Abstract: A fuel pump for automotive vehicles which has a pump housing and an outlet housing at the respective ends of a pump motor with an armature and a stator. A drive and support shaft at one end of the armature is journaled for rotation in a bearing in the pump housing. The shaft and bearing at the one end of the armature serves as the only bearing and support for the armature in a cantilever relation to the pump housing.

Abstract: In a fuel system for an internal combustion engine powering a motor vehicle, a fuel reservoir canister mounted in a main fuel tank. An annular fuel filter element is enclosed in an axially elongate housing with radially spaced apart inner and outer cylindrical side walls. The housing is received in the canister with its outer side wall bearing on and radially supported by a complementary side wall of the canister. Preferably, a fuel pump and pressure regulator are disposed in the canister preferably so they overlap with and are encircled by the filter housing. The high pressure outlet of the fuel pump is connected to the filter to supply filtered fuel to the engine at a pressure regulated and controlled by the pressure regulator.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator for an internal combustion engine fuel delivery system that includes a flexible diaphragm carried within a housing to define first and second chambers on opposed sides of the diaphragm. The first of the housing chambers includes an inlet for connection to a source of fuel under pressure, an outlet for connection to the fuel rail and fuel injectors or other fuel delivery mechanism at the engine, and a valve associated with the inlet and movable responsive to the diaphragm between open and closed positions to control flow of fuel through the first chamber to the engine. A bimetallic element is disposed within the housing coupled to the valve and responsive to temperature of fuel in the housing for positioning the valve in the open position when temperature of fuel in the first chamber reaches a preselected level.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator for a no-return fuel system for an automotive engine with fuel injectors having a housing with a flexible diaphragm between first and second chambers. The second chamber has a fuel inlet with a valve therein to admit fuel to the second chamber and an outlet to supply fuel to the engine. The second chamber is in continuous communication with the engine to accumulate any fuel expansion that may occur during engine deceleration or when the engine is turned off due to heating the fuel. The first chamber continuously communicates with the engine air intake manifold so that fuel is supplied to the engine fuel injectors at a substantially constant pressure drop across the injectors.

Abstract: An electrically operated fuel pump for automotive vehicles which utilizes a turbine pump rotor operating in an annular pumping channel having circumferentially spaced inlet and outlet ports. The pumping channel has opposed sides with a circumferential array of radially curved grooves axially opposed to the periphery of the impeller and extending radially inwardly from the impeller vanes. The pump has a main outlet leading to the engine to be supplied with fuel. A secondary outlet leads to a fuel jet positioned to direct fuel into a venturi passage to draw fuel from a pump inlet and discharge it into a reservoir in a main fuel tank, the pump being located in the reservoir. A biased valve in the secondary outlet opens when the pump outlet pressure reaches a predetermined pressure to insure adequate fuel flow to the engine upon cold start conditions before fuel is drawn by the jet and venturi and delivered to the reservoir.

Abstract: A main fuel tank in an automotive vehicle contains a reservoir in which is located a two-stage electrically operated pump. The first stage is a jet pump which draws fuel from the main tank and delivers it to the reservoir. The second stage is a rotary pump which draws from the reservoir and delivers to the vehicle engine. The reservoir has overflow restriction means which allows air to vent while the reservoir is filling but which restricts fuel flow when the reservoir is full. This creates pressure in the reservoir to create back pressure against and shut down flow from the jet pump and also increase pressure on the fuel inlet of the main pump thus increasing the efficiency of the main fuel pump.

Abstract: An in-tank module with an electrical fuel pump in a reservoir in a main fuel tank of a vehicle. A filter sock on the bottom of the tank has an outlet in direct communication with the main pump inlet so the pump can prime directly from fuel in the main tank. A secondary fuel outlet in the reservoir and in communication with the pump inlet, is controlled by a valve which opens the secondary fuel outlet when the main pump inlet is starved by reason of low fuel in the main tank. A filter element, above the secondary fuel outlet, filters fuel flowing from the reservoir to the pump outlet when the control valve is open.

