WO1981000891A1 - Crashworthy fuel pump - Google Patents

Crashworthy fuel pump Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1981000891A1
WO1981000891A1 PCT/US1980/001224 US8001224W WO8100891A1 WO 1981000891 A1 WO1981000891 A1 WO 1981000891A1 US 8001224 W US8001224 W US 8001224W WO 8100891 A1 WO8100891 A1 WO 8100891A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
diaphragm
fuel
fuel pump
lip
skirt
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1980/001224
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
W Basch
J Haney
Original Assignee
Acf Ind Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Acf Ind Inc filed Critical Acf Ind Inc
Priority to DE8080902085T priority Critical patent/DE3064950D1/en
Publication of WO1981000891A1 publication Critical patent/WO1981000891A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02MSUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M37/00Apparatus or systems for feeding liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus; Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines
    • F02M37/04Feeding by means of driven pumps
    • F02M37/046Arrangements for driving diaphragm-type pumps
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04BPOSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/02Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms

Definitions

  • This invention relates to fuel pumps and, more particu ⁇ larly, to a crashworthy fuel pump capable of withstanding extreme forces such as occur during a crash without leaking 5 fuel.
  • the pump may occur.
  • the presence of gasoline in the engine compartment due to a broken fuel pump creates great risk of fire and potential harm to both the vehicle and its occupants .
  • FMVSS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
  • the improvement of the present invention comprises
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view of a conventional fuel pump installable in the engine compartment of a vehicle; and Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of a portion of the fuel pump illustrating the improvement of the present inven- tion.
  • a fuel pump F for use in an automotive fuel system comprises a pump body, generally indicated B, which is of one-piece, thin-walled, sheet metal construction.
  • Body B has a first portion Pl in which are formed two integral deep-drawn cylindrical cup-shaped projec tions, one of which is partially shown in Figure 1 and is indicated by reference numeral 1.
  • One of the projections defines an intake cavity for the fuel pump and the other projection defines a discharge cavity for the pump.
  • a properly oriented check valve (not shown) is located in each cavity to control fuel flow into and out of the fuel pump and appropriate fittings (also not shown) are located at the outer end of each projection, for connecting the fuel pump into the fuel system.
  • Check valves and fittings of the type shown in United States Patent 3,096,722 to Fitzgerald et al, issued July 9, 1963, are illustrative of those which may be used in fuel pump F.
  • Body B has a second portion P2 of a shallow cup shape having an end wall.3 and a flaring annular peripheral wall 5 forming a fuel pumping chamber 7. One end of each cavity 1 is in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The lower end of body portion P2 is open.
  • Means, indicated generally 13, flex diaphragm 11 to pump fuel into and out of pumping chamber 7 through the respective intake and discharge cavities.
  • Means 13 comprises a diaphragm actuating rod 15 and a spring 17.
  • Diaphragm 11 is sandwiched between a pair of backing plates 19 and 21 respectively.
  • Rod 15 extends through the backing plates and the diaphragm and the end of the rod is spun over.
  • One end of spring 17 'seats against the underside of plate 21.
  • a rocker arm 23 is operable by an engine driven eccentric cam (not shown) .
  • the inner end of the rocker arm is attached to the other, end of rod 15 and pulls the rod downward as it is rocked by the cam. This pulls diaphragm 11 downwardly and creates the intake stroke of the pump.
  • Spring 17 pushes the diaphragm upwardly at the end of the intake stroke to produce the dis ⁇ charge stroke of the pump.
  • Means 13 is housed in a housing 25.
  • the housing has a hollow conical pump head 26.
  • the pump head has an outwardly extending circumferential rim 27 the upper face of which is downwardly and outwardly sloped.
  • Body B and housing 25 are assembled as is well known in the art with the outer margin of diaphragm 11 clamped between the abutting surfaces of the body and the housing.
  • An improvement of the present invention comprises a lip 29 formed around the open end of body portion P2.
  • lip 29, which extends around the periphery of the open end of body portion P2 is bendable over the outer margin of diaphragm 11 after the diaphragm is inserted into the open end of the body. .
  • a circular ring 31 is now fitted around the body and the housing to clamp the two together. Ring 31 has an inturned lower margin forming a lip 35. The inner face of this lip abuts the bottom outer surface of rim 27 when the pump is assembled.
  • the ring has an upwardly extending circumferential side 37 whose height is such that the side extends beyond the joining surfaces of body B and housing 35.
  • a fuel pump F is made crashworthy in that a fluid seal is created which can withstand severe distortions of the pump. It has been experimentally found that the seal created between the body and diaphragm remains intact even when the body is essentially flattened such as might occur if the pump were struck by flying debris. Thus, the danger of fuel leakage following a crash is substantially reduced as is the necessity of brackets or shields for the fuel pump. At the same time, the fuel pump envelope is essentially unchanged and a crashworthy fuel pump of the present invention will occupy substantially the same space in an engine compartment as a conventional non-crashworthy fuel pump.
  • backing plate 21 ⁇ has a circum ⁇ ferential skirt- 39.
  • the length of lip 29 and the height of skirt.39 are made sufficiently great so the outer, end of the skirt cannot contact diaphragm 11 if the body of the fuel pump is so deformed that the skirt and body/diaphragm assembl come into contact. This prevents the diaphragm from being punctured by the skirt and thus further safeguards against fuel leaks.
  • a clamping ring 31' which may be used to join body B and housing 26 to form a fuel pump assembly. Ring 31 has its upper end bent back upon itself prior to or during the crimping operation.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

