Patent ID: 6889662

Claim:
A fuel pump ( 22 ), in particular for an internal combustion engine ( 12 ) with direct injection, the pump comprising a housing ( 38 ), at least one piston ( 40 ) which is received in the housing ( 38 ), drive means ( 42 ), which put the piston ( 40 ) into a reciprocating motion, a work chamber ( 44 ) which is defined in some regions by the piston ( 40 ), an inlet conduit ( 48 ) and an outlet conduit ( 50 ), each of which can be made to communicate with the work chamber ( 44 ), a first valve device ( 64 ) between the work chamber ( 44 ) and the inlet conduit ( 48 ) a second valve device ( 74 ) between the work chamber ( 44 ) and the outlet conduit ( 50 ), each valve device ( 64 , 74 ) having a movable valve element the movable valve element ( 62 ) of one valve device ( 64 ) having a guide portion ( 60 ), which is received at least in some regions in a guide opening ( 58 ), embodied in the movable valve element ( 72 ) of the other valve device ( 74 ), and the circumferential face of the guide portion ( 60 ) and/or of the guide opening having at least one recess ( 88 ), by means of which the contact area between the guide portion ( 60 ) and the guide opening ( 58 ) is reduced.