It should also be appreciated that the push pad  50  prevents the compression retainer  56  from disengaging the inside diameter of the inlet connector  42 . 
     To assemble the fuel strainer assembly  10  to the fuel pump  24 , the inlet connector  42  is disposed axially in the inlet  32  of the inlet body  30 . During insertion of the inlet connector  42  into the inlet  32  of the inlet body  30  of the fuel pump  24 , the inlet connector  42  engages with the inlet  32  without interference. The push pad  50  is then pressed against the compression retainer  56 . As the insertion depth of the compression retainer  56  increases, the inlet connector  42  compresses against the inside surface of the inlet  28 , creating an extremely secure interference fit and preventing the fuel strainer  40  from disengaging from the fuel pump  24 . It should be appreciated that fuel strainer  40  is retained with an axial insertion or push-on force (no rotation) It should also be appreciated that the inlet connector  42  and compression retainer  56  reliably secure the fuel strainer  40  to the inlet body  30  and the slot  34  and tab  46  locate a radial position of the fuel strainer  40 , adding an anti-rotation feature to the assembly  10 . It should further be appreciated that after the compression retainer  56  is in place, the push pad  50  falls down a distance such as three to four millimeters as illustrated by the phantom lines in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the fuel strainer assembly  10  is shown. Like parts of the fuel strainer assembly  10  and fuel pump  24  have like reference numerals increased by one hundred (100). In this embodiment, the fuel strainer assembly  110  includes the fuel strainer  140  having the inlet connector  142 , filtration member  148 , and push pad  150 . The fuel strainer assembly  110  eliminates the tab on the inlet connector  142 . The inlet connector  142  has a slight draft or inclined inner surface  143  molded therein and the compression retainer  156  has a slight draft or inclined outer surface  157 , allowing for the inlet connector  142  to be compressed against the entire inner surface  143  of the inlet  132  of the inlet body  130 . The inlet connector  142  also has a lower cavity  160  extending axially therein to receive a portion of the push pad  150 . 
     Additionally, in this embodiment, the fuel pump  124  includes the inlet body  130  having the inlet  132  and the outer shell  136  having the lip  138 . The inlet body  130  is preferably made of a powered metal material. 
     To assemble the fuel strainer assembly  110  to the fuel pump  124 , the inlet connector  142  is disposed axially in the inlet  132  of the inlet body  130 . During installation of the inlet connector  142  into the inlet  132  of the inlet body  130  of the fuel pump  124 , the inlet connector  142  engages with inlet  132  without interference. The push pad  150  is then pressed against the compression retainer  156 . As the insertion depth of the compression retainer  156  increases, the inlet connector  142  compresses against the surface of the inlet  128 , creating an extremely secure interference fit and preventing the fuel strainer  140  from disengaging from the fuel pump  124 . It should also be appreciated that the inlet connector  142  and compression retainer  156  reliably secure the fuel strainer  140  to the inlet body  130 . It should further be appreciated that after the compression retainer  156  is in place the push pad  150  falls down a distance such as three to four millimeters as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1