# US 11,305,643 B2 · Fuel delivery unit, fuel delivery system and vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,643 B2 - Document ID: US11305643B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/058,922 - Filed: 2019-05-29 - Published: 2021-07-15 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-29 - Assignees: Vitesco Technologies GmbH - Applicants: Vitesco Technologies GmbH - Inventors: Jens Rauber; Marcus Koch; Ingo Kotza - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305643B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks - F02M 37/0076: {Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank (vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/03)} - B60R 16/0207: {Wire harnesses} - F02M 37/0088: {Multiple separate fuel tanks or tanks being at least partially partitioned} - F02M 37/08: electrically driven - F02M 37/10: submerged in fuel, e.g. in reservoir - F16L 35/00: Special arrangements used in connection with end fittings of hoses, e.g. safety or protecting devices - B60K 2015/03118: {Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks} - B60K 2015/03243: {characterised by special pumps, the mounting thereof} - F02M 2200/185: means for improving crash safety - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A fuel delivery unit for use within a vehicle fuel tank includes: a surge tank arranged on a wall of the fuel tank, a feed line extending from a region of the surge tank to a connector stub on the flange, and a wiring harness extending from the fuel pump to the flange. A flange-side holder forms a first force application point for fixing the wiring harness on a flange side, and a surge tank-side holder forms a second force application point for fixing the wiring harness on the surge tank side. The wiring harness, the flange-side holder and the surge tank-side holder together form a force absorber configured to protect the feed line and the connector stub during a vehicle impact by absorbing kinetic energy from the impact acting on the fuel delivery unit, thereby dissipating the kinetic energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel delivery unit (2) for use within a fuel tank of a vehicle, having: a surge tank (4) arranged on a wall of the fuel tank, wherein a fuel pump for delivering a liquid fuel from the surge tank (4) is arranged in the surge tank (4), a flange (6) arranged in an opening of the fuel tank, at least one support (8), arranged between the surge tank (4) and the flange (6), a flexible fuel line, configured as a feed line (10) and extending from a region of the surge tank (4) to a connector stub (12) on the flange (6), a wiring harness (18), which extends from the fuel pump to the flange (6), at least one flange-side holder (24), configured to form a first force application point for fixing the wiring harness (18) on the flange side, and at least one surge tank-side holder (26, 28), which is on the surge tank side and is configured to form a second force application point for fixing the wiring harness (18) on the surge tank side, wherein, the wiring harness (18), the at least one flange-side holder and the at least one surge tank-side holder (24, 26, 28) together form a force absorber configured to protect the feed line (10) and the connector stub (12) during a vehicle impact, wherein the wiring harness length between the at least one flange-side holder (24) and the at least one surge tank-side holder (26, 28) is shorter than the length of the feed line (10), such that, during the vehicle impact, as a result of which the surge tank (4) and the flange (6) move away from one another, the wiring harness length between the at least one flange-side holder (24) and the at least one surge tank-side holder (26, 28) is subjected to a tensile load so as to absorb kinetic energy acting on the fuel delivery unit (2) and thereby dissipate the kinetic energy, without the feed line (10), or the connector stub (12) to which it is connected, breaking off at the flange (6). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one flange-side holder (24) and/or the at least one surge tank-side holder (26, 28) are/is situated between the electric terminals of the wiring harness (18). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connector (26) is attached in a fixed manner on the surge tank side to the surge tank (4) and/or in a region of the surge tank in the form of at least one loose connector between the wiring harness (18) and at least one further fuel line (14, 16). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the loose connector is attached between the wiring harness (18) and a first and second fuel line (14, 16), wherein the first fuel line (14) connects the fuel pump to a pressure regulator or to a fine fuel filter and wherein the second fuel line (16) connects the fuel pump to an ejector pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the loose connector is a cable tie. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one flange-side holder (24) is attached in a fixed manner to the flange (6) on the flange side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one surge tank-side holder (28), and/or the at least one flange-side holder (24) are/is configured as a plastic bracket molded on, or inserted with a clamping action. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the surge tank-side plastic bracket is provided on a wall of the surge tank (4) or in a region of the surge tank (4) on a pump holder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two holders (26, 28), each forming a force application point, are provided on the flange side and/or the surge tank side for force absorption in stages. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A fuel delivery system having a fuel delivery unit (2) as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A vehicle having a fuel delivery system as claimed in claim 10. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the vehicle is configured as a pure internal combustion vehicle or as a partially electric vehicle operable at least temporarily with a liquid fuel.