Electrically heated fuel pick-up assembly for vehicle fuel tanks

In combination with a motor vehicle fuel tank and with an associated engine fuel supply line, a fuel heater assembly comprising:

• a base member attached to said fuel tank;
• an outer tubular member connected at one end to said base member and having its other end disposed within said fuel tank;
• an inner tubular member substantially coextensive with said outer tubular member disposed within said outer tubular member in spaced relationship thereto and being operatively interconnected therewith into an assembly defining a fuel flow passage therebetween having a fuel inlet at said other end and a fuel outlet communicating with said base member;
• said base member having means for establishing fuel communication between said fuel outlet and said engine fuel supply line;
• and
• a heating element disposed between said inner and outer tubular members and extending substantially along the entire length of said flow passage.

A fuel heater assembly immersible into a motor vehicle fuel tank for warming fuel passing therethrough and comprising:

• a base member adapted to be attached to a fuel tank, said base member having passage means adapted to establish fuel communication with an engine fuel supply line;
• an outer tubular member attached at one end to said base member;
• an inner tubular member substantially coextensive with said outer tubular member disposed within said outer tubular member in spaced relationship thereto and defining therewith a fuel path therebetween fluidly communicating at said one end of said outer tubular member with said passage means of said base member, said fuel path having a fuel inlet adjacent the end of said outer tubular member opposite said one end;
• and
• a heating element disposed between said inner and outer tubular member in said fuel path and extending substantially the entire length thereof.