Fluid pump assembly
View Patent ↗A fluid pump includes an electric motor with a casing and a drive shaft extending from the casing, a pumping element coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the shaft to take in fluid and discharge it under pressure. The fuel pump casing may be sealed and a housing coupled to the casing may provide the inlet and outlet passages for fluid flow to and from the pumping element. The housing may be received in or communicated with other housing or module assemblies to provide a wide array of fuel pump assemblies. The pumping element may include one or more gear rotors, a turbine pumping element, or other pumping element, as desired.
1. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a separate housing releasably coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor in the housing and coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor in the housing, encircling the inner gear rotor and driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor; and
a wear plate in the housing and disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers.
2. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a housing coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor;
a wear plate disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers; and
the drive shaft is noncircular in cross-section providing at least one driving surface that engages the inner gear rotor.
3. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a housing coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor;
a wear plate disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers;
a seal disposed adjacent the opposite side of the inner and outer gear rotors from the wear plate; and
the housing is coupled to the casing at one end and is generally open at its other end permitting access to the drive shaft, and the seal at least substantially prevents fuel from entering or exiting the pumping chambers through said opposite side of the inner and outer gear rotors.
4. The fuel pump of claim 3 wherein at least one driving surface of the drive shaft engages the seal to rotate the seal with the drive shaft.
5. The fuel pump of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a pocket that locates the outer gear rotor relative to the drive shaft.
6. The fuel pump of claim 2 wherein the inner gear rotor includes an opening in which the drive shaft is received that is complementary in shape to the drive shaft.
7. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a housing coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor;
a wear plate disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers; and
the housing includes a mounting plate attached to the casing and a pump body coupled to the mounting plate with the inner and outer gear rotors disposed on the opposite side of the mounting plate as the motor.
8. The fuel pump of claim 3 which also comprises a biasing member that yieldably biases the seal toward the inner and outer gear rotors.
9. The fuel pump of claim 8 wherein the biasing member is coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft.
10. The fuel pump of claim 2 which also comprises a clip secured to the drive shaft to retain the inner and outer gear rotors on the drive shaft.
11. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a housing coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor;
a wear plate disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers; and
a second housing disposed adjacent to the housing and including an outlet passage in communication with the housing outlet so that fuel discharged from the pumping chambers flows through the housing outlet and the outlet passage of the second housing.
12. The fuel pump of claim 11 wherein the second housing surrounds at least a portion of the housing.
13. The fuel pump of claim 11 wherein the housing includes a mounting plate attached to the casing and a pump body coupled to the mounting plate with the inner and outer gear rotors disposed on the opposite side of the mounting plate as the motor, and wherein the second housing is coupled to the mounting plate.
14. The fuel pump of claim 13 wherein the second housing includes at least one latch including a catch adapted to engage the mounting plate to retain the second housing.
15. The fuel pump of claim 11 wherein the housing includes an open end spaced from the mounting plate and wherein the second housing closes the open end.
16. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a housing coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor;
a wear plate disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers; and
an outer casing enclosing the casing and the housing, and having an inlet through which fuel enters the outer casing prior to entering the pumping chambers, and an outlet through which pressurized fuel is discharged from the outer casing.
17. The fuel pump of claim 16 wherein the outer casing includes a sidewall surrounding the casing and housing and one of the inlet of the outer casing and the outlet of the outer casing is formed in one-piece with the sidewall.
18. The fuel pump of claim 17 wherein one of the inlet of the outer casing and the outlet of the outer casing is formed in a separate body coupled to the sidewall.
19. The fuel pump of claim 16 wherein the inlet of the outer casing and the outlet of the outer casing are communicated together by a fuel flow path that is defined at least in part between the casing and the sidewall.
20. A fuel pump, comprising:
an electric motor including a casing enclosing at least a portion of the motor and a drive shaft extending from the casing and driven for rotation about an axis by the motor;
a housing coupled to the casing, enclosing at least part of the drive shaft and having an inlet through which fuel enters the housing and an outlet through which fuel exits the housing;
an inner gear rotor coaxially aligned with and coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about an axis;
an outer gear rotor driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the inner gear rotor providing a plurality of pumping chambers between the inner gear rotor and outer gear rotor;
a wear plate disposed between the motor and the inner and outer gear rotors, and having an inlet port in communication with the inlet and through which fuel enters the pumping chambers, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet and through which fuel is discharged from the pumping chambers;
a mounting flange adapted to be sealed to a fuel tank and having an outlet through which fuel is discharged from the fuel tank; and
a pump holder carried by the mounting flange and having a cavity in which the motor and housing are received, an inlet through which fuel enters the pump holder and an outlet communicated with the outlet of the mounting flange.
21. The fuel pump of claim 20 which also includes a fuel pressure regulator having an inlet in communication with the pump holder outlet, a valve responsive to the pressure of fuel at the inlet and an outlet downstream of the valve through which fuel is discharged from the fuel pressure regulator, whereby the valve is displaced by fuel at a pressure above a threshold pressure to permit fuel flow out of the fuel pressure regulator to limit the maximum pressure of fuel discharged from the mounting flange outlet.
22. The fuel pump of claim 21 wherein the fuel pressure regulator is carried by the pump holder.
23. The fuel pump of claim 20 which also includes a rod carried at one end by the mounting flange and coupled to the pump holder to interconnect the mounting flange and pump holder.
24. The fuel pump of claim 20 which also includes a fuel line communicating the pump holder outlet with the mounting flange outlet.
25. The fuel pump of claim 20 wherein the pump holder is directly connected to the mounting flange.
26. The fuel pump of claim 25 wherein the mounting flange includes a pump body retainer adapted to extend into a fuel tank and the pump holder is connected to the pump body retainer.
