Abstract: A fuel pump, is disclosed, including a power group having a housing, a coil, a pole piece and a movable armature; a valve group including a valve body, a plunger connected to the armature, a bushing in which the plunger is disposed, an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, a pump chamber, an inlet valve disposed between the inlet chamber and the pump chamber and an outlet valve disposed between the pump chamber and the outlet valve; and an inlet filter coupled to a fluid inlet of the valve group. The inlet filter is disposed relative to the coil such that when the fuel pump is disposed within a fuel tank, a bottom of the inlet filter as oriented in the fuel tank is disposed above a fuel level in the fuel tank and the coil is at least partly submerged in the fuel.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; an inlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body. The valve seat includes a first aperture defined axially through the valve seat in a radial central portion thereof, and one or more second apertures disposed at least partly around the first aperture. The inlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a first surface thereof, the closed position of the inlet disk covering the one or more second apertures of the valve seat. The outlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a second surface thereof.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump includes a housing; a pole piece disposed within the housing; an armature assembly movably disposed within the housing and including an armature and a plunger; and a coil disposed within the housing. A plurality of metal disks are disposed in a stacked arrangement, coupled to the pole piece and situated so as to be impacted by the armature during a full stroke of the armature assembly. The solenoid assembly further includes at least one fluid path in fluid communication with the region surrounding the metal disks, the at least one fluid path configured such that only a portion of a secondary swept volume of fuel associated with the armature assembly during operation of the fuel pump passes through the region and decelerates the armature assembly when the armature assembly moves towards the pole piece responsive to a current passing through the coil.

Abstract: A fluid pump valve assembly includes: a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; an inlet disk and an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body and including a disk member including at least one first aperture defined axially through the disk member, and at least one second aperture defined axially through the disk member, the inlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an inlet valve and the outlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an outlet valve. An inlet chamber is disposed upstream of the inlet valve, a pump chamber is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and an outlet chamber is disposed downstream of the outlet valve. The inlet chamber surrounds the outlet chamber.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump is disclosed, including a housing having an open end and a partly closed end; a pole piece fixedly disposed within the housing; a bobbin assembly disposed within the housing and including a coil disposed proximal to the pole piece; and a bobbin retainer disposed between the open end of the housing and the bobbin assembly, a radially outer surface of the bobbin retainer contacting the housing. A portion of the housing which is adjacent the bobbin retainer has an outer surface that is recessed and an inner surface that protrudes against the bobbin retainer. The portion is created by deforming the housing to create the protrusion on the inner surface of the housing. The housing inner surface protrusion provides a press fit engagement with the bobbin retainer.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; a valve seat; and an inlet disk disposed in the valve body having an inner portion, an outer portion fixed within the valve body, and a plurality of legs connected between the inner portion and the outer portion so that the inner portion is movable between a first position against the valve seat and a second position spaced apart from the valve seat. The connection between the legs, the inner portion and the outer portion provides a spring bias force to the inner portion against movement of the inner portion from the first position. The plurality of legs, the inner portion and the outer portion are configured such that the spring bias force is asymmetric as applied to the inner portion of the inlet disk.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a solenoid-actuated pump includes a first pumping chamber and a second pumping chamber, where the first pumping chamber delivers fluid from the pump to portions of a vehicle to facilitate the operation of the vehicle. The second (or “parasitic”) pumping chamber implements a forced convection cooling method, which utilizes parasitic pumping loss to produce a flow within and/or around the solenoid coil to cool the coil and/or maintain the temperature of the coil during operation. In this manner, the second pumping chamber produces a flow that reduces thermally-related increases in electrical resistance of the solenoid coil of the solenoid-actuated pump.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump is disclosed, including a housing having an open end and a partly closed end; a pole piece fixedly disposed within the housing; a bobbin assembly disposed within the housing and including a coil disposed proximal to the pole piece; and a bobbin retainer disposed between the open end of the housing and the bobbin assembly, a radially outer surface of the bobbin retainer contacting the housing. A portion of the housing which is adjacent the bobbin retainer has an outer surface that is recessed and an inner surface that protrudes against the bobbin retainer. The portion is created by deforming the housing to create the protrusion on the inner surface of the housing. The housing inner surface protrusion provides a press fit engagement with the bobbin retainer.

