U.S. patent application number 10/670390 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-01 for filters for use with fuel pumps and fuel pumps having such filters.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Ikeya, Masaki.
Application Number | 20040062663 10/670390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32025608 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040062663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ikeya, Masaki |
April 1, 2004 |
Filters for use with fuel pumps and fuel pumps having such
filters
Abstract
A filter (8) for use with a fuel pump (1) has a filter body (9)
and a filter element (10) coupled to the filter body. The filter
body is adapted to be attached to the fuel pump and has an opening
(9a) for communicating with an inlet channel (3b, 4b) of the fuel
pump that opens in an outer surface of the fuel pump in a direction
substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L) of the fuel
pump. The filter element defines a filter chamber (10c) that
communicates with the opening of the filter body. The filter
element extends along at least a part of the outer surface of the
fuel pump.
Inventors: |
Ikeya, Masaki; (Aichi-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ira J. Schultz
DENNISON, SCHULTZ & DOUGHERTY
Suite 612
1745 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha
|
Family ID: |
32025608 |
Appl. No.: |
10/670390 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/313 ;
417/423.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 5/002 20130101;
F04D 29/708 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/313 ;
417/423.9 |
International
Class: |
F04B 023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 30, 2002 |
JP |
2002-321798 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filter for use with a fuel pump, the fuel pump including an
inlet channel which opens in an outer surface of the fuel pump in a
direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the
fuel pump, comprising: a filter body arranged and constructed to be
attached to the fuel pump and having an opening for communicating
with the inlet channel of the fuel pump; and a filter element
coupled to the filter body and defining a filter chamber, wherein
the filter chamber communicates with the opening of the filter
body, and the filter element is configured to extend along at least
a part of the outer surface of the fuel pump.
2. A filter as in claim 1, wherein the filter element extends in a
circumferential direction of the outer surface of the fuel
pump.
3. A filter as in claim 2, wherein the fuel pump has a closed end
in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump, and
the filter element extends along the closed end of the fuel
pump.
4. A filter as in claim 3, wherein the filter element has a
substantially circular configuration and extends along
substantially the entire circumferential length of the outer
surface of the fuel pump.
5. A filter as in claim 1, wherein at least a part of the filter
chamber is delimited by an outer surface of the filter body.
6. A filter as in claim 1, wherein the filter body is arranged and
constructed to be attached to the fuel pump in a direction
substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuel
pump.
7. A filter as in claim 6, wherein the filter body is configured to
receive at least a portion of the outer surface of the fuel pump
including a closed end in a direction along the longitudinal axis
of the fuel pump.
8. A filter as in claim 1, wherein the fuel pump is adapted to be
mounted within a fuel tank that has an insertion opening for
inserting the fuel pump into the fuel tank.
9. A filter as in claim 8, wherein the filter body is fitted onto
the fuel pump from a side opposing to a bottom wall of the fuel
tank when the fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank.
10. A filter as in claim 8, wherein an area of the filter element
as viewed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
fuel pump is smaller than an area of the insertion opening of the
fuel tank.
11. A filter as in claim 8, wherein the filter body has a bottom
portion that oppose to a bottom wall of the fuel tank when the fuel
pump is mounted within the fuel tank, and further including a
spacer disposed between the bottom portion of the filter body and
the bottom wall of the fuel tank, so that the filter element does
not contact the bottom wall of the fuel tank.
12. A filter as in claim 11, wherein the spacer comprises at least
one projection that extends from the bottom portion of the filter
body.
13. An apparatus comprising: a fuel pump having a longitudinal
axis, an outer surface and an inlet channel, wherein the inlet
channel opens at the outer surface in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump, and a
filter including a filter body and a filter element coupled to the
filter body, wherein the filter body is arranged and constructed to
be attached to the fuel pump and includes an opening for
communicating with the inlet channel of the fuel pump, and the
filter element defines a filter chamber communicating with the
opening of the filter body and is configured to extend along at
least a part of the outer surface of the fuel pump.
14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the filter element extends
in a circumferential direction of the outer surface of the pump
housing.
15. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the fuel pump has a closed
end in a direction along the longitudinal axis, and the filter
element further extends along the closed end of the fuel pump.
16. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein at least a part of the
filter chamber is delimited by an outer surface of the filter
body.
17. An apparatus as in claim 13, further including a fuel tank,
wherein the fuel tank has an insertion opening for inserting the
fuel pump into the fuel tank, and the filter body is fitted onto
the fuel pump from a side opposing to a bottom wall of the fuel
tank when the fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank.
18. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein an area of the filter
element as viewed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the fuel pump is smaller than an area of the insertion opening
of the fuel tank.
19. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the filter body has a
bottom portion that oppose to a bottom wall of the fuel tank when
the fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank, and further
including a spacer disposed between the bottom portion of the
filter body and the bottom wall of the fuel tank, so that the
filter element does not contact the bottom wall of the fuel
tank.
20. An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the spacer comprises at
least one projection that extends from the bottom portion of the
filter body.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese patent
application serial number 2002-321798, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to filters for use with fuel
pumps, and in particular to filters that are adapted to supply
fuels to internal combustion engines. The present invention also
relates to fuel pumps having such filters.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 63-151991
teaches a known structure for mounting a filter onto a fuel pump
(see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of this reference). The fuel pump has a fuel
inlet formed in an end cover of the fuel pump. The fuel inlet opens
in a diametrical direction of an impeller. A strainer or a filter
is fitted into the fuel inlet in a direction substantially parallel
to the open direction of the fuel inlet. In the fitted state, the
lower surface of the filter is positioned at substantially the same
level as the lower surface of the impeller opposing to the end
cover.
[0006] However, with this mounting structure, the filter must have
a long length in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis
of the fuel pump (i.e., a diametrical direction of the fuel pump),
in order to ensure the necessary filtration area. Therefore, the
length of the filter may become greater than a diameter of an upper
opening of a fuel tank, which opening is provided for inserting the
fuel pump into the fuel tank. As a result, when the fuel pump is
inserted into the fuel tank through the upper opening, it is
necessary to carefully position the filter or to incline the filter
not to interfere with the circumferential edge of the upper opening
of the fuel tank. If the filter contacts the circumferential edge
of the upper opening of the fuel tank, the fitting portion of the
filter onto the fuel pump or the filter itself may be damaged. In
order to dissolve this problem, one possible way is to design the
upper opening of the fuel tank with a large diameter. However, the
sealing property of the upper opening of the fuel tank may be
degraded as the diameter of the upper opening increases.
[0007] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
teach improved techniques for reducing or minimizing extension
lengths of filters from fuel pumps in directions substantially
perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the fuel pumps.
[0008] According to one aspect of the present teachings, filters
for use with fuel pumps are taught. The filters have a filter
element that extends along the outer surface of the fuel pump. For
example, the filter element may have a circular configuration and
may surround the fuel pump from a lateral side and from one side in
the axial direction.
[0009] Because the filter element extends along the outer surface
of the fuel pump, the length of the filter element in a direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump can be
reduced or minimized while an effective filtration area of the
filter element can be ensured. In addition, because the filter
element extends outward from the fuel pump by a minimum distance,
the filter element may not interfere with a peripheral portion of
an insertion opening of a fuel tank when the fuel pump is mounted
within the fuel tank through the insertion opening. Therefore,
damages on the filter element may be reduced or minimized, while
the insertion opening may have a small size.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present teachings, the
filter element is coupled to a filter body that may be fitted onto
the fuel pump from a side opposing to a bottom wall of a fuel tank
when the fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank. Therefore, the
filter body may be prevented from being removed from the fuel pump
after the fuel pump has been mounted within the fuel tank.
