Fuel pump module including a flange groove rod attachment
View Patent ↗A fuel pump module may include a reservoir, a flange, and a rod. The reservoir may be configured to contain fuel. The flange may be configured to rest on a surface about a hole in a fuel tank, and the flange may include a groove disposed on an underside surface of the flange. The rod may be inserted into the groove and may couple the flange to the reservoir.
1. A fuel pump module, comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain fuel;
a flange configured to rest on a surface about a hole in a fuel tank, the flange including a groove disposed on an underside surface of the flange; and
a rod inserted into the groove and coupling the flange to the reservoir; wherein
the rod may be inserted into a plurality of locations along the groove.
2. The fuel pump module of claim 1 , wherein the rod is press fitted into the groove.
3. The fuel pump module of claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a longitudinal groove extending along a longitudinal axis of the flange.
4. The fuel pump module of claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a lateral groove extending along a lateral axis of the flange.
5. The fuel pump module of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes a circular groove extending around a vertical axis of the flange.
6. The fuel pump module of claim 1 , wherein the rod includes a non-cylindrical end inserted between sidewalls defining the groove.
7. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein the non-cylindrical end engages the sidewalls of the groove along a length of the non-cylindrical end.
8. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein the rod is cold pressed to form the non-cylindrical end.
9. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein a distance between the sidewalls of the groove is approximately equal to a width of the non-cylindrical end.
10. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , further comprising partitions positioned in the groove perpendicular to the sidewalls, wherein a distance between the partitions is approximately equal to a length of the non-cylindrical end.
11. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein the non-cylindrical end has a rectangular cross section.
12. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein the non-cylindrical end has a C-shaped cross section.
13. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein the non-cylindrical end has an S-shaped cross section.
14. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , wherein the rod includes a rounded transition from the non-cylindrical end to a cylindrical portion of the rod.
15. The fuel pump module of claim 6 , further comprising a stop installed adjacent to a cylindrical end of the rod opposite the non-cylindrical end, the stop preventing the rod from backing out of a socket of the reservoir in which the rod is disposed.
16. A fuel pump module, comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain fuel;
a flange configured to rest on a surface about a hole in a fuel tank, the flange including a groove disposed on an underside surface of the flange; and
a rod having a flat end press fit into the groove, the rod coupling the flange to the reservoir; wherein
the flat end of the rod may be fit into a plurality of locations along the groove.
17. A flange for a fuel pump module, comprising:
a plate configured to rest on a surface about a hole in a fuel tank; and
a groove disposed on an underside surface of the plate and configured to receive a rod that couples the flange to a reservoir of the fuel pump module; wherein
the rod may be received at a plurality of locations along the groove to couple the flange to the reservoir of the fuel pump.
18. The flange of claim 17 , wherein a distance between sidewalls defining the groove is approximately equal to a thickness of the rod.
19. The flange of claim 17 , wherein a distance between sidewalls defining the groove is less than a thickness of the rod.
20. The flange of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of intersecting straight grooves, and a curved groove surrounding the plurality of intersecting straight grooves are disposed on the underside of the plate.