GB2042084A - Fuel-feed unit for a motor-vehicle IC engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit comprises a pump (1) driven by an electric motor (2) and having a shaft (20) that is not aligned with the shaft (13) of the motor so that vapour bubbles can be easily discharged upwardly from the suction port (22) of the pump and fuel can flow freely into said port from all sides. A passage (24, 25) connects the pressure port (21) of the pump to the interior of the motor so that the outgoing fuel flows over the armature (9) of the motor to a connection piece (5). Alternative shaft arrangements are described, Figs. 2-4b. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fuel feed unit for motor vehicles The present invention relates to a fuel feed unit for use in a motor vehicle.

In fuel feed pumps, it is customary to accommodate the entire unit, comprising a driving electric motor and frequently a single stage or multi-stage pump system, in a common, cup-shaped housing. The two regions of the main parts are then arranged axially one behind the other within the housing. In such a construction the pump system is arranged directly adjacent to a wall which forms the suction connection and which is either integrally connected to the housing or is in the form of a fitted flange, the electric motor then being axially contiguous with pump system.

The two parts i.e. pump system and motor, can be mounted on a common shaft. It is also possible to arrange the rotatable pump part, that is to say, for example, the impeller in a side channel pump or the grooved disc of a roller-cell pump, on a fixed axle so as to be rotatable by means of bearing bushes, the drive then being effected by the rotating armature of the electric motor. It is also possible to arrange the armature of the electric motor on a fixed axle by means of a hollow shaft, the fixed axle being held at both ends in bearings. The driving connection between the rotor of the pump and the rotor of the motor interconnects these two parts so as to be nonrotatable relative to one another, the connection preferably being in the form of projections which engage complementary recesses in the other part.Thus, a positive connection, although not necessarily a frictional connection, is obtained at all events, so that differing drive and oscillation effects can also be compensated for.

The electric motor is of conventional construction. A base plate, an intermediate plate axially contiguous therewith, and a support plate are provided in a roller-cell pump and are usually clamped together by means of bolts, and the rotary-driven pump rotor is located therebetween. An inner bore in the intermediate plate then forms the raceway for roller or pump elements which are arranged in grooves distributed around the circumference of the pump rotor.

Problems can arise inSthe suction region of the pump, particularly during the feeding of heated fuels (hot petrol) and are caused by the more greatly reduced pressure of the fluid at this location. Vapour bubbles are then formed and, in an extreme case, can lead to the pump no longer drawing in fuel correctly or the pump can run fully idle i.e. cavitation occurs.

There is a need for a fuel feed unit of simple construction which, owing to a smaller overall size, does not cause any problems with respect to installation and which is constructed such that vapour bubbles formed in the suction region- of the pump can flow freely through the pump chamber and can flow off freely, with correspondingly advantageous cooling and inflow conditions for the fuel.

According to the present invention there is provided a fuel feed unit for motor vehicles and the like which comprises a pump system and an electric motor for driving the latter the unit being suitable for installing in a fuel tank, a drive shaft or axle of at least one pump part being offset relative to a drive shaft of the electric motor, and at least one partial region of the pump part being arranged to project freely relative to the housing of the electric motor, a passage-like connection existing between a further region of the pump part and the interior of the electric motor.

A fuel feed unit according to the present invention, has the advantage that it can be freely fitted in the fuel reservoir in the case of an electric drive, and the vapour bubbles formed during the suction operation can be readily discharged from the suction region of the pump, and can preferably flow freely outwardly. No walls, which might hinder or render difficult the rise of the fuel vapour bubbles, are located above the suction region of the pump.

Since preferably at least the suction region of the pump, that is to say, the suction chamber in a roller-cell pump, is freely accessible from both sides, and is freely located in the fuel volume, vapour bubbles can flow through the pump chamber in the suction region.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the motor part of the unit can be assembled and mounted separately. Since the rotary drive is transmitted from the electric motor to the pump rotor by gear-like means, optional variable transmission ratios are possible at this location, so that adjustment can be made to different delivery quantities.

