US 5,649,514 A · Fuel supply apparatus

Abstract

A fuel pump and a fuel filter inside a fuel tank and a pressure regulator are supported by a cover closing for an opening of the fuel tank. The fuel sucked by the fuel pump flows into the fuel filter and flows out to the lower side chamber of a filter housing after being filtered by an element. The fuel consumed at the fuel consumption device such as an internal combustion engine is supplied through a fuel passage extending upward from the lower side chamber of the filter housing. On the other hand, water mixed in the fuel is accumulated in the lower side chamber. Especially, glass fibers having high water affinity is mixed in the filter element, so that water is trapped, becomes water drops, and fall to the lower side chamber. Water drops return to the fuel tank with surplus fuel through the pressure regulator disposed at the bottom of the housing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fuel supply apparatus for supplying fuel in a fuel tank to a fuel consumption device, comprising:

a member forming a fuel passage from said fuel tank to said fuel consumption device, said member further forming a separating chamber disposed in said fuel passage to separate said fuel from water, and a return passage open to a lower portion of said separating chamber and extending from said lower portion of said separating chamber;
and
a valve disposed in said return passage for opening or closing a passage from said return passage to said fuel tank according to pressure of said fuel supplied to said fuel consumption device from said fuel tank.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel supply apparatus

Life of this patent

Fuel supply apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20