Retainer plate for retaining a pump body within a pump housing

Abstract

A retainer plate 10 for retaining a pump body within a pump housing. The retainer plate comprises a pump aperture 12 for a portion of the pump body, a rounded solid plate body 14 extending around the

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a retainer plate for retaining a pump body within a pump housing. Background Pumps are used in various different contexts, such as fuel pumps. The pumps are generally retained within a pump housing using a retainer plate. One such plate may be found in KR20230036743A. Often a large stock of different shaped retainer plates for different mounts is required since each pump housing may require a different retainer plate. In addition, retainer plates may lack sufficient strength due to their design. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the design of the retainer plate. Summary An object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved retainer plate. The present disclosure is therefore generally directed towards a retainer plate including at least one solid plate extension to strengthen the retainer plate. The improved retainer plate is shaped to satisfy a set of different dimensional constraints of a plurality of different retainer plate mounts, such that the retainer plate is configured to fit in the multiple different mounts. As a result, the need for large stocks of different shaped retainer plates for different mounts is avoided. The present disclosure provides a retainer plate for retaining a pump body within a pump housing. The retainer plate comprises a pump aperture for locating therein a portion of the pump body; a rounded solid plate body extending around the pump aperture; and at least one fastener extension, extending from the rounded plate body. The fastener extension comprises a fastener aperture for locating a fastener for attaching the retainer plate to the pump housing. The retainer plate further comprises at least one solid plate extension, extending from the rounded plate body, for strengthening the retainer plate. There is also provided an apparatus comprising a pump housing, comprising a retainer plate mount; a pump body mounted within the pump housing; and the retainer plate described above attached to the retainer plate mount, wherein the retainer plate retains the pump body within the pump housing. There is also provided an apparatus including a plurality of pump housings, each comprising at least one retainer plate mount; and a plurality of the aforementioned retainer plates attachable to the retainer plate mounts. The retainer plate mounts each comprise different dimensional constraints for fitting a retainer plate thereto, and the retainer plate is shaped so as to be mountable to the retainer plate mounts and satisfy the different dimensional constraints. There is also provided a method of designing a retainer plate for retaining a plurality of pump bodies within a plurality of pump housings. The method comprises identifying a plurality of retainer plate mounts on a plurality of pump housings; identifying a plurality of different dimensional constraints from the plurality of retainer plate mounts; and shaping the retainer plate so as to satisfy the plurality of dimensional constraints. The retainer plate comprises the features as described above. By way of example only, embodiments according to the present disclosure are now described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly of the present disclosure; Figure 2 shows a plan view of a retainer plate of the present disclosure; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the retainer plate of Figure 2 annotated to show dimensions; and Figure 4 shows a side view of a further assembly of the present invention. Detailed Description Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 1 comprising a pump housing 3 and a retainer plate 10 in accordance with the present disclosure. The pump housing 3 comprises a retainer plate mount 4 and the retainer plate 10 is attached to the retainer plate mount 4. The apparatus 1 may further comprise a pump body 5 mounted within the pump housing 3. The pump 5 may be a fuel pump. The pump 5 may comprise an end portion 7. The end portion 7 may be located within a portion of the retainer plate 10. A portion of the pump body 5 may extend through the retainer plate 10 when the retainer plate 10 is attached to the pump housing 3. The end portion 7 of the pump body 5 may have a smaller diameter as compared with the diameter of the rest of the pump body 5. This may allow the retainer plate 10 to contact a part of the pump body 5 with increased diameter, and retain it within the pump housing 3, while allowing the end portion 7 to extend through the retainer plate 10. A portion 7 of the pump body 5 extending through the retainer plate 10 may allow part of the pump body 5 to be accessible while the pump body 5 is retained within the pump housing 3. This may allow an electrical connector 9 of the pump body 5 to be connected to an external electrical power source (not shown) while the pump body 5 is retained within the pump housing 3. The retainer plate 10 may be free to rotate around the pump body 5 when the pump body 5, pump housing 3, and retainer plate 10 are lined up, prior to the retainer plate 10 being attached to the retainer plate mount 4. A radial clearance of between 3 mm and 4 mm may be present between the retainer plate 10 and the pump body 5. An axial clearance of between 0.9 mm and 1.0 mm may be present between the retainer plate 10 and the pump body 5. The clearance may allow the retainer plate 10 to rotate. This may make it easier for the retainer plate 10 to be attached to the pump housing 3 because it may be approximately lined up, and then rotated to ensure exact alignment, prior to