It is possible to achieve very flat constructions for the present invention, this being advantageous and particularly. suitable for flat fuel reservoirs. Since preferably the entire suction region of the pump is arranged so as to be freely accessible, without covering walls, in the fuel within the tank during the installation of the tank, optimum filiing ensues, since the fuel can enter the suction chamber from above and below, that is to say, from both sides.

Differing angular positions of the motor relative to the pump are rendered possible by the use of bevel gears, universal joints, Cardan drives or the like, that is to say, generally speaking, by using an angled drive connection, so that a wide variety of possibilities of installation can be taken into account. Finally, the fuel feed unit in accordance with the invention renders it possible to install the pump in a fuel spinner arranged in the fuel tank. Since the entire pump member might be arranged outside the housing of the electric motor and is mounted on, flanged to or fitted to the housing according to the type of construction, the pump member and its secondary components such as bearings, driving gear wheels, intermediate plates and the like are freely located in the tank space, so that satisfactory cooling ensues.The invention is of conventional construction such that, here also, the pressurised fuel which is fed also flows through the electric motor for the purposes of cooling and is fed to a pressure connection piece at the other end of the housing accommodating the electric motor.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a lateral cross section through a first embodiment of a fuel feed unit in accordance with the invention, the electric motor and the pump member being fully illustrated; and Figures 2, 3, 4a, 4b are lateral cross sections through further embodiments of the fuel feed unit in accordance with the invention.

The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a fuel feed pump wherein the pump part is mounted so as to be offset relative to the motor part, that is to say, relative to the electric motor having the rotor, axle or shaft and housing, such that no walls which might hinder or render difficult the rising of fuel vapour bubbles are located at least above the suction region of the actual pump. Various types of electric motors can be used to drive the pump, such as motors whose shaft, carrying the armature or rotor, rotates and is extended out from the housing of the electric motor, in order to transmit the rotary drive.

Alternatively, however, it is conceivable to mount the armature of the electric motor on a rotatable hollow shaft which is arranged on a fixed axle, provided that means are provided by which the torque supplied by the electric motor is transmitted out in a suitable manner in order to drive the pump part which is fitted so as to be offset relative to the electric motor.

In the embodiment of a fuel feed unit illustrated in Fig. 1, a pump part generally designated 1, and an electric motor which drives the pump part and which is generally designated 2, are combined to form a fuel feed unit. The electric motor 2 is accommodated in a substantially cup-shaped housing 3 which is closed at both ends by flanges 4 and 5. End flanges 4 and 5 are provided one at each end in the embodiment illustrated in Fig.

1, the end flange or cover 5 being arranged at the pressure end and being provided with a pressure connection piece 5a. A non-return valve (not shown) can be arranged in the pressure connection piece 5a. A seal is arranged between the housing 3 and the end cover 5 and an inwardly directed, flanged portion 7 of the open end of the housing 3, holds the end cover 5 at this location.

The electric motor, which is not shown in detail in Fig. 1 or in the other Figures, since it can be any type of electric motor of known construction, has an armature 9 which is only partially illustrated, a commutator 8 and a magnetic member 1 0. The armature is mounted on the shaft 1 3 which extends longitudinally through the housing 3 and which is journalled in self-aligning bearings 11 and 1 2 disposed one at each end of the housing. The construction of the electric motor is substantially completed by a brush-carrier plate 14 together with brush-holders 1 spa, 1 sub secured thereto, and carbon brushes which slide on the commutator 8.