Preferably, the filter body is configured to receive a portion of
the fuel pump including a closed end that opposes to the bottom
wall of the fuel tank.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present teachings, a
spacer may be disposed between a bottom portion of the filter body
and a bottom wall of the fuel tank, so that the filter element can
be prevented from contacting the bottom wall. Preferably, the
spacer is a projection(s) that extends from the bottom portion of
the filter body.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present teachings, fuel
pumps are taught that include the filters as described in the
previous aspects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a representative fuel
pump and showing the sate where the fuel pump is mounted within a
fuel tank;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a representative filter; and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a filter according to an
alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In one embodiment of the present teachings, filters for use
with fuel pumps are taught. The fuel pump may include an inlet
channel(s) that is open in an outer surface of the fuel pump in a
direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the
fuel pump. The filters include a filter body and a filter element.
The filter body is adapted to be attached to the fuel pump and has
an opening for communicating with the inlet channel of the fuel
pump. The filter element is coupled to the filter body and defines
a filter chamber that communicates with the opening of the filter
body. The filter element extends along at least a part of the outer
surface of the fuel pump. For example, the filter body may be
attached to the outer surface of the fuel pump by press fitting or
by using fasteners.
[0017] Because the filter element extends along the outer surface
of the fuel pump, an effective filtration area of the filter
element can be ensured without extending the filter element in a
direction away from the fuel pump. In addition, the filter element
may not interfere with a peripheral portion of an insertion opening
of a fuel tank when the fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank
through the insertion opening. Therefore, damages on the filter
element and/or the filter body may be reduced or minimized, while
the insertion opening may have a small size.
[0018] For example, the filtration element may extend in a
circumferential direction of the outer surface of the fuel pump
and/or the filtration element may extend along a closed end of the
fuel pump. The closed end may be disposed at one end in a direction
along the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump. Preferably, the
filter element may have a substantially circular configuration and
may extend along the entire circumferential length of the outer
surface of the fuel pump to surround the outer surface of the fuel
pump. Therefore, a large effective filtration area of the filter
element can be ensured.
[0019] Preferably, at least a part of the filter chamber may be
delimited by an outer surface of the filter body.
[0020] In another embodiment of the present teachings, the filter
body is attached to the fuel pump in a direction substantially
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump.
[0021] Preferably, the filter body is configured to receive at
least a portion of the outer surface of the fuel pump including a
closed end in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuel
pump. For example, the filter body may have a configuration
corresponding to at least a part of a cylindrical tube with a
closed bottom.
[0022] In another embodiment of the preset teachings, the fuel pump
is adapted to be mounted within a fuel tank. The fuel tank may have
an insertion opening for inserting the fuel pump into the fuel
tank.
[0023] Preferably, the filter body may be fitted onto the fuel pump
from a side opposing to a bottom wall of the fuel tank when the
fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank. Therefore, after the
fuel pump has been mounted within the fuel tank, the filter body
may not be accidentally removed from the fuel pump due to the
interference by the bottom wall of the fuel tank
[0024] Preferably, an area of the filter element as viewed in a
direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuel pump is
smaller than an area of the insertion opening of the fuel tank.
Therefore, the fuel pump can be easily inserted into the fuel tank
through the insertion opening while the fuel pump is maintained in
an upright position.
[0025] In another embodiment of the present teachings, the filter
body has a bottom portion that oppose to a bottom wall of a fuel
tank when the fuel pump is mounted within the fuel tank. A spacer
may be disposed between the bottom portion of the filter body and
the bottom wall of the fuel tank, so that the filter element does
not contact the bottom wall of the fuel tank. Therefore, the filter
element can be prevented from being damaged due to contact with the
bottom wall. Preferably, the spacer includes at least one
projection that extends from the bottom portion of the filter
body.
[0026] In another embodiment of the present teachings, fuel pumps
are taught that include filters as described in the above
embodiments.
[0027] Each of the additional features and teachings disclosed
above and below may be utilized separately or in conjunction with
other features and teachings to provide improved filters and fuel
pumps and methods of using such filters and fuel pumps.
Representative examples of the present invention, which examples
utilize many of these additional features and teachings both
separately and in conjunction, will now be described in detail with
reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is
merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further
details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings
and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Only the
claims define the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore,
combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following
detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention
in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to
particularly describe representative examples of the invention.
Moreover, various features of the representative examples and the
dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically
enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the
present teachings.
