Reservoir for motor vehicle fuel tank
US5787865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/0753
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A passively filled reservoir in a motor vehicle fuel tank. The fuel tank has an electric fuel pump suspended therein and a tubular conduit through which surplus fuel is returned to the fuel tank. The passively filled reservoir includes a fuel containment vessel below the fuel pump, a passive fill port in the containment vessel juxtaposed a bottom panel of the fuel tank, a one-way valve in the passive fill port, a primary strainer around the containment vessel, and a secondary strainer inside of the containment vessel. The tubular conduit and a vapor discharge port of the electric fuel pump discharge into the containment vessel outside of the secondary strainer for recirculation to the fuel pump of surplus fuel and liquid fuel expelled from the fuel pump through the vapor discharge port. The primary strainer strains liquid fuel flowing through the passive fill port into the containment vessel. Capillary seal characteristics of the primary and the secondary strainers sustain vacuum at an inlet of the electric fuel pump until both the fuel tank and the containment vessel are substantially fully depleted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.