In-Tank Fuel Pump Assembly Using the Fuel Fill Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel injection engines require a fuel pump that can deliver liquid fuel at higher and steadier pressures than carbureted engines, and existing designs often necessitate a separate opening for the fuel pump in the tank, leading to potential fuel leakage and increased fabrication costs.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pump assembly and mounting system that allows the pump to be mounted inside a fully assembled fuel tank using the same opening as the fuel fill, eliminating the need for a separate pump opening and incorporating a resilient fuel filter for insertion and secure mounting within the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate opening is provided for the fuel pump in the tank, then the pump can be mounted securely, but the fabrication cost increases and the risk of fuel leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fuel pump opening with the fuel fill opening into a single integrated opening structure. The pump housing is mounted within the fuel fill opening assembly, eliminating the need for a separate pump opening in the tank. This merging of functions reduces the number of openings required, thereby lowering fabrication costs and reducing potential fuel leakage points while maintaining secure pump mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel fill opening assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the fuel fill access point and the mounting location for the fuel pump. The pump housing integrates with the fill opening structure, allowing the same opening to accommodate both fuel refilling operations and pump installation, thus achieving multi-functionality and reducing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a separate opening is provided for the fuel pump, then the pump mounting is simplified, but the tank design becomes more complex and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump mounting function with the fuel fill opening structure. The pump housing is designed to fit within and be mounted to the fill opening assembly, combining what would traditionally be separate features into a single integrated component. This reduces tank design complexity while maintaining ease of pump mounting through the unified structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pump is mounted inside the fully assembled tank, then the design is more compact and fabrication costs are reduced, but the pump mounting rigidity must be sufficient for fuel injection applications
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing is merged with the fuel fill opening assembly to form a rigid, integrated mounting structure. This combined structure provides the necessary mechanical strength and rigidity for fuel injection applications while allowing the pump to be installed within the fully assembled tank, reducing fabrication complexity and cost.
4Reliability
If the same opening is used for both fuel fill and pump mounting, then the number of openings is reduced and leakage risk decreases, but the opening must serve dual functions requiring careful design
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel fill opening assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as the fuel refilling access point and the mounting structure for the fuel pump. The integrated design incorporates both the fill tube and pump housing within a single opening assembly, reducing the total number of openings and potential leakage points while managing the design complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-tank fuel pump assembly and mounting system is disclosed which may be configured for mounting inside a fuel tank. The assembly includes a pump housing, pump mounted to the housing, and pressure relief valve. The housing may comprise upper and lower pump housing units coupled together. The upper housing unit is configured for mounting to a tank opening, which in one implementation may be the fuel fill opening. The lower housing unit extends into the tank to approximately the bottom of the tank. A fuel fill fluid pathway is created through the housing for adding fuel to the tank while the pump assembly remains in situ. The upper housing unit may include a removable fuel cap. The pump housing may include an integral vapor trap.