Fuel Jet Pump Homogeneity and Segmentation for Transfer Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional fuel storage and delivery systems face inefficiencies due to suboptimal configuration and placement of jet pumps, leading to poor fit conditions and creep resistance issues when exposed to harsh fuel and temperature environments.

Innovation Solution

A fuel jet pump assembly with a body and a tubular insert, where the body defines a mixing passage, low pressure passage, and cavity in communication, and the insert defines a high pressure passage and calibrated orifice, optimized for improved fuel transfer performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional jet pumps use plastic bodies with brass inserts, then the pump can be manufactured with mixed materials, but the fit conditions between body and insert deteriorate and creep resistance decreases in harsh fuel and temperature environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixed material manufacturingVSAvoidfit conditions and creep resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies homogeneity by making both the jet pump body and insert from the same plastic material, eliminating the interface between dissimilar materials. This ensures uniform thermal expansion, consistent chemical resistance, and reliable fit conditions throughout the assembly when exposed to harsh fuel and temperature environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

2Device complexity

If the jet pump is located in the primary chamber, then the pump assembly is simplified, but the fuel transfer performance deteriorates due to suboptimal placement and configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump assembly complexityVSAvoidfuel transfer performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating the jet pump into two functional components: the body remaining in the primary chamber for structural integration, and the insert (containing the orifice and high-pressure passage) positioned in the secondary chamber for optimal fuel transfer geometry. This spatial segmentation enables both simplified assembly and improved fuel transfer performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If calibrated orifices are made from brass inserts, then precise orifice calibration is achieved, but poor fit conditions occur between the brass insert and plastic body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorifice calibration precisionVSAvoidfit conditions between body and insert
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the fit condition problem by manufacturing both the body and insert from the same plastic material, ensuring thermal and chemical compatibility. Precision is maintained through integrated molding techniques that achieve tight tolerances without requiring dissimilar material interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

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

The optimized fuel jet pump assembly enhances fuel transfer efficiency by reducing critical high-pressure assembly interfaces, allowing for adaptable designs, and utilizing self-centered plastic molded inserts for precise orifice positioning, thereby improving system performance and reducing component complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The high pressure passage may flow fuel from the inlet port and through the calibrated orifice, the low pressure passage may flow fuel into the intersection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3696399B1A fuel transfer system including a fuel jet pump device and utilized in a partitioned fuel tank
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 PHINIA DELPHI LUXEMBOURG SARL
  • EP3696399B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3696399B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3696399B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fuel system (28) for a partitioned fuel tank (26) includes a fuel pump assembly (36), a fuel jet pump device (38), a high pressure conduit (40), and a low pressure conduit (42). The tank (26) defines a first chamber (30) and a second chamber (32). The fuel pump assembly (36) is disposed in the first chamber (30), and includes a motorized fuel pump (48). The jet pump device (36) is disposed in the second chamber (32), and defines a low pressure passage (100) adapted to draw fuel (22) from the second chamber (32), a high pressure passage (108), and a mixing passage (94) adapted to receive and mix fuel (22) flowing from the low and high pressure passages. The high pressure conduit (40) extends between the first and second chambers (30,32), and is in communication between an outlet (82) of the fuel pump (48) and the high pressure passage (108). The low pressure conduit (42) extends between the first and second chambers (30,32), and is in communication between the mixing passage (94) and the first chamber (30).