초록 ▼

A vehicle fuel system has an electronic control module received within a fuel tank to send data to and receive data from the electronic control unit (ECU) for the vehicle engine and other vehicle control systems, to provide an electronic control of the vehicle fuel system and to receive signals from

A vehicle fuel system has an electronic control module received within a fuel tank to send data to and receive data from the electronic control unit (ECU) for the vehicle engine and other vehicle control systems, to provide an electronic control of the vehicle fuel system and to receive signals from one or more sensors mounted within the fuel tank which provide information about the operation of the fuel system. The fuel system integrates a plurality of components into the vehicle fuel tank to reduce the number of openings through the vehicle fuel tank and the number of external connections which must be made in assembly of the fuel system into a vehicle. By disposing a fuel vapor canister within the fuel tank, each vapor vent valve within the fuel tank can communicate completely within the tank with the vapor canister with a single outlet extending from the fuel tank to communicate fuel vapor from the canister with an intake manifold of the engine. Desirably, this outlet may extend through the same opening in the fuel tank through which the fuel pump, vapor canister, electronic control module and other components of the vehicle fuel system are inserted into the fuel tank. Notably, the number of openings in the tank is reduced and in one embodiment, only two openings are used in the tank, one for a fill pipe through which fuel is introduced into the tank and the other for the insertion of the various fuel system components into the tank.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A vehicle fuel system, comprising:a fuel tank having an opening into an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel pump disposed within the interior of the fuel tank which draws fuel from the fuel tank and discharges fuel from the fuel tank through an outlet passage extending thr

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A vehicle fuel system, comprising:a fuel tank having an opening into an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel pump disposed within the interior of the fuel tank which draws fuel from the fuel tank and discharges fuel from the fuel tank through an outlet passage extending through the fuel tank opening and communicating with the exterior of the fuel tank through said opening;an electronic control module disposed in the fuel tank and connected with said fuel pump to send signals to or receive signals from said fuel pump and adapted to electronically communicate with a vehicle control system external to the fuel tank;a cap releasably sealingly connected to the fuel tank to close the opening and having the fuel outlet passage extending through the cap and an opening through which wires connected to the control module are received; anda fuel vapor storage canister disposed in the fuel tank with an inlet to receive fuel vapor from within the fuel tank and an outlet through which vapor or air discharged from the fuel vapor storage canister is discharged from the fuel tank and an outlet through the cap through which the outlet of the fuel vapor storage canister communicates externally of the fuel tank.