As mentioned initially, it is of particular importance that the pump member is fitted to the electric motor such that at least the suction region of the pump is free and no walls exist above the suction region and the fuel has unobstructed access at least to the suction region of the pump. Three operational connections exist between the pump 1 and the electric motor 2, that is to say, a connection relating the rotary drive of the pump rotor, a second mechanical connection which serves to mount the pump on the housing 3 or on a flange 4 of the electric motor connected to the housing 3, and a passage-like connection through which the fuel delivered under pressure by the pump is fed to the electric motor and then flows substantially axially through the motor to the pressure connection piece 5a.In other words this means that flowing, pressurised fuel is located in the housing of the electric motor in all the embodiments and flows by way of a passage-like connection into the housing of the electric motor 2 from the point at which the pump 1 is mechanically connected to the electric motor 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the pump part 1 is offset relative to the motor part such that an angle is formed between the respective axes of the pump part and the motor part. In the present instance, the angle is 90 although, fundamentally, it may be any desired angle, as is also shown by the embodiments of Figs. 4a and 4b. Fig. 1 clearly shows that the entire pump member is arranged virtually outside the housing 3 of the electric motor 2 and thus, at least in this embodiment, is freely exposed to the fuel from all sides without surrounding walls. In detail, the pump part 1 is a so-called roller-cell pump whose construction includes a base plate 16, an intermediate plate 1 7 and a support plate 18. The pump rotor, that is to say, grooved disc 19, is accommodated between the support plate 1 8 and the base plate 1 6 and in a bore in the intermediate plate 1 7.

Rollers in the form of pump elements are mounted in individual grooves in the grooved disc and, during rotation, are pressed by centrifugal forces against an inner raceway formed by the bore in the intermediate plate 1 7. The raceway in the intermediate plate 1 7 is disposed so as to be eccentric, by a specific amount, of the grooved disc and the axle 20 on which the latter is mounted. Thus, as a result of this eccentricity, a crescent-shaped pump working chamber is formed in front of each roller, which working chamber decreases in size with respect to each roller during operational movement of the roller towards the pressure side of the pump, so that the fuel located in the chamber is pressurised and is then discharged by way of a pressure chamber 21.The suction region, generally designated 22 in Fig. 1, is located approximately opposite to the pressure chamber, the working chamber increasing in size with respect to each roller as a roller moves towards this location so that fuel flows into each working chamber as a result of the increase in volume and the pressure drop caused thereby. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, fuel flows into the suction region 22 in accordance with the arrows A and is then fed under pressure to the pressure chamber 21 which is located nearer to the region at which the pump part 1 is connected to the motor part 2. In detail, the construction of the fuel feed unit illustrated in Fig. 1 is such that the end flange 4 adjacent to the pump part 1 is such that the end flange 4 adjacent to the pump part 1 has an axially extended peripheral surface 23 to which a pump flange can be secured.The pump flange is formed by an extension 1 6a of the pump base plate 16. A recess 24 is also provided in this extension and communicates with the pressure chamber region 21 and opens into an opening 25 in the flange 4 or alternatively in the pump housing. The pressurised fuel delivered by the pump part flows into the interior of the motor part 2 through the opening 25. The base plate 16, the intermediate plate 1 7 and the support plate 1 8 of the pump part 1 can be held together by means of bolts, one of which bolts is illustrated at 26.

The pump has either fixed axles or rotating shafts. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment having a fixed axle 20 which is pressed into a bore 27 in.the base plate 16. The pump rotor or the grooved disc 1 9 is rotatably mounted on the axle 20 by means of a suitable bearing 28'.

The rotary drive of the grooved disc 1 9 is effected from the support plate side, namely by means of a suitable angular drive 28 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is effected by means of bevel gears 28a, 28b which are arranged at right angles to one another. The bevel gear 28a is rigidly mounted on the shaft 1 3 of the electric motor which is guided through a central bore 4a in front end flange 4, a seal 29 being disposed within the cup-shaped, widened bore 4b in the flange in order to prevent pressurised fuel from emerging from the motor housing other than out of the pressure connection piece 5a.

The bevel gear 28a transmits its torque to the bevel gear 28bwhich is mounted on a sleeve 30 which is located on the axle 20. Alternatively bevel gear 28b can be journalled on the grooved disc 1 9 and the bearing 28' thereof, that is to say, it is secured to the grooved disc in a suitable manner. The bevel gear 28b has an extension, namely one or several driver pins 31, which engages a recess 32 in the grooved disc 1 9 and thus drives the latter. An essential feature of the embodiment of Fig. 1 is that the pump part, namely its base plate 1 6 in the present instance, is mounted radially on the circumference of the motor part 2 either on the housing or on the flange 4, and can be secured in any desired manner by, for example, bolts or the like.At least the suction region 22 is free from any covering influences or walls originating from the motor part.

