Walbro Corporation

Paul F Briggs

George H Bucci

Lawrence E Egle

Donald L Drapeau

David E Mroczka

David R Mroczka

Geroge H Bucci

Allan L Tomasco

A fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter module constructed to be connected to a vehicle fuel tank has a body with an integral, radially extending flange constructed to overlie and to be attached to the fuel tank and an integral depending skirt constructed to contain a fuel filter and to define in part an integral fluid passage communicating a fuel pump through the filter with a fuel line attached at one end to the module and through which fuel is delivered to an operating engine. Fuel discharged from the fuel pump flows through the fuel filter before entering the fuel line for delivery to the engine. An inlet of the fuel pressure regulator communicates with the fuel downstream of the fuel filter to bypass excess fuel delivered from the fuel pump through a bypass outlet of the regulator and into the fuel tank. Forming the module with the skirt, fluid passage and mounting flange in an integral, one-piece body of a plastic material substantially eliminates the escape of fuel vapors from the module because there are no seals or connections between separate bodies, as in previous modules, through which fuel vapors may permeate and escape to the atmosphere. Further, the one-piece module is stronger and is more durable during a vehicle crash than are multiple-piece modules which reduces the likelihood that fuel will leak from the fuel tank adjacent the module or through the module during or after such a crash.

Fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter module

A bypass fuel pressure regulator disposed downstream of and in communication with a fuel pump outlet to bypass at least a portion of the outlet fuel from the fuel pump corresponding to the engine's fuel demand. The regulator has a bypass passage with an inlet in communication with the fuel pump outlet and an outlet in communication with the fuel tank. A valve assembly is received in and controls the flow of fuel through the bypass passage. The valve assembly has a disc carried on one end of a stem which has an enlarged valve head adjacent its other end which is movable to open and close an outlet opening of the regulator. The disc is disposed generally transverse to the axis of the bypass passage and upstream of the valve head. The disc has at least one and preferably several openings through which fuel flows into the bypass passage through the disc. A spring is received between the regulator body and the disc to yieldably bias the valve head onto a valve seat to close the regulator outlet. When the fuel pump delivers more fuel than is immediately necessary to operate the engine, the valve head is displaced from the valve seat to return the excess fuel to the fuel tank.

Bypass fuel pressure regulator

A fuel rail is provided with a mounting clip in each mounting foot to allow secure connection of the fuel rail adjacent an engine manifold. The mounting clip is inserted into a mounting foot after the fuel rail has been manufactured and has a flange which overlies the top of the foot. The clip completely receives a bolt therein and when the bolt is tightened transmits a clamping force to the fuel rail through the flange of the clip. Thus, the bolt bears directly on the clip, not the fuel rail, and can be highly torqued without breaking the fuel rail.

Fuel rail mounting clip

A method of making a capacitive pressure sensor preferably for a vehicle fuel system with a flexible diaphragm, spacer and rigid substrate disposed in opposed face-to-face relation in a housing and yieldably urged together by a spring clamp. Electrodes disposed on the immediately adjacent opposed faces of the diaphragm and substrate produce a signal indicative of and varying with changes in the pressure of fluid acting on the diaphragm to displace its central portion relative to the substrate. In operation, through sensor and control circuitry, the speed of a fuel pump is varied to vary and control the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine in response to varying engine operating loads and conditions. To control the flow of fuel, a check valve, pressure relief valve and vent valve may be provided in the housing.

Method of making a capacitive pressure sensor

A fuel pump manifold for a no-return fuel system for an automotive engine. The manifold has inlet and outlet passages with a check valve which opens when fuel is supplied to the engine and closes to prevent reverse flow of fuel when the outlet pressure is greater than the inlet pressure and a vent valve between the outlet and inlet and in parallel with the check valve which is normally closed and opens when the outlet pressure exceeds the inlet pressure by at least a predetermined minimum value which is usually the desired minimum pressure of fuel supplied to the operating engine when idling. Preferably, a normally closed pressure relief valve also communicates with the outlet to relieve overpressure of the outlet fuel supplied to the engine.

Fuel pump manifold

A capacitive pressure sensor preferably for a vehicle fuel system with a flexible diaphragm, spacer and rigid substrate disposed in opposed face-to-face relation in a housing and yieldably urged together by a spring clamp. Electrodes disposed on the immediately adjacent opposed faces of the diaphragm and substrate produce a signal indicative of and varying with changes in the pressure of fluid acting on the diaphragm to displace its central portion relative to the substrate. In operation, through sensor and control circuitry, the speed of a fuel pump is varied to vary and control the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine in response to varying engine operating loads and conditions. To control the flow of fuel, a check valve, pressure relief valve and vent valve may be provided in the housing.

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Wolcott, CT, United States of America

Paul F Briggs