An improvement to a fuel pump comprising a lip formed at the open end of a fuel pump body. The lip (29) is bendable over the outer margin of diaphragm (11) inserted into the body to form a fluid seal between the body and the diaphragm. The seal is capable of withstanding abnormal forces such as occur during a crash while retaining its integrity.

Description

Background of the Invention
This invention relates to fuel pumps and, more particu¬ larly, to a crashworthy fuel pump capable of withstanding extreme forces such as occur during a crash without leaking 5 fuel.
Because of their location in the engine compartment of an automobile, fuel pumps are susceptible to damage, during a crash as the result of being struck by debris flying about in the compartment. As a consequence,, fuel leaks from
10 the pump may occur. The presence of gasoline in the engine compartment due to a broken fuel pump creates great risk of fire and potential harm to both the vehicle and its occupants .
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).30 was 5 issued in an attempt to reduce the hazards attendant the location of the fuel pump in the. engine compartment by requiring that the risk of damage to a fuel pump during a crash be minimized. To comply with this standard, various schemes have been proposed to shield the fuel pump or other- 0 wise protect it from flying debris. However, these protective shields add weight to the vehicle, may be difficult to fit into already crowded engine compartments , and may not always prevent an object from striking a fuel pump. Summary of the Invention 5 Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the improvement to a fuel pump by which the fuel pump is made crashworthy; the provision of such an improve¬ ment by which the fuel pump will not leak fuel when struck by an object even though the fuel pump is deformed; the 0 provision of such a fuel pump which has substantially the same, envelope as a conventional non-crashworthy fuel pump so as to be readily installed in the engine compartment of a vehicle and take up substantially the same volume therein.
Briefly, the improvement of the present invention comprises
35 a lip formed at the open end of a fuel pump body, the lip being bendable over the outer margin of a diaphragm after the diaphragm has been inserted into the body thereby to form a fluid seal between the body and the diaphragm, the seal being capable of withstanding abnormal forces such as occur during a crash whereby the seal retains its integrity and no fluid leak occurs. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a conventional fuel pump installable in the engine compartment of a vehicle; and Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of a portion of the fuel pump illustrating the improvement of the present inven- tion.
Corresponding reference characters indicate correspondi parts throughout the several- views, of the drawings. Description of a Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the drawings, a fuel pump F for use in an automotive fuel system comprises a pump body, generally indicated B, which is of one-piece, thin-walled, sheet metal construction. Body B has a first portion Pl in which are formed two integral deep-drawn cylindrical cup-shaped projec tions, one of which is partially shown in Figure 1 and is indicated by reference numeral 1. One of the projections defines an intake cavity for the fuel pump and the other projection defines a discharge cavity for the pump. A properly oriented check valve (not shown) is located in each cavity to control fuel flow into and out of the fuel pump and appropriate fittings (also not shown) are located at the outer end of each projection, for connecting the fuel pump into the fuel system. Check valves and fittings of the type shown in United States Patent 3,096,722 to Fitzgerald et al, issued July 9, 1963, are illustrative of those which may be used in fuel pump F.
Body B has a second portion P2 of a shallow cup shape having an end wall.3 and a flaring annular peripheral wall 5 forming a fuel pumping chamber 7. One end of each cavity 1 is in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The lower end of body portion P2 is open.
An annular diaphragm 11 closes pumping chamber 7. The diaphragm consists of a relatively thin disk of flexible, fuel resistant material such as a suitable synthetic rubber. In its unstressed condition the diaphragm is. essentially flat. The diaphragm is insertable into the open end of the second portion of body B.
Means, indicated generally 13, flex diaphragm 11 to pump fuel into and out of pumping chamber 7 through the respective intake and discharge cavities. Means 13 comprises a diaphragm actuating rod 15 and a spring 17. Diaphragm 11 is sandwiched between a pair of backing plates 19 and 21 respectively. Rod 15 extends through the backing plates and the diaphragm and the end of the rod is spun over. One end of spring 17 'seats against the underside of plate 21. A rocker arm 23 is operable by an engine driven eccentric cam (not shown) . The inner end of the rocker arm is attached to the other, end of rod 15 and pulls the rod downward as it is rocked by the cam. This pulls diaphragm 11 downwardly and creates the intake stroke of the pump. Spring 17 pushes the diaphragm upwardly at the end of the intake stroke to produce the dis¬ charge stroke of the pump.
Means 13 is housed in a housing 25. The housing has a hollow conical pump head 26. The pump head has an outwardly extending circumferential rim 27 the upper face of which is downwardly and outwardly sloped. Body B and housing 25 are assembled as is well known in the art with the outer margin of diaphragm 11 clamped between the abutting surfaces of the body and the housing.
An improvement of the present invention comprises a lip 29 formed around the open end of body portion P2. As shown in Figure 2, lip 29, which extends around the periphery of the open end of body portion P2, is bendable over the outer margin of diaphragm 11 after the diaphragm is inserted into the open end of the body. . This creates a fluid seal between the body and the diaphragm. A circular ring 31 is now fitted around the body and the housing to clamp the two together. Ring 31 has an inturned lower margin forming a lip 35. The inner face of this lip abuts the bottom outer surface of rim 27 when the pump is assembled. The ring has an upwardly extending circumferential side 37 whose height is such that the side extends beyond the joining surfaces of body B and housing 35. The upper portion of side.37 is crimped over th top of body B after the body and housing are brought into mating abutment so as to clamp the body and housing together as shown in Figure 2. As a consequence of the above described improvement, a fuel pump F is made crashworthy in that a fluid seal is created which can withstand severe distortions of the pump. It has been experimentally found that the seal created between the body and diaphragm remains intact even when the body is essentially flattened such as might occur if the pump were struck by flying debris. Thus, the danger of fuel leakage following a crash is substantially reduced as is the necessity of brackets or shields for the fuel pump. At the same time, the fuel pump envelope is essentially unchanged and a crashworthy fuel pump of the present invention will occupy substantially the same space in an engine compartment as a conventional non-crashworthy fuel pump.
Referring to Figure 3, backing plate 21■has a circum¬ ferential skirt- 39. The length of lip 29 and the height of skirt.39 are made sufficiently great so the outer, end of the skirt cannot contact diaphragm 11 if the body of the fuel pump is so deformed that the skirt and body/diaphragm assembl come into contact. This prevents the diaphragm from being punctured by the skirt and thus further safeguards against fuel leaks. Additionally shown in Figure 3 is a clamping ring 31' which may be used to join body B and housing 26 to form a fuel pump assembly. Ring 31 has its upper end bent back upon itself prior to or during the crimping operation. In. view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.
As various changes could be made in the above construc¬ tions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descrip- tion and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be inter¬ preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
I - ,-

