Abstract: A pump for providing a flow of fluid from a fluid source to a fluid destination. The pump includes a rotatable turbine, a first inlet port in fluid communication with the turbine, a first outlet port in fluid communication with the first inlet port, a second inlet port in fluid communication with the turbine, and a second outlet port in fluid communication with the second inlet port. The turbine pumps fluid from the fluid source into the first inlet port and out of the first inlet port into a reservoir. The turbine pumps fluid in the reservoir into the second inlet port and out of the second outlet port to the fluid destination.

Abstract: A fuel pump (10) supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor (14), a shaft (16) driven by the motor, and a pump assembly (18) including a pumping element (20) mounted on the shaft. A fuel pump improvement includes the shaft being a multi-sided shaft with the pumping element having a central opening (22) through which the shaft extends. This opening is a contoured opening having a plurality of sides each of which is in contact with a side (22a-22c) of the shaft to distribute wear which occurs between the shaft and the pumping element. This construction prolongs the operating life of the pump. In a roller vane type pump having N vanes, the motor shaft has a number of sides S determined by the formula S=N±1, and N>3.

Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump (10) used in a fuel system includes an electric motor (14) having a drive shaft (16) to which is attached a pumping element (18). A fuel inlet passage allows low-pressure fuel to be drawn into the pump, and a fuel outlet passage (24) allows high-pressure fuel to be pumped to an internal combustion engine (E). A check valve assembly (30) is installed in the outlet passage and includes a check valve (36) which, when the pump is off, blocks an inlet (38) into the outlet passage to prevent fuel flow through the passage and into the pump resulting in a decrease in pressure in the fuel system. When the pump is operating, the check valve is forced away from the inlet to open the valve and allow fuel to freely flow through the passage. The fuel flows both around and through the check valve as it flows through the outlet passage.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (14) has an associated controller (18) controlling operation of the engine. A fuel pump (10) delivers fuel to the engine at more than one pressure (300 kPa, 800 kPa). The fuel pump includes a fuel inlet (34) and a fuel outlet (68). It also includes a motor (38) and pump assembly (36) for drawing fuel through the inlet into the fuel pump and delivering fuel to the outlet at a pressure higher than the pressure at the inlet. An outlet assembly (40) of the pump includes an outlet pressure sensor (76) and a processor (79) which is responsive to an input from the controller to vary the outlet fuel pressure by controlling the speed of the motor.

Abstract: A ported pressure relief valve (10) used in an automotive fuel system (F) includes an unrestricted constant bleed orifice (32) for routing pressurized fuel from a fuel pump (P) back to a fuel source (T, M) when an engine (E) is running. A check valve (30) prevents flow from a fuel system back to the fuel source when the engine is off, so to retain sufficient pressure in the delivery system that the engine will readily start when cranked. A pressure relief valve (50) drains fuel from the delivery system back to the source of fuel in response to a pressure build up in the fuel delivery system above a predetermined pressure level so to prevent an overpressure condition which would otherwise damage the fuel delivery system.

Abstract: A universal relief valve assembly (30) installed in an electric fuel pump (10) for returning fuel from an outlet portion (16) of the fuel pump back to the inlet side of the pump. A cartridge (32) is mounted in the pump and has an opening (34) extending therethrough for fuel to flow from the outlet portion of the pump back to the inlet portion of the pump. A relief valve (42) installed in the cartridge is movable from a closed position to an open position by the pressure to which the relief valve is subjected. A valve spring (52) installed in the cartridge biases the relief valve closed. The cartridge is sized to fit into a variety of fuel pumps having a range of outlet pressures, so to reduce the number of relief valve assemblies required to manufacture a line of fuel pumps.

Abstract: Federal regulations require certain safety features on road vehicles in connection with leakage from gasoline filled devices, such as fuel pumps, wherein only a certain amount of leakage over a specified time period is permitted in a barrier crash or roll over. The invention herein is particularly directed to minimizing leakage so as to conform to federal regulations insofar as fuel pumps are concerned by modification of existing check valves minimizing retooling expense by providing a backup washer spring pressed over an area of the valve disc so as to apply sealing pressure in a pair of spaced concentric areas on the valve seat. This precludes edge curling of the valve disc and ultimate leakage as well as increasing the wear life.