attachment. Figures 2 and 3 shown the retainer plate 10 in more detail. As above, the retainer plate 10 is for retaining the pump body 5 within the pump housing 3. The retainer plate 10 comprises a pump aperture 12, a rounded solid plate body 14, at least one fastener extension 16, and at least one solid plate extension 18. Although Figure 2 shows these portions as divided by construction lines, all the portions of the retainer plate 10 form a unitary body. The retainer plate 10 may have a flat plate or planar shape. The retainer plate 10 may have a length and / or a largest dimension of between about 70 mm and about 80 mm. The retainer plate 10 may comprise a first axis 19 extending between a centre of the pump aperture 12 and a centre of the at least one fastener extension 16. The length of the retainer plate 10 may be measured along the first axis 19. The retainer plate 10 may have a width of between about 40 mm and about 50 mm. The retainer plate 10 may comprise a second axis perpendicular to the first axis 19. The width of the retainer plate 10 may be measured along the second axis. The retainer plate 10 may have a thickness and / or a constant thickness of between 1 mm and 6 mm, and preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm. The retainer plate 10 may comprise a third axis perpendicular to the first axis 19 and second axis, and the thickness may be measured along the third axis. The retainer plate 10 may be or substantially be planar and / or comprise two major planar surfaces and a minor curved surface extending therebetween. The pump aperture 12 is for locating therein a portion of the pump body 5. When the retainer plate 10 is attached to the pump housing 3, the end portion 7 may be located within the pump aperture 12. The pump aperture 12 may be circular. The retainer plate 10 may comprise a central axis at the centre of the pump aperture 12. The central axis may coincide with the third axis. The pump aperture 12 may extend along the central axis. The pump aperture 12 may have a shape based on and / or the same as the outer profile of the portion of the pump body 5 to be located therein, such as the end portion 7. Therefore, the pump aperture 12 may take any suitable shape, optionally based on the pump body 5, such as oval, square, rectangular, or hexagonal. The pump aperture 12 may have an aperture outer edge 21. The pump aperture 12 and / or aperture outer edge 21 may have an aperture radius of between about 15 mm and about 20 mm, and more preferably between about 18 mm and about 19 mm. The rounded solid plate body 14 extends around the pump aperture 12. The rounded solid plate body 14 may have a circular or oval shape. The rounded solid plate body 14 may have an outer body edge 41, distal from the pump aperture 12. The rounded solid plate body 14 and / or outer body edge 41 may have a body radius of between about 20 mm and about 25 mm and more preferably between about 22 mm and about 23 mm. The rounded solid plate body 14 and / or outer body edge 41 may form a concentric shape as compared to the pump aperture 12. The body radius of the outer body edge 41 may be less than 25%, and preferably less than 22%, bigger than the aperture radius of the aperture outer edge 21. The rounded solid plate body 14 may comprise at least one cut-out 43. The at least one cut-out 43 may be proximal to the pump aperture 12. The at least one cut-out 43 may be a groove in the rounded solid plate body 14 and may comprise two cut-outs 43 formed at opposite sides of the rounded solid plate body 14. The at least one cut-out 43 may be formed in proximity to the at least one fastener extension 16. The at least one fastener extension 16 extends from the rounded plate body 14. The at least one fastener extension 16 may comprise a fastener extension outer edge 61. The fastener extension outer edge 61 may comprise a semi-circular shape. The fastener extension 16 may extend from the rounded plate body 14 along straight fastener extension lines 63. The fastener extension 16 may extend from the rounded plate body 14 along fastener extension arcs 65. The fastener extension arcs 65 may have reduced stress concentrations within the retainer plate 10, as compared to if the solid plate extension 18 was not present. The at least one fastener extension 16 and / or the fastener extension outer edge 61 may comprise a radius of between about 5 mm and about 9 mm, and more preferably between about 6 mm and about 8 mm. The at least one fastener extension 16 comprises a fastener aperture 67 for locating a fastener 69 (shown in Figure 1). The fastener 69 is for attaching the retainer plate 10 to the pump housing 3. The fastener aperture 67 may be centred within the fastener extension outer edge 61 and / or the fastener aperture 67 and the fastener extension outer edge 61 comprise a coincident centre of curvature. The fastener aperture 67 may be circular. The fastener aperture 67 may comprise a radius of between about 3 mm and about 4 mm, and more preferably between about 3.2 mm and about 3.4 mm. A centre of the fastener aperture 67 may be at a distance of between about 27 mm and about 33 mm, and preferably between about 29 mm and about 30 mm, from the central axis. The fastener aperture 67 and or the fastener extension 16 may be sized such that the at least one fastener extension 16 comprises solid material around the fastener aperture 67 of a thickness of at least about 2 mm and preferably at least about 3 mm. Having sufficient thickness of the solid material of the at least one fastener extension 16 ensures that the attachment of the retainer plate 10 to the pump housing 3 at the fastener extension 16 has sufficient strength. The at least one fastener extension 16 may comprise two fastener extensions 16. The two fastener extensions 16 may be on opposing sides of the plate body 14. Having more