IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0634258
(2003-08-05)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
19 인용 특허 :
15 |
초록
▼
A cosmetically attractive fuel tank assembly preferably for a motorcycle application has a fuel pump subassembly inserted into the fuel chamber of the tank through bottom access hole thus preserving the overall appearance of the tank itself. The flange of the fuel pump subassembly covers the bottom
A cosmetically attractive fuel tank assembly preferably for a motorcycle application has a fuel pump subassembly inserted into the fuel chamber of the tank through bottom access hole thus preserving the overall appearance of the tank itself. The flange of the fuel pump subassembly covers the bottom access hole and sealably months to a bottom wall of the fuel tank. Various fuel pump subassembly components, such as a fuel pressure regulator, an outlet fuel filter, an electrical connector and a fuel outlet mount directly to the flange along with a tripod like vibration absorbing bracket which supports the fuel pump and preferably a fuel level sensor. The bracket is flexible and resiliently contacts an internal surface of a bottom wall of the fuel tank via a resilient pad, and is threadably engaged to the flange and spaced therefrom by a vibration damping member.
대표청구항
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1. A fuel tank assembly for a combustion engine comprising:a fuel tank having an internal surface, an external surface, a bottom wall defined between the internal and external surfaces, a fuel chamber defined by the internal surface, and a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to comm
1. A fuel tank assembly for a combustion engine comprising:a fuel tank having an internal surface, an external surface, a bottom wall defined between the internal and external surfaces, a fuel chamber defined by the internal surface, and a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to communicate with the fuel chamber; a fuel pump subassembly substantially inserted into the fuel chamber through the bottom access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange engaged sealably to the bottom wall and covering the access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a fuel pump carried by the bottom flange and disposed in the fuel chamber; a fuel pressure regulator projecting upward from the flange and into the fuel chamber for receiving fuel from the fuel pump; and a fuel outlet nozzle extending downward through the flange for flowing fuel from the pressure regulator and out of the fuel chamber. 2. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 1 comprising a fuel filter projecting upward from the flange into the fuel chamber, and wherein the fuel filter filters fuel flowing from the fuel pump to the fuel regulator.3. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 2 comprising a fuel level sensor of the fuel pump subassembly engaged to the bottom flange.4. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 3 comprising an electric connector formed unitarily to the bottom flange and extending through the flange.5. A fuel tank assembly for a combustion engine comprising:a fuel tank having an internal surface, an external surface, a bottom wall defined between the internal and external surfaces, a fuel chamber defined by the internal surface, and a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to communicate with the fuel chamber; a fuel pump subassembly substantially inserted into the fuel chamber through the bottom access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange engaged sealably to the bottom wall and covering the access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a fuel pump carried by the bottom flange and disposed in the fuel chamber; an elongated fuel pump bracket projecting longitudinally from the bottom flange and engaged to the fuel pump; a first forward foot of the bracket; and a first vibration dampening member engaged directly between the bottom flange and the first foot of the bracket for isolating the bottom flange from the bracket and the fuel pump. 6. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 5 comprising:an elongated bridging portion of the bracket projecting from the first foot and away from the flange; and wherein the fuel pump is engaged to the bridging portion. 7. A fuel tank assembly for a fuel injected combustion engine comprising:a fuel tank having an internal surface, an external surface, a bottom wall defined between the internal and external surfaces, a fuel chamber defined by the internal surface, and a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to communicate with the fuel chamber; a fuel pump subassembly substantially inserted into the fuel chamber through the bottom access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange engaged sealably to the bottom wall and covering the access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a fuel pump carried by the bottom flange and disposed in the fuel chamber; an elongated fuel pump bracket projecting longitudinally from the bottom flange and engaged to the fuel pump; a first forward foot of the bracket; a first vibration dampening member engaged directly between the bottom flange and the first foot of the bracket for isolating the bottom flange from the bracket and the fuel pump; an elongated bridging portion of the bracket projecting from the first foot and away from the flange; wherein the fuel pump is engaged to the bridging portion; a rearward foot of the bracket biased against the internal surface of the fuel tank; and wherein the bridging portion is flexible and extends resiliently between the first forward foot and the rearward foot. 8. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 7 comprising:a vibration dampening pad engaged to the rearward foot; and wherein the dampening pad is compressed resiliently between the rearward foot and the internal surface by the bridging portion. 9. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 8 wherein the dampening pad engages the internal surface at the bottom wall of the fuel tank.10. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 5 comprising:a second forward foot of the bracket; and a second vibration dampening member engaged directly between the bottom flange and the first foot of the bracket for isolating the bottom flange from the bracket and the fuel pump. 11. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 9 comprising:a second forward foot of the bracket; and a second vibration dampening member engaged directly between the bottom flange and the first foot of the bracket for isolating the bottom flange from the bracket and the fuel pump. 12. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein the vibration dampening member is a fuel resistant rubber grommet.13. A fuel tank assembly for a fuel injected combustion engine comprising:a fuel tank having an internal surface, an external surface, a bottom wall defined between the internal and external surfaces, a fuel chamber defined by the internal surface, and a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to communicate with the fuel chamber; a fuel pump subassembly substantially inserted into the fuel chamber through the bottom access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange engaged sealably to the bottom wall and covering the access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a fuel pump carried by the bottom flange and disposed in the fuel chamber; an elongated fuel pump bracket projecting longitudinally from the bottom flange and engaged to the fuel pump; a first forward foot of the bracket; a first vibration dampening member engaged directly between the bottom flange and the first foot of the bracket for isolating the bottom flange from the bracket and the fuel pump; wherein the vibration dampening member is a fuel resistant rubber grommet; a stanchion projecting upward from the bottom flange, the stanchion having a threaded blind bore; the first foot of the bracket having an inner circumferential edge defining a hole; the grommet having a circumferential groove opening radially outward; wherein the grommet extends through the hole and the circumferential edge seats in the circumferential groove; a male fastener threaded into the blind bore and extending upward concentrically through the grommet to secure the leg of the bracket to the flange; and wherein the first foot does not directly engage the flange. 14. A fuel tank assembly for a combustion engine comprising:a fuel tank having an internal surface, an external surface, a bottom wall defined between the internal and external surfaces, a fuel chamber defined by the internal surface, and a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to communicate with the fuel chamber; a fuel pump subassembly substantially inserted into the fuel chamber through the bottom access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange engaged sealably to the bottom wall and covering the access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a fuel pump carried by the bottom flange and disposed in the fuel chamber; wherein the fuel tank is a motorcycle fuel tank being of a tear-drop shape and having a forward global portion, having a top mounted fuel filler cap and a rearward portion which converges in a rearward direction; and the fuel pump subassembly projecting in a rearward direction and into the rearward portion from the bottom flange. 15. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 14 comprising a bag-type inlet fuel filter being in contact with the internal surface of the fuel tank at the bottom wall and a side wall of the fuel tank.16. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein the bridging portion is an arcuate band having a concave bottom side facing downward and an opposite top side engaged to the fuel pump.17. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein a sub-bracket is engaged to the bridging portion for supporting a fuel level sensor of the fuel pump subassembly.18. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 16 comprising:a strap wrapped about the fuel pump and the band of the bracket; a first finger projecting forward from the band, the first finger having an upward bent distal end for engaging a forward end of the fuel pump; and a second finger projecting rearward from the band, the second finger having an upward bent distal end for engaging a rearward end of the fuel pump. 19. A method of manufacturing a fuel tank assembly for a fuel injected combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:assembling a fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange, a bracket engaged upward from the bottom flange, and a fuel pump engaged to the bracket; inserting the fuel pump subassembly upward through a bottom access hole of a fuel tank; contacting a rearward foot of the bracket against an internal surface of the fuel tank; flexing the bracket; covering the access hole of the fuel tank with the bottom flange; and sealing the flange to an external surface of the fuel tank while the bracket remains flexed. 20. The method of manufacturing set forth in claim 19 comprising the further step of rotating the fuel pump subassembly in an imaginary generally vertical plane, simultaneous to the step of inserting the fuel pump subassembly, so that the rearward foot contacts the internal surface at a bottom wall of the fuel tank.21. A fuel tank assembly for a combustion engine of a vehicle having forward movement, the fuel tank assembly comprising:a fuel tank defining a fuel chamber, the fuel tank having a bottom wall defining in part the fuel chamber, a bottom access hole extending through the bottom wall to communicate with the fuel chamber, and a rear portion with respect to vehicle movement; a fuel pump subassembly substantially inserted into the fuel chamber through the bottom access hole, the fuel pump subassembly having a bottom flange engaged sealably to the bottom wall and covering the access hole; an elongated fuel pump of the subassembly having a fuel inlet at a distal end; and an arcuate and elongated fuel pump bracket of the subassembly projecting upward and rearward from the bottom flange, the elongated fuel pump being supported by and co-aligned longitudinally with the bracket in a substantially horizontal position with the distal end of the pump positioned furthest from the flange in a rearward direction for locating the fuel inlet in the rear portion which experiences fuel level swells during acceleration of the vehicle.
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