Fuel pump assembly with removable and/or movable supports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018339585-A1
Application number	US-201816035536-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2016
Publication date	Nov 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An in-tank fuel pump assembly may have a mounting flange with a plurality of first coupling features, a fuel pump, a carrier connected to the fuel pump, a plurality of second coupling features on at least one of the carrier and the fuel pump, and a plurality of supports each connected to one or the first and second coupling features to locate the pump relative to the mounting flange. In some embodiments, at least one coupling feature is movable.

First claim

1 . A fuel pump assembly, comprising:
a mounting flange including multiple first coupling features; a fuel pump supported by the mounting flange; a carrier coupled to the fuel pump and to the mounting flange; and supports coupled between the mounting flange and at least one of the carrier and the fuel pump, wherein at least one of the carrier and fuel pump includes second coupling features and the supports are coupled to both the first coupling features and the second coupling features to locate the fuel pump relative to the mounting flange.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the supports are connected to the coupling features without any fasteners.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the supports are pressed onto the coupling features with an interference fit or a friction fit provided between them.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fuel pump includes a coupling feature and a support is coupled to the fuel pump at one end and to the mounting flange at the other end.

5 . The assembly of claim 4 wherein fuel flows through the fuel pump coupling feature and the support, and wherein the flange includes a passage communicated with the fuel pump coupling feature via the support.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the supports are tubular bodies and the coupling features includes one or both of protrusions over which the supports are fitted, and cavities into which the supports are fitted.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein three or more supports are provided, each support being coupled to the mounting flange at one end and to the fuel pump or the carrier at the other end.

8 . The assembly of claim 7 wherein the three supports are not aligned with each other.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one support and associated coupling feature comprises a tube with a sidewall with a recess therein and a pin received in the tube and with a dog extending into the recess.

10 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the supports are connected to the coupling features with at least one of adhesives, threads, welds, clamps, molded snaps or molded locking elements.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one support is rigidly coupled to both one of the first coupling features and one of the second coupling features to inhibit or prevent movement of the carrier toward or away from the mounting flange.

12 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one support is fixed to both one of the first coupling features and to one of the second coupling features so that there is no relative movement between the support and the first coupling feature and there is no relative movement between the support and the second coupling feature.

13 . A fuel pump assembly, comprising:
a mounting flange including multiple first coupling features; a fuel pump supported by the mounting flange; a carrier coupled to the fuel pump and to the mounting flange; and supports coupled between the mounting flange and at least one of the carrier and the fuel pump, wherein at least one of the carrier and fuel pump includes second coupling features and the supports are coupled to both the first coupling features and the second coupling features to locate the fuel pump relative to the mounting flange and wherein at least one of the second coupling features is movable.

14 . The assembly of claim 13 wherein the support that is coupled to the movable coupling feature is substantially straight.

15 . The assembly of claim 13 wherein multiple second coupling features are movable.

16 . The assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one movable coupling feature rotates or pivots relative to the carrier.

17 . The assembly of claim 16 wherein at least one movable coupling feature rotates about an axis that is not parallel to an axis of the connection between the at least one movable coupling feature and the support that is connected to the at least one connection feature.

18 . The assembly of claim 11 wherein the carrier includes a slot and the movable coupling features are slidably received in the slot.

19 . The assembly of claim 11 wherein a central axis of the fuel pump is not parallel to a central axis of the mounting flange.

20 . The assembly of claim 11 wherein at least two coupling features are movable and are coupled to straight supports, where straight supports are supports that have ends not inclined by more than 10 degrees relative to each other.

Assignees

• Walbro Llc

Inventors

• Hanby Jeffrey D
• Israelson Kevin L
• Salowitz Jr Douglas W
• Smith Roger N
• Speirs David L
• Speirs Russell R

Classifications

• B60K2015/03243

  characterised by special pumps, the mounting thereof · CPC title

• F04D29/606

  Mounting in cavities · CPC title

• F02M37/0082 Primary

  Devices inside the fuel tank other than fuel pumps or filters (electrical pumps submerged in fuel tanks F02M37/10, jet pumps F02M37/025) · CPC title

• F04D13/06

  the pump being electrically driven · CPC title

• B60K15/067 Primary

  Mounting of tanks · CPC title