Abstract: A fuel pump with an inlet through which fuel is drawn from a fuel tank and an outlet through which fuel is discharged under pressure to an operating engine of a vehicle has an inlet throttle valve actuated by the pressure of the pump outlet fuel to at least partially restrict the flow of fuel through the inlet of the fuel pump and thereby reduce the flow rate of fuel discharged from the fuel pump when the fuel pump is delivering more fuel than is being consumed by the engine. The valve is preferably received within an inlet module between the fuel tank inlet and the fuel pump inlet. Preferably, the valve is slidably received in a passage in the module and actuated by a diaphragm received in the passage and displaceable by the pressure of the pump outlet fuel in response to engine fuel demand.

Abstract: For a fuel injected combustion engine a fuel pressure regulator having a rapidly and accurately regulated output pressure over a wide range of flow rates by bypassing and returning to a fuel tank a portion of the input fuel from a fuel pump through a bypass valve actuated by a flexible diaphragm. The diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of the input fuel on one side of the diaphragm and a vacuum on the other side of the diaphragm having a magnitude which is varied as a function of the flow rate of the fuel bypassed through the valve and returned to the fuel tank. Preferably, this vacuum is produced by a venturi or orifice through which the bypass fuel flows.

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 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: 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.

Abstract: An engine fuel delivery system and method, and for use therein, an in-tank fuel pump and reservoir canister module assembly having a primary fuel filter mounted in a base subassembly adjacent the bottom of the tank and defining a filter chamber in the base having an outlet connected to the inlet of an electric fuel pump received directly in the tank exteriorly alongside of an upright open top reserve fuel canister. The pump outlet is connected to a bypass pressure regulator which discharges fuel in excess of engine demand into the canister. The canister has a bottom outlet mounted on the base subassembly and closed by a flow controlling valve and/or by a restricted orifice communicating the canister outlet with the filter chamber for returning bypassed reserve fuel from the canister reservoir to the pump inlet, either continuously and/or when a low level supply of fuel in the tank to the primary filter is interrupted, such as during cornering or going up or down a steep hill or incline.

Abstract: An in-tank fuel pump and reservoir canister module having a fuel filter mounted in the module base adjacent the bottom of the tank and defining a filter chamber having an outlet connected to the inlet of an electric fuel pump received directly in the tank exteriorly alongside of an upright overflow-type reserve fuel canister. A canister bottom outlet is closed by a flow controlling valve and/or by an always-open restricted orifice communicating with the filter chamber for returning engine bypassed reserve fuel from the canister reservoir to the pump inlet, either continuously and/or only when a low level supply of fuel in the tank to the filter is interrupted.

Abstract: A valve in a fuel pressure regulator prevents liquid fuel from being emitted exteriorly of the regulator housing and onto heated engine components. In the preferred embodiment, the valve allows gaseous flow into a chamber of the regulator when the pressure within the chamber is lower than the pressure of gases exterior of the regulator but prevents gaseous flow from within the chamber to the exterior of the housing. In other embodiment an air-bleed passage is provided in the valve to allow gaseous flow from within the chamber to the exterior of the regulator.

Abstract: A submersible electronic drive module for a vehicle in-tank fuel pump which includes a circuit board assembly having an input connector for receiving a current, an output connector for applying electric power to a fuel pump electric motor, and electrical components for supplying electric power to the motor as a function of vehicle fuel demand. A heat sink of a heat conductive material is thermally connected to the circuit board assembly which absorbs heat generated by the electrical components on the circuit board assembly. Fuel passes through the heat sink to cool it and thus the circuit board assembly and electrical components. A fuel-impervious casing encapsulates the drive module so that fuel is prevented from contacting the circuit board assembly and electrical components. The electronic drive module is removably attached to the fuel pump and is mounted within a fuel tank of an automotive fuel system.

Abstract: A no-return fuel system with a pressure regulator controlling the pressure of fuel supplied by a pump to the fuel rail and injectors of an internal combustion engine. The regulator has a bypass valve movable to open and closed positions by a diaphragm assembly to regulate the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine. The diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of fuel in a sensor line connected to the supply of fuel to the engine downstream of the bypass valve. To increase the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine when the pump is operating under an engine hot soak temperature conditions, a bleed passage communicating with the sensor line is opened by a solenoid actuated valve energized by a temperature responsive switch adjacent the engine.