In contrast to this, a drive connection which includes an angular coupling, is not required in the embodiment of Fig. 2, since the pump part 1' is offset axially parallel relative to the motor part 2', there being no need to describe the motor part 2' in detail since its construction is always substantially identical disregarding, of course, the flange or end cover which is located at the pump side and whose construction in each case depends upon the method of securing the pump part and the way in which the latter is arranged relative to the motor part. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the pump part 1', namely the base plate 33 thereof, is mounted on the end face of the motor part 2', namely on the flange 34 which seals the motor space at the end remote from the pressure connection (not illustrated).The armature shaft 13' is again journalled in selfaligning bearings 11' and rotates under the influence of the electro-magnetic force exerted by the armature of the motor.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the pump axle 35 is again rigidly pressed into the base plate 33, the base plate 33 having an axial extension for securely mounting the axle 35. The injermediate plate 36 is contiguous with the base plate 33 and its bore receives the rotary-grooved disc 37. The intermediate plate 36 is extended at one side, namely at 36a, in the same manner as the support plate 38 is extended at 38a. These extensions 36a, 38a have at least one bore by means of which they are bolted to the base plate 33. The base plate 33 has a lateral, radial extension 39 which extends substantially across the end flange 34 of the motor part 2', the base plate 33 also being secured to the motor flange by means of the said extension, as is indicated by at least one bolt 48 in Fig. 2.The other end of the base plate 33 projects laterally or radially beyond a circumferential projection of the housing 3' of the motor part 2' to an extent that the pump part 1' is effectively located adjacent to the motor housing. An axial passage 40 in the base plate 43 connects the pressure chamber 21' of the rollercell pump to the opening 41 in the end flange 34. It will be seen that, in this embodiment, the suction region 22' is also fully exposed on both sides of intermediate plate 36, the normal installation position in this embodiment being such that the pressure side (not illustrated) of the motor part 2' is at the top. Here also, the pump rotor 37 is again rotated by means of a driver 42 which is preferably integrally formed with a gear wheel 43 which is journalled on the axle 35 by means of individual bearing sleeve 44.The gear wheel meshes with an externally located gear wheel 45 secured to the stub shaft 1 3a' of the motor part 2' which extends beyond the extension 39 of the base plate, the gear wheel 45 being secured to the stub shaft by, for example, keys or splines so as to be nonrotatable thereto. The two inter-meshing gear wheels 43 and 45 are in the form of spur gears and have axial extensions 45a, 43a of sufficient length to ensure reliable journalling on the stub shafts. In this embodiment, the seal 29' is located in an enlarged part 46 of the bore in the extension 39 of the base plate, through which shaft 13' extends. Finally, Fig.

2 shows a holding device 47 for the selfaligning bearing 11', the holding device 47 being secured to internal projections 34a of the flange 34, and one of the screw connections 48 which connect the spacer plate 39 to the end face of the flange 34. Here also, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the flange 34 is held on the housing 3' of the motor part 2' by means of a flanged portion 50 with a suitable seal 49 interposed therebetween.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the axially parallel offset of the axle 51 of the pump part relative to the motor shaft 13" is retained, although the pump part 1" is displaced inwardly towards the motor axle 13" in comparison with the embodiment of Fig. 2 to an extent that only the suction region 22" projects freely outwardly beyond the motor part and, without covering walls, renders it possible to discharge vapour bubbles, formed in the suction region of the pump, without difficulty. The axle 51 of the pump part 1" is fixed in this embodiment also and is held and mounted by means of the end flange 52 which is remote from the pressure connection (not illustrated) of the motor part 2" and which is thickened for this purpose and which has an off-centre bore 53 for receiving the axle 51.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, rotatable parts which are directly subjected to a rotary drive are not located to the outside of the motor and pump parts but are formed by an internal gear wheel and pinion assembly, the driver 55 for the grooved disc 56 also being integrally formed with the pinion 54 in the present instance. The pump part 1" is again in the form of a roller-cell pump and, in the present instance, its base plate 57 is a flat plate which is bolted to the end flange 52 as is indicated at 58. The base plate 57 has a through bore 57a through which the pinion 54 and its driver 55 extend in order to drive the pump rotor 56. In this embodiment, the base plate 57 does not serve to mount the axle 51, this purpose being served by the outer support disc 59 and the intermediate plate 60 which are bolted to the base plate 57 as is indicated at 61.It will be appreciated that a plurality of bolts are, as far as necessary, arranged around the circumference. This also applies to the other embodiments. As already mentioned, the entire drive for the pump rotor 56 is of enclosed construction.

