Abstract: An automotive fuel pump has a tubular shell, a pump group in the shell, an end housing in the shell, and an electric motor in the shell including an armature shaft. The armature shaft has an integral annular first spherical shoulder engaging a seat of a first bearing on a partition wall of the pump group. The first bearing reacts axial thrust and radial bearing forces between the partition wall and the armature shaft and supports the armature shaft on the partition wall for rotation about the centerline of the shaft and for universal pivotal movement about the center of the first spherical shoulder. The armature shaft has an integral second spherical shoulder received in a cylindrical bearing seat of a second bearing on the end housing.

Abstract: In a fuel delivery apparatus including a canister in an automobile fuel tank, an electric fuel pump in the canister having two rotating elements from which three stages of pump operation are derived. A housing of the fuel pump has two cavities in which the two rotating elements are disposed. A first element has a web which divides the corresponding cavity into first and second stage pump chambers. The second element in the second cavity cooperates therewith in defining a third stage pump chamber. When the motor is on, vane pockets on one side of the web in the first pump chamber pump fuel from the fuel tank into the canister. Vane pockets on the other side of the web in the second pump chamber pump fuel from the canister to the third stage pump chamber. The second pump element pumps fuel into the interior of the fuel pump at a high pressure compatible with the requirements of internal combustion engine fuel injection systems. Vapor is separated from the fuel in the second stage pump chamber.

Abstract: An automotive fuel system including a reservoir having upper and lower chambers on opposite sides of a partition in the reservoir, a high pressure fuel pump having an inlet connected to the lower chamber, a low pressure fuel overage return pipe returning overage fuel directly to the lower chamber, and a low pressure pump transferring fuel from the tank directly to the upper chamber. A drain in the partition conducts gravity induced fuel flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a rate equal to the difference between the rate at which the high pressure pump withdraws fuel from the lower chamber and the rate at which overage is returned to the lower chamber through the overage return pipe.

Abstract: An improvement in automotive fuel pump assemblies of the type including a tubular cylindrical housing, an electric motor in the housing and a pump in the housing driven by the armature of the motor. The pump includes a first pump body adjacent a flux ring of the motor, a second pump body between the first pump body and the end of the tubular housing, and an impeller in a cavity between the pump bodies. The improvement resides in the provision of axially extending grooves in outer cylindrical surfaces of the pump bodies which register in only a single predetermined angular positional relationship of the pump bodies and in the provision of spring clips which fit in the registered grooves to maintain the predetermined positional relationship and to unitize the pump bodies for efficient handling prior to insertion in the tubular housing.

Abstract: A fuel system particularly useful with diesel fuel. The fuel is picked up through a fuel strainer system and pumped through a supply line to the engine. Excess fuel is returned to the fuel tank through a fuel return line. Since any water in the fuel separates from diesel fuel and settles in the bottom of the tank, the water must at times be removed. By extending the fuel return tube to the bottom of the tank a syphon tube is provided which can be connected to a pump to pump out the water. If the water in the bottom of the tank freezes, a bypass valve in the upper portion of the fuel return line, but within the tank, operates so that returned fuel may still be discharged in the tank. Two flexible bypass valve arrangements are shown, both using variations of a duckbill valve to provide a closed valve when syphoning or pumping of the water takes place.

Abstract: A capacitive probe for sensing the presence of water in a fuel tank increases in capacitance when water is present. A threshold detector circuit includes the capacitive probe and a reference capacitor and an oscillator for periodically charging them to the same voltage and a comparator for comparing the capacitor voltages during discharge to determine when the probe capacitance exceeds the reference capacitance. The comparator controls a lamp driver which is connected to ground and which is also connected by a single conductor to a remote indicating lamp in series with a power supply. The single conductor carries the lamp energizing current as controlled by the lamp driver and also supplies the operating voltage to the detection circuit.

Abstract: A float operated fuel level sender for an automotive vehicle fuel tank includes a molded plastic case secured to a conductive plate. A potentiometer assembly (electrically connected to a fuel gauge) includes a resistor secured within the plastic case and a wiper element movable with the float arm along the length of the resistor. The wiper element is electrically and mechanically connected to the float arm which in turn is connected through a contact element to the conductive plate to provide an electrical ground return. The plastic case has an integral resilient finger formed therein which is biased against the end of the float arm to urge the contact member against the conductive plate thereby assuring a good ground connection.