Abstract: An accumulator for a no-return fuel system for a vehicle engine with fuel injectors. The accumulator has a housing with a flexible diaphragm between first and second chambers and a spring in one chamber yieldably closing the diaphragm to reduce the volume of the other chamber. One chamber has a fuel inlet that allows fuel into the chamber which accommodates expansion of the fuel by increasing the volume of the chamber against the bias of the spring. Preferably, the diaphragm has an over-pressure valve which opens when the system has reached its maximum over-pressure to allow the fuel to flow from one chamber to the other chamber in bypass relation to the injectors. The other chamber has an outlet communicating directly with the fuel tank.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus to control the flow of hydrocarbon fuel vapor from a vehicle fuel tank. The apparatus is mounted adjacent the top of the fuel tank and contains a valve system which controls fuel vapor flow from the tank to a receiving canister and prevents the vapor from escaping to the atmosphere. The valve system utilizes a diaphragm, operably connected to a main valve, to prevent the vapor pressure in the fuel tank from closing the valve. The main valve is actuated by a float responsive to the level of fuel in the tank and remains open when the fuel level is below a designated level and closes due to a sufficiently high fuel level or in a vehicle roll-over condition to prevent liquid fuel from escaping from the fuel tank through the apparatus.

Abstract: A no-return fuel system for an automotive engine with fuel injectors. The system has an electric fuel pump received in a fuel tank and supplying fuel at a substantially constant pressure to a demand regulator which delivers fuel to the fuel injectors under varying engine operating conditions. The fuel is delivered to the demand regulator at a substantially constant pressure by varying the speed of the fuel pump in response to changing fuel demand of the engine and/or by by-passing some of the fuel supplied by the pump through a by-pass regulator or relief valve. The demand regulator has a housing with a flexible diaphragm between first and second chambers. The admission of fuel to the first chamber is controlled by a valve associated with the diaphragm and fuel from this chamber is supplied to the engine injectors.

Abstract: For a fuel injected engine with a no-return fuel system, a fuel rail assembly with an integrated fuel pressure regulator. The fuel rail assembly has a plurality of spaced apart fuel injector sockets each communicating through a fuel passage with a demand pressure regulator removably mounted on the fuel rail upstream of all the fuel injector sockets to regulate the pressure of all fuel supplied to fuel injectors received in the sockets.

Abstract: A rotary pump for volatile hydrocarbon fuels for use in a fuel system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. A pulsation chamber allows purging of fuel vapor from the pump and dampens expansion and contraction of the fuel and vapor due to pressure pulses created during the pumping cycle thereby greatly reducing audible noise of the operating pump. The pulsation chamber has an axial passage with an outlet for returning fuel and vapor from the pulsation chamber to the fuel supply.

Abstract: An electric fuel pump and valve-controlled canister reservoir assembly mounted directly in a vehicle fuel tank with a pump main fuel inlet connected with a primary fuel filter disposed in the bottom of the tank. A pump fuel outlet supplies fuel for a vehicle engine and communicates through an engine bypass system with the canister reservoir to accumulate a reserve supply of fuel. The reservoir canister communicates with the pump inlet through a secondary filter and an inertia/gravity-activated valve module having a free rolling activator ball and associated can-like valve member cooperative with a large diameter annular valve seat to provide a sensitive valve with a large flow controlling cross-sectional area. The valve module thus provides an auxiliary supply of fuel to the pump inlet, preferably in bypass flow relation to the primary in-tank filter, and at a high flow rate when there is an interruption of fuel from the tank to the primary filter caused by adverse vehicle motion and/or orientation.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine that includes a fuel pump responsive to application of electrical power for delivering fuel under pressure to the engine. A pressure sensor supplies a pressure signal as a function of fuel pump output pressure. Electrical circuitry is responsive to the pressure signal for applying electrical power to the pump. A temperature sensor is operatively coupled to the circuitry for automatically varying the pump power signal to increase fuel pump output pressure when temperature at the temperature sensor exceeds preselected threshold temperature.