Thus, the end flange 52 has a recess 62 directed outwardly from housing 3', which serves to accommodate a gear wheel 63 secured to the motor shaft 13". The gear wheel 63 then meshes with the pinion 54 which is arranged radially adjacent to the gear wheel 63. The gear wheel 63 and the pinion 64 have spur teeth. The gear wheel 63 is rotated by the shaft 13" by means of a central slot 64, provided in the shaft 13", onto which the gear wheel 63 is slipped. It will be appreciated that, here also, it is possible to connect the gear wheel rigidly to the shaft by other means such as keys or the like.

The pressure chamber 65 of the pump opens into a through bore 66 which is provided in the base plate 57 and which merges into a transversely extending passage 67 which is concealed by the bolt 61 and from which the pressurised fuel finally flows into the interior of the motor housing through the opening 68. The end flange 52 is held in position by the bore 69 with an interposed seal 70. Since, in this embodiment, the entire pressure region is enclosed, for example by the support plate 59 acting as a cover, a pressure seal is not required between the motor part 2" and the pump part 1" in this particular embodiment.

Finally, the embodiments illustrated in Figs.

4a and 4b show possibilities of off-setting the pump part relative to the motor part, the axles or shafts of the two parts forming an angle as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the angle being an obtuse angle in the present instance. Since the motor part 2" in the two embodiments is constructed in the manner already described with reference to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the construction of the electric motor will not be discussed in detail. The two embodiments shown in Figs. 4a and 4b have the common feature that the flange remote from the pressure connection of the motor housing is in the form of part of an angled member 71, one limb of which member seals the motor part and the other assumes the function of the base plate of the pump.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4a, the angled member 71 has a first portion 71 a which seals the motor housing remote from the pressure connection (not illustrated), and which incorporates a central bore 72 through which motor shaft 13" extends, motor shaft 13" being journalled in self-aligning bearings.

Angled member 71 has a second portion 71 b which is formed integrally with the first portion and which is at an acute angle thereto and which is of base-plate-like construction, said second portion 71 b together with a connection flange portion 71 C, forming the through passage 72 through which the pressurised fuel fed by the pump part 1"' flows into the interior space of the motor housing.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) angled member 71 is formed in two parts.

The pump suction region 22' in Fig. 4a is therefore of exposed construction and is not surrounded by any boundary walls. The pressure chamber 21' communicates with the connection passage 72 (already mentioned) in the angled member. The intermediate plate 73 is mounted on the angular flange 71, namely on the base plate portion 71 b thereof, and accommodates the pump rotor 74 in its internal bore in a conventional manner. The outer support plate 75 completes the construction of the pump portion 1"'. The pump shaft in these embodiments is, of course, of freely rotating construction and is guided with only a small amount of clearance in a long bearing bush 76 in the axially extended bore in the base plate portion 71 b of the angled member.The shaft 77 of the pump part 1"', journalled in this manner, then carries at one end the pump rotor 74 or at least has one driver-like, radially projecting lug 77a which engages a recess 78 in the grooved disc 74 of the roller-cell pump and drives the grooved disc. The motor is connected to the pump by means of any suitable drive connection which provides an angled coupling, e.g. bevel gears, knuckle joints, universal joints. In the embodiment of Fig. 4a, a bevel gear drive mechanism 79 is provided and comprises a first bevel gear 97a which is secured to the motor shaft 13" and a second bevel gear 79b which is rigidly secured to the shaft 77 of the pump part 1" by, for example, two shaft extensions 80a, 80b which form a central slot therebetween and are guided in complementary reception openings in the bevel gear 79b on the pump side.This bevel gear 79b is secured against axial displacement by means of a spring ring 81 and a washer. The seal 29' is located in a bore disposed in the first flange portion 71 a adjacent to the self-aligning bearing 11" and prevents egress of the pressurised medium located in the interior space of the motor. Here also, the flange portion 71 a is secured to the motor housing by means of a flange 83 and a seal 82.

