Retainer with grounding feature for fuel system component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10001095-B2
Application number	US-201414768558-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2014
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

In at least some implementations, a retainer for a fuel system component having an electrically conductive portion accessible from the exterior of the component includes a retaining feature and a grounding feature. The retaining feature is adapted to maintain the location of the fuel system component and the grounding feature electrically couples a ground wire to the electrically conductive portion of the fuel system component. The fuel system component is grounded through a path including the grounding feature and ground wire.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retainer for a fuel system component having an electrically conductive portion accessible from an exterior of the component, the retainer comprising:
a housing having a pocket receiving at least in part the fuel system component;
a clip configured to retain the fuel system component in the pocket;
an electrically conductive resilient spring separate from the clip and the housing, engaging an electrically conductive ground wire and resiliently bearing on the electrically conductive portion of the fuel system component; and
wherein the fuel system component is grounded through a path including the electrically conductive portion of the fuel system component, the resilient spring and the ground wire.

2. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive spring is a resilient metal spring.

3. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive portion has a conductivity between 1.2×10 3 and 6.3×10 7 Siemens/meter.

4. A retainer for a fuel system component having an electrically conductive portion accessible from an exterior of the component comprising:
a housing having a pocket receiving at least in part the fuel system component;
a retainer configured to retain the fuel system component in the pocket and having a latch movable between an open position wherein an electrically conductive ground wire is not trapped against the electrically conductive portion of the fuel system component and a closed position wherein the ground wire is trapped against the electrically conductive portion of the fuel system component.

5. The retainer of claim 4 wherein the retainer also comprises a body that engages the fuel system component to maintain the location of the fuel system component in the pocket and a catch, and wherein the latch is carried by the body and engageable with the catch to maintain the latch in its closed position.

6. A fuel pump assembly, comprising:
a housing having a pocket;
a fuel pressure regulator carried by the housing and having a body with at least a portion of the body received in the pocket and at least a portion of the body being electrically conductive; and
an electrically conductive U-shaped retainer clip with spaced apart legs connected to the housing and holding the fuel pressure regulator relative to the housing and engaging the electrically conductive portion of the body; and
the clip engaging an electrically conductive ground wire to electrically connect the ground wire with the electrically conductive portion of the body.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the retaining clip is an electrically conductive metal clip.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the housing comprises a tab retaining the U-shaped clip in engagement with the housing.

9. A fuel pump assembly, comprising:
a housing having a pocket;

a fuel pressure regulator carried by the housing and having a body with at least a portion of the body received in the pocket and at least a portion of the body being electrically conductive; a retainer connected to the housing and holding the fuel pressure regulator in position relative to the housing, to couple a ground wire with the electrically conductive portion of the body;
the retainer includes a screw that traps a portion of the wire against the electrically conductive portion of the body; and
the screw engages the housing and has an enlarged head that overlies a portion of the body to maintain said at least a portion of the body within the pocket.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a tab and the clip engages the tab to maintain the clip engaged with the housing and the wire.

11. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive resilient spring is a coil spring.

12. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive resilient spring is a compression spring.

13. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive resilient spring is a compression coil spring.

Assignees

• Walbro Engine Management Llc
• Walbro Llc

Inventors

• Israelson Kevin L
• Salowitz Jr Douglas W
• Speirs David L

Classifications

• F02M37/50

  Filters arranged in or on fuel tanks · CPC title

• F02M2037/082

  Details of the entry of the current supply lines into the pump housing, e.g. wire connectors, grommets, plugs or sockets · CPC title

• B60K2015/03217

  Fuel level sensors · CPC title

• B60K2015/03401

  for preventing electrostatic charges · CPC title

• H01R4/643

  for rigid cylindrical bodies · CPC title