[0028] A representative embodiment will now be described with
reference to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a
representative fuel pump 1 in a vertical sectional view. Upper and
lower housing members 3 and 4 are assembled with each other to
constitute a pump housing that is disposed within a lower portion
of a main casing 2. An upper side of the lower housing member 4 is
recessed to rotatably receive an impeller 5. The impeller 5 is
coupled to a rotary shaft 6a of a motor 6, so that the impeller 5
rotates within the lower housing member 4 as the motor 6 is
started. A plurality of fins 5a are formed on either side of the
impeller 5. The fins 5a in each side of the impeller 5 are spaced
equally from each other in the circumferential direction of the
impeller 5. The fins 5a on each side of the impeller 5 may be
defined by recesses, which recesses are formed in the impeller 5
and are arranged in the circumferential direction of the impeller
5.
[0029] A first main flow channel 3a and a second main flow channel
4a are defined in the upper housing member 3 and the lower housing
member 4, respectively. The first main flow channel 3a and the
second main flow channel 4a oppose to the fins 5a disposed on the
upper side and the lower side of the impeller 5, respectively, so
that pump chambers are defined by the first main flow channel 3a
and the fins 5a opposing to the first main channel 3a and by the
second main flow channel 4a and the fins 5a opposing to the second
main channel 4a.
[0030] A first inlet channel 3b is defined in the upper housing
members 3 and communicates with one end of the main flow channel
3a. A second inlet channel 4b is defined in the lower housing
member 4 and communicates with the second main flow channel 4a.
Each of the first and second inlet channels 3b and 4b opens to the
outside of the fuel pump 1 to define a fuel inlet. The other end of
the first main flow channel 3a and the other end of the second main
flow channel 4a communicate with a single discharge channel 3c
defined in the upper housing member 3, so that the flow of a fuel
from the first main flow channel 3a and the flow of the fuel from
the second main flow channel 4a may converge at the discharge
channel 3c. The fuel then flows out of the discharge channel 3c
into an internal space 1a via an outlet opening 3d. The internal
space 1a is defined within the main casing 2. An upper cover 7 is
fixedly fitted into the upper portion of the main casing 2 and
rotatably supports one end of the rotary shaft 6a of the motor 6.
An outlet hole 7a is defined within the upper cover 7, so that the
fuel discharged from the discharge channel 3c flows through the
internal space 1a around the motor 6 and then flows out of the fuel
pump 1 via the outlet hole 7a.
[0031] A representative filter 8 is fitted onto the lower portion
of the fuel pump 1 and around the pump housing. The filter 8
includes a filter body 9 and a filter element 10 that are molded
simultaneously and integrally with each other by an appropriate
molding process. Preferably, the filter body 9 and the filter
element 10 may be made of synthetic resin, so that the filter body
9 and the filter element 10 can be molded simultaneously and
integrally with each other. Alternatively, the filter element 10
may be made of metal.
[0032] The filter element 10 may have a meshed configuration in
order to filtrate the fuel. The filter body 9 has a cylindrical
tubular configuration with an upper opening and a lower closed
bottom. The filter body 9 may be fitted onto the lower portion of
the fuel pump 1 from the lower side of the fuel pump 1 in a
direction parallel to a longitudinal axis L of the fuel pump 1, so
that the filter body 9 closely and frictionally contacts the pump
housing, i.e., the lower portion of the fuel pump 1, to extend over
the openings of the inlet channels 3b and 4b. In this
representative embodiment, the longitudinal axis L coincides with
the longitudinal axis of the main casing 2 and also coincides with
the axis of the rotary shaft 6a of the impeller 5 as well as the
central axis of the filter 8. An opening 9a is formed in the filter
body 9 in a position opposing to the openings of the inlet channels
3b and 4b, so that the fuel can be drawn into the inlet channels 3b
and 4b via the opening 9a. As shown in FIG. 2, the filter element
10 may have a substantially circular configuration in plan view so
as to define a filter chamber 10c that substantially entirely
surrounds the filter body 5. In other words, the filter chamber 10c
entirely surrounds the lower portion including the bottom of the
fuel pump 1.
