In-tank fuel pump and reservoir

Abstract

An electric fuel pump and valve-controlled canister reservoir assembly mounted directly in a vehicle fuel tank with a pump main fuel inlet connected with a primary fuel filter disposed in the bottom of the tank. A pump fuel outlet supplies fuel for a vehicle engine and communicates through an engine bypass system with the canister reservoir to accumulate a reserve supply of fuel. The reservoir canister communicates with the pump inlet through a secondary filter and an inertia/gravity-activated valve module having a free rolling activator ball and associated can-like valve member cooperative with a large diameter annular valve seat to provide a sensitive valve with a large flow controlling cross-sectional area. The valve module thus provides an auxiliary supply of fuel to the pump inlet, preferably in bypass flow relation to the primary in-tank filter, and at a high flow rate when there is an interruption of fuel from the tank to the primary filter caused by adverse vehicle motion and/or orientation. The reservoir canister also may include an upright standpipe having an upper inlet opening at an elevation somewhat below the open top of the canister. The lower end of the standpipe opens to the valve chamber of the module to admit fuel to the pump inlet in bypass, always-open, flow relation with the module valve member and also in bypass flow relation to the primary filter.