IP Library Granted Patent US 8,746,277
Granted Patent B2
US 8,746,277 · App. 13/230,049 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Fuel feed apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,746,277
App. No.
13/230,049
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel pump has a pump chamber accommodating a rotor member. The rotor member is rotatable to supply fuel to from a tank to an exterior of the tank. A case is supported in the tank. The case accommodates a part of the fuel pump. A pump bracket is located in the tank. The pump bracket is in a tubular bottomed shape having a sidewall portion in which a remaining portion of the fuel pump is inserted such that the sidewall portion surrounds a radially outside of the pump chamber of the remaining portion. The pump bracket is joined with the case to define a gap therebetween in a radial direction of the rotor member such that the pump bracket is movable relative to the case.

Claims (21)

1. A fuel feed apparatus configured to supply fuel from a tank to an exterior of the tank, the fuel feed apparatus comprising:

a fuel pump having a pump chamber accommodating a rotor member, the rotor member being rotatable to supply fuel to the exterior of the tank;

a case supported in the tank, the case accommodating a part of the fuel pump; and

a pump bracket located in the tank, the pump bracket being in a tubular bottomed shape having a sidewall portion in which a remaining portion of the fuel pump is inserted such that the sidewall portion surrounds a radially outside of the pump chamber of the remaining portion, the pump bracket being joined with the case to define a gap therebetween in a radial direction of the rotor member such that the pump bracket is movable relative to the case, wherein

the case and the pump bracket overlap one another to have an overlap portion therebetween at a radially outside of a barycenter of the fuel pump, and

the case and the pump bracket are joined with each other at the overlap portion to define the gap therebetween.

2. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the fuel pump has a fuel outlet port for discharging fuel supplied to the exterior of the tank,

the fuel feed apparatus further comprising:

an elastic member interposed between the case and the fuel outlet port, wherein

the elastic member connects the case with the fuel pump.

3. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a clip being resilient and configured to join the case with the pump bracket.

4. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the case and the pump bracket overlap one another at the overlap portion to define the gap therebetween, and

the clip is provided to the overlap portion.

5. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pump bracket is joined with the case such that the pump bracket is floated and supported at a position spaced out from a bottom portion of the tank.

6. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a filter element being in an annular shape, the filter element being located on a radially outside of the sidewall portion of the pump bracket and configured to filter fuel drawn by the fuel pump from the tank.

7. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the fuel pump is other than the part of the fuel pump accommodated in the case.

8. The fuel feed apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the case is partially inserted into the pump bracket to overlap one another in an axial direction of the case.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPLICATION NUMBER 13230049 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035071 FRAME: 0276. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 18, 2017
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041445/0646 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2015
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035071/0508 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: OKAZONO, TETSURO; OKI, HIRONOBU
To: DENSO CORPORATION; KYOSAN DENKI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026891/0431 →