[0033] The filter element 10 includes an upper portion 10a and a
lower portion 10b. The upper portion 10a has a substantially
annular configuration in plan view, so that the upper portion 10a
has an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential
edge. The inner circumferential edge of the upper portion 10a is
joined to an annular flange 9c that is formed integrally with the
filter body 9 in a position adjacent to and above the opening 9a.
The lower portion 10b has a substantially circular configuration
and extends to cover the bottom of the filter body 9 in a spaced
relationship therewith. The outer circumferential edge of the upper
portion 10a and an outer circumferential edge of the lower portion
10b are joined to each other by bonding, welding or any other
appropriate measure well known in the art.
[0034] In the state shown in FIG. 1, the fuel pump 1 is disposed
within a fuel tank 11. The fuel tank 11 has a bottom wall 11a and a
top wall 11b. Although not shown in the drawings, the fuel tank 11
also may have a side wall, so that a space 11c for storing the fuel
is defined by the bottom wall 11a, the top wall 11b and the side
wall. A circular opening 11b1 is defined in the top wall 11a, so
that the fuel pump 1 can be inserted into the space 11c of the fuel
tank 11 via the opening 11b1. In this representative embodiment, an
outer diameter D of the filter element 10 is determined to be
smaller than a diameter D1 of the opening 11b
[0035] A projection 9b may be formed integrally with a bottom
portion of the filter body 9 and extends downward from the filter
body 9 through the lower portion 10b of the filter element 10. With
this arrangement, the filter element 10 may not directly contact
the bottom plate 11a. Therefore, the filter element 10 may be
prevented from being damaged. In addition, it is possible to ensure
the filtration operation by a portion of the filter element 10
opposing to the bottom plate 11a. Although not shown in the
drawings, a support mechanism may be provided for supporting the
fuel pump 1 in an upright position shown in FIG. 1 and may include
a biasing device, e.g. a spring that biases the fuel pump in the
downward direction toward the bottom wall 11a, so that the
projection 9b of the filter 8 normally contacts the bottom wall 11a
of the fuel tank 11.
[0036] With the arrangement of this representative embodiment,
because the outer diameter D of the filter element 10 is smaller
than the diameter D1 of the opening 11b of the fuel tank 11, the
fuel pump 1 can be inserted into the fuel tank 11 through the
opening 11b without inclining the longitudinal axis L of the fuel
pump 1 relative to the opening 11b. Thus, the fuel pump 1 can be
inserted into the opening 11b of the fuel tank 11 in an upright
position without causing any contact between the filter 8 and the
peripheral edge of the opening 11b.
[0037] Although the filter 8 is configured to enclose the bottom
portion of the fuel pump 1 entirely in the circumferential
direction in the above representative embodiment, the filter 8 may
have any other configurations as long as it can at least partly
surround the lower portion of the fuel pump 1 and can be fitted
onto the bottom of the fuel pump 1 in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis L of the fuel pump 1. For example, in an
alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a filter body 9A has a
substantially semi-cylindrical configuration and a filter element
10A has a semi-circular configuration corresponding to the
configuration of the filter body 9A. In FIG. 3, like members are
given the same reference numerals as FIGS. 1 and 2 and an
explanation of these members will not be necessary.
[0038] In addition, although the filter 8 is fixed in position
relative to the fuel pump 1 through friction between the filter
body 9 and the lower portion of the fuel pump 1, the filter body 9,
may be fixed in position relative to the lower portion of the fuel
pump 1 by any other fixing or tightening means such as
fasteners.
[0039] Further, although the filter 8 of the representative
embodiment has a single projection 9b, a plurality of projections
9b may be formed on the bottom of the filter body 9, so that the
fuel pump 1 can be positioned in stable relative to the fuel tank
11. In addition, the projection(s) 9b may be formed separately from
the filter body 9 and may be joined to the bottom of the fuel pump
1.
[0040] Furthermore, although the opening 11b of the fuel tank 11
has a circular configuration in the representative embodiment, the
opening 11b may have any other configurations such as polygonal
configurations and elliptical configurations.
* * * * *