Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine adapted for installation in the fuel tank of an automotive vehicle, comprising an outer casing adapted for connection to a fuel tank and defining a fuel reservoir in the casing, a drive motor having a drive shaft, first and second pumps drivingly connected to said drive shaft, a common housing for said second pump and said drive motor connecting the same together in a unit, said drive shaft including a portion extending from said unit and beyond said common housing, said portion of said drive shaft which extends from said unit comprising a shaped portion, said first pump including an impeller fixed to said shaped portion and thereby being drivingly connected to the portion of the drive shaft extending from said unit, said first pump including a housing surrounding a portion of said unit and the portion of the drive shaft projecting from said unit, a sleeve surrounding said unit with clearance and connected to said housing, means sealingly connecting said sleeve to said unit and including a holding ring and an elastic seal element and a riser conduit coupled to said second pump at an outlet thereof and extending to an upper region of the casing, said housing of said first pump having an inlet for flow of fuel from the reservoir to the first pump, said inlet being in a lower region of said casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine adapted for installation in the fuel tank of an automotive vehicle, comprising an outer casing adapted for connection to a fuel tank and defining a fuel reservoir in the casing, a drive motor having a drive shaft, first and second pumps drivingly connected to said drive shaft, a common housing for said second pump and said drive motor connecting the same together in a unit, said drive shaft including a portion extending from said unit and beyond said common housing, said portion of said drive shaft which extends from said unit comprising a shaped portion, said first pump including an impeller fixed to said shaped portion and thereby being drivingly connected to the portion of the drive shaft extending from said unit, said first pump including a housing surrounding a portion of said unit and the portion of the drive shaft projecting from said unit, a sleeve surrounding said unit with clearance and connected to said housing, means sealingly connecting said sleeve to said unit and including a holding ring and an elastic seal element and a riser conduit coupled to said second pump at an outlet thereof and extending to an upper region of the casing, said housing of said first pump having an inlet for flow of fuel from the reservoir to the first pump, said inlet being in a lower region of said casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said impeller is press-fit on said drive shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which sealingly connects said sleeve to said unit includes a connection capable of sealingly connecting said sleeve and said unit in various relative axial positions of said sleeve and said unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said connection comprises a plurality of axially spaced grooves in said sleeve, a holding ring engageable in a selected groove and a flexible seal clamped between said holding ring and said common housing of said unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said common housing comprises a shell enclosing said drive motor and securing said second pump therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for supporting a fuel filter in said inlet of the housing of said first pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means resiliently supporting said sleeve from said casing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising resilient seal means between the housing of said first pump and said casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means which sealingly connects said sleeve to said unit includes a connection capable of sealingly connecting said sleeve and said unit in various relative axial positions of said sleeve and said unit, said connection comprising a plurality of axially spaced grooves in said sleeve, a holding ring engageable in a selected groove and a flexible seal clamped between said holding ring and said common housing of said unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising an air conduit in said casing having an inlet communicating with said reservoir and an outlet communicating externally of said casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said air conduit extends adjacent to said riser conduit, said air and riser conduits having adjacent upper open ends.