Dual Fuel Pump Assembly With Series-Parallel Output Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel systems with two pumps suffer from inefficiencies due to continuous full power supply to both pumps, leading to excess fuel delivery, heating, and lack of a mechanism to combine pump outputs in series, limiting output determination by the high-pressure fuel pump.
Innovation Solution
A fuel system with a first and second fuel pump, where the pumps can be electrically connected in series or parallel via switches controlled by a controller, allowing power to be supplied accordingly, and includes a diode to manage current flow, enabling flexible operation based on engine demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full electrical power is provided to both lift pump and high pressure fuel pump all the time, then sufficient fuel supply is ensured, but power consumption increases and heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power supply control by using a controller to selectively activate the lift pump and high pressure fuel pump based on real-time engine demand conditions. The system transitions from static full-power operation to dynamic conditional operation, powering pumps only when needed rather than continuously, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption while ensuring sufficient fuel supply when required
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the fuel pump system by introducing conditional power supply states (powered vs. unpowered) based on engine demand parameters. The controller monitors engine conditions and adjusts the power supply parameter to the pumps accordingly, switching between different operational modes to optimize the balance between fuel supply sufficiency and power consumption
2Productivity
If both pumps operate continuously at full power, then fuel delivery capacity is maximized, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pump operation based on actual fuel delivery requirements. Rather than continuous full-power operation, the controller activates pumps only when engine demand requires maximum fuel delivery capacity. This dynamic on-demand operation reduces unnecessary heat generation from continuous pump operation while maintaining the ability to achieve maximum fuel delivery capacity when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the unnecessary continuous operation component from the pump system, removing the requirement for both pumps to operate continuously at full power. By taking out the redundant operational requirement and replacing it with conditional activation based on engine demand, the system reduces heat generation from unnecessary pump operation while preserving fuel delivery capacity when actually needed
3Stress or pressure
If pump outputs are combined in series, then output pressure is increased, but system complexity increases without a valve mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical valve mechanism approach with an electrical control system. Instead of using complex valve mechanisms to route and combine pump outputs in series, the system uses a controller with electrical switches to selectively power pumps and achieve series combination effect through coordinated operation. This substitution of electrical control for mechanical valve systems reduces device complexity while still achieving the desired output pressure increase through series combination of pump outputs
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some implementations, a fuel system includes a first fuel pump and a first switch adapted to be coupled to a power supply, and a second fuel pump adapted to be coupled to the power supply. A conductor is provided between a first node between the first fuel pump and the first switch and a second node to which the second fuel pump is electrically coupled or electrically communicated so that depending upon the state of the first switch power may be supplied to the first fuel pump and second fuel pump in series or in parallel.