The embodiment of Fig. 4b differs from the embodiment of Fig. 4a only in that the drive connection between the motor and the pump is a universal joint 84 which takes up more space, so that the angled member 71' is also correspondingly deep-drawn and forms a longer intermediate connection region 71c' between the flange portion 71 a' covering the motor and the base plate portion 711)'. Other identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. The universal joint connection 84 comprises a first sleeve 84a which widens upwardly (as viewed in Fig. 4b) and provides space for the universal joint connection and which is arranged on the rotating shaft 77' of the pump part 1" so as to be non-rotatable relative thereto.The sleeve 84a incorporates bores 85a, 85b which are located opposite to one another and which are engaged by two pins 87 which extend from a central body 86. A third pin 88 is staggered through 90 relative to the pins 87 and engages second bores 89a, 89b which are stagered through 90 relative to the first bores and which are formed by a bifurcated drive member 90 which is rigidly secured to the engine shaft 13".

All the embodiments have the common feature that the entire pump, at least the suction region of the pump is disposed largely freely in the fuel, thus eliminating problems which occur during the intake operation and which occur chiefly during the feeding of hot petrol. Furthermore, an important advantage of the basic conception of the present invention is that optional types of construction adapted to the prevailing conditions can be realised by the variable arrangements and correlation of pump to motor, and, in particular, simplified assembly can be achieved since separate pre-assemblies are possible.

All the novel features described in the specification and in the following claims and illustrated in the drawings can be essential to the invention both individually and in any optional combination.

Claims (29)

1. A fuel feed unit for motor vehicles and the like which comprises a pump system and an electric motor for driving the latter, the unit being suitable for installing in a fuel tank, a drive shaft or axle of at least one pump part, being offset relative to a drive shaft of the electric motor, and at least one partial region of the pump part being arranged to project freely relative to the housing of the electric motor, a passage-like connection existing between a further region of the pump part and the interior of the electric motor.

2. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 1, in which said at least one partial region of the pump part includes the suction region of the pump, and with the exception of the suction region the essential parts of the pump part are located within a projected boundary of the motor.

3. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the essential parts of the pump part are located outside a projected boundary of the motor part.

4. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 2, in which the drive shaft or axle of the pump part and drive shaft of the motor extend axially parallel to one another.

5. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claims 3 and 4, in which when the drive shaft or axle of the pump part and the drive shaft of the motor extend axially parallel, and essential regions of the pump are arranged outside a projected boundary of the motor, the rotary drive of the pump part is effected by external drive means.

6. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 3, in which the drive shaft or axle of the pump part forms a right angle or an otherwise obtuse angle, with the motor drive shaft.

7. A fuel feed unit claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 6, in which the pump part is mounted laterally on a circumferential region of the motor.

8. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, in which the end face of the pump part is mounted on a radial end surface of the motor.

9. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 7, in which the motor has a cup-shaped housing which has an end flange which serves to secure associated parts of said pump part.

10. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claims 7 and 9, in which the end flange extending beyond the motor housing has on its periphery a stop surface to which a flange of the said pump part is secured.

11. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 10, in which the end flange has a central through bore for accommodating a selfaligning bearing for the drive shaft of the electric motor and for the outwardly guided shaft on which is secured a drive coupling which transmits torque and which is operatively connected to a rotatable member of said pump part.