than one fastener extension 16 may improve the performance of the retainer plate 10, when it is attached to the pump housing 3. The presence of more than one fastener extension 16 may reduce the force and / or stress applied by the retainer plate 10 to the pump body 5 via the pump aperture 12. The presence of more than one fastener extension 16 may fix the retainer plate 10 in place relative to the pump housing 3 such that it cannot rotate. Forces due to rotation may therefore be prevented from transferring to the pump body 5 via the pump aperture 12. The at least one fastener extension 16 may comprise four or six fastener extensions 16. It may be preferred that the at least one fastener extension 16 comprises only two fastener extensions 16 as this reduces the weight and / or cost of the retainer plate 10 and / or of the fasteners 69 required to attach the retainer plate 10 to the pump housing. This also reduces the space requirements of the retainer plate 10. Each fastener plate extension 16 may comprise a fastener aperture 67. Each fastener plate extension 16 and fastener aperture 67 may have the same features as described above. The at least one solid plate extension 18 extends from the rounded plate body 14. The at least one solid plate extension 18 is for strengthening the retainer plate 10. Including the extra material of the at least one solid plate extension 18 may reduce stress concentrations in the retainer plate 10 and may thereby improve its strength. The at least one solid plate extension 18 may comprise an outer extension edge 81. The outer extension edge 81 may be arc shaped, and / or may comprise an arc shaped portion 83. The outer extension edge 81 and / or the arc shaped portion 83 may have an extension arc radius of between about 8 mm and about 12 mm, and more preferably between about 9 mm and about 11 mm. The ratio of the extension arc radius of the outer extension edge 81 to the body radius of the outer body edge 41 may be between 40% and 50%, and more preferably between 43% and 47%. The outer extension edge 81 may comprise a straight portion 85. The straight portion 85 may smoothly blend the outer body edge 41 of the rounded solid plate body 14 into the arc shaped portion 83. The straight portion 85 may be angled from the first axis 19 by between 27 and 33 degrees, and more preferably between 29 and 31 degrees. The at least one solid plate extension 18 may be proximal to the at least one fastener extension 16. The outer extension edge 81 of the at least one solid plate extension 18 may be blended into the outer fastener extension edge 61 with a blend portion 87. The blend portion 87 may comprise an arc shape and / or may have a blend arc radius of between about 5 mm and about 7 mm, and preferably between about 5.5 mm and about 6.5 mm. A void may be present between the at least one solid plate extension 18 and the at least one fastener extension 16. A straight edge may not be present between the at least one solid plate extension 18 and the at least one fastener extension 16. A concave curved edge may be present between the at least one solid plate extension 18 and the at least one fastener extension 16 and may form the blend portion 87. The at least one solid plate extension 18 may comprise two, four or six solid plate extensions 18. Each solid plate extension 18 may be proximal to the at least one fastener extension 16. The solid plate extensions 18 may be arranged symmetrically such that one solid plate extension 18 is proximal to each side of the at least one fastener extension 16. Each solid plate extension 18 may have the same features as described above. It may be preferred that the at least one solid plate extension 18 comprises exactly four solid plate extensions 18 as this may provide an optimal arrangement for strengthening the retainer plate 10 in a symmetrical manner. The retainer plate 10 may have an external perimeter 91. The external perimeter 91 may be formed by at least a portion of the rounded solid plate body 14, the at least one fastener extension 16, and the at least one solid extension 18. The external perimeter 91 may be formed by portions of one or more of the outer body edge 41, the fastener extension outer edge 61, and the outer extension edge 81. The external perimeter 91 may form a continuous curve. The external perimeter 91 may comprise no abrupt changes in curvature. The retainer plate 10 may be symmetrical across one or two planes. The retainer plate 10 may comprise a first plane of symmetry passing through the central axis. The first plane of symmetry may pass through the first axis 19. The retainer plate 10 may comprise a second plane of symmetry passing through the central axis. The second plane of symmetry may pass through the second axis. A further apparatus 100 comprising a plurality of retainer plates 10 is now described, as shown in Figure 4. The further apparatus 100 comprises a plurality of pump housings 3, and a plurality of retainer plates 10 with the same characteristics as the retainer plate 10 previously described. The plurality of pump housings 3 each comprise at least one retainer plate mount 4. The plurality of retainer plates 10 are attachable to the retainer plate mounts 4. As illustrated, the at least one pump housing 3 may comprise a plurality of pump housings 3, each comprising a retainer plate mount 4. The at least one pump housing 3 may comprise a single pump housing 3 comprising a plurality of retainer plate mounts 4. The retainer plate mounts 4 each comprise different dimensional constraints for fitting a retainer plate 10 thereto. The retainer plate 10 is shaped so as to be mountable to the retainer plate mounts 4 and satisfy the different dimensional constraints. The retainer plate 10 may be shaped such that a single design and / or shape of retainer plate 10 is able to fit in each