Abstract: An accumulator and over-pressure relief valve unit disposed within a vehicle fuel tank to accommodate expansion of fuel due to heating of the fuel within the fuel system and to maintain increased pressure of heated fuel in the fuel system to prevent vapor formation and to provide an over-pressure relief to bleed fuel back into the fuel tank when the unit has reached its maximum fuel accumulating capacity. The accumulator has a plastic cap press fit onto a plastic body with a diaphragm received therebetween and defining an expansion chamber with the body. To provide a seal between the cap and body, they are preferably ultrasonically welded together. The diaphragm has a normally closed valve which, when opened, communicates the accumulator chamber with the fuel tank. This valve opens in response to any over-pressure that may develop after the accumulator has reached its maximum accumulating capacity to bypass fuel into the fuel tank and thereby limit the maximum pressure of the fuel in the fuel system.

Abstract: For a fuel pump mounted within a module in a vehicle fuel tank, a stand pipe is provided in communication at its upper end with a return fuel reservoir and at its lower end with the inlet of the fuel pump to deliver fuel from the return fuel reservoir when the level of fuel in the reservoir rises above the upper end of the stand pipe. The return fuel reservoir has an inlet in communication with a fuel return line through which excess fuel in the fuel system is delivered to the return fuel reservoir. This "weathered" return fuel is delivered to the fuel pump inlet through the stand pipe when the level of fuel in the reservoir is sufficiently high to prefer use of the weathered return fuel by the fuel pump.

Abstract: A flat commutator for an electric motor of a vehicle fuel pump. The commutator is made with a one-piece carbon ring having a flat outer face, a one-piece conductor ring with a base portion embedded in the carbon ring and underlying outer face, and a housing of a plastic insulating material molded on the rear face of the carbon ring and adapted to mount the commutator on a motor armature. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart grooves extend radially and axially completely through both the carbon ring and the conductor ring to provide a plurality of individual sintered carbon segments each with a separate conductor for electrically connecting the segments with armature coils.

Abstract: A needle valve limiter cap of single-stage and two stage types having a hollow cylindrical outer body of rigid material, carrying a limiter arm. A spring steel hollow retainer clip sleeve is telescopically received in the body and has inwardly and outwardly protruding resilient barbs reversely oriented relative to one another to respectively engage the cap body and the needle valve shank to respectively prevent retrograde relative telescopic motion between the clip and the body and between the clip and valve shank. Easy seating of the single or two-stage caps into their locked first and/or second stage needle adjustment positions also produces an audible click and feel as the inwardly protruding spring barb(s) snap into a needle shank groove or grooves. A cap living-hinge type anti-tamper flap at the cap end prevents access of any adjustment tool to a needle valve head.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system and method for providing fuel to a fuel injected engine using an engine control unit (ECU) to determine engine fuel demand and adjust fuel pump operation accordingly to supply at least as much fuel as demanded by the engine. The ECU determines a fuel pump control signal based upon fuel demand and applies the signal to a fuel pump driver that controllably drives the pump in response to the control signal. The ECU determines fuel demand by monitoring engine operation and calculates a control signal that controls the duration of time the fuel injector stays open during an upcoming intake stroke of engine operation. The pump control signal is proportional to engine fuel demand multiplied by a constant that ensures more fuel will be available for delivery to the injector than demanded by the engine. Engine fuel demand is proportional to the duration of time the injector will stay open multiplied by the engine speed.

Abstract: A preformed plastic housing encloses a pair of coils and a capacitor of a radio frequency interference (RFI) circuit for an electric motor of a fuel pump. The housing has a base and a cover which, when mated, provide a secure fit between the electrical circuit components and the housing. The preformed housing can accommodate different RFI circuits and is significantly less costly to manufacture than an overmolded RFI module. A grounding strap is connected to the input side of one coil and the capacitor adjacent an input terminal to the circuit to significantly lower the RFI levels in the circuit.

