In-tank fuel pump support unit and assembly

Claim 2

A fuel pump assembly for mounting in a fuel tank with an access opening through its top wall, the fuel pump assembly comprising, in combination: an access opening cover adapted to close the access opening; a rigid conduit fixed to and projecting downward through the access opening cover into the tank; a bracket fixed to the rigid conduit within the tank, the bracket supporting a generally horizontal seat below the lower end of the rigid conduit; a resilient member in the seat; an axial flow fuel pump retained in the seat in a vertical attitude by the resilient member, the fuel pump having an inlet at its lower end near the bottom of the tank and an outlet at its upper end; a flexible conduit connecting the pump outlet with the lower end of the rigid conduit; the pump further having means about its periphery to engage the resilient member so as to prevent downward movement of the pump through the seat but allow upward movement of the pump out of the seat upon the application of a large upward or horizontal force to the pump.

Claim 3

The fuel pump assembly of claim 1 including a vapor outlet formed through the access opening cover.

Claim 4

A fuel pump assembly for use in a fuel tank having an access opening in its upper wall, the assembly comprising, in combination; an access opening cover effective to close the access opening; a rigid conduit fixed to and projecting through the access opening cover; a bracket having two or more arms with upper ends fixed to the rigid conduit and lower ends extending below the lower end of the rigid conduit, the bracket further having a generally horizontal circular seat fixed to the lower ends of the arms; an annular resilient member in the seat; an axial flow fuel pump supported in the seat by the resilient member, the fuel pump having an inlet at one axial end thereof adjacent the bottom of the tank and an outlet at the other axial end thereof adjacent the lower end of the rigid conduit, the fuel pump further including an annular flange therearound engaging the top of the annular resilient member to prevent the pump from falling through the seat but allow the pump to be moved upward out of the seat when subjected to a force from below; and a flexible conduit connecting the pump outlet to the lower end of the rigid conduit.

Claim 5

A fuel pump assembly for use in a fuel tank having an access opening in its upper wall, the assembly comprising, in combination; an access opening cover effective to close the access opening; a rigid conduit fixed to and projecting through the access opening cover; a bracket having two or more arms with upper ends fixed to the rigid conduit and lower ends extending below the lower end of the rigid conduit, the bracket further having a generally horizontal circular seat fixed to the lower ends of the arms; an annular resilient member in the seat; an axial flow fuel pump supported in the seat by the resilient member, the fuel pump having an inlet at one axial end thereof adjacent the bottom of the tank and an outlet at the other axial end thereof adjacent the lower end of the rigid conduit, the fuel pump further including an annular flange therearound engaging the top of the annular resilient member to prevent the pump from falling through the seat but allow the pump to be moved upward out of the seat when subjected to a force from below; and a flexible conduit connecting the pump outlet to the lower end of the rigid conduit.

Claim 6

The fuel pump assembly of claim 3 including a gauge sender and float assembly having a gauge sender portion attached to one of the bracket arms.

Claim 7

A fuel pump support unit for use with a tank having an access opening in its top wall, an axial flow fuel pump having a generally cylindrical body with an inlet and outlet at opposite axial ends thereof and an annular resilient member, the support unit comprising, in combination: an access opening cover adapted to close the access opening and having a vapor outlet opening therethrough: a splash cup with an opening therethrough covering the vapor outlet on the lower side of the access opening cover; a rigid conduit fixed to and projecting through the access opening cover; a bracket including a plurality of arms with upper ends attached to the rigid conduit and lower ends extending below the lower end of the rigid conduit, the bracket further including a generally horizontal circular seat fixed to the lower ends of the arms, the seat comprising an axial annular portion with a generally vertical axis and a radial annular portion extending radially inward from the lower edge of the axial annular portion, the seat thus being adapted to receive the annulAr resilient member and fuel pump with the pump being supported by the annular resilient member with its inlet near the tank bottom and the annular resilient member being supported in the seat, the lower end of the rigid conduit being connectible to the pump outlet.

Claim 8

A fuel pump support unit for use with a tank having an access opening in its top wall, an axial flow fuel pump having a generally cylindrical body with an inlet and outlet at opposite axial ends thereof and an annular resilient member, the support unit comprising, in combination: an access opening cover adapted to close the access opening and having a vapor outlet opening therethrough: a splash cup with an opening therethrough covering the vapor outlet on the lower side of the access opening cover; a rigid conduit fixed to and projecting through the access opening cover; a bracket including a plurality of arms with upper ends attached to the rigid conduit and lower ends extending below the lower end of the rigid conduit, the bracket further including a generally horizontal circular seat fixed to the lower ends of the arms, the seat comprising an axial annular portion with a generally vertical axis and a radial annular portion extending radially inward from the lower edge of the axial annular portion, the seat thus being adapted to receive the annulAr resilient member and fuel pump with the pump being supported by the annular resilient member with its inlet near the tank bottom and the annular resilient member being supported in the seat, the lower end of the rigid conduit being connectible to the pump outlet.