Title of Invention

A RESERVOIR STRUCTURE OF A FUEL DELIVERY UNIT FOR A DIESEL VEHICLE

Abstract A reservoir structure of a fuel suction unit or pump module for a diesel vehicle is provided. The reservoir structure includes a reservoir (10) having a bottom surface (14). A primary opening (12) is provided in the bottom surface for permitting fuel to pass from a fuel tank of the vehicle into the reservoir. A secondary opening (16) is provided in the reservoir (10) that is elevated from the bottom surface (14). A valve member (18) is associated with the secondary opening (16). The valve member (18) is constructed and arranged to close the secondary opening under certain pressure conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir different from the certain pressure conditions, to permit fuel to enter the reservoir through the secondary opening in the event the primary opening is substantially blocked.
Full Text ELEVATED FIRST FILL VALVE IN
SUCTION DIESEL UNITS AND PUMP MODULES
This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/742,443, filed on December 5, 2005, which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates fuel supply units for diesel fueled vehicles and, more
particularly, to a valve structure in reservoir of a suction diesel unit that is elevated
from a bottom surface of the reservoir.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Diesel fuel has the tendency to collect water which potentially will sink to the bottom
of a fuel reservoir of a vehicle and freeze or create a waxing layer under cold
conditions. Such freezing or the creation of a waxing layer may block a primary fill
valve in the bottom of the reservoir and thus prevent a diesel suction unit from
operating with the result being that the vehicle will not prime with fuel.
Accordingly, there is a need provide a fill valve elevated from a reservoir bottom to
ensure priming of a vehicle during cold operating conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In
accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by
providing a reservoir structure of a fuel delivery structure for a diesel vehicle. The
reservoir structure includes a fuel reservoir having a bottom surface. A primary fill
opening is provided in the bottom surface for permitting fuel to pass from a fuel tank
of the vehicle into the reservoir. A secondary fill opening is provided in the reservoir

and is elevated from the bottom surface. A first valve member is associated with the
primary fill opening to close the primary fill opening under certain pressure
conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir different
from the certain pressure conditions, to permit fuel to enter the reservoir through the
primary fill opening. A second valve member is associated with the secondary fill
opening to close the secondary fill opening under certain pressure conditions in the
reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir different from the certain
pressure conditions, to permit fuel to enter the reservoir through the secondary fill
opening in the event the primary opening is substantially blocked.
Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the
methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the
combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent
upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with
reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top view of a bottom of a fuel reservoir of a diesel suction unit including a
primary fill opening and an elevated fill opening in accordance with the principles of
an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. ,1a is a sectional view showing a valve associated with the primary fill opening
in the reservoir of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the elevated fill opening of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of the reservoir of FIG. 1 showing a valve member
associated with the elevated fill opening to define an elevated fill valve structure.
FIG. 4 shows the elevated fill valve structure of FIG. 3 in relation to a suction tube for
priming an engine.
FIG. 5 is a view of another embodiment of an elevated fill valve structure employed
in a pump module, shown partially cut-away.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the fill valve structure of the pump module of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIGs. 1 and 4 a reservoir structure, generally indicated at 10,
includes a reservoir 11 having a primary fill opening 12 in a bottom surface 14
thereof. It is noted that FIG. 1 shows only a bottom portion of the reservoir 11. A
conventional elastomer umbrella-type valve member 13 (FIG. 1a) is associated with
the primary fill opening 12 that permits fuel to be drawn into the reservoir 11 via
suction created by a suction unit having a suction tube 24 (FIG. 4) in the
conventional manner. As noted above, since the primary opening 12 is on the
bottom 14 of the reservoir, ice may form to block the opening 12 and prevent fuel
from entering the reservoir 11 and thus prevent priming of a vehicle engine.
In accordance with the principles of the invention and as best shown in FIGS. 1-3, a
secondary opening (or openings) 16 is provided in the reservoir 10 that is elevated
from the bottom surface 14. As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional elastomer umbrella-
type valve member 18 is coupled to the reservoir via opening 20 and is thus
associated with the opening(s) 16. Thus, the opening 16 and associated valve
member 18 define an elevated fill valve structure 22. The valve members 13 and
18 can be of any configuration that is constructed and arranged to close the
associated opening under certain pressure conditions in the reservoir 10 and under
different pressure conditions in the reservoir, to move or deform to permit fuel to
enter the reservoir 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fill valve structure 22 ensures that a suction unit (only tube
24 shown) still, will operate and a vehicle will prime since the opening 16 of the fill
valve structure 22 is elevated with respect to bottom surface 14 of the reservoir 11
and thus above ice 23. Thus, the opening 16 is either higher, on the same level as,
or lower than the suction tube 24 of the suction unit inside the reservoir 11. The
exact location of the opening 16 depends on tank geometry. In the illustrated
embodiment, the opening 16 is at the same height D as the bottom opening 25 of
the suction tube 24 with reference to a bottom surface 26 of a fuel tank.
As best shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the fill valve structure 22 defines a fuel pocket 19
between the bottom 14 of the reservoir and the bottom 26 of the fuel tank. The
pocket 19 is defined by a step 21 in the bottom 14. The openings 16 communicate
with the pocket 19 and thus the fill valve structure will still function when the primary
valve 13 associated with openings 12 in the reservoir bottom 14 are iced or waxed
up.
Although the fill valve structure 22 is described for use in diesel suction units, the fill
valve structure 22 can be employed in conventional diesel fuel pump modules.
Thus, as shown in FIGs. 5 and 6, the elevated fill valve structure 22 is provided in a
reservoir 31 of a pump module, generally indicated at 30. The module 30 has a fuel
pump 32 that draws fuel from a fuel tank 33 into the reservoir 31. A filter 35 is
associated with the fuel pump 32. The fill valve structure 22 is elevated from the
bottom 34 the swirl pot, and will still function and let diesel fuel pass into the
reservoir 31 when the primary valve (not shown) in the reservoir bottom is iced up or
waxed up. The elevated fill valve structure 22 needs to be positioned slightly below
the pump inlet filter top surface to allow the diesel fuel to get into the pump inlet.
The elevated fill valve structure 22 has been described for use in diesel fuel
applications, but can be employed in reservoirs using any fuels wherein icing may be
an issue.

