US 8,783,287 B2 · Apparatus and method for modifying a fuel tank to accept an in-tank fuel pump

Abstract

A baffle has a sidewall and an interior space sized to receive the in-tank pump. The sidewall is formed of a flexible material so as to be longitudinally compressible. The compressibility of the sidewall allows the baffle to be mounted in fuel tanks of varying depths. The baffle is used in a method for mounting an in-tank fuel pump in a fuel tank. The method includes the steps of cutting a hole in a top wall of the fuel tank, inserting the baffle into the tank through the hole, compressing the sidewall of the baffle so that the baffle extends between the top and bottom walls of the tank, installing the in-tank pump in the interior space of the baffle and installing a cover plate over the hole.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus for mounting an in-tank pump in a tank for holding a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

a) a baffle having a sidewall, a bottom surface extending generally transverse to said sidewall and an interior space within said sidewall sized to receive the in-tank pump, said sidewall formed of a flexible material longitudinally compressible from a first length in a relaxed state to a shorter, second length;
and
b) biasing means for biasing said sidewall toward its first length such that said bottom surface of said baffle abuts against a bottom of the tank and
c) wherein said baffle is sufficiently radially compressible along its length, including across the bottom surface thereof, to fit through a hole which is smaller in diameter than an outside diameter of said baffle in its radially uncompressed state.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for modifying a fuel tank to accept an in-tank fuel pump

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for modifying a fuel tank to accept an in-tank fuel pump

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23