Fuel supply systems

Abstract

A fuel supply system includes a fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank A cover can close an opening formed in an upper portion of the fuel tank. A receptacle is provided on the cover. A controller can control the operation of a motor of the fuel pump. The controller includes an earth terminal and noise-generating electrical elements. The receptacle has an electrically conductive wall surrounding at least the electrical elements of the controller. The electrically conductive wall is electrically connected to the earth terminal of the controller.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial number 2006-132267, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to fuel supply systems that have a controller for controlling a motor that is adapted to drive a fuel pump.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]A known fuel supply system is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-177668. As shown in FIG. 5, the known fuel supply system includes a cover 104 that is fixedly attached to the top wall of a fuel tank 101 in order to close an opening 102 formed in the top wall. The cover 104 is formed of resin and includes a tubular portion 105 extending into the inner space of the fuel tank 101. A pump case 106 is suspended from the lower end of the tubular portion 105. A fuel pump 107 is disposed within the pump case 106. A depressed portion 105h opened to the exterior ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]With this arrangement, the noise-generating electrical elements can be shielded from the outside of the receptacle. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the influence of the noise on the other controllers, such as an engine control unit (ECU), of a vehicle. In addition, it is not necessary to use a large-scale filtration circuit.

[0014]In a further embodiment, the fuel supply system further includes a spring that can resiliently hold the connecting condition between the electrically conductive wall and the earth terminal of the controller. With this arrangement, the electrical connection between the electrically conductive wall and the earth terminal can be reliably maintained for a long time without causing accidental disconnection when an external force, such as vibrations, has been applied to the receptacle.

[0016]Another aspect of the present invention includes fuel supply systems used in combination with a fuel tank. The fuel supply systems include a fuel pump including a motor, a controller for controlling the motor, and a receptacle that receives the controller and is mounted to the fuel tank. The receptacle includes a noise-shielding wall capable of shielding noise when the noise is generated by the controller. The noise-shielding wall may be an electrically conductive wall surrounding at least a part of the controller. Therefore, it is possible to inhibit noise from travailing to the outside of the receptacle.

Problems solved by technology

The receptacle has an electrically conductive wall surrounding at least the electrical elements of the controller, which may produce noise.

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