Abstract: A bypass pressure control unit for use in bypass relation to a fuel delivery line of a pump operated fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine. The unit includes a housing that encloses a flexible diaphragm valve for defining with the housing a first bypass outlet chamber and a second fuel inlet chamber. The housing has a fuel inlet for communicating the second chamber with the fuel delivery line. The regulating valve is a flexible diaphragm membrane biased by a spring into direct engagement with a relatively large diameter valve seat formed in the housing so that the diaphragm itself acts as a valve member. The diaphragm is movable against spring force by a given pressure of fuel in the second chamber to disengage the diaphragm from the valve seat to thereby communicate the second chamber with the bypass fuel outlet. In one embodiment, the fuel outlet is formed in the housing and has a restricted orifice downstream of the valve seat.

Abstract: A control device for bypassing intake air around a closed throttle valve of an operating engine while it is idling. The device has a main flow control valve controlling bypass air flow in the bypass air passageway of the device and movable to closed and open positions by a diaphragm actuated by engine intake vacuum controlled by a pilot valve actuated by a solenoid. The main valve, pilot valve and plunger of the solenoid are all movably received on and supported by a stationary slide rod which preferably extends into the coil of the solenoid and is supported adjacent only one end in a cantilever fashion. The main valve includes a main valve body with piston head movable with a flow clearance in and out of an air passage bore of the air outlet side of the bypass air passageway. An annular main valve seat is located at the open upstream end of the bore through which the piston head moves in its axial travel between fully open and closed positions of the main valve.

Abstract: A carburetor for a two or four stroke engine having a diaphragm chamber for supplying fuel to the air intake passage of the engine, and a reservoir for primer fuel. A manually operable pump or bulb draws fuel from the diaphragm chamber into the reservoir. An outlet passage leads from the reservoir to deliver primer fuel to the engine. A normally closed manually operable valve or button is provided for opening the outlet passage. The capacity or the reservoir is varied as a function of ambient temperature by a temperature compensator.

Abstract: A fuel regulating method and mechanism for a rotary throttle (barrel-type) carburetor which prevents an end-user A/F adjustment that would cause increase in fuel quantity to a level in excess of a regulated value so as to comply with the exhaust gas emissions regulations. A cylindrical throttle valve having a throttle hole is disposed in an air intake passage of the carburetor body 12, the air flow is controlled by rotation of the throttle valve and the fuel flow is controlled by the position of a fuel regulating needle, attached to the throttle valve, relative to a fuel jet port of a fuel supply pipe in the carburetor body due to axial movement of the throttle valve. A bypass passage is provided within the carburetor body to communicate the throttle valve hole and fuel jet area with the air intake passage upstream of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A limiter of the extent of adjustment of a fuel metering needle valve of a carburetor for an internal combustion engine. The limiter has a housing with a passage in which the head end of the needle valve is received and a cap received in the passage on the head end of the valve for rotation in unison with the valve. An arm carried by the body of the cap is engagable with a stop in the passage to limit to less than one complete revolution the extent to which the cap and needle valve can be rotated by an end user to adjust the needle valve. To provide a tamper-resistant limiter, the head of the cap is received in a bore of the housing passage with either only a slight clearance between them or an interference fit which also inhibits rotation of the valve by vibration of the operating engine on which the carburetor and limiter are utilized.

Abstract: A magneto generator for an engine having a flywheel, in which the flywheel comprises a rotor mounted for axial rotation and has a rim of magnetically permeable material. A magnetically permeable core has first and second ends located adjacent to the rim at circumferentially spaced points. At least two wire coils are wrapped on the core. The rim defines a permeability path between the ends of the core. A fixed magnet is placed on one end of the core. The rim is interrupted at circumferentially spaced points to provide walls and windows alternately making and breaking the permeability path when the rotor is rotated to produce voltage pulses in sinusoidal form in the coils. The positive half cycles in one of the coils is used to charge an ignition storage capacitor for energizing a spark plug. The negative half cycles in the other winding are used to charge a battery.

Abstract: An electric-motor liquid fuel turbine pump wherein the pump impeller periphery has a circumferential array of axial counter flow blades arranged in radially spaced outer and inner concentric circular rows. An arcuate pumping channel includes first and second channel section arcuate grooves axially opposed in side-flanking relationship to the impeller and radially co-extensive with both blade rows to conjointly define a toroidal helical flow path extending circumferentially between the pumping channel inlet and outlet ports. The grooves have a constant radial cross section but the first groove cross sectional area is greater than that of the second groove. The impeller may be a one-piece molded part, or a two-part subassembly of an inner impeller disc and encircling outer impeller ring each having a row of blades formed at its periphery. A pump inlet cap has a top face defining one side plate for the impeller and the first channel groove communicating at one end with the channel inlet.

