Dual fuel delivery module system for multi-chambered or multiple automotive fuel tanks
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsRolf Fischerkeller, Paul Wickett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel system including first and second tank portions, first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively, a first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion, and a second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion. In one aspect of the invention the first and second tank portions define a bifurcated tank and the first and second crossover fuel lines are housed completely within the bifurcated tank. In another aspect of the invention, the first and second crossover fuel lines extend partially outside the bifurcated tank.
Claims25
A fuel system comprising:
- first and second tank portions;
- first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively;
- a first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion;
- a second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion;
- a first jet pump in the first tank portion communicating with the first crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the first crossover fuel line;
- and
- a second jet pump in the second tank portion communicating with the second crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the second crossover fuel line.
A fuel system comprising:
- first and second tank portions;
- a first fuel reservoir in the first tank portion;
- a second fuel reservoir in the second tank portion;
- first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively, the first fuel pump drawing fuel from one of the first tank portion and the first reservoir and the second fuel pump drawing fuel from one of the second tank portion and the second reservoir;
- a first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion;
- a second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion;
- a first jet pump in the first tank portion communicating with the first crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the first crossover fuel line, the first jet pump having an outlet communicating with the first reservoir;
- and
- a second jet pump in the second tank portion communicating with the second crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the second crossover fuel line, the second jet pump having an outlet communicating with the second reservoir.
A method of delivering fuel to an engine from a fuel tank having a first fuel pump module in a first tank portion and a second fuel pump module in a second tank portion, the first fuel pump module including a first fuel pump, a first jet pump, and a first crossover fuel line communicating between the second tank portion and the first tank portion, and the second fuel pump module including a second fuel pump, a second jet pump, and a second crossover fuel line communicating between the first tank portion and the second tank portion, the method comprising:
- transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion through the first crossover fuel line in response to suction generated by only the first jet pump;
- pumping fuel from the first tank portion to the engine with the first fuel pump;
- transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion through the second crossover fuel line in response to suction generated by only the second jet pump;
- and
- pumping fuel from the second tank portion to the engine with the second fuel pump.
A fuel system comprising:
- a first fuel pump module having a fuel pump, a jet pump, and a crossover fuel line;
- a second fuel pump module having a fuel pump, a jet pump, and a crossover fuel line;
- and
- a priming line communicating between the first and second fuel pump modules independently of the crossover lines to transfer fuel between the first and second fuel pump modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.