Abstract: A motor includes a rotor assembly includes a rotor and a motor shaft secured to the rotor. The motor further includes stator coils. Circuitry of the motor includes electronic components that cooperatively operate to activate and deactivate the coils to cause the rotor assembly to rotate, and first and second power terminals. An electrically conductive outer housing surrounds the motor. An electrically conductive grounding tab is electrically connected to the first power terminal. The tab contacts a radially-inwardly facing surface of the outer housing to provide a electrostatic discharge path from the outer housing to the ground terminal.

Abstract: A fuel vapor separator assembly including a housing having an open interior and a float disposed therein. At least one magnet is disposed on the float, and a sensor assembly which is responsive to magnetic fields is disposed externally of the housing. The sensor assembly senses the position of the float to determine whether vapor is present in the fuel vapor separator. If the sensor assembly determines that vapor is present in the fuel vapor separator, then it generates a signal, which a controller receives and activates a vapor vent valve to discharge the vapor and/or activates a fuel lift pump to pump additional fuel into the fuel vapor separator. The sensor assembly could be, for example, a Hall effect sensor or a reed-type sensor.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aerating device for a fuel system, and in particular, to an aerating device for a fuel system supplying fuel to an engine from a fuel tank. The invention includes, for example, a solenoid valve accessing a flow path to the fuel tank, and a control unit opening a closing the solenoid valve, such that opening of the solenoid valve permits fuel and air to flow back through the flow path to the fuel tank and naturally separate.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel pump assembly, method of construction thereof, and a fuel tank assembly is provided. The fuel pump assembly includes a non-conductive plastic reservoir and an electrically powered fuel pump disposed in the reservoir. The fuel pump is configured to receive fuel through an inlet and to dispense fuel through an outlet. A fuel filter assembly having a non-conductive plastic housing is disposed in the reservoir and a coating of conductive material is bonded to the housing. A conductive lead is configured in electrical communication with the coating and is further configured for attachment to an electrical ground.

Abstract: This invention relates to an engine cooling system in which the supply of fuel is cooled to prevent fuel vapors by cooling the fuel pump. The cooling system uses a thermoelectric material that, either entirely or partially, surrounds the fuel pump, is the housing of the fuel pump and/or is internal to the fuel pump.

Abstract: A fuel pump assembly and method of making the same is disclosed. The fuel pump assembly includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor and a circuit board formed as a discrete component from the BLDC motor. The BLDC motor includes a stator with a plurality of windings. A screw, or some other fastener, extends through the circuit board and threadedly engages a portion of the BLDC motor. The screws serve the dual functions of attaching the circuit board to the BLDC motor and electrically connecting the BLDC motor to the circuit board to power the BLDC motor.

Abstract: A spill resistant fuel supply system (16) for a marine engine (12). The system (16) includes a generally sealed housing (46) in which is disposed a vapor separator (26), a high pressure pump (28) and/or a suction pump (24). The housing (46) prevents fuel that might leak from these components from openly collecting in the marine vessel (10). The housing (46) includes one or more walls (48, 50, 52) formed with included air columns (58) which act as thermal barriers to reduce the amount of heat energy transferred from the outside in. The included air columns (58) are preferably arrayed in side-by-side fashion and closed at both ends to trap air therein.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool for monitoring a component in a load electrical circuit is provided. The diagnostic tool includes a housing containing a relay, at least one electrical sensor, a computer readable memory and a processor. The relay is configured for selectively open and close the load electrical circuit according to a control electrical circuit. The at least one sensor is configured to measure current and/or voltage in the load electrical circuit and to generate signals corresponding to the electrical load drawn through the load electrical circuit. The processor is in electrical with the sensor or sensors and the computer readable memory for storing data in the computer readable memory corresponding to the signals generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A BLDC electric motor assembly (24) includes a rotor (42) having a plurality of magnet segments (50) securely retained thereabout by an annular ring (68) which is shrunk in situ in an electromagnetic forming operation. The magnet segments (50) are formed with tongues (62, 64) on their upper and lower ends (56, 58). One tongue (64) seats in a retaining pocket (48) molded on the rotor shaft (40), whereas the other tongue (62) provides a ledge into which the ring (68) seats. After the magnet forming operation, wherein the ring (68) is shrunk, the outer surface of the ring (68) is flush with the outer surfaces (54) of the magnet segments (50).

Abstract: An alcohol detector for detecting high concentrations of alcohol in a fuel tank and for providing evidence that the alcohol was present even after it has been removed. In one aspect, the alcohol detector includes a cathode and an anode of different materials and spaced from one another. The anode experiences galvanic corrosion at a faster rate when exposed to high concentrations of alcohol than it does when exposed to unleaded gasoline. Thus, the amount of corrosion present on the anode provides evidence of the past presence of an improper fuel in the fuel tank. In another aspect, the alcohol detector is a dye printed on a fuel pump. The dye visually changes color intensity in the presence of high concentrations of alcohol to provide evidence of the past presence of alcohol.

Abstract: A method and system for removing contaminants from a filter member positioned on the inlet of a fuel pump with an electric DC motor. The polarity of the motor control circuit is reversed causing the DC motor to run in reverse discharging residual fuel in the fuel pump through the filter member.

Abstract: A piston-type fuel pump is provided. The fuel pump includes a housing bounding an internal cavity with a cylindrical tube disposed in the internal cavity. The cylindrical tube provides a bore extending along an axis and a piston is disposed in the bore. A spring is configured to bias the piston in a first direction along the axis. A coil is disposed about the cylindrical tube and a control circuit is disposed in the internal cavity. The control circuit is configured in electrical communication with the coil. The voltage supplied to the control circuit can be varied, with the control circuit compensating for the variable supply voltage to regulate the actuation of the coil from a de-energized state to an energized state. The piston is biased in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the coil being actuated.