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An integrated, modular system for delivering fuel to an engine component in an engine having a fuel tank, as well as engine employing such a system, and methods of implementing such a system, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a housing defining a chamber, an in in

An integrated, modular system for delivering fuel to an engine component in an engine having a fuel tank, as well as engine employing such a system, and methods of implementing such a system, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a housing defining a chamber, an in inlet, and a passage leading to an outlet, the inlet receiving fuel from the tank and directing the fuel into the chamber, the outlet capable of providing fuel from the passage toward the engine component. The system also includes both a pump and a pressure regulator supported within the housing, with the pump having a pump input and output, and the pressure regulator having a regulator input and output. The pump input and regulator output are in communication with the chamber and the pump output and regulator input are in communication with the passage.

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We claim: 1. An integrated, modular system for delivering fuel to an engine component, the system configured for use with an engine that is suitable for a variety of different applications and that includes a fuel tank, comprising: a housing defining a reservoir chamber, an inlet, and an internal p

We claim: 1. An integrated, modular system for delivering fuel to an engine component, the system configured for use with an engine that is suitable for a variety of different applications and that includes a fuel tank, comprising: a housing defining a reservoir chamber, an inlet, and an internal passage leading to an outlet, the inlet receiving fuel from the fuel tank and directing the received fuel into the reservoir chamber, the outlet capable of providing fuel from the internal passage toward the engine component, and the housing further including a top portion and bottom portion assembled together, with a vent tube extending from the reservoir chamber through the top portion of the housing; a pump supported within the housing and having a pump input and a pump output, wherein the pump input is in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber and the pump output is in fluid communication with the internal passage; a pressure regulator supported within the housing and having a regulator input and a regulator output, wherein the regulator input is in fluid communication with the internal passage and the regulator output is in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber; and a float mechanism hingedly attached to the top portion, wherein the float mechanism is capable of closing the vent tube when a fuel level within the reservoir chamber attains a predetermined threshold, and wherein the float mechanism substantially prevents fuel from flowing out of the reservoir chamber via the vent tube if the modular system is overturned; whereby the integrated, modular system is capable of being implemented upon the engine by mounting the housing upon the engine, establishing a first connection between the inlet and the fuel tank, and establishing a second connection between the outlet and the engine component, and wherein the modular system is configured for use in a land vehicle. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump is configured to supply pressurized fuel to the passage that is suitable for use by an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system of the engine, the EFI system being the engine component. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump is a turbine pump. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the passage is formed entirely within the top portion, and wherein an upper surface of the reservoir chamber is formed by the top portion. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the passage includes a supply passage portion, a pump passage portion leading between the supply passage portion and the pump, and a regulating passage portion leading between the supply passage portion and the pressure regulator. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical leads extending from the pump through the top portion to an external plug feature formed on the top portion. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator allows fuel to flow back from the passage to the reservoir chamber when a fuel pressure within the passage exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fuel not being directed back to the fuel tank; and wherein the housing has a thickness and a width, the thickness being substantially less than the width so that the housing does not protrude substantially outward from a side of the engine when mounted thereto; whereby the system is thereby configured to facilitate positioning of the system at any of a plurality of locations relative to the engine so as to accommodate at least one of an engine characteristic and another characteristic of at least one of a vehicle and another application with which the engine is to be utilized. 8. An internal combustion engine suitable for use in conjunction with a plurality of applications, the internal combustion engine comprising: an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engine intake system; a fuel tank; a first pump coupled to receive fuel from the fuel tank; an integrated, modular fuel delivery system having a housing defining both a reservoir chamber and a supply passage therewithin, a second pump contained within the housing and coupled between the reservoir chamber and the supply passage, and a pressure regulator also contained within the housing and coupled between the reservoir chamber and the supply passage, wherein the modular fuel delivery system is configured for use in a land vehicle; first and second connectors respectively linking the first pump to an inlet of the reservoir chamber and linking an outlet of the supply passage to the EFI engine intake system, the inlet allowing for a first flow of the fuel from the first connector into the reservoir chamber, the outlet allowing for a second flow of pressurized fuel output by the second pump into the second connector; a means for allowing fuel vapors to exit the reservoir chamber, wherein the means includes a vent tube extending from a top portion of the reservoir chamber and a float mechanism capable of closing the vent tube the float mechanism substantially preventing fuel from flowing out of the reservoir chamber via the vent tube if the engine is overturned; and a means for limiting filling of the reservoir chamber, and wherein the means for limiting filling also serves to restrict fuel egress when the fuel delivery system is orientated in an inverted manner. 9. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein the first and second connectors are each flexible connectors such that the integrated, modular fuel delivery system can be mounted at a variety of different positions in relation to the engine. 10. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein the housing of the fuel delivery system includes a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion substantially defines the reservoir chamber except insofar as the top portion forms a lid over the reservoir chamber, and wherein the supply passage is formed internally within the top portion. 11. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, further comprising means for fastening the fuel delivery system onto the engine. 12. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein the pressure regulator allows for a third flow of at least a portion of the pressurized fuel output by the second pump to occur from the supply passage back into the reservoir chamber. 13. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein the fuel delivery system is formed by providing a bottom portion of the housing and a top portion of the housing that includes the supply passage, coupling the pump mechanism to a pump passage portion of the supply passage, coupling the pressure regulator to a regulating passage portion of the supply passage, and assembling the top portion and bottom portion together to define the reservoir chamber, the pressure regulator and the pump mechanism extending from the supply passage toward the reservoir chamber when the top and bottom portions are so assembled. 14. A method of providing pressurized fuel to an engine component, the method for use with an engine that is suitable for a variety of different applications and that includes a primary fuel tank, the method comprising: providing a housing defining a reservoir chamber and a supply passage having a discharge end, wherein an inlet tube for receiving fuel from the primary fuel tank extends through the housing and to the reservoir chamber, wherein the housing includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and wherein the top portion serves as a lid over a cavity within the bottom portion to thereby form the reservoir chamber; providing a pump mechanism and a pressure regulator supported within the housing, wherein each of the pump mechanism and the pressure regulator is interconnected between the supply passage and the reservoir chamber; pumping at least some of the fuel from the reservoir chamber to the supply passage by way of the pump mechanism; regulating a pressure within the supply passage by way of the pressure regulator, which allows for at least some of the fuel pumped into the supply passage to pass back into the reservoir chamber when the pressure exceeds a threshold level; discharging at least some of the fuel from the discharge end at least indirectly to the engine component; venting fuel vapors from the reservoir chamber to a location external of the housing via a vent tube extending through the housing; and closing the vent tube when the fuel level within the reservoir chamber reaches a predetermined level via a float mechanism supported within the housing, the float mechanism substantially preventing fuel from flowing out of the reservoir chamber via the vent tube if the engine is overturned: wherein the engine is configured for use in a land vehicle. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pump mechanism is a turbine fuel pump. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the supply passage is formed within the top portion, wherein an end of the pressure regulator is inserted into a regulating passage portion of the supply passage, wherein an end of the pump mechanism is inserted into a pump passage portion of the supply passage, the pressure regulator and pump mechanism each extending away from the supply passage toward and into the reservoir chamber. 17. A method of converting an internal combustion engine from a first status in which the internal combustion engine is a carbureted engine to a second status in which the internal combustion engine employs an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system, the method comprising: adding the EFI system to the internal combustion engine configured for use with a land vehicle; providing a fuel delivery system module having a housing that defines a reservoir chamber and a supply passage and that supports therewith in both a pump mechanism and a pressure regulator, the pump mechanism and the pressure regulator both linking the supply passage with the reservoir chamber; connecting a primary fuel tank to an inlet of the fuel delivery system, the inlet leading to the reservoir chamber; connecting an outlet of the supply passage to the EFI system; connecting at least one electrical power lead to a terminal on the housing so that electrical power can be supplied to the pump mechanism; and connecting a further tube between a vent passage on the housing and another portion of the engine, the vent passage leading to the reservoir chamber; wherein flow through the tube is controlled by a float mechanism hingedly attached to the reservoir chamber, and the float mechanism substantially prevents fuel from flowing out of the reservoir chamber via the tube if the engine is overturned.