The present invention relates generally to fuel pumps for vehicles and, more particularly, to a fuel pump isolation assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle.
It is known to provide a fuel tank in a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. It is also known to provide a fuel pump to pump fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Typically, the fuel pump is disposed inside the fuel tank. One type of fuel pump is known as a high-pressure turbine fuel pump. The high-pressure turbine fuel pump typically includes an impeller rotatable between inlet and outlet plates. The high-pressure turbine fuel pump is typically isolated relative to the fuel tank by rubber isolators. However, the rubber isolators are extra components and cost, both of which are undesired.
Therefore, it is desirable to isolate a fuel pump for a vehicle without the need of rubber isolators. It is also desirable to isolate fuel pumps of different diameters with a single isolation assembly. It is further desirable to provide low cost isolation for a fuel pump.
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a fuel pump isolation assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel pump isolation assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle that isolates fuel pumps with different diameters.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuel pump isolation assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle that isolates a fuel pump and eliminates the use of rubber isolators.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a fuel pump isolation assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle including a fuel pump and an isolation housing having a fuel pump cavity extending axially therethrough to receive the fuel pump. The fuel pump isolation assembly also includes a plurality of flex arms extending from the isolation housing and into the fuel pump cavity to engage the fuel pump and allow radial movement of the fuel pump during its operation.
One advantage of the present invention is that a fuel pump isolation assembly is provided for a fuel tank of a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel pump isolation assembly has a retainer or isolation housing that will provide adequate radial and axial movement to achieve a desired isolation of the fuel pump. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel pump isolation assembly has enhanced performance because the fuel pump is isolated and will not transmit noise/vibrations to the fuel tank. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel pump isolation assembly provides flexibility to package fuel pumps with different diameters. A further advantage of the present invention is that the fuel pump isolation assembly isolates the fuel pump at reduced cost because no additional rubber isolators are needed. Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that fuel pump isolation assembly achieves similar noise isolation performance as conventional designs with no added components. Still a further advantage of the present invention is that the fuel pump isolation assembly saves both material content and labor. Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel pump isolation assembly reduces tooling investment because it will package fuel pumps with different diameters.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.