Fuel Pump Assembly With Jet Pump For Low Level Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel pump assemblies for combustion engines often struggle to efficiently draw fuel from the tank, especially at low levels, and may experience issues with fuel flow and pressure distribution between primary and secondary pumps.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pump assembly that includes a reservoir with a primary electric motor-driven fuel pump and a secondary fluid-driven jet pump, where the secondary pump utilizes a nozzle to create a pressure drop at its inlet, drawing fuel from the tank through a pick-up tube and combining it with fuel from the primary pump's outlet, ensuring efficient fuel delivery to the engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single primary fuel pump is used, then the structure is simple, but the fuel flow and pressure distribution is insufficient especially at low fuel levels
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel pump system is divided into two independent pumps: a primary electric motor-driven fuel pump and a secondary fluid-driven jet pump. Each pump has its own inlet and outlet connections, allowing them to operate independently or simultaneously. This segmentation enables the system to maintain sufficient fuel flow and pressure distribution even at low fuel levels by utilizing both pumps, while keeping each individual pump structurally simple.
2Productivity
If a secondary fluid-driven pump is added, then fuel flow is improved, but pressure distribution between primary and secondary pumps becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
A common outlet manifold is introduced as an intermediary component that receives fuel from both the primary fuel pump and the secondary jet pump. This manifold distributes the combined fuel flow to the engine, ensuring proper pressure distribution. The manifold acts as a mediator that coordinates the output of both pumps, preventing pressure conflicts and ensuring smooth integration of the dual-pump system.
3Productivity
If the secondary pump draws fuel through the reservoir inlet, then fuel delivery is efficient, but backflow may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary jet pump is positioned with its inlet connected to the reservoir inlet, allowing it to draw fuel directly from the tank. This extraction of fuel through the reservoir inlet ensures efficient fuel delivery to the engine. The system design inherently prevents backflow by maintaining proper pressure differentials and using check valves where necessary, ensuring fuel flows only in the intended direction from the tank through the secondary pump to the engine.
4Ease of manufacture
If non-conductive materials are used for pump components, then manufacturing is easier, but electrostatic charge buildup increases risk
Solution Approach 1:
Conductive properties are applied locally to specific components that are prone to electrostatic charge buildup, such as the pump housing and fuel lines. These localized conductive elements provide a path to ground for static charges without requiring the entire pump assembly to be made of conductive material. This approach maintains ease of manufacture for the majority of components while preventing electrostatic hazards in critical areas.
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
This configuration ensures efficient fuel transfer from the tank to the engine, maintaining fuel flow even at low levels and preventing backflow, while also reducing the risk of electrostatic charge buildup through conductive materials.
Implementation Method 1
The flow of fuel through the nozzle creates a drop in pressure in the area of the second fuel inlet to draw fuel from the fuel source through the second fuel inlet
Implementation Method 2
The flow of fuel through the nozzle creates a drop in pressure in the area of the second fuel inlet
Implementation Method 3
reducing the risk of electrostatic charge buildup through conductive materials
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some implementations, an assembly includes a reservoir, a primary fuel pump having an inlet in communication with the reservoir's internal volume, an outlet, a motor and a pumping element driven by the motor and a secondary fuel pump with a body having first and second inlets and an outlet. The first inlet receives fuel from the primary fuel pump and a nozzle is communicated with the first inlet and fuel flows out of the nozzle into the body via the first inlet. The second inlet is in communication with the reservoir inlet, and the outlet is in communication with the internal volume. The flow of fuel through the nozzle draws fuel from the fuel source through the second fuel inlet and that fuel is combined with the flow of fuel from the nozzle and discharged into the reservoir.