27. The fuel pump of claim 18 wherein the separate body includes at least one opening therethrough and at least one electrical connector that extends through the opening to permit electrical connection to the motor.
28. The fuel pump of claim 27 wherein the motor includes a terminal and said at least one electrical connector is mated with the terminal at one end and extends through the opening for communication with an electrical source disposed outside of the outer casing.
29. The fuel pump of claim 28 wherein the electrical connector includes a bore in which the terminal is disposed, and a shank disposed outboard of the opening and having a threaded section on which a nut is received to retain the position of the separate body relative to the outer casing.
30. The fuel pump of claim 18 which also includes a retainer carried by the outer casing and overlying a portion of the separate body to retain the position of the separate body relative to the outer casing.
31. The fuel pump of claim 20 which also comprises:
a fuel pressure regulator disposed downstream from the fuel pump and having a regulator housing with an inlet in communication with the outlet of the fuel pump, an outlet in communication with the outlet passage and a bypass outlet from which fuel is discharged from the regulator housing; and
a regulator holder that is carried by the mounting flange, receives at least a portion of the regulator housing, is formed in one-piece with the pump holder and has an inlet in communication with the pump holder outlet, an outlet in communication with both the fuel pressure regulator outlet and with the outlet of the mounting flange and a bypass outlet from which fuel is returned to the fuel tank.
32. The fuel pump of claim 31 wherein the pump holder is connected to the mounting flange.
33. The fuel pump of claim 31 wherein the pump holder is snap-fit to the mounting flange.
34. The fuel pump of claim 31 which also includes a rod carried at one end by the mounting flange and associated with the pump holder to couple the pump holder to the mounting flange.
35. The fuel pump of claim 34 which also comprises a biasing member acting on the pump holder to yieldably bias the pump holder away from the mounting flange.
36. The fuel pump of claim 31 which also includes a cover, wherein the regulator holder is open at one end to permit insertion of the regulator therein and the cover is carried by the regulator holder to retain the regulator in the regulator holder and the cover has an opening that defines the bypass outlet of the regulator holder.
37. The fuel pump of claim 31 wherein the pump holder includes an open end through which the fuel pump is received into the pump holder and the regulator holder includes an open end through which the regulator is received into the regulator holder and the direction that the open end of the fuel pump holder faces is opposite to the direction that the open end of the regulator holder faces.
38. The fuel pump of claim 7 wherein
the outer casing has a sidewall, an end wall at one end of the sidewall and an end cap spaced from the end wall to define a chamber in the outer casing, and an inlet in which fuel is received into the chamber and an outlet through which fuel is discharged from the chamber, and wherein the end cap is removably secured to the sidewall and defines one of the inlet or outlet of the outer casing and otherwise closes an end of the sidewall opposite the end wall.
39. The fuel pump of claim 38 which also includes a retainer releasably coupled to the sidewall and engaging the end cap to retain the position of the end cap relative to sidewall.
40. The fuel pump of claim 38 wherein the end cap includes at least one opening through which an electrical connector extends to communicate a source of electricity with the electric motor.
41. The fuel pump of claim 40 wherein the fuel pump includes at least one terminal and the electrical connector includes a pin that is electrically connected to the terminal at one end and includes a flange that engages an inner surface of the end cap that defines part of the chamber and a threaded shank that extends through the opening and on which a nut is received against an outer surface of the end cap.
42. The fuel pump of claim 38 wherein the other of the inlet and outlet that is not defined by the end cap is formed in one piece with the end wall.
43. The fuel pump of claim 42 wherein the inlet and outlet are parallel.
44. The fuel pump of claim 38 which also includes a casing surrounding at least a portion of the motor and wherein fuel discharged from the pumping element flows between the outer casing and said casing surrounding at least a portion of the motor.
45. The fuel pump of claim 44 wherein said casing surrounding at least a portion of the motor is sealed against fuel intrusion.
46. The fuel pump of claim 45 which also includes a housing disposed within the outer casing and having an outlet in communication with the chamber and the exterior of said casing surrounding at least a portion of the motor, and wherein the motor includes a drive shaft extending from said casing surrounding at least a portion of the motor, and said at least one pumping element is received in the housing and is driven for rotation by the drive shaft.
47. A fuel pump, including:
a motor in a sealed casing and having a drive shaft extending from the casing and rotated by the motor about an axis;
a housing carried by the casing at one end and having an open opposite end providing access to the drive shaft, an inlet and an outlet;
a wear plate having a portion engaged with the housing to hold the wear plate against rotation relative to the housing, an opening coaxially aligned with and through which the drive shaft is received, an inlet port in communication with the inlet and an outlet port in communication with the outlet;
a gear rotor set including an inner gear rotor with an opening coaxially aligned with and through which the drive shaft is received so that the inner gear rotor rotates with the drive shaft and an outer gear rotor surrounding the inner gear rotor and driven for rotation by the inner gear rotor with pumping chambers defined between the gear rotors that enlarge in the area of the inlet and become smaller in the area of the outlet, the gear rotor set being disposed on the opposite side of the wear plate as the motor;
a seal having an opening coaxially aligned with and through which the drive shaft is received so that the seal rotates with the drive shaft and being disposed on the opposite side of the gear rotors as the wear plate to sealingly engage said opposite side of the gear rotors and inhibit fuel flow into the pumping chambers through said opposite side; and
a retainer carried by the drive shaft to retain the seal, gear rotor set and wear plate on the drive shaft.
48. The fuel pump of claim 47 wherein the drive shaft has a non-circular shape and the openings of the inner gear rotor and seal are complementarily shaped to the drive shaft for driving engagement of the drive shaft with the inner gear rotor and seal.