Bottom Mount Fuel Pump Assembly for Compact Tank Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel pump assemblies face challenges in being compactly integrated into small and oddly shaped fuel tanks, with limited depth, making it difficult to include full-size components and requiring improved fuel routing with fewer components and easier assembly.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pump assembly design featuring a mounting flange, support, carrier, and reservoir, where the carrier provides compression force, and the support defines a fluid passage for fuel flow, allowing for efficient integration and routing of fuel within the tank, with components like secondary fuel pumps and pressure regulators integrated for various tank sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a top-mounted fuel pump assembly is used, then the assembly can be securely mounted to the fuel tank, but it becomes difficult to insert into fuel tanks with limited depth or odd shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional top-mounting approach by implementing a bottom-mount fuel pump assembly that attaches to the underside of the fuel tank. This inversion allows the assembly to be inserted from the bottom of the tank, making it compatible with fuel tanks of various shapes and sizes, including those with limited depth or irregular geometries that would prevent top-mounting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If full-size accessories and components are included in the fuel pump assembly, then the assembly provides complete fuel system functionality, but it becomes difficult to insert into fuel tanks with limited depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested arrangement where the fuel pump, reservoir, and other components are arranged concentrically and vertically to maximize space utilization. The fuel pump is positioned at the bottom, with the reservoir and accessories stacked above it, allowing the complete fuel system to fit within a compact volume suitable for shallow or oddly shaped fuel tanks.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for fuel routing, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the assembly complexity and number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fuel routing functions into integrated components. The mounting flange incorporates both structural support and fuel passage integration, while the carrier assembly merges the reservoir, fuel pump mounting, and secondary pump integration into a single unified structure. This reduces the total number of separate parts while maintaining reliable fuel routing through the assembled configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient fuel pumping and pressurization with reduced component complexity, facilitating easier assembly and adaptability to different fuel tank sizes and shapes, while ensuring reliable fluid flow and pressure regulation.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier is coupled to the support with the weight of the carrier providing a compression force on the support
Implementation Method 2
the weight of the carrier providing a compression force
Implementation Method 3
the reservoir defining an interior
Implementation Method 4
the support defines at least part of a passage that is communicated with a fluid source
Implementation Method 5
the fuel pump has an inlet received within the reservoir interior and an outlet from which pressurized fuel is discharged from the fuel pump when the fuel pump is operating
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes a mounting flange, support, carrier, reservoir and fuel pump. The mounting flange has a fluid passage extending through the mounting flange. The support is coupled to the mounting flange, and the carrier is coupled to the support with the weight of the carrier acting in compression on the support. The reservoir is carried by at least one of the carrier and the mounting flange with the weight of the reservoir acting on the carrier and/or the mounting flange, and the reservoir defining an interior. The fuel pump is carried by at least one of the carrier and the reservoir, the fuel pump has an inlet received within the reservoir interior and an outlet from which pressurized fuel is discharged from the fuel pump when the fuel pump is operating. The support defines at least part of a passage that is communicated with a fluid source.