Fuel system including a flow-through pressure regulator
AssigneeSiemens VDO Automotive Corporation
InventorsBrian Clay McIntyre, James Archie Wynn, Jr., Barry Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow-through pressure regulator includes a retainer that secures a diaphragm relative to a seat, and includes a cylindrical portion, an axial end portion and an annular portion. The cylindrical portion extends about a longitudinal axis and is fixed with respect to the seat. The axial end portion extends from the cylindrical portion and extends generally orthogonal relative to the longitudinal axis. The axial end portion includes a plurality of apertures that permit fluid communication and are selected so as to reduce noise due to fluid flow.
Claims20
A fuel system for an internal combustion engine powered by fuel, comprising:
- a fuel tank adapted to contain the fuel;
- a pump adapted to withdraw the fuel from the tank and to pressurize the fuel;
- a pressure regulator including a perforated diaphragm-to-seat retainer disposed along a longitudinal axis, the retainer including a tubular portion extending about the longitudinal axis, and an axial end portion extending from the tubular portion and extending generally orthogonal relative to the longitudinal axis, the axial end portion including a plurality of apertures, the pressure regulator providing at least one of generally constant flow-related noise at all fuel flow rates and generally uniform pressure at all fuel flow rates;
- and
- piping connecting the fuel tank and pump, the piping adapted to supply fuel to the internal combustion engine.
A method of supplying fuel by a pump from a tank to an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- pumping the fuel under pressure;
- and
- regulating fuel flow from the pump, the regulating including passing the fuel through a diaphragm-to-seat retainer disposed along a longitudinal axis that has been perforated with a plurality of apertures, the retainer including a tubular portion extending about the longitudinal axis, and an axial end portion extending from the tubular portion and generally orthogonal relative to the longitudinal axis, the axial end portion including the plurality of apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.