초록 ▼

An in-tank, fuel pump assembly for fuel-injected engines is provided which includes a reservoir having a supply port for supplying fuel to the engine and a return port for receiving fuel returning from the engine. Within the reservoir are (1) an electrically-operated, high pressure pump, (2) a jet p

An in-tank, fuel pump assembly for fuel-injected engines is provided which includes a reservoir having a supply port for supplying fuel to the engine and a return port for receiving fuel returning from the engine. Within the reservoir are (1) an electrically-operated, high pressure pump, (2) a jet pump located at the bottom of the reservoir for entraining fuel into the reservoir, (3) a valve associated with the return port, and (4) a valve associated with the supply port. The output of the high pressure pump is routed to the jet pump and to the two valves whereby when the high pressure pump is not operating, both valves are closed, and when the high pressure pump is operating, both valves are open and the jet pump entrains fuel into the reservoir. The jet pump is sized to entrain more fuel into the reservoir than leaves the reservoir through the supply port thus producing a net flow of fuel from the bottom to the top of the reservoir. As a result of this flow and the arrangement of the various components of the assembly, cool fuel from the main fuel tank is supplied to the engine rather than hot fuel returning from the engine through the return port, thus avoiding the hot fuel problems experienced in the prior art.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for pumping fuel from a fuel tank to an engine comprising: (a) a supply port for carrying fuel from the apparatus to the engine; (b) a pump having an inlet connected to the fuel tank and a high pressure outlet; (c) means for routing fuel leaving the high pressure outlet to the supply port;

Apparatus for pumping fuel from a fuel tank to an engine comprising: (a) a supply port for carrying fuel from the apparatus to the engine; (b) a pump having an inlet connected to the fuel tank and a high pressure outlet; (c) means for routing fuel leaving the high pressure outlet to the supply port; (d) a return port connected to the fuel tank for receiving fuel returning from the engine; and (e) a valve associated with the return port and including a diaphragm and a spring, said diaphragm having a first position in which the valve is closed so that fuel cannot pass between the engine and the fuel tank through the return port, and a second position in which the valve is open so that fuel can pass between the engine and the fuel tank through the return port, said spring urging the diaphragm towards its first position; and (f) means for connecting the high pressure outlet of the pump to the valve so that when the pump is operating, fuel from the high pressure outlet moves the diaphragm to its second position against the force of the spring.