of the plurality of retainer plate mounts 4 and / or satisfy the plurality of dimensional constraints. The dimensional constraints may include space constraints limiting the space available for attaching a retainer plate 10. The space constraints may be created by obstructions 101. The pump housing 3 may comprise the obstructions 101. The Obstructions 101 may include protrusions, pipes, outlets, supports or any other feature which constrains the space available for the retainer plate 10. If the obstruction 101 is present at a location, the retainer plate 10 may be sized such that it does not interfere with the obstruction 101. Therefore, the location of the obstructions 101 at each of the retainer plate mounts 4 may be taken into account when designing and / or shaping the retainer plate 10 to ensure that the retainer plate 10 fits in all of the retainer plate mounts 4. The dimensional constraints may also include fastener positioning constraints limiting the possible locations of the at least one fastener extension 16. The fastener positioning constraints may include the orientation of the electrical connector 9 of the pump body 5. The orientation of the electrical connector 9 may prevent access to the fastener 69 if it is located in the same location as the electrical connector 9. Therefore, the orientation of the electrical connector 9 at each of the retainer plate mounts 4 may be taken into account when designing and / or shaping the retainer plate 10 to ensure that the locations of the at least one fastener extension 16 is accessible at each of the retainer plate mounts 4. The retainer plate 10 may have a different orientation when fitted to each of the plurality of pump housings 3 to satisfy the dimensional constraints. A method of designing the retainer plate 10 of the present disclosure is now described. The method comprises identifying a plurality of retainer plate mounts 4 on a plurality of pump housings 3, identifying a plurality of different dimensional constraints from the plurality of retainer plate mounts 4, and shaping the retainer plate 10 so as to satisfy the plurality of different dimensional constraints. The plurality of dimensional constraints may include space constraints limiting the space available for attaching a retainer plate 10; and / or fastener positioning constraints limiting the possible locations of the at least one fastener extension 16, as described above in relation to the apparatus of Figure 4. The method may be performed using a computer. The method may include identifying the areas at each of the plurality of retainer plate mounts 4 which satisfy the dimensional constraints, and digitally overlaying the plurality of retainer plate mounts 4 to identify which areas satisfy all the dimensional constraints. The method may include shaping the retainer plate 10 such that it only has material and / or fastener extensions 16 in the areas which satisfy all the dimensional constraints. A method of manufacturing the retainer plate 10 of the present disclosure is now described. The method comprises designing the retainer plate 10 using the method previously described and manufacturing the retainer plate 10 according to the design of the retainer plate. The retainer plate 10 may be manufactured by processes including casting, additive manufacture, and / or drilling. Industrial Applicability The retainer plate 10 may be used to retain the pump body 5 within the pump housing 3. There may be a plurality of different retainer plate mounts 4 to which the retainer plate 10 must fit. One option may be to use a plurality of different retainer plates 10, each sized to fit their retainer plate mounts 4. However, this may require a plurality of different retainer plates 10 to be designed and manufactured, which may increase costs. Therefore, the present disclosure describes a single retainer plate 10 which may be sized to fit all the retainer plate mounts 4. This may result in a single retainer plate 10 to be designed and manufactured, which may decrease costs. Since a single retainer plate 10 is sized to fit all the retainer plate mounts 4, the rounded solid plate body 14 of the retainer plate 10 may have a reduced size to ensure that all the different dimensional constraints of the retainer plate mounts 4 are satisfied. The reduced size of the rounded solid plate body 14 may result in a retainer plate 10 of reduced strength. The at least one solid plate extension 18 may increase the strength of the retainer plate 10 such that it has sufficient strength, while still satisfying all the dimensional constraints of the retainer plate mounts 4. Without the solid plate extension 18, the retainer plate 10 may have comprised only the pump aperture 12, the solid plate body 14 and the at least one fastener extension 16. The at least one fastener extension 16 may have extended from the rounded plate body 14 along the straight fastener extension lines 63 and / or the fastener extension arcs 65. The retainer plate 10 may have therefore not had sufficient strength. Including the at least one solid plate extension 18 thereby increases the strength of the retainer plate 10. The void, if present, between the at least one solid plate extension 18 and the at least one fastener extension 16, and / or the features of the blend portion 87 may ensure that the different dimensional constraints of the retainer plate mounts 4 are satisfied. The additional space due to the void may allow the different dimensional constraints to be satisfied. The cut-out 43, if present, allows insertion / assembly of the retainer plate 10 onto a part of the pump body 5 at a particular orientation and the retainer plate 10 may be subsequently free to rotate. This may aid the retainer plate 10 to be positioned at 5 different angles based on varying pump housings 3 and dimensional constraints.

