US 4,532,893 A · Electronically controlled fuel pump

Abstract

The disclosure illustrates an electronically controlled fuel pump in which the microprocessor is cooled by the fuel extending to the inlet of a positive displacement pump. The cooling passage has a labyrinth flow path and the heat sinks of the microprocessor transfer heat to the passage through conduction. An auxiliary pump causes fuel to flow through the heat exchange passage during certain conditions, such as shutdown, to maintain the temperature of the microprocessor below a predetermined maximum. Transducers and other control elements associated with the microprocessor are maintained in a cavity in the fuel pump to protect them from the environment and a pivotal connection with appropriate placement of the leads is provided in the housing for ready access to these transducers and control elements.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In a fuel system for an internal combustion engine having injectors which meter fuel to said engine, a fuel pump comprising:

means for forming a housing;
engine driven pump means within said housing means, and having an inlet, for pressurizing fuel;
electronic control means mounted within said housing for generating an electrical signal as a function of selected control inputs, and
means for providing a passage for fuel through said housing from an external source to the inlet of said pump means and to the exterior of said housing, at least a portion of said passage means being in heat transfer relation to said electronic control means whereby fuel is used to cool said electronic control means and auxiliary pump means connected to said passage means for pressurizing fuel for establishing a flow of fuel through said passage means and means for actuating said auxiliary pump means whenever a selected temperature in said housing means exceeds a predetermined limit above the temperature that occurs during operation of said engine driven pump means irrespective of operation of said engine driven pump means.

1 more element

In a fuel system for an internal combustion engine having injectors which meter fuel to said engine, a fuel pump comprising:

means for forming a housing;
pump means in a first zone within said housing means, and having an inlet, for pressurizing fuel;
electronic control means comprising circuit means mounted on a planar circuit board in a third zone within said housing means and transducers and other control elements for sensing and controlling selected operating parameters and mounted in said first zone, said electronic control means generating an electrical signal as a function of selected control inputs, and
means for providing a passage for fuel through said housing from an external source to the inlet of said pump means in a second zone of said housing between the first and third zones, at least a portion of said passage means being in heat transfer relation to said electronic control means whereby fuel is used to cool said electronic control means,
said second zone including a cavity in which said transducers and control elements are received, said second zone being pivotally mounted to said first zone whereby access may be had to said transducers and other control elements.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronically controlled fuel pump

Life of this patent

Electronically controlled fuel pump

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11