1 2. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, in which said pump part comprises a roller-cell pump comprising a base plate an intermediate plate a support plate and a grooved disc which rotates in'an internal bore in the intermediate plate.

1 3. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 12, in which when the drive shaft or axle of the said pump part and the drive shaft of the motor intersect one another at right angles, the external base plate has an extension by means of which the pump part abuts against a peripheral stop surfaced formed by an end flange which closes the motor housing, the intermediate plate and the support plate being bolted to the base plate.

14. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 13, in which when the drive shaft or axle of the pump part and the drive shaft of the motor are offset relative to one another at an angle, an angled drive coupling is provided between the two pump parts and said motor.

1 5. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 1 3 or 14, in which the drive connection between the pump part and the motor, is formed by two bevel gears.

1 6 A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 15, in which the axle of the pump part is fixedly pressed into a reception bore in a base plate forming part of said pump, and the bevel gear for driving a grooved disc of said pump part by way of a driver, is mounted together with said grooved disc, on the axle by means of bearings.

1 7. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 16, in which a passage leads from a pressure chamber of the pump part to a radial through bore in an end flange which closes the motor housing, the passage being provided in an extension of the base plate for the purpose of feeding fuel to the motor.

1 8. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 17, in which the pump part has a base plate which has a lateral extension by means of which the base plate is mounted on the end face of an end flange which closes the motor housing at least the pump drive shaft or axle being held in the base plate and located outside a projected boundary of the housing of the motor, an intermediate plate and a support plate of the pump part being mounted on the base plate with the pump drive shaft or axle axially parallel to the motor drive shaft, the end of which is guided through the said end flange an external pair of gear wheels being provided for driving a grooved disc which forms a rotor of the pump a driver being formed on the pump gear wheel to connect the pump gear wheel with the pump rotor.

1 9. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 18, in which the pump drive axle is pressed into an extended bore in the base plate.

20. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 1 8 or 19, in which a seal is arranged in a widened bore which is incorporated in the radialy mounted extension of the base plate and which is disposed concentrically with a bearing supporting the motor drive shaft.

21. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one of the claims 1 7 to 20, in which the base plate has an axial passage which connects a pressure chamber of the pump to an opening in the end flange of the motor.

22. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 21, in which an end flange of the motor housing, which is remote from a pressure connection of the motor, has an off-centre reception opening for an axle of the pump part and a base plate of the pump part is a flat plate bolted to the end flange.

23. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim .22, in which at least one of the mutually facing surfaces of the end flange and base plate form a recess in which is disposed an internal gear wheel and pinion assembly for driving a grooved disc which forms the rotor of the pump.

24. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 23, in which the drive pinion for driving the grooved disc is mounted on a bearing of the axle rigidly seated in the end flange and is disposed within a through bore in the base plate, and there is formed on the pinion a driver which engages a reception drive opening in the grooved disc, which disc is mounted axially further outwardly on the axle also by means of a bearing.

25. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 24, in which when the axles or shafts of the pump part and the drive shaft of the motor part are arranged at an obtuse angle relative to one another, an end flange closing the motor housing is in the form of part of an angled member having a first portion serving to close the motor housing and a second portion which at the same time assumes the function of a base plate for the pump part.

26. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 25 in which a fuel pressure passage extends from a pressure chamber of the pump part to the interior of the motor through said angled member via an angled connection piece between the two flange portions.

27. A fuel feed unit as claimed in claim 25 or 26, in which an intermediate plate with an internal grooved disc and an outer support plate are mounted on, and secured to, the base portion of the said angled member which is arranged at an angle to the end flange portion and the shaft which carries at one end a drive means associated with the drive shaft of the motor and, at the other end, the grooved disc is guided in a longer bearing bush which is held in a bore in the base plate portion.

28. A fuel feed unit as claimed in any one of the claims 25 to 27, in which the angled drive connection between the motor shaft and the shaft or axle of the pump part is a bevel wheel gear a universal joint transmission ar rangement a Cardan gear or the like.

29. A fuel feed unit for motor vehicles and the like, construction and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, or Fig. 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4a, or Fig. 4b, of the accompanying drawings.