Claims

1. A retainer plate for retaining a pump body within a pump housing, the retainer plate comprising:a pump aperture for locating therein a portion of the pump body;a rounded solid plate body extending around the pump aperture;at least one fastener extension, extending from the rounded plate body, wherein the fastener extension comprises a fastener aperture for locating a fastener for attaching the retainer plate to the pump housing; andat least one solid plate extension, extending from the rounded plate body, for strengthening the retainer plate.

2. The retainer plate of claim 1, wherein the rounded solid plate body has a circular or oval shape.

3. The retainer plate of claim 1 or 2, wherein the retainer plate has an external perimeter, formed by at least a portion of the rounded solid plate body, the least one fastener extension, and the at least one solid extension, wherein the external perimeter forms a continuous curve.

4. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein:an outer body edge of the rounded solid plate body has a body radius;an aperture outer edge of the pump aperture has an aperture radius; and the body radius is less than 25% bigger than the aperture radius.

5. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein:an outer extension edge of the at least one solid plate extension is arc shaped with an extension arc radius;an outer body edge of the rounded solid plate body has a body radius; and the ratio of the extension arc radius to the body radius is between 40% and 50%.

6. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one fastener extension comprises two fastener extensions, wherein each fastener plate extension comprises a fastener aperture for locating a fastener for attaching the retainer plate to the pump housing.

7. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one solid plate extension comprises two solid plate extensions extending from the rounded plate body, andoptionally four solid plate extensions extending from the rounded plate body.

8. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein the retainer plate comprises a central axis at the centre of the pump aperture and a plane of symmetry passes through the central axis, optionally wherein two planes of symmetry pass through the central axis.

9. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein an outer extension edge of the at least one solid plate extension is arc shaped with an extension arc radius of between 8 mm and 12 mm.

10. The retainer plate of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one solid plate extension is proximal to the at least one fastener extension, and an outer extension edge of the at least one solid plate extension is blended into an outer fastener extension edge in an arc shape with a blend arc radius of between 5 mm and 7 mm.

11. An apparatus comprising:a pump housing, comprising a retainer plate mount;a pump body mounted at least partially within the pump housing; andthe retainer plate of any preceding claim attached to the retainer plate mount, wherein the retainer plate retains the pump body at least partially within the pump housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:a radial clearance of between 3 mm and 4 mm; and / or an axial clearance of between 0.9 mm and 1.0 mm, is present between the retainer plate and the pump body.

13. An apparatus comprising:a plurality of pump housings, each comprising at least one retainer plate mount;anda plurality of retainer plates, each according to any of claims 1 to 10, attachable to the retainer plate mounts;wherein:the retainer plate mounts each comprise different dimensional constraints for fitting a retainer plate thereto, andthe retainer plate is shaped so as to be mountable to the retainer plate mounts and satisfy the different dimensional constraints.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the dimensional constraints include:space constraints limiting the space available for attaching a retainer plate; and / orfastener positioning constraints limiting the possible locations of the at least one fastener extension.

15. A method of designing a retainer plate for retaining a plurality of pump bodies within a plurality of pump housings, the method comprising:identifying a plurality of retainer plate mounts on a plurality of pump housings;identifying a plurality of different dimensional constraints from the plurality of retainer plate mounts; andshaping the retainer plate so as to satisfy the plurality of dimensional constraints, wherein the retainer plate comprises:a pump aperture for locating therein a portion of the pump;a rounded solid plate body extending around the pump aperture;at least one fastener extension, extending from the rounded plate body, wherein the fastener extension comprises a fastener aperture for locating a fastener for attaching the retainer plate to the pump housing; andat least one solid plate extension, extending from the rounded plate body, for strengthening the retainer plate.

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