Fuel sender assembly

A fuel sender assembly for use in a fuel tank, said fuel sender assembly comprising

• a mounting plate mounted in the fuel tank,
• an electric fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank, and
• an electrical connection for connecting the electric fuel pump to an external power source, said electrical connection comprising
• a socket member mounted in the mounting plate and comprising an insulative body having an axis, said insulative body comprising a socket face within the fuel tank, a socket wall extending axially about the socket face and receptacles opening at the socket face and extending axially therefrom, said socket further comprising electrical contacts within said insulative body in communication with said receptacles spaced apart from said socket face and adapted for connection to an external power source, and
• a plug element coaxially mounted on the fuel pump and including a plug face facing the socket face, electrical terminals axially protruding from the plug face received within the receptacles in sliding contact with said contacts, and a plug wall axially extending from the plug face spaced apart from the terminals and sealingly engaging the socket wall.

A fuel sender assembly for use in a fuel tank, said fuel sender assembly comprising

• a mounting plate mounted in the fuel tank,
• an electric fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank, and
• an electrical connection for connecting the electric fuel pump to an external power source, said electrical connection comprising
• a socket member mounted in the mounting plate and having an axis, said socket comprising an insulative body having a socket face within the fuel tank perpendicular to the axis, socket wall axially about the socket face and at least two receptacles axially extending from the socket face, said socket further comprising at least two electrical contacts embedded within said insulative body, each said contact communicating with a said receptacle spaced apart from said socket face by a predetermined distance and coupled to a lead outside said fuel tank for connection to the external power source, and
• a plug mounted on the fuel pump and including a plug face confronting the socket face and at least two electrical terminals having a terminal height from the plug face, each said terminal being axially received within one said receptacle in sliding contact with said contact therein, said plug further comprising a wall element surrounding said terminals and sealingly engaging the peripheral wall, said wall having a wall height from said plug face greater than said terminal height and sufficient to maintain said sealing engagement with said peripheral wall despite axial displacement of the plug face from the socket face by a distance sufficient to break contact between said terminals and said contacts.