Retainer with grounding feature for fuel system component
View Patent ↗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.
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.