Abstract: A fuel filter for the inlet of a fuel pump having upper and lower wall portions each constructed of a material with a plurality of openings. The lower wall portion has a greater total thickness and/or a smaller average opening size than the upper wall portion to provide more effective filtration of the fuel drawn into the fuel pump through the lower wall of the filter. The filter also causes a greater resistance to fuel flow through the lower wall thereby increasing the rate of fuel drawn through the upper wall of the filter.

Abstract: A self-contained electric fuel pump having a d.c. motor with an armature having a commutator plate. An outlet end assembly has an inner cover and an outer cover. The inner cover is provided with brushes which contact the commutator plate. Electrically conductive pins mounted on the inner cover are electrically connected to the brushes. The outer cover is disposed over the inner cover and has electric terminals for connection to a source of d.c. current. The outer cover has choke coils connected to the terminals and electrically conductive tabs connected to the choke coils. When the outer cover is assembled on the inner cover, the tabs engage the pins to complete an electric circuit to the brushes.

Abstract: A temperature compensated carburetor including a composite valve member comprising a bi-metal strip and a gate valve needle for varying the effective flow cross-sectional area of the main and/or idle fuel supply duct to modulate the flow rate of fuel to the carburetor venturi mixing passage. The bi-metal strip generates substantially all of temperature-change-induced movement of the valve needle. The needle may be made of brass or aluminum, or alternatively of plastic material having a much greater coefficient of expansion than the aluminum carburetor body in which it is adjustable mounted such that differential linear expansion and contraction of the valve needle itself, as well as that of the bi-metal, relative to the carburetor body in response to ambient temperature changes varies the flow-controlling cross-sectional area of the fuel duct inversely relative to ambient temperature changes. A needle cylindrical mounting portion at one end is threadably secured in the strip movable free end.

Abstract: A fuel rail is provided with a mounting clip in each mounting foot to allow secure connection of the fuel rail adjacent an engine manifold. The mounting clip is inserted into a mounting foot after the fuel rail has been manufactured and has a flange which overlies the top of the foot. The clip completely receives a bolt therein and when the bolt is tightened transmits a clamping force to the fuel rail through the flange of the clip. Thus, the bolt bears directly on the clip, not the fuel rail, and can be highly torqued without breaking the fuel rail.

Abstract: An improved fuel delivery system, method and apparatus providing a hybrid carburetor and direct fuel injection system, utilizing the best of each for different engine operational modes to thereby meet emission requirements for small hand-held two-cycle engines using standard two-stroke gasoline and oil premix fuel. A diaphragm carburetor and associated diaphragm fuel pump operates alone to supply a proper A/F idle mixture sufficient only for engine power at start-up idle and off idle (light load). This engine aspiration carburetor fuel delivery system is operated continuously, and then at part (off idle-light load) and wide open throttle (W.O.T) the same is combined with operation of a direct cylinder fuel injection system, using a second stage pressure boost peristaltic type pump and fuel injector nozzle, that is engine self-regulated and driven to operate only at part-throttle and W.O.T. to thereby supply most of the engine fuel demand in these operational ranges.

Abstract: An electric-motor fuel pump that includes a housing with a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and an electric motor with a rotor responsive to application of electrical power for rotating within the housing. A pump mechanism includes an impeller coupled to the rotor for corotation with the rotor and having a periphery with a circumferential array of impeller vanes. A pair of plates oppose the sides of the impeller and a split ring surrounds the periphery of the impeller to form an arcuate pumping channel around the periphery of the impeller. Inlet and outlet ports at opposed ends of the pumping channel are operatively coupled to the inlet and outlet in the pump housing. Channels extend radially inwardly from the pockets in each side face of the impeller, and are interconnected by through-passages that extend through the impeller. A vapor vent is disposed in one of the side plates for sequential registry with the impeller through-openings for venting vapor from the pumping channel.