Fuel pump with vapor lock inhibiting check valve

A pump for pumping fluid including:

• a pump body having a pumping chamber therein;
• an inlet control means adapted to being fluid communication with a fluid supply means upstream of said inlet control means for supplying fluid to the pump, said inlet control means including an inlet control member for controlling the flow of at least one of fuel and gas to and from the pumping chamber, said inlet control member is accommodated within an inlet bore having an inlet port at one end thereof, and an end stop face at an opposing end thereof, the inlet control member being freely moveable within the inlet bore between the inlet port and the end stop face of the inlet bore;
• an outlet control means adapted to control the delivery of fluid from the pump;
• and
• at least one inlet discharge passage extending between the end stop face of the inlet bore and the pumping chamber to allow the flow of fluid to and from the inlet bore and the pumping chamber;
• wherein
• when a fluid at least substantially consisting of gas or vapour is supplied to the pumping chamber through the inlet control means, the fluid is pumped upstream from the inlet control means, when a fluid at least substantially consisting of liquid is supplied to the pumping chamber through the inlet control means, the fluid is at least substantially pumped through the outlet control means, and when a fluid at least predominantly of at least one of gas and vapour is supplied to the pumping chamber, the inlet control member oscillates out of phase with the fluid flow into and out of the pumping chamber, and when a fluid at least predominantly of liquid is supplied to the pumping chamber, the inlet control member generally oscillates in phase with the fluid flow into and out of the pumping chamber.