EP1299636B1

EP1299636B1 - Apparatus for the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine, particularly for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1299636B1
Application number: EP01947728A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivan Cecchelli
Original assignee: Bitron SpA
Current assignee: Bitron SpA
Priority date: 2000-07-05
Filing date: 2001-07-03
Publication date: 2006-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-03
Also published as: IT1320525B1; ES2259664T3; EP1299636A1; DE60119736T2; ATE326629T1; DE60119736D1; AU2001269368A1; WO2002002925A1; ITTO20000678A0; ITTO20000678A1

Abstract

The apparatus (1) comprises a closure element (2) intended to be connected with a liquid tight seal to an aperture (3) in a wall (4a) of a fuel tank (4) and in which a first and a second passage (7; 9, 9a) are formed a support structure (17) fixed to this closure element (2); a pump (13) carried by this structure (17) and the delivery (13b) of which is connected to a filter (15); and a pressure regulator (20) likewise carried by this structure (17). By means of simple operations the apparatus (1) can be set in a first or a second configuration for use in a fuel supply system of the type with or, respectively, without return flow.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus for the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle.
At present systems for the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle are essentially divided into two types, that is with and without return flow of fuel from the engine to the tank.
Currently, there are provided entirely different fuel supply apparatus for these two fuel supply systems which, nevertheless, in both cases comprise a pump, a filter and a pressure regulator.
The provision of fuel supply apparatus of different types is technically and economically inconvenient.
JP 09 222 054 A proposes a system that can be used in both cases, with or without return flow, by changing location of the pressure regulator.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide fuel supply apparatus structured in such a way that, with a limited number of relatively simple operations it is possible to configure it for use in a fuel supply system of the type with return flow or for use in a fuel supply system without return flow.
This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by fuel supply apparatus the main characteristics of which are defined in the attached Claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description given purely by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of fuel supply apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of the preceding Figures and shows the relative arrangement of various devices of which it is composed;
Figures 4 and 5 are schematic representations which show the fuel supply apparatus according to the invention in two different configurations for use in a fuel supply system of the type with and without return flow.