The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the
purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present
invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred
embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles.
Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit of
the following claims.

What is claimed is:
1. A reservoir structure of a fuel delivery structure for a diesel vehicle, the
reservoir structure including:
a fuel reservoir having a bottom surface,
a primary fill opening in the bottom surface for permitting fuel to
pass from a fuel tank of the vehicle into the reservoir,
a secondary fill opening in the reservoir that is elevated from the
bottom surface,
a first valve member associated with the primary fill opening
constructed and arranged to close the primary fill opening under certain
pressure conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the
reservoir different from the certain pressure conditions, to permit fuel to
enter the reservoir through the primary fill opening, and
a second valve member associated with the secondary fill
opening constructed and arranged to close the secondary fill opening
under certain pressure conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure
conditions in the reservoir different from the certain pressure conditions, to
permit fuel to enter the reservoir through the secondary fill opening in the
event the primary opening is substantially blocked.
2. The reservoir structure of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second
valve members is of generally umbrella shape and comprised of elastomer
material.
3. The reservoir structure of claim 1, wherein the secondary opening is
associated with a pocket in the bottom of the reservoir.
4. The reservoir structure of claim 3, wherein the pocket is defined by a step
in the bottom of the reservoir.

5. The reservoir structure of claim 1, in combination with a suction tube in the
reservoir, the suction tube being constructed and arranged to be coupled
with a suction unit to draw fuel under certain conditions into the reservoir
via at least the secondary fill opening.
6. The combination of claim 5, in further combination with a fuel tank, the
reservoir resting on a bottom surface of the fuel tank.
7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the secondary fill opening and a
bottom opening of the suction tube are generally at the same height with
respect to the bottom surface of the fuel tank.
8. The reservoir structure of claim 1, in combination with a pump module
including a fuel pump disposed in the reservoir, the fuel pump being
constructed and arranged to draw fuel under certain conditions into the
reservoir via at least the secondary fill opening.
9 A reservoir structure of a fuel delivery structure for a diesel vehicle, the
reservoir structure including:
a fuel reservoir having a bottom surface,
first means for permitting fuel to pass from a fuel tank of the
vehicle into the reservoir,
second means in the reservoir for permitting fuel to pass from
the fuel tank into the reservoir that is elevated from the bottom surface,
means for closing the first means under certain pressure
conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir
different from the certain pressure conditions, for permitting fuel to enter
the reservoir through the first means, and
means for closing the second means under certain pressure
conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir
different from the certain pressure conditions, for permitting fuel to enter
the reservoir through the second means in the event the first means is
substantially blocked.

10. The reservoir structure of claim 9, wherein each of the means for closing
is a valve member of generally umbrella shape comprised of elastomer
material.
11. The reservoir structure of claim 9, wherein the second means is an
opening in the reservoir that is associated with a pocket in the bottom of
the reservoir.
12. The reservoir structure of claim 11, wherein the pocket is defined by a
step in the bottom of the reservoir.
13. The reservoir structure of claim 9, in combination with a suction tube in the
reservoir, the suction tube being constructed and arranged to be coupled
with a suction unit to draw fuel under certain conditions into the reservoir
via at least the second means.
14. The combination of claim 13, in further combination with a fuel tank, the
reservoir resting on a bottom surface of the fuel tank.
15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the second means is an opening in
the reservoir and wherein the opening and a bottom opening of the suction
tube are generally at the same height with respect to the bottom surface of
the fuel tank.
16. The reservoir structure of claim 9, in combination with a pump module
including a fuel pump disposed in the reservoir, the fuel pump being
constructed and arranged to draw fuel under certain conditions into the
reservoir via at least the second means.

A reservoir structure of a fuel suction unit or pump module for a diesel vehicle is provided. The reservoir structure includes a reservoir (10) having a bottom surface (14). A primary opening (12) is provided in the bottom surface for permitting fuel to pass from a fuel
tank of the vehicle into the reservoir. A secondary opening (16) is provided in the reservoir (10) that is elevated from the bottom surface (14). A valve member (18) is associated with the secondary opening (16). The
valve member (18) is constructed and arranged to close the secondary opening under certain pressure conditions in the reservoir and, under pressure conditions in the reservoir different from the certain pressure conditions, to permit fuel to enter the reservoir through the secondary opening in the event the primary
opening is substantially blocked.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=oMz3+BThKw10VwRdYvawVw==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 272214
Indian Patent Application Number 1944/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 14/2016
Publication Date 01-Apr-2016
Grant Date 22-Mar-2016
Date of Filing 15-May-2008
Name of Patentee CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEM US, INC.
Applicant Address ONE CONTINENTAL DRIVE AUBURN HILLS, MI
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 REICHELT, SABINE GRENZSTR. 6 63110 RODGAU
2 NEDEREGGER, MATTHIAS 552 MISTY BROOK LANE ROCHESTER HILLS, MICHIGAN 48307
3 SIPPEL, THOMAS AM BAHNHOF 28 36037 FULDA
PCT International Classification Number B60K 15/04
PCT International Application Number PCT/US2006/046163
PCT International Filing date 2006-12-05
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 11/605,228 2006-11-29 U.S.A.
2 60/742,443 2005-12-05 U.S.A.