Claims

What is claimed is :
1. In a fuel pump for use in an automotive fuel system, the fuel pump including a body having a first portion in which is formed a fuel intake cavity and a fuel discharge cavity and a second portion in which is formed a fuel pumping chamber, one end of each cavity being in fluid communication with the pumping chamber, a flexible diaphragm closing the pumping chamber, the diaphragm being insertable into the open end of the second portion of the body, means for flexing the diaphragm to pump fuel into and out of the pumping chamber through the respective intake and discharge cavities and a housing in which the flexing means is housed, the housing having one end formed for abutment with the open end portion of the body, the improvement comprising: a lip formed at the open end of the second portion of the body, the lip being bendable over the outer margin of the diaphragm after it is inserted into the body to form a fluid seal between the body and the diaphragm, the seal being capable of withstanding abnormal forces such as occur during a crash whereby the seal retains its integrity and no fluid leak occurs.
2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lip extends around the periphery of the open end of the body portion.
3. The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the diaphragm is supported by a backing plate having a skirt therearound and the lip and skirt are sufficiently long so as to prevent contact between the skirt and the diaphragm if the fuel pump is deformed and reduce the possibility of the diaphragm being punctured by the skirt.
ϋ"
PCT/US1980/001224 1979-10-01 1980-09-19 Crashworthy fuel pump WO1981000891A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE8080902085T DE3064950D1 (en) 1979-10-01 1980-09-19 Fuel pump

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8026679A 1979-10-01 1979-10-01
US80266 1979-10-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1981000891A1 true WO1981000891A1 (en) 1981-04-02

Family

ID=22156278

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1980/001224 WO1981000891A1 (en) 1979-10-01 1980-09-19 Crashworthy fuel pump

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0036428B1 (en)
BR (1) BR8004133A (en)
CA (1) CA1144003A (en)
DE (1) DE3064950D1 (en)
ES (1) ES8105823A1 (en)
IT (1) IT1132848B (en)
MX (1) MX151372A (en)
WO (1) WO1981000891A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0147330A1 (en) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-03 RIVAPOMPE Société Anonyme dite: Membrane pump for the fuel supply of a vehicle engine.
TWI707087B (en) * 2017-12-28 2020-10-11 日商Ibs股份有限公司 Diaphragm pump