In the drawings the apparatus for supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine (not illustrated) is generally indicated 1.
The apparatus 1 comprises a closure element 2 essentially in the form of a flanged plug, intended to be fixed in a liquid-tight manner in an aperture 3 (Figures 4 and 5) formed in a lower wall 4a of a fuel tank 4. As better seen in Figures 2 and 3, two mushroom shape retainer members 5 are formed in the face of the closure element intended to face into the tank.
From the same face of the closure element 2 projects a hollow tubular formation 6 in the top of which is formed a passage 7 (Figures 2, 4 and 5) . Upwardly from the top of the formation 6 adjacent this aperture 7 project two projections 8.
A further hollow tubular formation 9 extends in a similar manner from the closure element 2 towards the interior of the tank 4 (see Figures 2, 4 and 5) and its distal portion 9a is upwardly closed and shaped in the form of an hydraulic connector.
A multi-pole electric connector 10 (Figure 3) is sealingly engaged in an aperture 11 (Figure 2) formed in the closure element 2.
The apparatus 1 further comprises an electric pump 13 with a lower suction connector 13a, and an upper delivery connector 13b (Figure 2). One end of a tube 14 is engaged on this delivery connector 13b, the other end of which is connected to the inlet connector 15a of a filter 15. This filter has an outlet connector 15b (Figure 2) engaged in a connector tube 16.
A support structure essentially constituted by a substantially annular wall is generally indicated 17. Close to its lower end the support structure 17 has a pair of ears 18 (of which only one is visible in Figures 1 and 2) provided with respective apertures 19 (Figure 2) into which the retainer members 5 of the closure element 2 can be engaged.
Together with the closure element 2 the structure or wall 17 forms a settling chamber within the fuel tank 4.
An hydraulic pressure regulator device is generally indicated 20 in the drawings. In the illustrated embodiment this device comprises a connection and support housing 20a into which a pressure regulator indicated 20b is fitted.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated the connection and support housing 20a has an upper inlet connector 20c (Figures 2, 4 and 5) preferably formed blind or closed. The housing 20a further has a lower inlet/outlet connector 20d which can be sealingly coupled with the passage or opening 7 of the lower closure element 2. In the housing 20a, between the connectors 20c and 20d is defined a chamber which communicates with the internal region at a tubular portion 20e of the same housing, which terminates with a flange 20f. The tubular portion 20e has at least one longitudinal lower slot 20g.
The pressure regulator 20b has an inlet 20h and an outlet connector 20i essentially at 90° to one another. This pressure regulator 20b is fitted in the tubular portion 20e of the housing 20a and has an annular flange 201 which contacts the flange 20f of this tubular portion. The inlet' 20h of the regulator 20b extends into the' tubular portion 20e of the holder 20a, whilst the outlet connector .20i extends downwardly through the slot 20g of this housing.
The housing 20a further has two lateral projections 20m (Figures 2 and 3) having respective cut-out portions which can engage with, interference on the protuberances 8 of the formation 6 of the closure element 2.
The fuel supply apparatus 1 further comprises a Venturi tube device 21 intended to be coupled to the outlet connector 20i of the pressure regulator 20b.
A fuel level detector device for detecting the level.of fuel in the tank is generally indicated 22 in Figures 1 and 2. The device, of type known per se, is in particular intended to provide electrical signals indicative of the fuel level, between a predetermined maximum level and a predetermined minimum level (or reserve level).
The level detector 22 has an essentially cylindrical body 22a fitted in a support housing 22b of substantially tubular shape.
The support wall or structure 17 has a cut-out 23 which extends downwardly from its upper edge. From the inner surface of this wall 17 adjacent to the vertical sides of the cut-out 23 extend two guides 24 which can receive and retain in mutual engagement the end flanges 20f and 20l, respectively, of the connection and support housing 20a and the pressure regulator 20b as seen in particular in Figure 1.
The support structure 17 further has an arcuate wall portion 25 (Figures 1 and 2) internally provided with resilient retainer projections 26 able to clamp and retain the electric pump 13.
The support housing 22b of the fuel level detector device 22 has a lower tab 22c (Figure 2) engagable in a corresponding seat 27 provided adjacent the upper edge of the support wall or structure 17 (Figure 2).
The apparatus described above can be arranged in a first or a second configuration, for use in a fuel supply system of the type with and, respectively, without return flow.
These configurations are schematically illustrated in Figure 4 and 5.
The configuration shown in Figure 4 relates to, use of the apparatus 1 in a fuel supply system of the type without return flow.
In this configuration the outlet 15b from the filter 15 is connected, via the tube 16, to the inlet connector 20c (preliminary opened) of the pressure regulator 20. In operation in this configuration the pump 13 supplies fuel towards the tube 14, the filter 15, the tube 16, the pressure regulator 20 and this flow of fuel through the passage 7 of the closure element 2 (via a tube not illustrated) is adapted to the requirements of the internal combustion engine. The fuel which may be in excess is recirculated to the interior of the tank 4 through the pressure regulator 20b and in particular through its outlet connector 20i and the Venturi duct device 21.
In the configuration shown in Figure 4 the connector or passage 9a of the closure element 2 is closed.
The configuration shown in Figure 5 is, on the other hand, envisaged for use in a fuel supply system of the type having return flow. In this configuration the outlet 15b of the filter 15 via the tube 16 is connected to the passage or connector 9a (preliminary opened) of the closure element 2 in order to deliver fuel to the internal combustion engine through this connector. The electric connector 20c of the pressure regulator 20 is on the other hand left closed in such a way that the said pressure regulator is able to receive and to re-emit into the settling chamber 17 a flow of excess fuel which returns from the internal combustion engine through the aperture 7 of the lower closure element and the inlet/outlet connector 20d of the pressure regulator. This flow of returning fuel passes through the pressure regulator 20b and is reintroduced into the settling chamber through the outlet connector 20i of this pressure regulator, and the associated Venturi duct device 21.
As anticipated above, the fuel supply apparatus according to the invention can, with simple and rapid operations, be set in one or the other configuration of use depending on whether it is intended to be used in a fuel supply system of the type with or without return flow.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the embodiments and the details of construction can be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limitative example, without by this departing from the ambit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Claims

Apparatus (1) for the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising
a closure element (2) intended for liquid-tight connection to the aperture (3) of a wall (4a) of a fuel tank (4) and in which are formed a first and a second passage (7; 9, 9a),
a support structure (17) intended to be fixed on the said closure element (2) within the tank (4);
a pump (13) carried by the said structure (17) and the delivery (13b) of which is connected to a filter (15);
a pressure regulator device (20) likewise carried by the said structure (17) and having an inlet connector (20c), an inlet/outlet connector (20d) connected to the first passage (7) of the closure element (2) and an outlet (20i) ;
the apparatus being such that the apparatus (1) can be arranged in a first or in a second configuration for use in a fuel supply system of the type with or without return flow respectively;
in the first configuration the output of the filter (15) being connected with the second passage (9, 9a) of the closure element (2) for the delivery of fuel to the engine through the said second passage (9, 9a); the inlet connector (20c) of the pressure regulator (20) being closed, in such a way that the said pressure regulator (20) is able to receive a return flow of fuel from the engine;
in the second configuration the second passage (9, 9a) of the closure element (2).being closed and the filter output (15) being connected to the inlet connector (20c) of the pressure regulator (20) to supply fuel to the engine through the said first passage (7) of the closure element (2).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the second passage (9, 9a) of the closure element (2) and the inlet connector (20c) of the pressure regulator (20) are selectively openable, for the achievement of the said first and the said second configuration of use respectively.
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the support structure (17) is able to define, together with the said closure element (2), a settlement chamber within the tank (4).
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the said pressure regulator device (20) is anchored to the closure element (2) along a first direction, and is lodged.in the said support structure (17) in a manner restrained along another direction forming an angle with the said first direction.
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a device for detecting the level of fuel in the tank fixed to the upper portion of the said support structure (17).
Apparatus according to Claim 3, in which the wall (17) of the said settlement chamber is provided externally with at least one resilient retainer projection (26) operable to grip and retain the pump (13).
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which a Venturi tube device (21) is coupled to the outlet (20i) of the pressure regulator (20).