Abstract: A fuel pump, is disclosed, including a power group having a housing, a coil, a pole piece and a movable armature; a valve group including a valve body, a plunger connected to the armature, a bushing in which the plunger is disposed, an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, a pump chamber, an inlet valve disposed between the inlet chamber and the pump chamber and an outlet valve disposed between the pump chamber and the outlet valve; and an inlet filter coupled to a fluid inlet of the valve group. The inlet filter is disposed relative to the coil such that when the fuel pump is disposed within a fuel tank, a bottom of the inlet filter as oriented in the fuel tank is disposed above a fuel level in the fuel tank and the coil is at least partly submerged in the fuel.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump includes a housing; a pole piece disposed within the housing; an armature assembly movably disposed within the housing and including an armature and a plunger; and a coil disposed within the housing. A plurality of metal disks are disposed in a stacked arrangement, coupled to the pole piece and situated so as to be impacted by the armature during a full stroke of the armature assembly. The solenoid assembly further includes at least one fluid path in fluid communication with the region surrounding the metal disks, the at least one fluid path configured such that only a portion of a secondary swept volume of fuel associated with the armature assembly during operation of the fuel pump passes through the region and decelerates the armature assembly when the armature assembly moves towards the pole piece responsive to a current passing through the coil.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; an inlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body. The valve seat includes a first aperture defined axially through the valve seat in a radial central portion thereof, and one or more second apertures disposed at least partly around the first aperture. The inlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a first surface thereof, the closed position of the inlet disk covering the one or more second apertures of the valve seat. The outlet disk is biased in a closed position against the valve seat along a second surface thereof.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid pump includes a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; a valve seat; and an inlet disk disposed in the valve body having an inner portion, an outer portion fixed within the valve body, and a plurality of legs connected between the inner portion and the outer portion so that the inner portion is movable between a first position against the valve seat and a second position spaced apart from the valve seat. The connection between the legs, the inner portion and the outer portion provides a spring bias force to the inner portion against movement of the inner portion from the first position. The plurality of legs, the inner portion and the outer portion are configured such that the spring bias force is asymmetric as applied to the inner portion of the inlet disk.

Abstract: A fluid pump valve assembly includes: a valve body; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined in the valve body; an inlet disk and an outlet disk movably disposed in the valve body; and a valve seat fixed within the valve body and including a disk member including at least one first aperture defined axially through the disk member, and at least one second aperture defined axially through the disk member, the inlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an inlet valve and the outlet disk and the valve seat forming at least part of an outlet valve. An inlet chamber is disposed upstream of the inlet valve, a pump chamber is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and an outlet chamber is disposed downstream of the outlet valve. The inlet chamber surrounds the outlet chamber.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a solenoid and a solenoid controller. The solenoid is configured to move an actuator a distance between a first position and a second position when a voltage is supplied to the solenoid. The solenoid controller is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processor, and includes a feedback module and an output module. The feedback module is configured to receive a feedback signal associated with a solenoid current after the voltage is removed from the solenoid. The feedback module is further configured to determine whether the distance is less than a maximum distance between the first position and the second position (i.e., a “stroke”). The output module configured to produce an output signal when the feedback module determines that the distance is less than the maximum distance.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a solenoid-actuated pump includes a first pumping chamber and a second pumping chamber, where the first pumping chamber delivers fluid from the pump to portions of a vehicle to facilitate the operation of the vehicle. The second (or “parasitic”) pumping chamber implements a forced convection cooling method, which utilizes parasitic pumping loss to produce a flow within and/or around the solenoid coil to cool the coil and/or maintain the temperature of the coil during operation. In this manner, the second pumping chamber produces a flow that reduces thermally-related increases in electrical resistance of the solenoid coil of the solenoid-actuated pump.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a solenoid and a solenoid controller. The solenoid is configured to move an actuator a distance between a first position and a second position when a voltage is supplied to the solenoid. The solenoid controller is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processor, and includes a feedback module and an output module. The feedback module is configured to receive a feedback signal associated with a solenoid current after the voltage is removed from the solenoid. The feedback module is further configured to determine whether the distance is less than a maximum distance between the first position and the second position (i.e., a “stroke”). The output module configured to produce an output signal when the feedback module determines that the distance is less than the maximum distance.

Abstract: A system for providing online service reports to user subscribers. The service reports contain service information about services rendered by one or more service providers operating at the direction of a service administrator. The system includes a service hub coupled between the service administrator and the one or more service providers. The service hub receives an access message that defines access rights for the user subscribers. A decoder decodes the service information from one or more operational messages exchanged between the service administrator and the one or more service providers. A network server is coupled between the service hub and the user subscribers via a communication network. The network server receives a request from a selected user subscriber, and in response, provides at least a portion of the selected service information to the selected user subscriber based on the access rights.

Abstract: A non-woven mat of inorganic fiber is disclosed having a substance which is lower at the edges of the mat than in the remainder of the mat. Apparatus for making such a mat includes: a source of a slurry of inorganic fiber in a liquid; a forming wire disposed to move past the source, the liquid passing through the forming wire to deposit the inorganic fiber on the forming wire; a mask across a part of the width of the forming wire to hinder passage of the liquid through the forming wire over the part, the effectiveness of the mask varying in the direction of movement of the forming wire past the slurry source.

Abstract: A non-woven mat of inorganic fiber is disclosed having a substance which is lower at the edges of the mat than in the remainder of the mat. Apparatus for making such a mat includes: a source of a slurry of inorganic fiber in a liquid; a forming wire disposed to move past the source, the liquid passing through the forming wire to deposit the inorganic fiber on the forming wire; a mask across a part of the width of the forming wire to hinder passage of the liquid through the forming wire over the part, the effectiveness of the mask varying in the direction of movement of the forming wire past the slurry source.

Abstract: The new and distinctive cultivar of Brunnera named ‘Looking Glass’ with light blue flowers in the spring and characterized by an intense silver coating on top of the leaves, suitable for specimen or mass landscape usage, or potted culture.