Abstract: A fuel pump structure which includes an electrically driven rotor in a sealed housing which has an inlet and an outlet. A single rotor in the housing has three operating areas. At the outer periphery are vanes operating in an annular sweep channel as a second stage, high pressure regenerative pump which discharges to the housing outlet. Radially within the outer periphery are two radially spaced series of blades forming axial passages in the rotor. The first and outer series of blades operate under a lateral channel to form a first or primary stage pump delivering to a central swirl chamber above and below the rotor. The second and inner series of blades and axial passages allow passage through the rotor to the lower swirl chamber which has a tangential outlet directed to the inlet of the regenerative second stage pump. The base of the lower swirl chamber has a central vapor outlet to allow vapor to leave the fuel which is entering the high pressure pump.

Abstract: A damper in a self-contained electrically operated fuel pump for vehicle engines incorporating a positive displacement pumping element. The damper has a hollow toroidal flexible element in contact with the liquid fuel discharged from the pump for absorbing pulsations. A retainer with a locating plate on one side of the damper centers it in the pump housing and has resilient circumferentially spaced, radial fingers extending over and around the periphery of the toroid to confine it against destructive expansion while permitting limited expansion and contraction needed to absorb fuel pressure pulsations in pump operation.

Abstract: A gear rotor fuel pump having a gear rotor pump assembly received on a cantilever bearing in an end cap of the pump and an armature journalled for rotation at one end in the bearing while being rotatably unsupported at its other end for preventing bearing misalignment and reducing pump noise. The end cap preferably carries a bellows modulator for reducing pump noise by reducing the amplitude of fuel pressure pulses transmitted to the bellows from the pump assembly through a port in the end cap. To further reduce noise, the end cap preferably has at least one cavity for receiving compressible gas therein to further absorb the pressure pulses as well as noise generated by turbulent fuel flow at a pump inlet.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine that includes a fuel supply, an electric-motor pump for feeding fuel under pressure from the supply to an engine, and electronic control circuitry for applying electrical power to the pump. The control circuitry includes a pressure sensitive switch coupled to the pump and responsive to pump outlet pressure for switching between conductive and non-conductive switch conditions at a preselected pump outlet pressure. A pulse width modulation amplifier is coupled to the switch for applying pulsed d.c. energy to the pump at a first average voltage level when the pressure switch is in one condition, and at a second lesser but non-zero level when the pressure switch is in the other condition. In this way, electrical power is applied to the pump motor at a reduced level when pump outlet pressure exceeds the threshold level of the pressure switch.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator for a no-return fuel system for an automotive engine with fuel injectors having a housing with a flexible diaphragm between first and second chambers. The second chamber has a fuel inlet receiving fuel from a fuel pump with a spring biased valve therein to admit fuel to the second chamber and an outlet to supply fuel to the engine. The second chamber is in continuous communication with the engine to accumulate any fuel expansion that may occur during engine deceleration or when the engine is turned off due to heating the fuel. The first chamber continuously communicates with the engine air intake manifold so that fuel is supplied to the engine fuel injectors at a substantially constant pressure drop across the injectors. An over-pressure relief by-pass valve responsive to pressure at said fuel inlet will by-pass fuel to a reservoir when pressure in said second chamber opens said spring biased valve.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine that includes a fuel supply, an electric motor pump for feeding fuel under pressure from the supply to the engine, a pressure sensitive switch operatively coupled to the pump and having a first contact movably responsive to fuel pressure and a second contact opposed to said first contact, and a PWM amplifier responsive to the pressure sensitive switch for applying electrical power to said pump. The second switch contact is mounted on a bimetallic spring responsive to fuel temperature for altering operating characteristics of the switch, and thereby altering fuel pressure characteristics of said system as a function of fuel temperature.