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4282801A (en) * 1979-10-01 1981-08-11 Acf Industries, Inc. Crashworthy fuel pump
DE102008062350C5 (en) * 2008-12-15 2016-03-31 Carbo Tex Gmbh Method and device for recovering carbon fibers and / or activated carbon particles

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1108146A (en) * 1913-11-22 1914-08-25 Edward J Deegan Regulator.
US2834299A (en) * 1952-10-29 1958-05-13 Acf Ind Inc Sealing means for diaphragm casings
US3362341A (en) * 1964-11-21 1968-01-09 Gen Motors Corp Diaphragm pumps
US3364870A (en) * 1965-03-25 1968-01-23 Gen Motors Corp Diaphragm pumps
US3912423A (en) * 1974-01-07 1975-10-14 Acf Ind Inc Diaphragm fuel pump with field serviceable gas filter

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1945181A (en) * 1928-02-23 1934-01-30 William C Carter Diaphragm pump
US2786423A (en) * 1952-10-29 1957-03-26 Acf Ind Inc Fuel pump assembly
FR1306702A (en) * 1961-09-04 1962-10-19 Diaphragm pump
US3335641A (en) * 1966-01-19 1967-08-15 Gen Motors Corp Fuel pump with crimped cover seal
FR2052094A5 (en) * 1969-07-15 1971-04-09 Guiot & Cie Ets
GB1413536A (en) * 1971-11-18 1975-11-12 Acf Ind Inc Diaphragm tyre fuel pump
US3776107A (en) * 1972-07-03 1973-12-04 Monogram Ind Inc Diaphragm pump for a recirculating toilet

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1108146A (en) * 1913-11-22 1914-08-25 Edward J Deegan Regulator.
US2834299A (en) * 1952-10-29 1958-05-13 Acf Ind Inc Sealing means for diaphragm casings
US3362341A (en) * 1964-11-21 1968-01-09 Gen Motors Corp Diaphragm pumps
US3364870A (en) * 1965-03-25 1968-01-23 Gen Motors Corp Diaphragm pumps
US3912423A (en) * 1974-01-07 1975-10-14 Acf Ind Inc Diaphragm fuel pump with field serviceable gas filter

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0147330A1 (en) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-03 RIVAPOMPE Société Anonyme dite: Membrane pump for the fuel supply of a vehicle engine.
FR2557639A1 (en) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-05 Rivapompe Sa MEMBRANE PUMP FOR FUEL FEEDING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE MOTOR AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME
TWI707087B (en) * 2017-12-28 2020-10-11 日商Ibs股份有限公司 Diaphragm pump

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1144003A (en) 1983-04-05
ES495477A0 (en) 1981-06-01
ES8105823A1 (en) 1981-06-01
EP0036428A1 (en) 1981-09-30
IT1132848B (en) 1986-07-09
EP0036428B1 (en) 1983-09-21
BR8004133A (en) 1981-04-22
MX151372A (en) 1984-11-13
EP0036428A4 (en) 1982-01-08
DE3064950D1 (en) 1983-10-27
IT8024673A0 (en) 1980-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0623080B1 (en) A hydraulic master cylinder and reservoir assembly
US5749347A (en) Fuel leakage prevention system having latch-engaged valve
US20050081829A1 (en) Fuel pump module and method of assembly
KR100374089B1 (en) Flanger Pump
JPH09177522A (en) Valve steam seal assembly body
US9033682B2 (en) Hand pump for priming a fuel or filter system
US5638856A (en) Stop valve structure
JP3645256B2 (en) ABS / TCS pump assembly with leak-proof check valve
GB2272043A (en) Non-return valve
US4284391A (en) Crashworthy fuel pump improvement
JPH02245465A (en) Fuel pump mounting device
EP0036428B1 (en) Fuel pump
US20040021271A1 (en) Retaining ring and cover plate for fuel unit
US4290347A (en) Crashworthy fuel pump
US5975115A (en) Pressure control valve
US4212316A (en) Control valve
EP0036886B1 (en) Crash-resistant fuel pump
KR20050099624A (en) Piston pump
US4256020A (en) Crashworthy fuel pump improvement
KR930002782B1 (en) Valve for master cylinder piston
EP1515072A1 (en) Fuel vapor vent valve and method of attaching same to a tank
US3923425A (en) Fuel pump shut-off valve
JPH02190681A (en) Check valve
EP0119174A1 (en) Double-acting breather valve, particularly for fuel tanks of motor vehicles
US4972869A (en) Vent valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AL Designated countries for regional patents

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1980902085

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1980902085

Country of ref document: EP

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 1980902085

Country of ref document: EP