Abstract: A system for automotive vehicles carrying a fuel tank for volatile fuels which is directed to avoiding the escape to atmosphere of fuel vapors which rise from the liquid fuel. The system includes a collector dome on the fuel tank and a storage canister for vapors. A vapor pump is provided for reducing the stored vapor to liquid before directing it from a high pressure tank into the fuel supply leading to the engine of the vehicles. The vapor pump is powered by an electrical source or, alternatively, by the vehicle engine. A pressure responsive switch controls the initiation of the vapor pump action. A standard fuel pump in the fuel tank delivers liquid fuel to the fuel injection system of the engine.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator with a flexible diaphragm defining in part first and second chambers in a housing and moving a ball valve in the first chamber to open and closed positions to regulate pressure of fuel discharged from the first chamber through an outlet having a seat on which the ball is received when the valve is closed. A cage carried by the diaphragm cooperates with a carrier member or disc fixed to the ball to provide a lost motion coupling between the diaphragm and the ball valve. This coupling permits movement within predetermined limits of the diaphragm generally axially, radially and pivotally relative to the ball while it remains on its seat and upon further generally axial movement of the diaphragm opens and partially closes the ball valve to regulate and maintain substantially constant the pressure of fuel discharged from the chamber over substantially the full range of the rate at which the fuel is discharged.

Abstract: An electric-motor tubine-vane fuel pump that includes a housing having 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 a turbine impeller coupled to the rotor for corotation therewith and having a periphery with a circumferential array of pockets. An arcuate channel surrounds the impeller periphery, and is operatively coupled to the fuel inlet and outlet of the housing for delivering fuel under pressure to the outlet. The impeller periphery is formed by a continuous uninterrupted serpentine rib of uniform peripheral thickness that extends at an angle back and forth between opposed axial side edges of the impeller periphery circumferentially around the impeller forming identical truncated pyramidal pockets alternating with each other around the impeller periphery on opposite side edges of the impeller.

Abstract: An electric-motor regenerative 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 therewith and having a periphery with a circumferential array of open impeller vanes. An arcuate pumping channel surrounds the impeller periphery, and is operatively coupled by inlet and outlet ports at opposed ends of the channel to the inlet and outlet in the pump housing. The pumping channel has a circumferential array of radially curved grooves axially opposed to the impeller periphery and extending radially inwardly from the impeller vanes. A circumferential rib extends radially into the pumping channel opposed to the impeller periphery, and has arcuate dimension within the channel that coincides with the dimension of the channel groove array.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel system for a vehicle which has a fuel tank remote from the engine of the vehicle and a fuel pump remote from said tank and a canister in said tank to receive return fuel from a pressure regulator in said system. A fuel flow passage carries fuel from the main fuel tank to the pump. Under conditions of low fuel in the main fuel tank, a valve associated with the canister opens in response to side swerving motion of the vehicle to allow flow of fuel from the canister to the fuel flow passage leading to the pump to prevent starving of the engine due to low flow from the main tank.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator with a flexible diaphragm defining in part first and second chambers in a housing and moving a ball valve in the first chamber to open and closed positions to regulate pressure of fuel discharged from the first chamber through an outlet having a seat on which the ball is received when the valve is closed. A cage carried by the diaphragm cooperates with a carrier member or disc fixed to the ball to provide a lost motion coupling between the diaphragm and the ball valve. This coupling permits movement within predetermined limits of the diaphragm generally axially, radially and pivotally relative to the ball while it remains on its seat and upon further generally axial movement of the diaphragm open and partially closes the ball valve to regulate and maintain substantially constant the pressure of fuel discharged from the chamber over substantially the full range of the rate at which the fuel is discharged.

Abstract: An electric-motor fuel pump that includes an inlet end cap, an outlet end cap and a case coaxially joining the end caps to form a closed pump housing. An electric motor is disposed with the housing, and includes an armature journalled for rotation between the end caps, a stator surrounding the armature and means for applying electrical power to the motor. The armature is coupled to a gerotor mechanism for pumping fuel from the inlet to the outlet through the housing. The gerotor pumping mechanism comprises an annular wall on the inlet end cap forming an open pocket axially opposed to the armature. Inner and outer gear rotors are disposed within the pocket, and have radially opposed intermeshing teeth that define circumferentially disposed expanding and ensmalling pumping chambers. The inner gear rotor is coupled to the motor armature. Inlet and outlet gerotor ports in the inlet end cap axially open between the rotors into the expanding and ensmalling chambers respectively.